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The Issue Is … SDSMA’s Advocacy Efforts
Thank you for your membership and support of the South Dakota State Medical Association. One of the benefits of your membership is a monthly update on policy issues that are of importance to you as a physician. This month we want to talk about the SDSMA’s advocacy efforts.
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, and enforcing scope of practice.
Stay informed! While state legislators are in session, read In Session, the SDSMA’s weekly legislative update that’s sent to members via e-mail. In Session provides you with a weekly recap of what happened in Pierre, as well as a look ahead into the coming week regarding issues likely to come up that are of importance to you and your practice.
Also, if a grassroots call for action is needed, In Session can provide you with an easy, interactive link to contact your local legislators. More information on the SDSMA’s advocacy efforts can be found on the Web site at: http://www.sdsma.org/advocacy/.
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. Volunteer to be a “Doctor of the Day” or a “Physician Lobbyist,” two great opportunities to become more active at the state level.
The bottom line is legislators do listen, so even as an individual physician, you can make a difference. Most importantly, head to the polls and vote.
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