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ISMS: Illinois Supreme Court Rolls
Back Hard-Won Reforms
DECISION WILL HAVE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS
In a stunning 4-2 opinion handed down today, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Illinois' 2005 medical litigation reform, including a $500K cap for physicians on non-economic damages, is unconstitutional. The case that was the basis for this decision, Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, was brought by trial lawyer interests who suffered defeat when the bipartisan medical liability bill was signed into law more than four years ago.
As many of you will recall, this legislation was enacted into law when Illinois patients and physicians faced the most dire of circumstances — physicians were leaving the state due to a hostile, out-of-control medical lawsuit climate. Many who stayed dropped high-risk specialty care, leaving patients to travel up to several hours and even across state lines to receive medical care.
This decision by the IL Supreme Court comes despite overwhelming evidence that strong medical liability laws, including a cap on non-economic damages, have proven to be extremely effective in other states by controlling costs and ensuring access to health care. A recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis affirms that medical liability reform would save at least $54 billion in national health care costs over the next decade.
Since Illinois’ passage of comprehensive medical liability reform in 2005, patient access to health care has expanded, frivolous lawsuits have decreased and previously soaring malpractice rates have dropped or leveled off for many physicians.
The Illinois Supreme Court's decision has undone the will of the people and will once again threaten patient access to care in Illinois.
ISMS and ISMIE Mutual will not allow this setback to deter us. We will continue to fight aggressively for fairness in the Illinois courts.
Get H1N1 Pandemic Flu information and the latest updates from the Director of the Sangamon County Public Health Department — click on "Pandemic Flu Updates" located under the Resources tab.
2010 President's Message
By Lawrence J. Smith, M.D.
Nephrologist
Central Illinois Kidney & Dialysis Associates
As one decade ends and we prepare to enter into a new one, physicians face far more challenges than ever. Besides the technological and medical advances that drive how we treat patients, we now are on the precipice of health care reform.
If health care reform does pass, your local medical society stands prepared to help navigate such changes. However challenging implementation of reform might be, our response mechanisms will ultimately steer us on a course of adaptability, and hopefully sustainability.
The nation's economic recession continues at the local level as we see the number of uninsured patients rise, the increased number of first-time visitors to homeless shelters and food pantries, and the growing burden on already strained social service agencies. One of the main reasons I have remained involved in SCMS is their work over the years towards helping the uninsured. My primary goal for the year ahead is to see what started as an SCMS initiative in 2009, the Access Project, begin to enroll uninsured patients.
By Craig A. Backs, M.D., FACP & David J. Bitzer, M.D. Craig A. Backs, M.D. — David Bitzer, M.D.
Happy Holidays to all our members in Sangamon County, District V.
We are proud to represent District V on the ISMS Board of Trustees. At the ISMS, Sangamon County is viewed upon as a dynamic and relevant county medical society that represents the interests of its members and its community. While our multiple group members provide a helpful environment for strong membership numbers, it is our "culture of membership" that has enabled us to have strong membership compared to other county medical societies.
Our community cohesion around patient care and medical education is challenged by competition and economic uncertainty, but our concern for our patients and community brings us together.
We are stronger when more are pulling the wagon and fewer are along for the ride. Dues paying members are pulling the wagon while the rest of our colleagues coast on our efforts. We face more uncertainty about the future of our profession than any other time in the past half century, particularly in the areas of funding, staffing, and professionalism. And, while we all would prefer to prosper as a profession without sacrifice of time and treasure, we know that sacrifice is giving up something good to get something better.
Why is membership so costly? There are long answers about the many legislative threats we fight off and the policies that guide our profession that are developed through time-consuming debate. We support our members when the government fails to honor its commitments, but the short answer to why does it cost us so much? Because it is worth it! The benefits each of us has received from the efforts of SCMS and ISMS are worth far more than the cost of membership. Membership is an insurance policy, which continues to pay dividends year after year.
So when it comes time to pay those dues, note the cost but focus on the value. Please renew your membership and ask a nonmember to get out of the wagon and help the rest of us pull.
Happy and Healthy New Year 2010!
[Phone ISMS at 1.800.782.4767 to renew membership dues today or visit www.isms.org to pay dues on-line]
Access Project Update:
Design Team Plan Nears Completion
By Janet R. Albers, M.D.
Family Medicine - SIU School of Medicine
Chair - SCMS Community Health Committee
Access Projects are proving to be vital in establishing medical homes for uninsured patients, with currently more than 50 Access Projects successfully operating in the U.S., from rural communities to major metropolitan areas.
