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The Physician’s Collective Negotiations Bill is Still in Play!!


Physician’s Collective Negotiations Legislation

S-3186A (Hannon)/A-2474 (Canestrari):

There is a chance for passage before the Legislative session ends tonight or tomorrow morning.

However, all physicians must remain active, and continue to call their Legislators so that they will push leadership to bring the bills to the floor for a vote NOW.

Please call to urge Albany Leadership to bring this bill to the floor and passage before the legislature leaves Alabany this week.

Assembly Speaker Silver: 518-455-3791 (if voicemail full, try local office 212-312-1420)

Senate Majority Leader Skelos: 518-455-3171 (if voicemail full try local office 516-766-8383)

The legislative assistants will take your Name and Address (or sometimes just your zip code).  If you get an opportunity to say anything else,  here is the message:

Speaker Silver/Majority Leader Skelos, I am calling as a physician and on behalf of my patients, your constituents and all citizens of NY State regarding A-2474/S-3186A, the physicians’ collective negotiations bill. I ask that that you bring this bill to passage before the end of the legislative session.

Thanks, everyone, for all your efforts.

Don't Wait for ACO's: Call Today to Move Physician's Collective Negotiation Through NYS Legislature

Help level the playing field between solo and small private practice physicians and the large insurance companies that control physician reimbursement.

The Physician’s Collective Negotiations Bill is moving through the Senate and Assembly.  All four of the Suffolk Senators are now co-sponsors and several Assemblymembers are co-sponsors and some are still signing on to the bills.  There is a chance for passage before the Legislature goes home for the summer.  However, all physicians must remain active, and continue to call/fax/email their Legislators  so that they will push Senate and Assembly leadership to bring the bills to the floor for a vote this session.  All Suffolk physicans are asked to call the Senate switchboard and Assembly switchboard to give the following brief message:

Senate Switchboard:  518-455-2800

Senator XXXX, I am calling as your constituent and on behalf of my patients, your constituents regarding S-3186A/A-2474A, the physicians’ collective negotiations bill.  Thank you very much for co-sponsoring this legislation which will level the playing field for patients and doctors to improved access to care for all New Yorkers.  I urge you to contact Senate leadership to request that this legislation be sent to the Senate floor so it can be passed before the end of the current legislative session.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding the legislation, please feel free to call me, Stuart Friedman at the Suffolk County Medical Society offices at 851-1400, or Dr. Frank Dowling, MSSNY Commissioner of Public Health and Science at 656-0472.

Assembly Switchboard:  518-455-4100

Assemblymember XXXX, I am calling as your constituent and on behalf of my patients, your constituents regarding A2474A/S-3186A, the physicians’ collective negotiations bill.  I ask you to co-sponsor this legislation which will level the playing field for patients and doctors to improved access to care for all New Yorkers.  If you have signed on as a co-sponsor, I thank you and I urge you to contact Assembly leadership to request that this legislation be sent to the Assembly floor so it can be passed before the end of the current legislative session.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding the legislation, please feel free to call me, Stuart Friedman at the Suffolk County Medical Society offices at 851-1400, or Dr. Frank Dowling, MSSNY Commissioner of Public Health and Science at 656-0472.

Mather Highlights EHR and Meaningful Use Education

The heat is on!  Attestation for Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records began in April, and the first ARRA Medicare incentive payments to providers were disbursed in May.  Opportunities to learn more about electronic health records and the practice of medicine in this community are coming up over the next two weeks.

·         Thursday, June 9^th 12 noon at Jefferson’s Ferry – Mather’s Physician Engagement Team will host its second quarterly EHR Summit / Physicians & Office Manager’s Luncheon.  Join Mather CMIO, Dr. Joseph Ng, other physician colleagues from the community, and me for friendly conversation around best practices in EHR selection and implementation.  Learn what you need to know to help your practice succeed in this time of great change and innovation.

·         Next Thursday evening, June 16^th, from 6 pm – 8:30 in CR 1 & 2 at Mather, our Medical Society of the State of New York is sponsoring a 2 hour CME program on Health Information Technology Implementation and Meaningful Use.  Salvatore Volpe, M.D., a  primary care physician, whose practice was one of the first practices in New York State to be recognized as Patient-Centered Medical Home will be the guest speaker.  Also invited is Steven Lisker of CMS who will speak to the Meaningful Use Criteria in ARRA. 

• All day Thursday, June 16^th, at Carlyle on the Green in Farmingdale, the New York State eHealth Collaborative continues its Spring series of educational events, aimed specifically at physician practices still using paper records AND practices with Electronic Health Record systems preparing to qualify for Meaningful  Use.  Details here at Matherdoc.org .