Cook's Corner
A Message from Executive Director David Cook
Click here for David Cook's bio
07.30.10 GAMPAC endorses Nathan Deal/Sponsors candidates' forum
Item 1: GAMPAC endorses Nathan Deal in gubernatorial runoff: Today, GAMPAC endorsed Nathan Deal in the Republican primary runoff election to be held on Tuesday, August 10. GAMPAC is MAG's political action committee. Deal has been a steadfast supporter of physician and patients at the state and national levels. He was a strong opponent of the recently-enacted health reform bill and has earned the highest awards given by medicine to a public servant: MAG's Kaufmann Award and AMA's Nathan Davis Award presented for outstanding contributions to medicine and the betterment of public health. Please feel free to share with family and friends. Be sure to vote on Tuesday, August 10.
Item 2: MAG sponsors candidates' forum: MAG, along with the Georgia College of Emergency Physicians, the Georgia Society of Dermatology, the Georgia Orthopedic Society, and the Georgia Neurological Society are sponsoring a forum for candidates in the Governor’s race and lt. Governor’s race. The forum will be held on August 28, 2010 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. immediately following the MAG Board of Directors' meeting at the Cobb Energy Centre in Atlanta. The media panels include Kyle Wingfield with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, John Bachman with WSB-TV (ABC), and Wendy Saltzman with WGCL-TV (CBS). WXIA has confirmed that it will "stream" the entire two-hour forum live at www.11alive.com.
The event if free. We can reserve preferred seating for you and you spouse by contacting Kris McCall at kmccall@mag.org.
06.28.10 MAG message delivered in USA Today
Thanks to the great work of our communications team, MAG's message on fixing the broken medical payment system was delivered to the nation's doorstep today in the USA Today. Last week, USA Today ran an article - Doctors limit new Medicare patients - on the front page. We seized the opportunity by immediately submitting a letter to the editor focusing the issue on our core message that Congress needs to fix the medical payment system. MAG's letter ran in today's edition of USA Today.
Click here to read USA Today letter to the editor
Read last week's article "Doctors limit new Medicare patients"
06.24.10 SGR bill passes
Today, the House of Representatives agreed to the Senate amendments to H.R. 3962 that provides a six-month reprieve on the Medicare physician payment (SGR) cuts that went into effect June 1. The bill replaces the 21% cut (retroactive June 1-November 30) with a 2.2% increase for six months. The $6.4 billion bill was "paid for" (i.e. does not add to the national debt). As a result, Republicans supported the bill and passed with one negative vote. The 21% cut will be reinstated on December 1 and will increase to 26% on January 1. We assume the president will sign the bill and we will provide you with guidance as to how CMS will handle claims that have already been submitted.
06.21.10 Medicare Payment Cuts/Rolling Thunder/AMA Annual Meeting
Click here for full message
06.09.10 Governor vetoes prompt pay bill
Today, Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoed H.B. 321, the prompt pay bill that was a legislative priority for MAG and passed earlier this year. Currently, only about 25 percent of the insurance market is covered by Georgia's prompt pay statute which requires insurers to pay within 15 working days (three weeks). The bill would have included third party administrators under the law rendering the law applicable to the vast majority of insureds. In his veto message, the Governor cited the following reason:
"H.B. 321, the 'prompt pay' bill, is a bill I would have liked the opportunity to sign. Unfortunately, the Medical Association of Georgia insisted (over the objections of many) on including language that likely violates the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), a federal law that preempts portions of H.B. 321 as written. Because the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution precludes state law from violating federal law, I will not sign a bill that contravenes ERISA. Accordingly, I VETO H.B. 321."
We did have an opportunity to discuss these issues with the Governor last week and submitted the opinion of a nationally known ERISA expert, Mark Rust, and the opinion of Sewell Brumby of the Office of Legislative Counsel that supported the position that this law did not violate ERISA. We also noted that this legal issue was addressed by other states, such as Ohio, Indiana and Rhode Island, who found that state laws regulating third party administrators did not violate ERISA.
Special thanks go to Sen. Ralph Hudgens (also running for Commissioner of Insurance) and Rep. Steve Davis (R-McDonough) for their steadfast support. They truly championed this legislation. I also want to thank all of you and our staff who did a great job in promoting this legislation.
