Legislative

2010 session:
Physician advocacy results in success

What do Lyme disease, nurse practitioners, telemedicine, podiatrists, controlled substances, peer review, access to care in Southwest Virginia and concussions in student athletes have in common? All were subjects of legislation considered by the General Assembly during its 2010 session that were closely watched by the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) for their potential implications on the practice of medicine in the commonwealth. MSV’s leadership, White Coats on Call participants, and lobbying team met with legislators throughout the General Assembly to advocate on behalf of legislation that would benefit the practice of medicine and work to defeat the legislation that put patients and the medical profession at risk.

All told, MSV had a very successful legislative session, tempered only by Virginia’s dismal budget picture. The General Assembly’s task of passing a balanced biennium budget was complicated this year as Virginia faced a $4 billion budget shortfall as a result of falling state revenues. Legislators considered cutbacks across all of Virginia’s core services — health care, education and public safety. The Medicaid program was not spared. [read more]

Click here to view the 2010 Legislative Wrap-Up (PDF).
Click here to view the 2010 Legislative Agenda.