Written by kate@dcmsdocs.org on . Posted in Uncategorised
You Can Lead Positive Change -- But Act Soon!
When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved payment for end-of-life counseling as part of its 2016 Medicare physician fee schedule, it represented the fruition of a DuPage physician's dream. The whole movement to secure reimbursement for important advance planning discussions started as one of your colleague's resolutions to the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS). Now you have the same sort of opportunity to influence the health care future of our state and nation.
You can help shape policy through a resolution to be considered by ISMS' policy-making body, the House of Delegates (HOD). But you need to share your ideas soon; our DCMS deadline for resolutions to be considered in 2017 is Monday, January 16.
Formulating health policy is a collaborative, deliberative process. Promote your vision and the rationale behind it, then let our collective work craft the resolution that will advance it.
The Resolution Guide explains in detail how to write a successful resolution. The important first step is to decide exactly what you want ISMS to do - what action you want taken. Once you can articulate that, your DCMS colleagues and staff can help you craft the idea into a resolution. Focus your energies on content - the action you wish to achieve - and leave the formatting to us.
Resolutions to ISMS can be sponsored by DCMS or by individual delegates. All resolutions that are submitted by the January 16 deadline will be reviewed and considered by the Board of Directors for DCMS sponsorship. If DCMS declines to sponsor the resolution, a member can still have a delegate submit the resolution as an individual.
Don't miss this important opportunity to voice your opinion in a constructive way and shape the development of health policy.
Written by kate@dcmsdocs.org on . Posted in Uncategorised
From the AMA...
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule outlining the requirements of the new Quality Payment Program for physicians that was created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) on October 14, 2016. While the AMA is in the process of fully analyzing the regulations, a first review reveals that CMS responded to many of the concerns expressed by physicians about the proposed rule issued last spring. On November 21 and December 6, the AMA will host educational webinar sessions to help physicians prepare and understand what the final rule means for their practice.
Written by kate@dcmsdocs.org on . Posted in Uncategorised
Doctors Applaud Illinois Supreme Court Decision on 6-Person Jury Mandate High court follows precedent supporting access to 12-person juries
Chicago, IL -- Doctors from the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) and ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company praise the Illinois Supreme Court’s 5-0 decision striking down an unconstitutional mandate to impose a six-person limit in civil jury size. Both organizations voiced concern over the flawed jury reduction legislation, which passed during the final days of Governor Quinn’s administration. The controversial law was considered an outgoing gesture to help personal injury lawyers, because smaller juries are perceived as more favorable to their clients.
“The move to allow six-person juries was misguided from day one,” said ISMS President Thomas M. Anderson, MD. He added that “delegates to both the 1870 and 1970 Illinois Constitutional Conventions considered the merit of six-person juries and purposefully deemed them inappropriate for Illinois. If that’s not an indication of constitutional intent, we don’t know what else could be.”
ISMIE Mutual Chairman Harold L. Jensen, MD offered that “the right to a trial before 12 people is an issue of legal fairness. Research has demonstrated that smaller juries have less diversity, are less deliberative and tend to deliver higher than average awards. Forcing the reduced jury composition is in essence a thumb on the legal scales.”
ISMS and ISMIE Mutual are proud of our advocacy to lead the effort to overturn this onerous law. Illinois’ difficult legal environment got a little bit better today.