06.01.10 SGR/Testimony in Congress
Click here for full message
Read Dr. Williamson's testimony
05.19.10 MAG leaders brief Trinity Hospital medical staff on health care bill
Click here for details
05.15.10 New SGR bill
Click here for full message
04.30.10 Congratulations on a great legislative session
Click here for full message
04.20.10 MAG executive director's op-ed featured in AJC
Click here for article
04.16.10 Medicare cuts postponed to June 1
Yesterday afternoon, the Senate passed H.R. 4851 which delays the 21 percent Medicare cut from taking effect until June 1. The measure was immediately transmitted to the House last night where the bill passed by a vote of 289-112. The Georgia congressional delegation voted along party lines with all Democrats (Reps. Barrow, Bishop, Johnson, Lewis, Marshall and Scott) voting in favor and all Republicans (Reps. Broun, Gingrey, Kingston, Price, Linder and Westmoreland) voting against. The Medicare cut delay was included in an $18 billion "extender" bill that also extended jobless benefits, COBRA benefits and other items. It was considered "emergency" spending which exempted it from budgetary rules that require spending offsets to cover the costs of the bill.
We have heard rumblings that a bill is being prepared to repeal the SGR and will be brought forward in mid-May.
Some of the claims that were processed on April 15 will reflect the 21.3 percent cut, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is reporting that any such claims will be reprocessed and that payment adjustments will be made without physicians having to take any action. We will post information on the MAG Web site www.mag.org as it becomes available.
04.14.10 SGR cuts to take effect/'Medicare Meltdown' petition
Click here for full message
03.24.10 MAG executive director comments on budget cuts
Click here to listen to GPB Radio interview
03.23.10 MAG executive director discusses Georgia Supreme Court malpractice ruling
Listen to WSB Radio interview (Clip 1)
Listen to WSB Radio interview (Clip 2)
03.22.10 MAG executive director answers national health care reform questions from WGCL-CBS Atlanta
Click here to watch CBS interview
03.22.10 Georgia tort reform law struck down
Item 1: Caps Declared Unconstitutional: This morning, the Georgia Supreme Court struck down the Georgia law that limits non-economic damages in medical malpractices cases. The cap on non-economic damages was a cornerstone of the tort reform bill 2005. The unanimous court reasoned that the law violated the Georgia constitutional right to trial by jury by limiting the jury in determining compensatory damages. There is no appeal from this decision since it is based on the Georgia constitution.
MAG's response was swift. "This decision is unacceptable and unsustainable, and I believe it's a decision that's going to energize and unify the physician community in Georgia," Dr. Richter says, adding that MAG has already begun assessing legislative options. "I'm appealing to every physician in this state to join us in our advocacy efforts to mitigate the detrimental effects that this decision is going to have on our patients, as well as the practice environment." Click here for a copy of the court's opinion and MAG's press release.
Item 2: House Passes Flawed Senate Bill and Reconciliation amendment: Last night the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate health reform bill (H.R. 3590) by a vote of 219 -212, four votes more than the required 216. Shortly thereafter, the House passed the "Reconciliation bill" by a vote of 220-211. Two Georgia Democrats - Rep. Jim Marshal (D-Macon) and Rep. John Barrow (D- Savannah) - joined all Georgia Republicans in voting against the bills. The Senate bill goes to the President who will undoubtedly sign the bill into law. The Reconciliation bill heads to the Senate where it faces a host of procedural obstacles. Please take a moment to contact the following Representatives and thank them for voting against the bills.
Rep. Jack Kingston at 202.225.5831 or jerr.rosenbaum@mail.house.gov
Rep. Lynn A. Westmoreland at 202.225.5901 or chip.lake@mail.house.gov
Rep. Tom Price, M.D. at 202.225.4501 or matt.mcginley@mail.house.gov
Rep. John Linder at 202.225.4272 or rob.woodall@mail.house.gov
Rep. Jim Marshall at 202.225.6531 or doug.moore@mail.house.gov
Rep. Nathan Deal at 202.225.5211 or todd.smith@mail.house.gov
Rep. Paul Broun, M.D. at 202.225.4101 or david.bowser@mail.house.gov
Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D. at 202.225.2931 or david.sours@mail.house.gov
Rep. John Barrow at 202.225.2823 or ashley.jones@mail.house.gov
03.22.10 MAG's Cook discusses health care bill on Fox 5 - Atlanta
Watch Fox 5 - Atlanta interview
03.19.10 MAG-AMA differ on health reform bill
Today the American Medical Association threw its support behind the Senate health care reform bill (H.R. 3590) and the reconciliation "fix it" legislation that Congress is expected to vote on this Sunday. Below is a link to the AMA press release. You can learn more about AMA's position on its Web site www.ama-assn.org. The American College of Physicians also threw its support behind the bill.
Meanwhile, we were busy at MAG working the phones with last minute calls to the Georgia congressional delegation seeking to firm up opposition to the bill. MAG’s opposition is based on the fact that the bill calls for expansive government involvement in the health care system and an expansion of a system that is currently unsustainable financially. The legislation does not include a remedy for the SGR cuts scheduled to become effective April 1.
