DCMS wants to keep you in the know. We do that by actively monitoring the legislative affairs affecting health system reform. You can also visit our SGR specific page for more information.

The Dallas County Medical Society is closely monitoring the progress of health system reform and tracking the actions taken by Congress. Legislation will continue to change as amendments are offered and policy makers seek compromises. DCMS has taken a stand and specified the key issues for successful reform. DCMS members believe passionately that reform is needed, but only reform that will ensure accessible, high-quality care for patients.

TMA has launched the “Me and My Doctor: We Know Best” campaign to help you keep your patients informed. To complement the new website (www.MeAndMyDoctor.com), TMA has created posters to hang in your office and a social media push. For information on these new elements of the patient focused campaign, visit TMA’s “Fix What’s Wrong; Keep What’s Good – Social Media” webpage.

Below is a list of resources, updates and news links in one central, organized webpage. DCMS members may receive updates periodically via email, contact Bryan White or Tracy Casto to join the list.

Bryan White – Director of Practice Advocacy and Economics
Tracy Casto – Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy

NEWS & HEADLINES

A handy road map for the final weeks of health system reform

President Obama calls for “up and down” vote; reconciliation

View the House Reconciliation Bill Process

Disputes Threaten '09 Passage of Health Bill
Action on health system reform waits on Congressional Budget Office analysis . . . read more.

Health System Reform Takes Next Step
Saturday night (Nov. 21), the Senate voted 60 to 39 to formally begin the Senate's healthcare debate, a debate that most estimate will stretch until Christmas.

Most of the suspense leading up to the vote dissipated earlier in the day, when the last two undeclared Democrats, Louisiana's Mary Landrieu and Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln, announced they'd join all their colleagues, plus the Senate's two Independents to move the bill forward.

But getting the bill to the floor for debate and getting it passed are two different mountains. Several of the 60 members who voted to allow the bill to move to the floor have announced that they won't vote for it again if the public option remains. Among them is Blanche Lincoln, who provided that pivotal 60th vote.

New SGR Bill from the House of Representatives - Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009

New Bill from the House of Representatives - Affordable Health Care for America Act

Senate Bill 1776 (PDF)

Senate Finance Committee approves $829B HSR bill by 14-9 vote. Talks will begin soon to merge the two Senate committee bills.

Senate Finance Committee Announces America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009

NY Times: Senate Finance Bill Draws Fire on Both Sides

AMA Response to President Obama’s Address to Congress

Read the Full Text of President Obama’s Speech

AMA Sends Open Letter to President Obama and Members of Congress

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HR 3200

HR 3200 Full Text (1.75 MB PDF document)

HR 3200 Section Summary (744 KB PDF document)

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RESOURCES

Comparison of Health System Bills

TMA Advocates Patients First

Contact your congressional representative (DCMS)

Statement from the Board of Directors – DCMS Charts the Path to Successful Health System Reform (DCMS)
August 12, 2009

A message from Philip J. Huber Jr., M.D., DCMS President - Stay informed. Stay involved. (DCMS)
July 21, 2009

TMA Health System Reform Principles (TMA)

AMA Health System Reform Principles (AMA)

TMA Me and My Doctor Health System Reform Campaign (TMA)

HR 3200 – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (AMA)

AMA Framework for Health System Reform (AMA)

TMA “House Call” Town Hall Meeting Schedule/Archive (TMA)

AMA Health System Reform Resource Website (AMA)

Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Health Reform.gov

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UPDATES

AMA Health System Reform Archives (AMA)

TMA News Room