ACTION ALERT!

Dear Kent County Medical Society Member,

Many of you have been inundated with emails from MSMS concerning legislative updates and requesting you to take action against the proposed physician tax. Please do not become numb to this message.

Your time is valuable. You should have received a fax recently with succinct "talking points" about this tax. KCMS will do its best to minimize duplicate emails. Yet we can't emphasize enough the importance of having your voice heard. Even if you have never called your legislator or written a letter to a politician before, now is the time to do so. The resources in the attachments make it easy. Read on for more background or stop here and call the senators listed at the end of this message, regarding HB 5386. If you prefer, you can use the MSMS Action Center: http://capwiz.com/msms/state/main/?state=MI

This is a pressing issue. The proposed physician tax was passed by the House and is now in Senate Committee on Health Policy. A vote on this tax could come up anytime before October 20. Although the constitutionality of differentially taxing one class of citizens (physicians) is questionable, our Governor and Speaker of the House are strong proponents of it. Contact your State Senator now while we can still have an influence.

The proposed tax is not solely about your income. It would impact Michigan's ability to recruit and retain physicians, and therefore, would further limit patients' access to care. Ultimately, we all endeavor to help people. A physician tax would further limit our ability to do so.

There may be some of you who conclude that the 3% tax on your gross income would be offset by the increased reimbursement by Medicaid. However, the dollar figures being quoted are the result of several assumptions, particularly that the federal matching dollars would continue long-term. In fact, they are based on the federal stimulus plan which ends in the second quarter of 2010. Yet once the precedent of a physician tax has been made, the state budget would likely continue to rely on the revenue, despite a lack of federal matching. In addition, beginning in 2010, there is no provision that prevents the dollars generated by the physician tax from being used for programs other than Medicaid.

If you are too busy, consider designating one physician in your group to speak or write on behalf of the whole group. Alternatively, ask your office manager to advocate for you. In the long run, if this tax passes, you will be even busier as your contribution to the financial subsidy of Medicaid increases.

This is one of those rare times when numbers of phone calls and emails DO GET NOTICED.

Attached for your reference are documents covering Talking Points, the House Fiscal Agency Summary on HB5386 and other information.

Thank you for your time,

Anita R. Avery, MD	Patrick J. Droste, MD
President, KCMS	President Elect, KCMS

Senators to contact:

Senator Mike Bishop 517.373.2417 senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Ron Jelinek 517.373.6960 senrjelinek@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Thomas George 517.373.0793 sentgeorge@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Mark Jansen 517.373.0797 senmjansen@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Bill Hardiman 517.373.1801 senbhardiman@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Wayne Kuipers 517.373.6920 senwkuipers@senate.michigan.gov
Senator Roger Kahn 517.373.1760 senrkahn@senate.michigan.gov

WHITE COAT RALLY

MSMS has organized a rally in Lansing on Tuesday October 20 to raise awareness about physician issues, including the fight against the proposed physician tax. KCMS is sending a contingent and is sponsoring a bus for travel. If you prefer, you may travel to Lansing independently and meet us there. We welcome your participation!

For those wishing to reserve a seat on the bus:

Please contact the Kent County Medical Society office with your name and a contact number
Phone (458-4157)
Fax (458-3305)
E-mail (mgw@kcms.org)

Where: Park and Ride on the East Beltline and I-96 by Marlarky’s Restaurant.
When: Tuesday morning October 20, 2009
Time: 9:15 am boarding
9:30 Bus leaves




Buses will be going directly to the Radisson Hotel where you can pick up your Rally Information Packet. Below is a schedule for the day.


Note: buses will be leaving from the Radisson to return to Grand Rapids. Last shuttle to parking area will be at 4 pm.




Check the MSMS website for updates on the schedule.


http://www.msms.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=12582&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm

SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY:

9:30 a.m. – First shuttle buses will leave the Dunham’s store parking area to transport participants to the Lansing Radisson Hotel.


9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Arrive at the Radisson to Register, pick up your Rally Information Packet, and enjoy Refreshments with your colleagues. A limited number of passes to the Senate Committee Meeting will be available at Registration on a first-come/first-served basis.


10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – Registrants will enjoy a light meal at the Radisson, and hear from MSMS President Richard E. Smith, MD and other leaders at 11:30 a.m.


12:00 p.m. – **Senate Meeting pass holders will proceed to that meeting. All other participants will walk together from the Radisson Hotel to the Capitol for a Rally, which starts at 12:15 p.m. and lasts until approximately 1:30 p.m.


1:15 p.m. – Those who pre-scheduled meetings with their own lawmakers will go to those; or participants may choose to go to the Capitol Gallery to observe the House in session. Those who need to leave Lansing at this point may board buses every 15 minutes from the Radisson to the Dunham’s store parking area.


4:00 p.m. – Last shuttle bus leaves Radisson Hotel, returning to the Dunham’s store parking area.

Dr. Peterson wins the Douglas A. Mack Award for Community Collaboration

Dr. Peterson wins the Douglas A. Mack Award for Community Collaboration

Tom Peterson, MD, Medical Director, Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, and Medical Director, Quality Improvement, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital was recognized on September 28, 2009 at the Healthy Kent 2010 Decade of Celebration event. Dr. Peterson was nominated by the Kent County medical Society Board of Directors for the award, which was named after former Kent County Public Health Director, Douglas A. Mack, MD, MPH. The award recognized individuals working to make a difference in the health of the community by addressing one of the 10 leading health indicators identified by Health Kent 2010: Access to Care, Physical Activity, Overweight and Obesity, Tobacco Use, Substance Abuse, Responsible Sexual Behavior, Mental Health, Injury and Violence, Environmental Quality and Immunizations. Tom Peterson, MD has nearly 20 years of experience in pediatric medicine. Dr. Peterson currently serves as Medical Director, Quality, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. In his role, Dr. Peterson leads hospital, state and nationwide initiatives in quality improvement, patient safety, childhood obesity, health promotion, and tobacco control. Peterson also advises the Spectrum Health Healthy Lifestyles program, as well as a local multi-business wellness program, both involving more than 8,000 employees. Dr. Peterson also currently serves as Medical Director for Healthier Communities at Spectrum Health. Spectrum Health Healthier Communities is focused on measurably improving the health status of people living in Kent County.

He is chair and founder of Tobacco Free Partners, former chairman of Healthy Kent 2010, and was 2008 President of the Kent County Medical Society and the recipient of the National Community Activist Award from the American Legacy Foundation in 2008. He currently serves as the 2009 Kent Medical Foundation Board President.

Dr. Peterson readily speaks on community health issues, illness prevention and healthy lifestyles. Dr. Peterson is a Clinical Associate Professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Peterson is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the Michigan State Medical Society, the Kent County Medical Society, the Kent Medical Foundation, and the American College of Physicians Executives.