As you know, MAG has led a national coalition in opposition to the bill. The Coalition of State Medical and National Specialty Societies is comprised of 14 state medical and national specialty societies representing more than 80,000 physicians. Today, a separate coalition of surgical specialties and anesthesiologists representing more than 240,000 also lodged their opposition to the bill.
View AMA's press release
03.17.10 AMA position on upcoming House vote
We have received numerous inquiries as to what position the American Medical Association (AMA) has taken with regard to the upcoming vote of the House of Representatives on the health reform legislation.
As you know from previous correspondence, MAG and the Coalition of State and National Specialty Societies have strongly opposed the Senate bill and the process by which the House may bring a reconciliation bill to the floor for a vote. Last Friday, we sent a letter to the AMA urging it to take a public and active position on the issue.
Rebecca Patchin, M.D., Chair of the AMA Board of Trustees, provided a prompt response to our request which is below. I encourage you to read it for full context. I have confirmed again today that AMA does not plan to take a position until the language of the reconciliation bill is made public and analyzed.
I hope this answers the questions that many of you have raised. Again, we urge you to contact U.S. Reps. Scott, Bishop and Barrow and urge them to oppose passage of the Senate bill in accordance with the call to action that was distributed earlier today.
Read coalition's March 12 letter to the AMA
Read AMA's March 13 response
Read MAG's opposition letter to Rep. Sanford Bishop
03.10.10 National health care reform update
MAG continues its leadership role in the health reform debate. A lot has happened in just a few short days...
Click here for full message
Download patient summary of H.R. 3590
Read coalition letter opposing H.R. 3590 sent to U.S. House leadership
Read MAG's opposition letter to Rep. John Lewis
03.04.10 Health care end game is here
The "End Game" is upon us. And your help is needed.
Yesterday, the president made it clear he wanted a health "insurance reform" bill passed by the Easter recess, which is scheduled for March 26. The likely process is known as reconciliation which would be used to avoid a Senate filibuster. The classic reconciliation process calls for the House to pass the Senate bill (H.B. 3590) and send that to the president for signature. Then Congress would pass a "reconciliation bill" to reconcile the enacted bill to budget. However, that process may be altered if House members are wary of passing the Senate bill and then a reconciliation bill never happens for whatever reason. Wary House members may want the Senate to pass a reconciliation bill before they vote to pass the Senate bill.
Given the timing and the situation, we will have to pull out all of the stops to prevent passage of a very bad piece of legislation. MAG has taken the following steps to engage in this battle:
- Call to Action: We are asking all physicians to contact their member of the U.S. House of Representatives and ask them to vote against the Senate health reform bill. You should have received this already.
- Statewide Conference Call: All members are invited to join MAG President Gary Richter, M.D., on Monday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. for an update on what is happening on this issue and how you can help. Call-in number 1.800.270.1153, passcode 69048#
- Coalition of State Medical and National Specialty Societies: MAG continues its leadership role with the Coalition which has 11 medical societies representing more than 70,000 physicians. Below are links to the letter we are sending to members of Congress today on the SGR issue. Also, we will be coordinating grassroots and press across the nation in an effort to stop the Senate bill from passing. We will forward Coalition letters to Congress, press releases and other items of interest as they are developed.
Please feel free to pass the word. Thanks for your help.
Read coalition letter to the U.S. House of Representatives
Read coalition letter to the U.S. Senate
03.01.10 Medicare claims submission update
We have received the following information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)...
Read full statement from CMS
12.08.09 Coalition letter opposing Senate bill
Today, MAG and the Coalition of State Medical and National Specialty Societies released a letter in opposition to H.R. 3590, the health care reform bill under consideration in the Senate. The letter was signed by eleven state medical associations and six national specialty societies representing more than 92,000 physicians.
Read letter to Senators
12.06.09 Senate Highlights
This weekend, the Senate spent substantial time debating H.R. 3590, the Senate health care reform bill. Of particular interest to physicians is its failure to pass an amendment by Sen. Ensign (R-NV) to limit attorney contingency fees in medical liability cases. The vote was 32-66 with Sen. Isakson voting for the amendment and Sen. Chambliss voting against the amendment.
