Page one from the State Advocacy Workgroup's playbook says that if you "work with state medical societies and physician specialty groups, ... state officials will listen." Recently, joint advocacy efforts by the ACC’s Colorado Chapter and other physician groups saw just that result. The Colorado Supreme Court has been working to streamline the judicial process to ensure trials don't drag on indefinitely. While physicians have long pressed for governmental efficiency, especially in courts, the proposal was fraught with problems. It set pre-trial rules and deadlines for discovery and expert testimony, preventing physicians from responding to new arguments and evidence during trials.

One medical group raised its concerns to the state Supreme Court, and they received a form letter expressing thanks for raising the issue and a promise to consider their concerns. When the issues were raised not by one group, but by 24 physician groups, the Colorado Chapter of the ACC and the Colorado Medical Society, the results were much different. As a result of the collaboration, the CO Supreme Court panel set up a series of workgroup meetings to allow physicians to express their concerns and help re-write the policy. And because defense lawyers expressed similar concerns, the Chapter is hopeful that sensible rules of procedure will result.

This is a great example of how locking arms with friends across the House of Medicine, chapters can set the stage to protect physicians on dangerous ground either in the court room or state capitols. CO Chapter executive Lianna Collinge, former ACC CO Governor Eugene Sherman, M.D., F.A.C.C.,  and current ACC CO Governor Thomas Haffey, M.D., F.A.C.C., set a fine example for all Chapters.  

Speaking of medical liability reform, Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D., an OB-GYN from Georgia, has introduced the “Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act” (H.R. 5). The ACC is supporting this legislation, which would increase patient safety; ensure that injured patients are compensated quickly and fairly; improve provider-patient communications; and foster an environment for affordable and accessible medical liability insurance. The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill yesterday. The committee rejected all amendments, except one, on party line votes. The committee accepted an amendment by Cong. Scott (D-VA) removing collateral source rule reform from the legislation.  More details are available on the committee’s website. Stay tuned to “The Advocate” for updates and next steps. This issue is an ACC Advocacy priority! Read the ACC letter on the bill.