Page 10 - Delaware Medical Journal - February 2016

PRESIDENT’S PAGE
recognized recently by the News Journal as the fourth most legislatively active organization in the state. Under the watchful eye of our lobbyists, who represent our interests in Dover daily, and our staff, who are there each week when the legislature is in session, we keep abreast of the twists and turns
of what is happening. Things change quickly and we can respond rapidly. With the committee’s guidance, the lobbyists and our staff represent our position and our interests.
Twice a year physician members of
the Delaware Medical Political Action Committee (DELPAC) Board, MDS
travel with our Executive Director or other staff to the National Advocacy Conference and the AMPAC conference in Washington, D.C. During these visits to Capitol Hill, we have established relationships not only with the federal legislators, but also with the legislative assistants who are a very important interface for us. During the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) votes that took place during 2015, these key assistants kept our staff informed minute-by-minute. It is with these kinds of relationships that help us advocate for you, the physicians, and your patients. We live in a rapidly changing health care environment
where we physicians must advocate for ourselves and our interests. There is no one who will advocate for us, and we will be at the mercy of those who do advocate for themselves. After all, if
you are not at the table, you may be on the menu.

and other appropriate MSD leadership meet with various other groups at least semiannually. We meet with
“The small group of your colleagues do a great job
to represent you. But to do a better job we need to hear from you. Your engagement is critical. Come to our meetings, serve on a committee, make your voice heard. Tell us what you need.”
the Division of Public Health, the Department of Health and Social Services, and the Delaware Healthcare Association (the hospital association). Annual meetings are scheduled with
the Governor and with the Editorial Board of the News Journal. From
these relationships we have advocated our position on end of life care and Delaware Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (DMOST), Prescription Drug Action Committee (PDAC), and the Delaware Center for Health Innovation, to name a few. We have forged working relationships with these agencies and boards. We have common interests with all these groups and frequently have differing opinions, but in the end, they listen to us as professionals, advocating on your behalf. If not for the strong relationships that have been forged with these groups over the years, who would represent you and the patients that you care for in all these venues? The small group of your colleagues do a great
job to represent you. But to do a better job we need to hear from you. Your
engagement is critical. Come to our meetings, serve on a committee, make your voice heard. Tell us what you need. One easy way you can help is by donating to DELPAC. We are in the second year of the biennial legislative session and 2016 is an election year. There will be fund raisers. While we physicians have frequently taken a white hat stance when it comes to politics, money still talks and the political contributions we can make through listen. We need them to listen now more than ever. Our contributions are our entrée for our issues to be heard. Please consider contributing to and joining DELPAC. Every bit helps. Help us make your voice heard. Help us to advocate for you.
Dorothy M. Moore, M.D.
President, Medical Society of Delaware
42
Del Med J | February 2016 | Vol. 88 | No. 2