Official Statement
by the
Westchester County Medical Society
Regarding Health Care Reform
We, as practicing physicians in Westchester County, New York, opposed the official AMA support of HR 3962, commonly known as the Health Care Reform Act, and currently strongly oppose Senate Bill 3590.
We applaud the efforts to expand health insurance coverage for Americans, as well as reforming the insurance market to eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions and arbitrary coverage caps. We strongly support the repeal of the Medicare SGR-based physician payment formula, investment in quality improvement initiatives, and the assurance that health care decisions remain with patients and their physicians. We further praise the proposed streamlining of the insurance claim process.
AMA's support of HR 3962, without specifically enumerating the other onerous elements contained within the bill, significantly compromises our organized profession's future response to these unreasonable and potentially devastating provisions.
Further government intrusion into our healthcare system interferes with our ability to provide the best possible care for our patients. The massive legislations in both Houses of Congress threaten the very existence of many solo and small group practices in this county. With diminishing reimbursement and no recourse in the burdensome medical liability system, many of us can no longer afford to care for our patients. The consequent loss of medical office and medical facility jobs will likely drag the economy deeper into recession. It also dilutes the quality of medical care given to the public. Our profession should be allowed to practice in a free market environment, similar to our professional colleagues in dentistry, law, accounting, and business. We, as physicians, provide a critical function for society.
The House has also passed the "Medicare Physician Payment Act of 2009 (HR 3961), and the debate on all health care legislation has now moved to the Senate. This does not change our position on the current health care reform proposals. We are moving toward the endgame and the need to take a clear, strong stand is even greater. We oppose any legislation which negatively impacts patient care, unfairly and adversely affects our profession, or compromises the physician-patient relationship. Furthermore, we oppose any proposal that includes a public option for it is a "Trojan Horse" for a single payer system, a model we (as well as the AMA) also do not support.
HR 3962 was passed without any language specifically addressing reform of the medical liability system. Instead, it inappropriately outlaws caps on attorney contingency fees and punitive damages. Any meaningful health care proposal must include tort reform to eliminate the waste inherent in our current "defensive medicine climate" as well as make the practice of medicine affordable for many of our specialists here in New York and in other liability "crisis" states.
The cost of the suggested health care proposals appears monumental. In spite of reassurances from our legislators in Congress, we believe that these proposals will enormously add to the cost of health care and will, in effect, destroy our health care system. The practice of medicine must always remain a sacred "contract" between patient and physician, and the only meaningful role for our government is to facilitate this relationship.
and we will compile all the names of supporters and forward them to our representatives in Washington and Albany. Please include your city or town of residence so that we can notify the appropriate legislators. Please also forward this letter to others and encourage them to contact me and support our cause.
This is the time to act. We must be heard!
John J. Stangel, MD
President, Westchester County Medical Society
Supported by WCMS Board of Directors
For additional information contact:
Brian O. Foy, Executive Director, WCMS
Westchester County Medical Society, 333, Westchester Avenue, Suite LN01 White Plains, NY, 10604
914-967-9100
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