Congress is considering legislation that would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board, whose goal is to extend Medicare solvency and reduce spending growth through the use of a spending target system and fast-track legislative approval process. MSMS and the AMA oppose the IPAB's broad authority and the lack of flexibility in its mandate.

It’s important for—-and incumbent on—-physicians to take the lead in educating their patients early on about how to prevent and fight obesity. To that end, the Michigan Fitness Foundation is offering physician practices a “Health through Literacy” kit that contains a variety of children’s books, take-away information sheets, and more.

The recently-introduced House Bill 5605 aims to repeal the requirement of hospitals and clinics to vaccinate their employees against influenza. MSMS opposes the bill because it poses a public health danger--not only to health workers who choose not to get vaccinated, but also to anyone who comes into contact with them (co-workers, patients, visitors, family members, etc.).