Read letter on the motion to remove the Independent Medicare Advisory Board
Read 'Deals cut with health groups may be at peril,' Washington Post
12.03.09 An update from Washington, D.C.
Click here for full message
Read draft letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
11.19.09 Health care reform heats up
Click here for full message
11.10.09 State medical association chief wins award
Click here to read Atlanta Business Chronicle article
11.09.09 MAG executive receives AMA achievement award
Click here for press release
Read News from MAG article
Read Cook's remarks
11.08.09 Push to change AMA support of H.R. 3962
We were successful today in getting the two-thirds vote needed to have the AMA HOD accept Resolution 220 as an item of business. Resolution 220 calls for AMA to rescind its support of H.R. 3962 was referred to Reference Committee B. We also added Montana making 12 state medical societies and five national specialty cosponsors. We spent about seven hours today in debate in support of the resolution in Reference Committee. Even though the debate was negatively impacted by the passage of the bill last night, MAG and the coalition continued to push the issue very hard in an effective way. The issue will come to the floor of the AMA for a vote tomorrow or Tuesday.
You should be extremely proud of the dedication and effort of your AMA delegation and our coalition on this issue. Will let you know how it turns out.
11.08.09 House passes sweeping reform bill
Tonight, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3962 by a margin of three votes - 220 to 215. Thirty-nine Democrats voted no, including two from Georgia, Rep John Barrow and Rep Jim Marshal. All Georgia Republicans vote no.
Meanwhile, at the AMA HOD we continue to push for a reversal of AMA position. Today AMA leadership defended its position in support of H.R. 3962 at educational sessions. Tomorrow we vote to make our resolution reversing AMA position on the bill an item of business for the AMA HOD. We need a two-thirds vote to do so, but I think we will succeed. Despite today's vote, it is crucial that we continue to work for a change in posture from the AMA if we are to positively affect the outcome of this bill. A statement we want send from America's doctors that this bill is headed in the wrong direction. If we succeed in doing this, we will, as Tom Price said, send "shock waves" through Washington That will help kill this bill and that is what we will continue to fight for you here in Houston.
Also, Dr. Joseph Bailey received the coveted Ed Anis Award for Freedom in Medicine tonight along with Rep. Tom Price and Sen. Coburn who could not attend because of pressing business in Washington.
The votes for your reading pleasure are listed below...
39 Democrats voted no – Adler (NJ), Altmire, Baird, Barrow, Boccieri, Boren, Boucher, Boyd, Bright, Chandler, Childers, Davis (AL), Davis (TN), Edwards (TX), Gordon (TN), Griffith, Herseth-Sandlin, Holden, Kissell, Kosmas, Kratovil, Kucinich, Markey (CO), Marshall, Massa, Matheson, McIntyre, McMahon, Melancon, Minnick, Murphy (NY), Nye, Peterson, Ross, Shuler, Skelton, Tanner, Taylor, Teague. And one Republican Voted YES - Cao.
11.03.09 AAFP supports House bill
Last night, MAG hosted a conference call of our multi-state coalition. We had 34 individuals on the call representing 13 states and four national specialty societies. We discussed strategy for the upcoming AMA meeting that will be held in Houston later this week. Our focus was on resolution 209 (link below). (Florida and the plastic surgeons have signed onto the resolution after the resolution went to print.)
As we head to Houston, we are keeping our policy front and center:
"We reaffirm our unwavering opposition to the encroachment of government in the practice of medicine as well as any attempt to covertly change the American health care system to a government program with the subsequent loss of precious personal freedom including the right of physicians to contract privately for health are without government interference" [H-165-916 adopted in 1993 and reaffirmed in 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2007]. H.R. 3962 does not meet this basic test.
The AAFP has a different view and has issued a letter in support of H.R. 3962.
A substitute bill (known as a "Manager's Amendment") is expected to be introduced today. That will be the bill scheduled for a vote this Friday or Saturday. Of course, things could change. Please look for alters and contact your members of Congress as well as all Georgia Blue Dog Democrats and ask them to vote against H.R. 3962.
Read AMA resolution 209
Read AAFP's letter of support
11.02.09 CMS payment rule announcement
The following is an interesting article from Congressional Quarterly regarding CMS's release of the physician payment rule.
Read Congressional Quarterly article
10.30.09 Tort reform lacking in House bill
I have received a number of inquiries from MAG members and members of Congress about the tort reform provision in H.R. 3962. Below is a link to a letter I sent to Congressman Westmoreland today which provides an analysis of how the bill's provision would impact Georgia's tort reform laws.
Read letter to Congressman Westmoreland
10.29.09 MAG/Coalition testify in Washington
Yesterday's trip to Washington was a great success. Dr. Williamson testified on behalf of MAG and our 50,000 member strong coalition to the House GOP Doctors Caucus on key elements of the health care reform legislation pending in Congress. Georgia Congressman Gingrey chaired the hearing and Rep. Tom Price and Paul Broun participated in the hearing. The hearing was broadcast over the Internet and had more than 34,000 viewers nationwide. A link to the hearing is posted on our Web site www.mag.org.
