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Michigan Physicians meet with members of Congress, advocate for patients
This week, a delegation from the Michigan State Medical Society traveled to Washington, D.C. for the American Medical Association's National Advocacy Conference (NAC). The NAC is an annual event that brings together physician advocates from across the country to meet with their respective members of congress on a range of issues impacting the medical profession and patient care. The issues that were front and center of this year's agenda included reforming prior authorization, reining in prescription drug costs, the opioid epidemic, universal background checks for gun purchases, surprise medical billing as well as the Conrad 30 program, and the related green card backlog.
This year's Michigan delegation included MSMS President Betty Chu, MD, MBA; MSMS Board Chair and AMA Board of Trustee Member, Bobby Mukkamala, MD; MSMS Legislative Policy Committee Chair and AMA Delegate MarkKomorowski, MD; MSMS Legislation and Regulations Committee Chairman Brad Uren, MD; Nita Kulkarni, MD; Salim Siddqui, MD; Shaheen Alanee, MD; MSMS student member Miriam Rienstra Bareman; MSMS Senior Director of Physician Engagement and Organizational IntegrationJosh Richmond and Director of State and Federal Government Relations Christin Nohner.
The group met with several members of the Michigan congressional delegation to discuss the topics at hand and how they were impacting their practice and patients back in Michigan. Much of the discussion focused on how the new congress, now divided, and the administration can find common ground, acknowledging that there is some consensus around the issues of prescription drug prices and surprise medical bills.