February 2025 President’s Message
Advocacy work is slow and frustrating but needed
by Jany Moussa, MD —
Laws and regulations can have a big impact on our ability to practice medicine and provide quality patient care. That’s why it is important that MSSC and our physicians monitor proposed bills and laws and advocate on our behalf.
Last month, MSSC members went to Topeka to meet with state lawmakers as part of the Kansas Medical Society’s Advocacy Day. MSSC and KMS also have legislative committees that meet regularly to review healthcare-related bills in Topeka.
This month, MSSC members Drs. Chady Sarraf, Tessa Rohrberg, Estephan Zayat, Aron Fast and I went to Washington, D.C. We met with members of the Kansas congressional delegation and their staffs and discussed a number of healthcare issues.
Our concerns included the continued cuts to Medicare physician reimbursement rates, including the 2.83% cut implemented this year. Over the past two decades, Medicare payment rates have fallen 33% when adjusted for the cost of running a practice. As a result, it is getting more and more difficult for physicians to care for Medicare patients, which is creating an access problem.
We are seeing this access problem in Wichita. MSSC surveyed primary care practices last spring on whether they were currently accepting new Medicare patients. Of those that responded, only 19% of their physicians were taking new patients.
We urged our delegation to pass the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, or HB 879. This bill would cancel this year’s 2.83% cut while also providing a 2% payment update. We also urged our lawmakers to automatically adjust the physician fee schedule based on the Medicare Economic Index, as is the case for hospitals and other health professionals.
Low Medicaid payments are also a problem. However, those rates are set by individual states, not by Congress. KMS and MSSC were successful the past two years in getting the Kansas Legislature to increase Medicaid rates. We are advocating for another rate increase this year, along with making sure global codes for child births are included in rate increases.
Advocacy work can be slow and frustrating. For example, a bipartisan budget resolution in December would have eliminated most of this year’s Medicare cut; however, the deal fell apart at the last minute.
We need to stay engaged with our federal and state lawmakers and with the legislative process. That’s the best way to ensure new laws and regulations help the practice of medicine rather than hurt it.
See you at private-equity meeting
I’m looking forward to MSSC’s March 4 meeting on private equity and its impact on healthcare. This is a topic MSSC has wanted to tackle for some time, but we’ve been hesitant to do so because our members are divided.
Some members are adamantly against private equity in medicine, noting how it can lead to price increases and pressure to put profit over patients. Other members have partnered with private equity – or are considering it. These decisions often reflect how difficult it is to be small and independent in today’s healthcare marketplace.
Our goal is to have an open, honest conversation. We want to be respectful of different points of view and the challenges each of us faces. I hope to see you there.
Remembering Kiah Duggins
I want to conclude by expressing MSSC’s and my condolences to 2023 MSSC President Dr. Maurice Duggins and his wife, Gwen, on the loss of their beautiful daughter, Kiah. I’m sure you were as shocked and heartbroken as I was to learn she was on the plane that collided with a helicopter over Washington, D.C. Kiah was an extraordinarily talented and caring young woman who was deeply loved.
One way to show our support for Dr. Duggins and his family and to honor Kiah’s life is by donating to Kiah’s Princess Project. This is a college-readiness program that Kiah created to empower underrepresented high school girls through culturally relevant mentoring and community involvement. I encourage you to learn more and make a donation at kiahsprincessproject.godaddysites.com.
May Kiah’s soul rest in peace, but may her support of others continue.