This year’s agenda centers on the common theme of South Carolina’s physicians “Delivering Care that Patients Trust.” In order to continue building on the trust that South Carolina’s physicians have earned from patients around the state, the SCMA has made it a legislative priority to focus on the following issues: “Delivering Care to All South Carolinians,” “Delivering Care without Insurance Headaches,” “Delivering Care of the Highest Quality,” and “Delivering Care that Cures.” With 2010 being the second year in the 2009-2010 session, many of the 2009 priorities that were set after input from physician members all across the state last year are incorporated into the 2010 legislative agenda.
Delivering Care to All South Carolinians
The SCMA is committed to sponsoring legislation and advocating for budget priorities that will make certain that more and more patients have access to medical care. Some important aspects of ensuring access for all South Carolinians include protecting Medicaid reimbursement rates, encouraging the use of medical homes in Medicaid, and supporting further medical liability reform.
Delivering Care without Insurance Headaches
The SCMA firmly believes that the more time physicians and their staff have to devote to the care of their patients, the healthier South Carolina will be. With that in mind, the SCMA is dedicated to introducing legislation that will benefit physicians and patients alike by eliminating the red tape and wrongful payment practices that plague our insurance system. A bill that reforms the preauthorization process is a priority, and the SCMA will look for other opportunities to introduce insurance reform legislation.
Delivering Care of the Highest Quality
The SCMA shares the interest that all physicians have in its dedication to the delivery of care of the highest quality in South Carolina. With the goal of ensuring that medical care is provided only by those who are qualified to do so, the SCMA will fight aggressively to protect against harmful scope of practice expansions. Additionally, the SCMA believes that state law should require out-of-state physician expert witnesses to be subject to the Board of Medical Examiners.
Delivering Care that Cures
The SCMA will continue to support efforts that better the health of all South Carolinians through public health and safety initiatives. The SCMA’s public health priorities include an increased cigarette tax, laws that address common ailments of South Carolina such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and nutrition guidelines for our schools. Because chronic disease is responsible in large part for soaring health care costs with 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care going toward treating chronic disease, the SCMA believes that a healthier South Carolina will also be a wealthier South Carolina.
We are looking forward to another successful Legislative year and will count on you, the member, for guidance and support as the year progresses.
This year’s agenda centers on the common theme of South Carolina’s physicians “Delivering Care that Patients Trust.” In order to continue building on the trust that South Carolina’s physicians have earned from patients around the state, the SCMA has made it a legislative priority to focus on the following issues: “Delivering Care to All South Carolinians,” “Delivering Care without Insurance Headaches,” “Delivering Care of the Highest Quality,” and “Delivering Care that Cures.” With 2010 being the second year in the 2009-2010 session, many of the 2009 priorities that were set after input from physician members all across the state last year are incorporated into the 2010 legislative agenda.
Delivering Care to All South Carolinians
The SCMA is committed to sponsoring legislation and advocating for budget priorities that will make certain that more and more patients have access to medical care. Some important aspects of ensuring access for all South Carolinians include protecting Medicaid reimbursement rates, encouraging the use of medical homes in Medicaid, and supporting further medical liability reform.
Delivering Care without Insurance Headaches
The SCMA firmly believes that the more time physicians and their staff have to devote to the care of their patients, the healthier South Carolina will be. With that in mind, the SCMA is dedicated to introducing legislation that will benefit physicians and patients alike by eliminating the red tape and wrongful payment practices that plague our insurance system. A bill that reforms the preauthorization process is a priority, and the SCMA will look for other opportunities to introduce insurance reform legislation.
Delivering Care of the Highest Quality
The SCMA shares the interest that all physicians have in its dedication to the delivery of care of the highest quality in South Carolina. With the goal of ensuring that medical care is provided only by those who are qualified to do so, the SCMA will fight aggressively to protect against harmful scope of practice expansions. Additionally, the SCMA believes that state law should require out-of-state physician expert witnesses to be subject to the Board of Medical Examiners.
Delivering Care that Cures
The SCMA will continue to support efforts that better the health of all South Carolinians through public health and safety initiatives. The SCMA’s public health priorities include an increased cigarette tax, laws that address common ailments of South Carolina such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and nutrition guidelines for our schools. Because chronic disease is responsible in large part for soaring health care costs with 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care going toward treating chronic disease, the SCMA believes that a healthier South Carolina will also be a wealthier South Carolina.
We are looking forward to another successful Legislative year and will count on you, the member, for guidance and support as the year progresses.