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MSSNYENEWS: JANUARY 15, 2021 – STATE OF STATE
January 14, 2021 admin

.MSSNY’s Partnership with Premier Group Purchasing

Colleagues:

Governor Cuomo gave four separate speeches over the course of this past week illuminating initiatives that he believes New York State should pursue in 2021. Several topics discussed are of particular interest to physicians.

Covid-19 Vaccine

Our MSSNY shares the governor’s goal of defeating Covid-19 in 2021 and the physicians of this state stand ready to help bring this to fruition. Practices have signed up to distribute the vaccine and many received doses this week to begin vaccinating the 1a and 1b qualified New Yorkers. Scores of individual physicians (practicing and retired) and medical students have heeded the calls to action and have signed up to help in the vaccination campaign through ServNY.

Currently, there is more capacity in the system than there are vaccines. We stand with the Governor in his call for an increase in Covid-19 vaccine supply to our state. Hiccups continue in the vaccine roll out process and MSSNY remains in close communication with our Department of Health (DOH), communicating the issues that have been raised so that solutions can be expedited. Yesterday alone MSSNY sent communications to DOH regarding questions about eligibility under the immunocompromised 1b category, issues concerning scheduling of second doses, portal navigation issues for seniors, same household scheduling and ability to cancel appointments, among other issues. Together we will refine the process quickly and safely to achieve herd immunity.

Emergency Preparedness

MSSNY shares the Governor’s goal of Emergency Preparedness. Our MSSNY committee on Emergency Preparedness has been active and engaged in this arena long before COVID-19. The Governor has proposed the creation of a Medical Supplies Act to ensure that New York State has the necessary personal protective equipment during a medical emergency. MSSNY stands supportive of this concept. Medical professionals must never again be asked to risk their lives and those of their loved ones due to a lack of protective gear.

Telehealth

MSSNY welcomes efforts announced by the Governor to expand Telehealth coverage in 2021. The Governor and state agencies took very important steps during the pandemic to help facilitate the ability of patients to receive needed treatment in a virtual office visit.

This was an important lifeline for patients and for physician practices and has helped to significantly transform the delivery of care. MSSNY has been working with a number of different health care advocacy groups in support of legislation that would help to make permanent some of these temporary changes, as well as ensure “payment parity” for delivery of care via Telehealth. Yesterday, MSSNY signed an agreement to offer a new exciting MSSNY benefit through CareClix. This is a telehealth platform with the ability to provide remote patient monitoring. More detailed information can be found here. To sign up, click here.

Legalization of Adult Use Marijuana

The Governor’s proposal also includes plans to legalize marijuana in New York State. MSSNY along with other groups such as the NYSPTA, the New York State Sheriffs Association, the Mental Health Association, the New York State Association of County Health Officials, and Smart Approaches to Marijuana remain opposed. MSSNY reiterates our concern that the public health effects of cannabis will likely outweigh any revenue the state secures by legalizing marijuana.

OPMC Due Process

While not mentioned in the State of the State message itself, the Governor issued a disturbing press release this week in which he announced a proposal for Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) “modernization” that sounds similar to the proposal advanced last year in the Executive Budget. In any year, an effort to eliminate due process protections for physicians would be disheartening and demoralizing; however, in a year where physicians have been working around the clock on the front lines in every region of the State responding to the pandemic and where they have put their health and their lives at risk, it is particularly egregious to again be faced with a proposal to eliminate essential due process rights when a complaint has been filed against a physician with the Office of Professional Medical Conduct. Only 2-3% of complaints filed with OPMC actually result in a disciplinary action.

MSSNY remains committed to working with the Governor and the New York State Department of Health to protect our patients by maintaining a strong disciplinary process, and addressing identified gaps. However, we strongly oppose overbroad measures that hold serious potential to unfairly destroy a physician’s career through the release of allegations that have not been proven yet could remain easily “searchable” on the internet forever.

MSSNY stands ready to work with our Governor to ensure the health of New Yorkers in 2021 and beyond.

Bonnie Litvack, MD
MSSNY President