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Advocacy in Action

News & Media

Advocacy in Action

The MSMS Advocacy Division works to ensure the voice of Michigan physicians is at the forefront when legislators, regulators, and insurers are considering actions that impact the profession, the physician-patient relationship, and the ability to deliver high quality health care. Each month we will be highlighting some of the previous month’s activities that have kept MSMS staff working hard on your behalf. Below are highlights from November 2024. 

  1. With the last-minute November introduction of medical liability reform legislation (HBs 6085-6086 and SBs 1158-1159), staff immediately created and disseminated a Call to Action and social media outreach, coordinated joint messaging for a coalition of 30+ organizations who are also opposed, and met with several key legislators in the House and Senate.
  2. Along with the American Medical Association and 126 other state medical associations and national medical societies, asked (PDF) Congress to use these last few congressional days to prevent the scheduled Medicare payment cuts. 
  3. Joined with more than 125 organizations representing a broad base of stakeholders to submit a joint letter to House and Senate leaders urging them to pass the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act (M-OTAA) (S. 644/H.R. 1359) before the 118th Congress concludes. If enacted, M-OTAA would help treat addiction and save lives by responsibly expanding access to methadone treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in medical settings and areas where it is currently unavailable and by increasing physician and patient choice in the provision of this lifesaving medication.
  4. Met with Senator Rosemary Bayer (D-West Bloomfield) and her staff to discuss MSMS concerns regarding Senate Bill 888 (requirements for specified identity theft security features) and Senate Bill 1086 (a.k.a., Donna’s Law; creating voluntary, temporary and indefinite do-not-sell lists for firearms). Feedback on SB 1086  from the MSMS Liaison Committee to Michigan’s Public Health was previously shared with the Senator, who was receptive to making changes to address identified concerns. 
  5. MSMS Reimbursement Advocate, Stacie Saylor, CPC, CPB, attended the CPT & RBRVS 2025 Annual symposium to gather the latest updates regarding changes in the 2025 CPT Codebook to help serve member practices. Meeting highlights included sessions and presentations on Telemedicine Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services, Primary Care Services, AI/Digital Medicine & Coding, and AI/Digital Medicine & the CPT Code Set.
  6. Facilitated ongoing conversations between Physician Organization leaders and Blue Cross Blue Shield/BCBSM Medicare Advantage leadership regarding Non-Claims Benefit Expense policy changes.