Texas physicians’ advocacy accomplishments both in the state and alongside the American Medical Association earned praise from AMA’s president-elect at the Texas Medical Association’s Leadership Summit on Jan. 27.
Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd, Louisville otolaryngologist Bruce Scott, MD, thanked “the leaders of Texas” for fighting battles that align with AMA’s Recovery Plan for Physicians, such as prior authorization reform, halting scope creep in its tracks, and pushing for improvements to Medicare payment.
Dr. Scott, who completed his medical education and residency at The University of Texas (UT) Medical Branch in Galveston and a fellowship at UT Health Science Center at Houston, said these issues have threatened his “second home” and urged Texas physicians to continue the fight for medicine.
Lamenting indefensible cuts to Medicare payment amidst rising inflation, for example, Dr. Scott called for a “total revamp” of the Medicare payment system through multiple legislative initiatives, like House Resolution 2474, which aims to establish appropriate Medicare physician payment updates based on the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).
“It’s time to fix Medicare [payment] now,” Dr. Scott said. “If we don’t, it’s ultimately the patients who will suffer.”
Dr. Scott says AMA also fought successfully for several changes, most recently to new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rules, to reduce prior authorization burden, including requiring payers to respond more quickly, cite specific denial reasons, publicly reporting of program metrics, and make prior authorization information be available to patients – all victories that came to fruition following physician advocacy efforts.
Dr. Scott thanked the Texas Delegation to the AMA for their role in these victories, calling TMA’s alignment with AMA goals and its role in AMA policy “some of the most powerful” advocacy efforts in the country.
Confirming that power, Dr. Scott thanked TMA for its role in the total shutout of any legislation that would have expanded scope of practice for nonphysician practitioners, citing a growing body of research that shows removing physician oversight of the health care team undermines patient safety and health care cost containment.
Dr. Scott closed the presentation by reminding members that while TMA can influence change in the state, some crucial health care reform can only happen nationally by collaborating with AMA. AMA policy allows for one delegate per 1,000 state medical association members who join AMA, which could add up to 56 delegates for Texas. Currently, the delegation stands at 20 members.
“Our voice in Washington is only as loud as our membership,” Dr. Scott said to resounding applause.
For more information about the Leadership Summit, visit TMA’s conference webpage.
Alisa Pierce
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1469