Drs. Richter and Williamson represented MAG in meetings with congressional offices including a lengthy meeting with legislative staff for Rep. David Scott. The photo was taken as we were running to the cab (late for our flight back to Atlanta).
You probably have heard that the House Democratic leadership revealed the "blended" bill - a bill that was crafted from the Tri-Committee bill, H.R. 3200. This is a completely new bill crafted by the leadership and is significantly longer than H.R. 3200. Below is a link to the summary of the bill (drafted by House leadership). We will be analyzing this bill and I hope you continue to look for up-to-date information on the MAG Web site.
Click here to view the picture
Click here for House bill summary (as prepared by House committees)
10.27.09 MAG to testify before Congressional doctors' caucus
As I mentioned yesterday, the Coalition has been invited to speak to the GOP Doctors' Caucus in the House of Representatives. We just finished the testimony below and the attached alert has been sent out to our members. I encourage you to distribute and to tune in if you are able.
Read alert to press, members
Dr. Williamson's written testimony
10.26.09 Muscogee CMS town hall on health care reform
Muscogee County Medical Society held its second physician town hall meeting on national health care reform on Saturday with Congressman Sanford Bishop. Congressman Bishop presented an overview of the House and Senate versions of the major health reform bills. I presented a brief update to members on the actions taken by the MAG HOD, including MAG's opposition to the public option, and individual and employer mandates. Instead, MAG supports individual ownership of insurance polices with subsidies and the right to privately contract, meaningful tort reform and a complete overhaul of SGR.
A very good Q&A session followed. Mr. Bishop indicted that he had gained additional insight on how physicians in his local community feel about the bills moving forward and gave some insight on what he thought might be included in the bill that comes to the floor of the House for a vote. He indicated he would wait to see what was in the bill before he would declare how he would vote. He also indicated he felt confident that a bill would pass this year.
Mr. Bishop, a member of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, signed a letter July 9 to Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressing concerns about the House bill related primarily to assuring that the final bill does not add to the deficit, increases value-based purchasing and protects small business. The letter also expressed concern about the public option saying that, if it were established, it needed to compete on a level playing field and reimburse providers fairly at negotiated rates.
Great job, MCMS. Below is link to a photo of MCMS leadership and Mr. Bishop. Sorry that the quality of the photo is not better.
Photo of MCMS leadership with Congressman Bishop
10.21.09 News from Washington
Today I had the pleasure of accompanying MAG Immediate Past President M. Todd Williamson, M.D., to Washington, D.C., where he spoke on behalf of MAG and as the designated spokesperson for the Coalition of State Medical and Specialty Societies which represent nearly 50,000 doctors. Dr. Williamson spoke at a press conference organized by the Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights on the lawn of our nation's capitol. There were more than 100 physicians in attendance and a lot of press.
After the press conference, we were able to speak with Sen. Johnny Isakson and Sen. Saxby Chambliss' Chief of Staff regarding the imminent vote on S.B. 1776, a bill to stop the scheduled cut in Medicare payment rates and implement a freeze in Medicare payments indefinitely. As you may have heard, the Senate failed to pass a motion to close debate on this bill. The vote was 47 - 53 with both Georgia senators voting Nay. We also met with U.S. Reps. Tom Price, Nathan Deal, Lynne Westmoreland and the staff of Rep. Jim Marshall.
MAG's message was simple and clear. We support not only stopping the 21.5 percent cut in Medicare payment rates scheduled for 2010; we support a complete overhaul of the SGR formula which is fatally flawed. We were also in the position of having to respond to numerous reports of Senate Democrats offering doctors a deal to put S.B. 1776 on the floor provided doctors stop asking for tort reform and to get behind the Senate health reform bill. We made it clear that MAG would not support any such deal.
Fixing the flawed SGR formula is important for doctors, but even more important for seniors. Congress today is finding it hard to pay for its current promises to provide seniors medical care (i.e. SGR). Let's pay for today's promises before we extend additional promises that will be even harder to finance. S.B. 1776 and similar bills are not a "doc fix" - they are a "patient fix." We also made it clear to our congressmen that MAG will not be part of any deal that calls on us to jettison our support for tort reform or put us in a position to support a health reform bill that we know is fundamentally flawed.
It was an interesting day in the nation's capitol. Many thanks to Dr. Williamson for doing an outstanding job in representing MAG as we continue to play a leadership role in the fight for a good bill that will reform the nation's broken health care financing system.
