September 29, 2009

BCMS Shares Stand on Health Care Reform

Bexar County Medical Society, a physician association of over 4,100 members, is the oldest and third largest county medical society in Texas. Since its inception in 1853, BCMS continues its mission of advocating for physicians, patients and our community.

Today, physicians and patients, along with the entire healthcare industry find themselves in the midst of a historical period. As healthcare continues to dominate the national spotlight, physicians, as leaders of the healthcare team, now more than ever, must stand united for the rights of their patients and for full and effective health system reform. Reform should focus on protecting the patient-physician relationship, insurance and Medicare financing reform, broadening healthcare coverage, protection of high quality services, and increasing patient access to care.

Of utmost priority is to maintain the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship. The time is now for medicine and healthcare to rise to the occasion and actively participate in advocating for a healthcare system that will allow patients to have access to the physician of their choice while simultaneously recognizing the leading role of physicians in the management of medical care.

Without question, our current healthcare system is seriously flawed and unbalanced. Patients’ exorbitant premium rates have skyrocketed. Insurance companies need to be held accountable for adequate provider networks, prudent use of premium dollars and continued coverage when it is needed.

Additionally, physicians need a permanent solution to the Medicare payment methodology. Just recently, physicians narrowly avoided a 10% cut in rates, only to face a possible 21.5% cut in January of 2010. These cuts are caused by an inherently broken Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula which ultimately limits many patients’ access to care. BCMS physicians support replacing the SGR with a rational Medicare physician payment system that is backed by a fair and stable funding formula based on the Medical Economic Index (MEI) that will automatically and more accurately forecast the costs of practicing medicine.

BCMS strongly supports responsible physician investment in technology, facilities, services and equipment with the main focus being on the quality of the facility or service and its appropriateness for patient care. Physician-owned hospitals and care centers, statistically, provide higher quality care with lower risk and better outcomes for patients. Because physicians are held accountable for high quality care, physicians must continue to protect that quality of care for patients while being proactive in working towards finding solutions for reducing healthcare costs.

Because of our victories with tort reform, Texas has attracted many physicians; and, this has led to a significant reduction in medical liability insurance costs for physicians. Texas has netted a 31% greater growth rate in newly licensed physicians in the past two years than in the two years preceding tort reform. In San Antonio, the physician growth rate is 55% greater than pre-tort reform. The increase in the number of physicians practicing in Texas has led to greater access to care for patients. Nevertheless, we still need to do everything possible to increase the number of primary care physicians in our state. BCMS physicians support national tort reform

but also know that federal caps on pain and suffering are not likely. It is critical that the federal government not preempt state limitations on settlements, like the ones we have in Texas.

Bexar County Medical Society and San Antonio physicians continue to fight for patients. To reform our current health care system for the benefit of all, everyone should contact their federal representatives and make recommendations. Physicians, patients – everyone - need to make their voices heard.