News & Media
Celebrating 9 years of voting down Michigan's physician tax
You may not know it, but the Michigan medical community this week has an important anniversary to celebrate.
Nine years ago, the Michigan legislature voted down -- by a narrow margin -- the Quality Assurance Assessment Program (better known as the physician tax). It was an enormous victory for patients, physicians and the medical community as a whole here in Michigan.
Many came together to play a part in that victory, but there's no question that MDPAC served a critical role in the winning effort. MDPAC enabled Michigan physicians to effectively deliver their message to supporters and swing voters alike. Working together, MDPAC ensured enough pro-medicine 'no' votes were in place to defeat this ill-conceived legislation when it came up for a vote on the Senate floor.
Were it not for MDPAC's work, the medical landscape here in Michigan would likely look very different today. The passage of the physician tax would have had significant and widespread negative consequences, directly impacting you, your colleagues, and most importantly, the wellbeing of the patients you serve.
Threats to Michigan patients are exactly why MDPAC exists. Often, the rules and processes imposed on the medical profession are drafted outside of the exam room by insurance companies, regulators, lobbyists, politicians and others who lack experience and understanding of what it means to deliver quality patient care.
It's this reality that creates the need for organized medicine and the efforts of MDPAC. As physicians, we have a responsibility to our patients and ourselves to work to elect leaders who understand and share the interests and needs of the medical community.
With Election Day rapidly approaching, your support of MDPAC couldn't be more important. MDPAC has had great success in the past, and with your help, we can continue to positively impact the political landscape and elect the friends of medicine Michigan needs and deserves.