In the ever-changing world of health care, it’s important for physicians and other medical professionals to have a unified voice about issues that affect their livelihoods. One way for them to do this, as well as to learn more about how to successfully run a practice and to stay abreast of the latest policy and regulation changes, is to join a professional medical society or association.

 

At one time created as a way for physicians and other medical professionals to meet and perhaps network, medical associations have since evolved to take on a number of issues facing health care professionals. From helping physicians in their day-to-day practices, to consulting on governmental policy, to providing continuing education, these organizations have changed as their members’ needs have changed.

 

Established in 1903, the Dade County Medical Association represents more than 1,500 physicians. “In addition to helping physicians with their practices and providing ancillary benefits such as discounts and rebates on insurance and other office hard costs, the most important thing that we do is provide a unified voice for our members,” explained President Elizabeth Etkin-Kramer, M.D. “We provide legislative advocacy for our members in Tallahassee. Our needs in South Florida are incredibly different from the rest of the state, and without organized medicine on a local level, I fear we would not be heard.”

 

The Dade County Medical Association has been active in the areas of access to care for those who don’t have or can’t afford medical insurance, and in fighting the legislative allowance for insurance companies to deny payments retroactively, despite the fact that those services have been pre-authorized. “These issues directly affect our members’ ability to practice and therefore the patients’ ability to get medical care,” said Dr. Etkin-Kramer. “And when patients can’t get access to physicians, it’s a huge issue.”

 

Established in 1919 as a way for physicians to enjoy collegiality, the Palm Beach County Medical Society has since morphed into a proactive organization that focuses specifically on the patients of Palm Beach County. “What is unique about us, compared to what some consider a ‘good old boys’ medical society, is that we created and run Project Access, which is designed for patients with no insurance – who have no safety net,” explained President Jack Zeltzer, M.D. “We have solicited the services of hundreds of physicians and hospitals to take care of people’s medical needs without financial consequence.”

 

Project Access has provided services ranging from cardiac surgery to plastic surgery, providing millions of dollars in free care. The Society also runs the Future of Medicine Summit, now in its sixth year, which invites the public and medical professionals to hear local and national experts speak on specific medical issues, which this year include diabetes, mental health and heart disease. “We don’t deliver care the same way it was delivered 20 years ago, so it is up to us to redefine how health care is delivered,” explained Dr. Zeltzer. “We need to look at how we provide care – quality care – to those who need it in the most economical way possible.”

 

The Broward County Medical Association also works to educate their 1,200 members about running a practice, changing health care rules and regulations and public policy. “We take a very active role in informing our members about changes in health care laws and the effects that these will have on physicians and patients,” said President Kutty Chandran, M.D. “For example, right now we are assisting our members in dealing with regulatory issues concerning the Medicare re-enrollment program. Physicians who have been in practice for 30 years now have to re-enroll, and it is a very complex, expensive and time-consuming process.”

 

With the Supreme Court’s recent upholding of the Affordable Care Act, all of the organizations are expecting to field numerous questions from their members about what this will mean in the future. “While many of our members think that it is a positive thing, they are concerned about how it will be implemented and paid for,” said Dr. Etkin-Kramer. “The effect on physicians’ day-to-day practices has yet to be seen, and it will be awhile before we understand all of its implications.”