Big Wins for Medicine
MSMA has a legacy of legislative advocacy that stretches back for decades. We’ve represented physicians and patients in the Capitol for generations, and we take great pride in our work. Over the years, MSMA has had consistent legislative successes. Peruse our annual Legislative Review, our Legislative Timeline, and the list below to see just a handful of our legislative wins.
If you would like more information about our legislative efforts, please contact Heidi Sutherland at heidi@msma.org or Shantel Dooling at shantel@msma.org.
MSMA has a legacy of legislative advocacy that stretches back for decades. We’ve represented physicians and patients in the Capitol for generations, and we take great pride in our work. Over the years, MSMA has had consistent legislative successes. Peruse our annual Legislative Review, our Legislative Timeline, and the list below to see just a handful of our legislative wins.
If you would like more information about our legislative efforts, please contact Heidi Sutherland at heidi@msma.org or Shantel Dooling at shantel@msma.org.
Bills MSMA Helped Pass:
Punitive Damages - It will now be more difficult for trial attorneys to make and win a claim for punitive damages, as they must now prove their punitive damages claim by clear and convincing evidence. In addition, punitive damages can no longer be awarded based on an act of simple negligence. The defendant must intentionally cause damage or be accused of malicious misconduct.
Prompt Credentialing – Insurance companies will now be required to reimburse physicians for services provided while their credentialing application is pending. The physician’s employer must have a previous contractual relationship with the insurance company, and claims will be paid once the credentialing application is approved.
Breast Cancer Screening - This provision implements American College of Radiology guidelines for breast cancer screening, including expanded insurance coverage for any woman deemed high-risk by her treating physician and any medically necessary follow-up imaging.
Overpayment Transparency - Whenever an insurance company withholds or recoups money from a physician, this provision requires the insurance company to give notice to the physician of the particular healthcare service, the date of the service, and the patient for which the recoupment or withhold is being made.
Vaping - Vapor products will now be prohibited in any indoor area of a public school or on a school bus. The broader vaping prohibitions we sought this year were extinguished by the abbreviated session.
Punitive Damages - It will now be more difficult for trial attorneys to make and win a claim for punitive damages, as they must now prove their punitive damages claim by clear and convincing evidence. In addition, punitive damages can no longer be awarded based on an act of simple negligence. The defendant must intentionally cause damage or be accused of malicious misconduct.
Prompt Credentialing – Insurance companies will now be required to reimburse physicians for services provided while their credentialing application is pending. The physician’s employer must have a previous contractual relationship with the insurance company, and claims will be paid once the credentialing application is approved.
Breast Cancer Screening - This provision implements American College of Radiology guidelines for breast cancer screening, including expanded insurance coverage for any woman deemed high-risk by her treating physician and any medically necessary follow-up imaging.
Overpayment Transparency - Whenever an insurance company withholds or recoups money from a physician, this provision requires the insurance company to give notice to the physician of the particular healthcare service, the date of the service, and the patient for which the recoupment or withhold is being made.
Vaping - Vapor products will now be prohibited in any indoor area of a public school or on a school bus. The broader vaping prohibitions we sought this year were extinguished by the abbreviated session.
Bills MSMA Helped Defeat:
Physical Therapists - If passed, these provisions would have established direct-access physical therapy, thereby removing the requirement of a physician’s recommendation for PT services.
APRN Licensure - If passed, this bill would have established an APRN license under the Board of Nursing. Combining this with some physician title protection language, we almost had a compromise ironed out, but the nurse representatives couldn’t come to an agreement amongst themselves, so it died.
APRN Collaborative Practice - There were multiple bills that would have changed the collaborative practice act. Some expanded geographic proximity; others would have eliminated it altogether. None passed, but the Governor did relax a number of collaborative practice requirements during the state of emergency (which ends June 15, 2020), so this is something to prepare for entering next year.
Physical Therapists - If passed, these provisions would have established direct-access physical therapy, thereby removing the requirement of a physician’s recommendation for PT services.
APRN Licensure - If passed, this bill would have established an APRN license under the Board of Nursing. Combining this with some physician title protection language, we almost had a compromise ironed out, but the nurse representatives couldn’t come to an agreement amongst themselves, so it died.
APRN Collaborative Practice - There were multiple bills that would have changed the collaborative practice act. Some expanded geographic proximity; others would have eliminated it altogether. None passed, but the Governor did relax a number of collaborative practice requirements during the state of emergency (which ends June 15, 2020), so this is something to prepare for entering next year.