Dr. Williamson's remarks
Photo of Dr. Williamson at press conference
'Reid offers doctors a deal,' The Hill
10.14.09 SGR trouble in the House?
The following paragraph appeared near the end of a long Washington Post article on the health reform bill...
"House Democrats were also considering shifting more low-income families out of the exchanges and onto Medicaid. And they have removed from the package an expensive provision that would have prevented doctors who see Medicare patients from taking a big pay cut in January. That measure, which would cost about $240 billion over the next decade, is now likely to move as a separate piece of legislation."
10.13.09 Health care comparison
Click here for side-by-side comparison of health system reform proposals
10.01.09 MAG's summary of Senate Finance Committee, chairman's mark of "America's Healthy Future Act of 2009"
Please find a link below to an outline of the Senate Finance Committee proposal submitted by Sen. Baucus. This is the proposal as introduced and does not include any amendment that may have passed in the past few days. An updated version of this as well as further analysis will be available at the HOD in two weeks. Also below are copies of a letter MAG initiated on behalf of the coalition to the Senate Finance Committee on September 21, the day before it began its markup.
Read MAG's summary of Senate Finance Committee, chairman's mark of "America's Healthy Future Act of 2009"
MAG, other coalition members opposing Sen. Baucus bill
09.22.09 MAG coalition opposes Baucus bill
Yesterday, MAG and its 48,000-strong Coalition took a formal position opposed to the Baucus bill (Chairman's Mark) released by Sen. Baucus last Wednesday. We sent letters to Sens. Baucus and Grassley. The Coalition also send a letter to AMA expressing its disappointment about AMA's initial response to the bill.
MAG, other coalition members opposing Sen. Baucus bill
Coalition letter to AMA regarding "America's Healthy Future Act"
09.12.09 MAG coalition referenced in the NYT, WSJ
Read article in The New York Times
08.07.09 MAG's summary of H.R. 3200
Last Sunday's feature article in The Atlanta Journal Constitution drew the attention of Newt Gingrich. Last night, Gingrich made a favorable reference to MAG and our coalition on the Hannity Show. As a result, we are getting a number of press inquiries. We will pitch interviews to other parts of the state. If we can help you get the word out to your local community, please let us know. The more widespread the news, the better.
Also, in an effort to help doctors and others understand what is in H.R. 3200, below you will find a summary of provisions. This summary was developed in-house by the Medical Association of Georgia and places emphasis on provisions that affect physicians and patients. I hope you find this helpful. It is posted on our Web site. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Click here for H.R. 3200 summary
Read AJC feature on Dr. Williamson
08.06.09 Month of August key in health reform debate
I want to highlight the importance of encouraging your colleagues to use this month of August to contact Georgia's congressional delegation (including Sens. Chambliss and Isakson) to express you opposition to H.R. 3200 or similar legislation. Click here to contact your members of Congress.
You should have received MAG's advocacy alerts and patient grassroots action sheet and continued press coverage. Soon we will be releasing a summary of H.R. 3200 and will be providing additional support to doctors across the state and the nation in an effort to cut through the clutter. With this summary, you will know what is in the bill and can speak with authority. Expect to see this in the next day or so.
Our coalition of state and specialty societies has been growing and drawing increased attention nationwide. If you have been following the press, you know that Dr. Williamson has been particularly in demand. Click here to watch an interview of Dr. Williamson that aired on Fox News last night. Drs. Bailey and Green have also been very active in this effort. Please thank them all for their hard work.
07.24.09 Alert on H.R. 3200
We are hearing that House Speaker Pelosi plans to bring H.R. 3200 to the floor next week bypassing Energy and Commerce Committee. This disregard for "regular order" is not unprecedented but is somewhat unusual and unfortunately it is becoming more common in the House on legislation that has difficulty getting out of committee. You may recall the stimulus bill did not even go through committee.
My recommendation is to push all members of Congress, particularly Blue Dogs to vote against the "Rule" which would allow the bill to come to the floor without going through the committee of jurisdiction. In addition, we would ask that they vote against the bill.
MAG will be sending out an action alert today. Please contact your member of congress and the Georgia Blue Dogs (Reps. Barrow, Bishop, Marshall and Scott).
Click here for Blue Dog Democrats' contact information
Read CBO's letter to Congress regarding Medicare program
07.23.09 Blue Dog Democrats key to health care reform
As you know, MAG has been concerned about the direction of health care reform proceeding at the national level for some time. Our concerns are shared by a number of other state and specialty medical societies who formed a coalition last year and met in January. Since then, the coalition has been involved in Congressional testimony and in presenting resolutions at the AMA.
