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LEGISLATIVE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

from obtaining drugs from Canada. Through these concessions If physicians continue
and others, pharmaceutical companies received $200 billion in
profit over the next few years. to act in ways similar to
The American Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) also contributed how we acted during the
significant amounts of cash and lobbying. Armed with $8 million
from AHIP and another $100 million from other insurance or- development of the
ganizations, the top-rate lobbyist Karen Ignani managed to nego-
tiate a deal in which the insurance industry was subsidized for Affordable Care Act,
taking pre-existing conditions and they received a promise that then our ability to
everyone would be mandated to have insurance.
The hospitals also did fairly well. The American Hospital As- impact healthcare
sociation (AHA) and hospital organizations themselves con-
tributed approximately $50 million in congressional and senate on a global scale
contributions. In return, they received $360 billion of new revenue will be left to
as uncompensated care was converted to compensated care.
non-physician actors.
Physicians and their organizations were the least organized and
contributed the least amount of money during the year that the
Affordable Care Act was negotiated. They spent a total of $40
million. The only request physicians made was for a fix to the sus-
tainable growth rate (SGR) to Medicare. Congress promised a fix,
which did not come to fruition on the passage of the bill. To quote
directly from “America’s Bitter Pill”:

“The decision to eliminate the SGR fix was
emblematic of two important dynamics:
“First, the doctors – the players in the healthcare economy who,
with the nurses, actually provide healthcare – had seen their influ-
ence evaporate compared to big-money industry stakeholders such
as the drug companies, insurers, and hospitals. As a result, they “We must be engaged. Every physician should offer their time
could be trifled with in a way that would have been unimaginable. to serve on a regulatory committee or participate in organized
Second, they had already gone on record as supporting the bill.” medicine through the Texas Medical Association and their county
Today, physicians are no longer allowed to have ownership in medical society or another physician organization. Through those
specialty hospitals. Nationally, we are targeted as the cause of high organizations, one can help advocate for patients and for physi-
costs. Of all stakeholders, however, physicians as a whole have cians to craft beneficial legislation. And finally, every physician
seen their incomes decrease since the Affordable Care Act was should contribute some money to a physician political action com-
enacted and more requirements have been placed in order for us mittee. Only with strength in engagement and money can we have
to get reimbursement for our services. a significant impact on the future of healthcare in this country
The next phases of healthcare reform are already taking place. and in our state.
The Democrats are pushing for a Medicare for All Plan. Repub-
licans are removing protections built into the Affordable Care Dr. Alexander Kenton is a neonatologist affiliated with Med-
Act. In Texas, Medicaid reimbursement continues to be con- nax, a multi-speciality physician management organization. He
strained. Physician extenders are being granted more autonomy. directs the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Methodist Children’s
Insurance companies are being allowed to have extremely narrow Hospital. He currently chairs the Bexar County Medical Society Legislative
networks, and physicians’ ability to bill for their services are being and Socioeconomics Committee and the candidate evaluation committee for
challenged. TEXPAC.

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