adminOn Oct. 27, 2015, the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) held the first of what is planned as quarterly conference calls on health policy with federal and state policy makers. U.S. Senator Pat Toomey joined a group of 43 PAMED leaders to review a broad range of federal health care issues. He and Sen. Casey recently held a field hearing in Pittsburgh on the opioid crisis, one of the issues discussed in the conference call.
Other issues covered during Sen. Toomey’s presentation and the subsequent Q & A included funding for Planned Parenthood and related health care provider services, the expired program to boost Medicaid primary care reimbursement to Medicare levels, problems with Meaningful Use Stage 3, exclusive contracts by hospitals and health systems, physician input into quality programs, new payment methods, progress on IPAB repeal, and a grant program proposed by Sen. Toomey for states like Pennsylvania to create prescription drug monitoring programs.
PAMED will continue to be engaged with Senators Toomey, Casey, and the entire PA Congressional delegation on the variety of federal issues that may impact Pennsylvania physicians and patients
“Being engaged in these types of discussions with lawmakers is part of the value PAMED provides its members,” said Michael Fraser, PhD, CAE, FCPP, executive vice president of PAMED. “We are YOURPAMED. We have a seat at the table on your behalf, so you don’t end up on the menu. We advocate on issues of importance to Pennsylvania physicians and patients.”
Sen. Toomey serves on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and is chair of the Health sub-committee.