Tort Reform: Malpractice reform is the key to maintaining the necessary access to quality services that our patients deserve. A cap on non-economic damages is just the beginning to stabilize the market, increase the number if insurers in the market, and reduce health care liability rates. Please support Proposition 12 on September 13.
Prompt Pay: Legislation has eliminated some of the loopholes for insurers that account for the "slow payment" of claims. The state's routine monitoring of compliance with this legislation will determine it's effectiveness. Physicians' offices do not often have the manpower or the time to tract compliance of their payers with this legislation.
Mediciad/Medicare/Managed Care: Regardless of the funding soruce, the major problem that will be confronting patients will be access to care. Legislators and private insurers must be educated that decreasing reimbursments for providers is not the answer that will lead to savings of health care dollars. However, it is just what the doctor ordered to insure decrease access to services, a sicker population, and a higher cost to deliever healthcare.
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Dianna M. Burns MD., FAAP., MHA., for President Bexar County Medical Society