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As health care reform discussions in Washington, D.C., continue at a fast and furious pace, the SDSMA is monitoring the latest news in order to keep you informed.
Click here to visit the SDSMA's health system reform page.
The SDSMA is involved in advocacy efforts related to the most important issues affecting you and your patients including expanding access to health care, increasing Medicaid reimbursement, reforming medical liability, reforming Medicare physician payment, improving clinical quality and patient safety, improving public health, supporting increased funding for medical education, continuing to fight tobacco use, and enforcing scope of practice.
Get involved! When health care issues are debated in Congress and in Pierre, you can contact your legislators to tell them how those issues affect you and your patients. You can join our advocacy efforts by being a Doctor of the Day or a volunteer Physician Lobbyist in Pierre, or by being part of our Physician Action Network and meeting with legislators on our advocacy agenda throughout the year.
While we’re in the State Capitol, you can be there too. Look here for up-to-date information on state legislation and our advocacy efforts. While state legislators are in session, read SDSMA’s weekly Legislative Updates to be informed about issues that affect your patients and your practice.
SDSMA PAC is SDSMA’s bipartisan political action committee. As the single voice for physicians on the state political scene, SDSMA PAC supports state and federal political candidates who share the views of and will advocate for physicians and patients. SDSMA PAC represents members of the SDSMA, district medical societies, their families, and the SDSMA Alliance.
Medicaid Reimbursement
The SDSMA offered public testimony in August 2009 in Pierre to a committee of state legislators on how the current Medicaid reimbursement structure in South Dakota affects physicians in the state. The committee’s purpose is to study the structure and adequacy of the Medicaid reimbursement formula, as well as explore opportunities to raise revenues and increase matching federal funds.
SDSMA CEO Barb Smith's testimony offered information regarding Medicaid rates and provider participation; South Dakota’s Medicaid population; Medicaid reimbursement and its direct impact on physician participation and access to care; how Medicare’s fee schedule determines the Medicaid fee schedule; the ethical dilemma many physicians currently face regarding Medicaid and Medicare patients; and whether or not a provider tax would be a viable option to generate more federal matching funds that could be used to bolster the Medicaid program. Much of Ms. Smith’s testimony highlighted points made by a report, “Medicaid Reimbursement,” prepared by the SDSMA that was hand-delivered to members of the committee.
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