2009 Legislative Recap

The NCMS confronted challenging circumstances and achieved a number of significant successes during the 2009 Legislative Session. These successes were the result of an engaged membership, strong legislative relationships and significant coalition building throughout organized medicine.

Review the year's legislative actions:

• For a comprehensive review of all actions at the NC General Assembly that affected health care, download the 2009 NCMS Legislative Summary (members only).
  
  
• Take a quick look at this year's health care-related legislative actions. Download the 2009 Legislative Brief.

Health System Reform

The focus of the country has shifted to health care reform, making membership in NCMS PAC and the Medical Society more important than ever. The North Carolina Medical Society, knowing that physicians and their patients are the primary stakeholders in this debate, has crafted a series of guiding principles that are key to true reform. Among these principles, you'll find:

• A commitment to health care coverage for all Americans;
  
• Reform of the tort system;
  
• A permanent fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula; and
  
• The preservation of the physician-patient relationship.

As the U.S. House and Senate are debating these bills, the NCMS is scrutinizing every aspect of the legislation to ensure that our membership is knowledgeable of how these proposals will truly affect the practice of medicine and patients.

• Review the NCMS Guiding Principles (PDF)
  
• Visit the NCMS Health Reform Resource Area

Budget

Faced with a historic recession which resulted in a $4 billion budget shortfall, the North Carolina General Assembly had the very difficult task of writing and approving a balanced 2009-2010 state operating budget.

• NCMS White Paper on the Budget Issues (PDF)

Medical Liability Reform

• NCMS White Paper on Medical Liability Reform (PDF)
  
• Legislative Action Center
  
• AMA's Case for Liability Reform

Insurance Regulation

• NCMS White Paper on Insurance Regulation Issues (PDF)

Scope of Practice

• NCMS White Paper on Scope of Practice Issues (PDF)

Professional Regulation

The North Carolina General Assembly and the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) both play important roles in regulating the practice of medicine across the state. The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is actively engaged with both of these organizations with the goal of preserving the physician-patient relationship while also assuring public safety.

• NCMS White Paper on Professional Regulation Issues (PDF)