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2008 GCEP Legislative Day
The 2008 GCEP Legislative Day was a phenomenal success. Emergency Medicine Residents and Fellows accompanied by their faculty, from the Medical College of Georgia and Emory University, joined forces with the GCEP Board and many community physician leaders to engage the General Assembly in advocacy for emergency medicine, our patients and the public. We had over 100 participants in the room for lunch and over 20 legislators came by to participate.
The morning started with an update of the current state of affairs of the capitol by our Georgia Link lobbyist, Trip Martin. We reviewed our list of legislative priorities and talking points and we’ve put a link to the material here for your review.
Although SB286, which repeals the gross negligence provision of current law that pertains to emergency care, is still in committee, we are cautiously optimistic that it will not gain traction this session. Your legislative representatives will be monitoring this closely. Matt Keadey, MD, FACEP presented his survey study results: In summary:
Jeff Linzer Sr., MD, FACEP reviewed with the group that although children make up 60% of the Medicaid population, they are very low cost, accounting for only 29% the state’s Medicaid spending. Georgia Medicaid pays less than 80% of the Medicare reimbursement rate for over 1/3 of the most common pediatric services. Georgia certainly has room to improve regarding Medicaid reimbursement and Governor Perdue has proposed an increase in the Medicaid budget. Access to care is jeopardy. Dr. Linzer intimated that since the incorporation of Medicaid managed care, the number of pediatric orthopedists in the Atlanta area that would accept Medicaid patients went from 8 to 1.
Emory representatives directly affected by the politics spoke about the importance of Grady to the state of Georgia. MCG representatives spoke about funding for an additional state medical school campus and we learned Mercer will be opening a new medical school campus in Savannah this year.
The visit to the capitol created excitement and intrigue with all the white-coated individuals walking around. Earl Grubbs, MD, FACEP spent the most time there as the doctor-of-the-day in the MAG first aid station. Rumor has it; he treated someone with an acute inferior MI there with thrombolytics! (just aspirin, but just as effective as any other available therapy prior to their angioplasty)
During the afternoon session, we had a chance to dine with and engross the members of the General Assembly that came to fraternize. Many spoke about their perspicacity with emergency medicine, either through policy making or personal experience. There were countless approbations for GCEP members who have made that special connection with their representative. It was clear that the General Assembly members enjoy hearing from their constituents and that our visits make a difference.
I want to thank our Chapter Executive, Tara Morrison, our GeorgiaLink powerbroker, Trip Martin, the GECP Board, the academic and community physicians, and our sponsors for making this day such an accomplishment. We want to see you next year!
See photos from the 2008 GCEP Legislative Day
Event Sponsors: Fougera – Rita Rodriquez, Sharon Smith MMP/HBR – John Holstein, Jeff Fowler MAG Mutual – Steve Davis Marina Medical Billing Service – Erin Houck Merck – Jane Hardwick Merrill Lynch – Clint Carroll Team Health – Steve McAlpine, MD, FACEP |
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