legislative advocacy

Significant New California Laws of Interest to Physicians for 2010

Posted December 15th, 2009 in Health Policy, Managing Your Practice

Despite numerous vetoes from the governor, 2009 produced significant, if incremental, changes to laws affecting the practice of medicine in California. With the health system reform debate now centered in Congress, state policymakers directed much of their attention to discrete issues impacting patient access to healthcare, the role of allied health professionals, medical records and privacy, physician licensing and discipline, patient safety, and professional liability.

Topics: 2010 laws, California Medical Association, CMA, Healthcare News and Updates, legislative advocacy, new laws, political advocacy, SDCMS News and Updates

It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times: CMA’s 2007–2008 Legislative Wrap-up

Posted December 19th, 2008 in Health Policy

There are moments in political life that should be preserved in a time capsule to warn future generations from repeating the mistakes of their predecessors. This legislative session could certainly qualify as one of those moments. At the beginning of 2007, the governor embarked on a massive media blitz to pass universal health reform. But by the end of 2008, the state passed a budget that eliminates healthcare coverage for 250,000 Californians.

What happened?

Topics: CMA, legislative advocacy, political advocacy

Legislative Advocacy

Posted November 5th, 2009 in

As physicians struggle with the day-to-day challenges of healing patients and running a business, it's tough to remember that advocacy really matters. After all, advocacy is something someone else does, and physicians almost never see the results today.

In this, our annual advocacy issue, we want to remind you that advocacy matters to every physician — and it matters a lot!

Topics: legislative advocacy

Five Ways to NOT be a Successful Legislative Advocate

Posted June 19th, 2009 in Health Policy

Physicians are in some ways uniquely unsuited to be legislative advocates. We function in a world that acknowledges our extensive training and experience and is respectful of scientific analysis. And despite all the difficulties of practicing in the 21st century, we still get what we want in most situations. When we make a diagnosis and propose a treatment plan, our patients usually go along with it. And when we want things to do a particular way in our clinical settings, be it the office or the operating room, they usually do.

Topics: Advocacy, legislative advocacy, political advocacy

The Three Keys to Successful Legislative Advocacy

Posted June 19th, 2009 in Health Policy

People have written entire books about the art of negotiation and the nuances of successful advocacy. Busy professionals such as physicians do not have time to read about art or nuances — we need a bottom line.

I have distilled my experience into three bottom-line points that I believe will serve you well. Success is never guaranteed, but if you follow these three points, I guarantee that you will never really “fail.”

RESPECT ELECTED OFFICIALS (AND THEIR STAFF)

Topics: Advocacy, legislative advocacy, political advocacy

2006 CMA Legislative Hot List

Posted September 23rd, 2008 in Health Policy

CMA-SPONSORED LEGISLATION

Topics: California legislation, CMA, hot list, legislative advocacy

Doing Good for Those Who Do Good

Posted September 17th, 2008 in

As I begin my tenure as your new SDCMS president, I am reminded often by family and colleagues of the time that I put into medical society involvement at the local, state, and federal levels. I am usually asked things like “Do you get paid?” or “Do you also practice medicine?”

Topics: CMA, legislative advocacy, Organized Medicine, political advocacy, sdcms

You must be logged in to access this feature.

Subscribe to San Diego Physician Magazine

Ship to

Cancel