On Tuesday, MAG released a letter from MAG and a coalition of six state medical associations, one county CMS and three specialty societies along with two past presidents of the AMA expressing our concerns regarding the health care reform legislation moving forward in Congress. This coalition represents more than 43,000 physicians across the nation. On Wednesday, Dr. Williamson was the coalition's spokesperson at a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington DC.
While in Washington, D.C., Dr. Williamson and I took the opportunity to visit six members of the congressional delegation to discuss H.R. 3200. You probably have heard that the conservative democrats know as "Blue Dogs" are key votes on this legation. We have urged the Georgia Blue Dogs to oppose H.R. 3200 and to adopt positions consistent with the principles outlined in the coalition letter. Each Blue Dog vote on the Energy & Commerce Committee is critical. I urge you to contact them asking them to stand firm.
We consider the indefinite postponement of the Energy & Commerce Committee’s markup of H.R. 3200 a success. As Dr. Williamson and I were walking past the Energy & Commerce Committee room, we noted the sign on the door announcing the postponement. Dr. Williamson is seen here holding that sign in front of the Committee room which I think captures the moment.
Coalition of state & specialty medical societies appeal to Congress
View Dr. Williamson's picture
Click here for Blue Dog Democrats' contact information
07.16.09 Votes expected this week on H.R. 3200
I am writing to apprise you of actions and events that have occurred in the past several hours related to national health care reform. As you know, MAG has taken a position opposing the bill moving through the U.S. House of Representatives known as the "discussion draft" and by extension H.R. 3200 which was introduced on Tuesday. The 1,000-page bill is substantially similar to the discussion draft. We are asking our members of congress to oppose H.R. 3200.
We are sending out an alert on this and ask that you forward the alert to your colleagues and friends. We also have been leading a coalition of 20 state and specialty societies that favor the right to privately contract. This coalition is now circulating a letter to take a more extensive approach to many of the provisions in H.R. 3200.
Click here to craft a message
View alert and talking points
07.07.09 MAG releases summary of House health reform bill
We anticipate a major health reform bill to move through the House of Representatives next week. We ask that you participate in the grassroots effort to oppose the bill.
Read full Cook's Corner message
MAG's letter to members of Congress regarding the discussion draft (07.07.09)
View alert and sample e-mail (07.07.09)
Click here to craft a message
07.01.09 MAG releases summary of House health reform bill
On Friday, June 19, 2009, the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled a draft of a bill, known as the "Tri-Committee Discussion Draft." That afternoon, U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, ranking member of the Health Subcommittee of Energy & Commerce (a committee of jurisdiction) asked if Dr. Williamson could testify on June 25. We accepted this invitation viewing it to be an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate a leadership role for our association and our coalition built around the right to privately contract.
We reviewed the 850-page Discussion Draft and found that it was more expansive than the Senate Finance Committee position. The compressed time frame required that we frame a position immediately. After reviewing the proposal, we took a formal position in opposition to the Discussion Draft.
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06.26.09 MAG testified in Congress on Thursday
As you know, Dr. Williamson had been asked to testify during the ongoing congressional hearing on national health care reform.
MAG has taken a position against the "Discussion Draft" and developed a leadership position on this issue at the national level. I thought you would be interested in his testimony attached. A copy of the video will be posted on our Web site when we are able to download it.
Read Dr. Williamson's testimony submitted to the House committee
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06.20.09 MAG to testify in Congress on Thursday
Dr. Williamson has accepted an invitation to testify before the Health Subcommittee of Energy & Commerce in the U.S House of Representatives on Thursday, June 25. The invitation came at the request of Congressman Nathan Deal (R-Ga) who is the ranking member of the committee. Mr. Deal is aware of, and very interested in our coalition on the right to privately contract.
Our testimony will be during one of 11 panels throughout the week to discuss the 852-page "discussion draft" that was introduced by the three House committees dealing with the legislation.
Dr. Williamson and I will be working on his testimony over the weekend. It is due to the committee on Wednesday. Dr. Williamson and I plan to travel to Washington on Wednesday night.
Read the full text of the legislation discussion draft
06.17.09 MAG influences national health care policy
This week I had the pleasure of accompanying the MAG delegation to the American Medical Association at its annual meeting in Chicago. This was an extremely important meeting for which we have been preparing since last November. We built a coalition of twenty state and specialty societies that had a significant impact on AMA policy. We heard President Obama and fought hard for strong national policy against further government intrusion into health care. I was very proud of our delegation and our success at this meeting.
Read a summary article of our efforts
04.03.09 MAG’s Cook to comment on health insurance inquiry on 90.1 FM at 4:49 p.m. on Friday
MAG Executive Director David Cook has been interviewed for a news report that will address Georgia State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine's inquiry into how Georgia health insurers calculate payments to physicians for out-of-network care, a report that is scheduled to air on WABE 90.1 FM in Atlanta at 4:49 p.m. today, Friday, April 3.
