by Deborah Shoemaker, Lobbyist and Ethics Specialist
ACTIVITY UPDATE Spring Forward…Fall Back In our family, spring was serious stuff. Although not officially “spring”, we celebrated St. Patricks’ Day (yes, I am part-Irish) with getting that annual Shamrock Shake at McDonald’s. Easter was very sacred and serious to the Hildesheim family. It began every Christmas when my Aunt Pearl would buy us our Easter dresses at the Sears down on Cottman Avenue. On Easter Sunday, we would go to church and then go out to eat with all my Hildesheim relatives—various restaurants in Northeast Philadelphia and then did the egg hunt. I will always hold these memories dear to my heart, especially since my parents are gone. The real reason why spring has a special meaning to me is because its commencement brings a new awakening—maybe because of Eastern Standard Time, maybe because of the weather. But to me, it signifies new life, new beginnings, new possibilities. Such as in the world of politics. I would like to highlight issues that we are springing ahead but making sure we do not fall back.
COVID-19 and new possibilities Spring forward: At the beginning of 2020, our district branch began to collaborate with the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Leadership Council (PPLC) to hold weekly Zoom meetings providing a forum to discuss COVID-19, share stories and support each other during this difficult time. It was an hour each week that was an “informal” support group to brainstorm on how to provide care and find alternatives to traditional practice to ensure that needs were being met during this pandemic. It continues on a bi-monthly basis. Accomplishments of this project include at least one letter to the editor published in the commonwealth, with others in the works. We also have been working closely with the Wolf administration to provide guidance and expertise as policies are developed and implemented. COVID-19 has caused a malaise in many of our lives. Pennsylvanians are itching to visit friends and family—without masks or limitations. They want to go see their sports teams, favorite musician, or even just eat out without having to feel limited. I think their time is coming…very soon. Within the state legislature, bills continue to be introduced to provide additional liability coverage for workers, along with other initiatives to ensure a smooth transition now and, God forbid, we have another pandemic in the future. Although many proposals are well-intentioned, they are fraught with partisan politics—blaming one party over another in how vaccines are distributed, who gets top priority, which entities get top billing with always “a better way to do it.” Partisan politics has caused the filing lawsuits/intense scrutiny on how nursing homes
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were regulated during the pandemic. The restaurant industry and other entities, who previously experienced some sort of regulation/limitation on patrons, also have cried foul. Fortunately, spring is here. As many of you are aware, April 4th signified a new beginning in PA—where occupancy limits for dining establishments, indoor and outdoor entertainment, and sporting events were revised to allow more personal interaction. Although still difficult, vaccine distribution has commenced at a more rapid pace over the past few weeks. Again, still not optimal, but we are going in the right direction.
Fall back: Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has, from the start, been politicized. The wearing of masks became a political statement. Whether or not people got the vaccine was not just determined by availability, but it became a further issue as to what was in the vaccine, who was profiting, if Republicans or Democrats really can take credit for the distribution, and most importantly, if another stimulus check will help the economy and its citizens or just usher in “another round of entitlements and government waste that we saw under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.” We have come too far to fall back. We need to keep moving ahead.
Protections for Physician Practice While Maximizing Patient Affordability Spring forward: A new legislative session means a fresh start for all proposals. This past legislative session was unlike many others via the world pandemic’s role in the delivery of patient care. In-person outpatient care was replaced with online or audio telemedicine visits. Prescribed medications and other treatment/services (which previously needed prior authorization) were often relaxed during the pandemic. But how long will take last? Prior to the end of the 116th United States Congressional session, the No Surprises Act was signed into law. The primary focus of this Act was to protect patients from Out of Network/Surprise Billing and to determine a more equitable way for providers to bill insurance companies for their services. Our Society has been monitoring this issue for many years at the request of our medical specialty colleagues. Our leadership and I have participated in numerous provider coalition calls and have supported grassroots lobbying efforts to ensure that patient medical costs were not so onerous to inhibit or create barriers to care. After careful review by various physician provider organizations (including the AMA, APA, the PA Medical Society, and our medical specialty colleagues within anesthesia, emergency medicine, pathology, and radiology), it was determined that the federal Act satisfies concerns at the state level. PaPS recently signed onto a joint provider letter to members of our state House to request further deferred action at this time. For more information about the No Surprises Act or our grassroots advocacy efforts, please contact me.
