Politics and Residency:
It Is Time to Start Protecting Our Future
Paloma Toledo, M.D., President-Elect
Resident Component Governing Council
uring our residencies, we spend years learning the
technical aspects of our specialty. We use these skills
every day, with every patient. As residents, however,
it is important for us to look toward the future.
Entering the second century of organized anesthesiology,
our specialty must continue to be focused on health
policy in order to ensure the best care for our patients.
Through involvement in organized medicine and medical
politics during your residency, you can gain the tools
necessary to become an effective advocate for your
patients and help to protect our future.
Most health care policies made at the state and national
levels are developed by nonanesthesiologists. Issues
ranging from medical litigation reform to patient
safety bills to the sustainable growth rate adjustments
were all discussed in 2005 by our legislators. These
policies affect us as anesthesiologists as well as
our patients. Our legislators must make decisions
on these issues. Our role, even as residents, is to
help them make informed decisions. Just as we are
educated during our training, we must learn to help
educate our lawmakers.
This January ASA had a call to action on S. 1932,
the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. ASA members
responded in the thousands, and the bill passed.
It was later signed into law by the president.
The passage of this bill was critical to nullifying
Medicare physician payment cuts of 4.4 percent in
2006. If this bill had not passed, all anesthesiologists
would have experienced a significant reduction in
reimbursement, even as the cost of patient care continues
to climb. S. 1932 provides the funding necessary
to maintain 2005 physician payments at the current
level through 2006. The bottom line is that
our patient’s health and well-being cannot be
compromised because anesthesiologists can no longer
afford to provide proper care. With more Medicare
reimbursement reductions anticipated for 2007 and
beyond, our legislators need our input.
Communication with our congressional leaders is easy,
thanks to ASA. Through the ASA’s Legislative
Action Center <www.capwiz.com/asa>,
you can send letters to your senators and representatives
in a matter of minutes. In order to best advocate
for change, we must be effective in our communication
with our congressmen/women. It is critical that our
legislators understand that we, the future of anesthesiology,
are interested in protecting our specialty both for
our patients and for those who come after us.
A good place to start is at the ASA’s Legislative
Conference in Washington, D.C., May 1-3. This conference
focuses on state and federal legislative, regulatory
and political issues impacting ASA and anesthesiology.
The speakers include health care policymakers from
the House and Senate as well as members of ASA leadership
and lobbying staff.
Two days of presentations culminate in “Hill
Day,” where participants have the opportunity
to visit with their states’ members of Congress
and discuss key issues affecting anesthesiology.
As a resident participant, you can take your newfound
knowledge from the conference not only to our lawmakers
but also back to your institution, where you can help
other residents learn about the issues at stake.
If you are interested in attending the ASA Legislative
Conference, contact your state component. If you cannot
attend but would like to learn more about how to get
involved in governmental affairs, visit the ASA Office
of Governmental and Legal Affairs Web site <www.ASAhq.org/government.htm>,
the ASA Resident Component Web site <www.ASAhq.org/asarc/index.html>
or contact any of the Resident Component Governing
Council members.
The most important thing is to be active and informed.
Your future depends on it!
Paloma Toledo,
M.D., is a CA-2 at Northwestern University, Chicago,
Illinois.
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