|
Issue Teams
The VMS does its policy work through issue teams. Along with the Physician
Policy Council, the issue teams guide all VMS policy initiatives and are the
most direct voice of our physician members. It is primarily through these
teams of member physicians that the VMS lobbies the Vermont General Assembly
and the executive branch, as well as presents the concerns of Vermont
physicians to private entities.
The issue team structure enables the VMS staff to tap into the diverse
expertise of more than 1,900 member physicians, residents, and students.
Team members receive copies of pending bills and are asked to forward their
views to VMS headquarters by telephone, mail, fax, or e-mail. Conference
calls and meetings are scheduled as necessary to discuss issues, develop
positions, and design strategies that tap physicians' expertise and
interests. Issue team members are not required to respond to mailings or to
participate in calls or meetings, but are encouraged to do so when their
schedules permit.
Team 1
- Individual Rights, Ethics, Confidentiality
Medical records confidentiality
Parental notification for abortion
Team 2 - Excellent Care at the End of Life
(ExCEL)
Pain and symptom management at end of life
Support creation of regional systems of end-of-life care statewide
Do-not-resuscitate orders (pre-hospital)
Team 3 - Pharmaceuticals
Medicaid pharmacy benefit management
Medicaid preferred drug list (formulary)
Team 4 - Health Care Reform
Care for the uninsured
CON, hospital budgets
Insurance coverage mandates
Team 5 - Medicaid and Medicare
Eligibility and coverage
Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement
Team 6 - Legal Issues: Competitive Practices, Malpractice Reform
Collective bargaining and anti-trust issues for physicians
Malpractice reform – mandatory arbitration, review of case prior to litigation
Timely payment
Team 7 - Public Health & Primary Care Recruitment
Tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse
Physician recruitment and retention (loan repayment, etc)
Access to firearms
Team 8
- Mental Health
Confidentiality of medical records
Managed care and behavioral health
Substance abuse treatment
Team 9
- Workers' Compensation
Workers’ compensation rules
Reimbursement rates
Team 10 - Licensing
Scope of practice: optometry (prescribing and glaucoma treatment), psychology (prescribing)
Licensing of telemedicine practice, medical directors
Team 11 - Practice Management
Streamlining administration and paperwork requirements
HIPAA compliance
Credentialing and utilization review
Team 12
- Opioid Dependence
Clinical management of heroin addiction
Availability of pharmacological treatment
For more information or to sign up
for one of more of our Issue Teams call our office
at 800-640-8767, or email mmongan@vtmd.org.
|