The AJC has reported that Oxendine has ordered 18 major insurers to report how they set reimbursement rates for service delivered outside their networks. The AJC article also said that Oxendine wants to know which insurers use the Ingenix database, a focus of lawsuits that allege that data have been manipulated to shortchange patients and doctors.
MAG recently joined the American Medical Association (AMA) and three additional state medical societies in filing a class-action lawsuit against WellPoint, Inc. – the largest health insurer in the U.S. – as part of its ongoing legal advocacy efforts to protect physicians and their patients in the state. WellPoint is the parent company of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, the state’s largest health insurer.
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03.31.09 MAG president booked for Herman Cain Show on WSB 750 AM at 8:06 p.m. on Tuesday
As you know, Todd Williamson, M.D., presented testimony on behalf of MAG and five other state medical associations to the Health Subcommittee of Energy and Commerce in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 10. This was the first congressional hearing on health care reform. If you have not yet read the testimony, please click here to see the video and read the testimony.
Our testimony in Congress has now attracted the attention of Herman Cain, a radio talk show host in Atlanta. Dr. Williamson will be featured in a 30-minute interview on The Herman Cain Show program on WSB Radio 750 AM on Tuesday, March 31 beginning at 8:06 p.m.
He will discuss the need for health care reform, including the concept of "balanced billing" and the need to restore the physician-patient relationship – messages he delivered to a congressional subcommittee several weeks ago.
WSB is the top-rated AM station among most demographic audiences in Atlanta. Cain's program can be heard in as many as 38 states. I hope that all of you can listen and we would appreciate your feedback on how our message was delivered.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at dcook@mag.org.
03.10.09 MAG testifies before Congressional Subcommittee on Health
Today, the leadership of the Medical Association of Georgia took the national stage on health care reform. MAG President M. Todd Williamson, M.D., gave testimony at the first Congressional hearing on the issue of reforming the nation's health care system. Dr. Williamson testified on behalf of MAG and five other state medical societies (Arkansas, Alabama, New Jersey, South Carolina and Tennessee). The focus of Dr. Williamson’s testimony was on the need to preserve the private practice of medicine and he recommended that Congress ensure the right of physicians to privately contract with their patients as a bedrock reform that will preserve the profession and protect patients access to care. Dr Williamson was accompanied to the hearing by Drs. Joseph Bailey, Jack Chapman, John Antalis, Andrew Reisman and myself.
Among those who testified were the Congressional Budget Office, the Institute of Medicine and MEDPAC.
Congratulations to Dr. Williamson, and thanks Dr. Donald Palmisano, and to our sister states all of whom helped make this event a success.
11.03.08 Parks v. Wellstar case settles
On October 31, MAG was notified that the case of Parks v. Wellstar, which involved the constitutionality of Georgia’s cap on non-economic damages, has settled. This is a clear victory for Georgia doctors as it leaves Georgia’s $350,000 cap in tact.
As I reported to you a few months ago, a Fulton County trial court issued a ruling that the medical malpractice cap on non-economic damages was unconstitutional. The defendants asked the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse the trial court’s ruling. The Georgia Supreme Court accepted the case for appeal to decide whether the cornerstone of the 2005 Tort Reform law (cap on non-economic damages) was constitutional.
This issue is highly important to the doctors of Georgia. MAG’s General Counsel Donald Palmisano Jr. prepared a friend of the court brief in coordination with the American Medical Association and the American Tort Reform Association. The Texas Alliance for Patient Access had also prepared a separate brief. The Georgia Supreme Court scheduled oral argument for Monday, November 3, 2008. Following oral argument, the Georgia Supreme Court would issue an opinion on the constitutionality of the cap. However, since the case settled, Georgia’s high court will not be considering the issue.
We are sure to see more challenges to the caps and other parts of tort reform continue. MAG remains committed to protecting Georgia’s tort reform laws and want to extend our sincere thanks to all who have helped in this effort.
- David A. Cook, Executive Director/CEO
Medical Association of Georgia
09.19.08 MAG recruiting committee members
MAG members who are interested in serving on a MAG committee should contact David Cook at 678.303.9251 or dcook@mag.org. This includes Continuing Medical Education, Medical Schools, Membership, the International Medical Graduate Section, the Resident and Fellows Section, the Medical Student Section, Medical Practice, Third Party Payer, the Council on Communications, the Council on Legislation, the Georgia Medical Political Action Committee (GAMPAC), Correctional Medicine and Constitution and Bylaws.