Often started by county medical societies, with the first one established by the Buncombe County Medical Society in 1996, these programs are physician- and community-led initiatives that address access issues and coordinate the full continuum of healthcare for the uninsured. It provides them efficient and cost-effective care, and helps them to get well and stay well. The overall health of a community also improves when uninsured patients have primary and preventive care versus sporadic care via the emergency room.
The main design element for Access Projects to adopt in order to be successful is the "mosaic strategy." This approach incorporates multiple existing programs, models, and organizations into a collaborative structure that allows each of these components to do what they do best, while emphasizing coordination, integration, and non-duplication in the design of how various components interact with each other. This synergy is driven by community spirit, which allows us to provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Call for Member Articles for BeHealthySpringfield.com The State Journal-Register Seeks Physicians' Input
By Gayle E. Woodson, M.D., Chair, SCMS SJ-R Editorial Panel
Otolaryngologist, SIU School of Medicine
We invite all SCMS members to submit articles to our Editorial Panel for possible posting on The State Journal-Register's (SJ-R) new health Web site, www.behealthyspringfield.com. We are proud to have been invited by the SJ-R to partner with them as they seek to grow this new site. This is a new member benefit as you will have an opportunity to share your expertise and knowledge with readers from throughout central Illinois.
Recently the SCMS Executive Officers identified five physician members to serve on our Editorial Panel who will peer review member submitted articles for medical and scientific efficacy. The panel consists of prior inductees into the "Medical Innovators" program, which recognizes the leading edge medical and scientific physicians and/or researchers in our robust medical community, a program jointly sponsored by SCMS and The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce's Quantum Growth Partnership in support of the Mid-Illinois Medical District.
Understanding Massachusetts'
Insurance Exchange System
By Michael S. Sinha, M.D./J.D. Dual Degree Candidate
Southern Illinois University Schools of Medicine and Law
President, AMA Student Section, SIU; Student Representative - SCMS Board of Directors
The Massachusetts health care system enters into virtually any discourse on national health care reform in the U.S. because several of its innovative approaches have been incorporated into the U.S. House and Senate bills currently under debate. Enacted in 2006 as a bipartisan compromise between then-Governor Republican Mitt Romney and a Democratic-majority state legislature, the Massachusetts reform radically altered their health care insurance system.
In order to implement lasting and successful reform, Massachusetts state legislators first sought to gain a better understanding of the demographics of the uninsured population in the U.S. One longitudinal study assessing instability of health care coverage over a four-year period found that of the total population experiencing one or more gaps in coverage, only 12% were consistently uninsured over that period.
Physician Locator Service:
Is Your Doctor A Society Member?
One key service that the Sangamon County Medical Society (SCMS) provides to the general public is our Physician Locator tool. Physician Locator is a directory search tool providing valuable information on more than 580 SCMS member physicians, which includes doctors of medicine (MD) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO). Information such as educational backgrounds and board certifications has been verified for accuracy and authenticated by accrediting agencies, medical schools, residency training programs, licensing boards, and other data sources.
In short, we have taken the guesswork out of evaluating a physician's credentials. SCMS also provides referral information for primary care and specialty physicians. Information may be obtained by accessing the Physician Locator on this Web site or by calling us at 217-525-0765.
ISMS District V Trustees' Report
Good news! Sangamon County, or District V, will host the 2010 annual meeting of the House of Delegates of the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS). Thanks to a decision by the ISMS Board of Trustees at their June meeting, the House will return to Springfield. Read the ISMS District V Trustees' Report online in Sangamon Medical News.
Get On The SCMS
Or SCMS Alliance Group Email Lists!
If you have an email address, and would like to receive updates and action alerts from either the Sangamon County Medical Society or our Alliance, please let us know. More and more of our communications in the near future will be sent electronically. You can get newsletters faster and eliminate paper clutter on your desk. Don't worry, we won't inundate your inbox!
Your email address is safe with us. We do not share, sell or distribute email addresses to anyone. SCMS also sends periodic news by email to office managers of our members.
Send us your information to join either of our group email lists. Include your full name, which organization's email list you are joining, your email address, mailing address, phone number, office manager, and manager's email. Note: SCMS will promptly forward Alliance information to them upon receipt.
By Janet R. Albers, M.D.
directory search tool providing valuable information on more than 580 SCMS member physicians, which includes doctors of medicine (MD) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO). Information such as educational backgrounds and board certifications has been verified for accuracy and authenticated by accrediting agencies, medical schools, residency training programs, licensing boards, and other data sources.