COMMITTEES DESCRIPTIONS
Division of Governmental Relations Committees
Morris Auster, Esq.,
Senior Vice President
COLLECTIVE NEGOTIATION & INTEGRATION AD HOC WORKGROUP
Reviews models of physician practice that currently enable physicians to negotiate collectively, such as through financial or clinical integration, as well as develops models for physicians to negotiate collectively should legislation be enacted into law permitting such joint negotiations.
EMPLOYED PHYSICIANS
A forum for discussing issues of concern to employed physicians and identifying ways to solve common problems.
FEDERAL CANDIDATE EVALUATION
Makes recommendations regarding potential Congressional candidate endorsements by MSSNYPAC.
HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HIT)
Guides physicians in the selection, adoption and use of electronic medical record technology, including assessing and recommending changes to governmental policies that impact upon the use of EHR technology.
LEGISLATIVE AND PHYSICIAN ADVOCACY
Sets priorities among the many advocacy goals of MSSNY, including development of the MSSNY Legislative Program. Committee members serve as a resource for all physicians across the state regarding legislation under consideration in Albany and Washington, including facilitating physician grassroots involvement both at home in our capitols.
LONG TERM CARE SUBCOMMITTEE
A subcommittee of the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee. Looks at issues affecting nursing home and long term care facility issues and how to improve existing conditions affecting patients and physicians/directors of those facilities. Works closely with the Home Care Association to improve transition from hospital to home care where possible.
MSSNYPAC OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MSSNYPAC supports the election of candidates to New York State government who support the principles of the medical profession and the interests of those it serves. Officers govern the body of members, and an Executive Committee consisting of these officers and representatives from various MSSNY member sections make policy and strategic decisions. President’s Circle level members provide guidance to the Executive Committee.
SCOPE OF PRACTICE TASK FORCE
Coordinates with specialty societies to facilitate advocacy regarding the numerous pieces of legislation that would endanger patients through inappropriate proposed expansions in scope of practice for various non-physician practitioners. The Task Force will work with MSSNY’s Legislative & Physician Advocacy Committee and MSSNY staff on allocating efforts to assist specialties in advocating for or against these issues, including where appropriate, developing suggestions for joint public relations activities including social media.
STATE CANDIDATE EVALUATION
Makes recommendations regarding potential State Legislative candidate endorsements by MSSNYPAC.
TELEMEDICINE WORK GROUP
Appointed to explore best ways for MSSNY to help members interested in providing or obtaining care for patients remotely.
Division of Science and Public Health Committees
Patricia Clancy
Vice President for Public Health & Education and Managing Director
ADDICTION AND PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINE
Evaluates and considers issues in psychiatric medicine and problems related to alcohol and drug abuse, including therapeutic care and prevention. Participates in an advisory capacity with other agencies in promoting educational material. Advises individual physicians and organizations.
BIO ETHICS
Serves primarily in an educative and consultative role regarding bioethical concerns and issues, and recommends MSSNY policy.
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH EQUITY
Mission is to eliminate healthcare disparities by obtaining evidence on racial and ethnic health care disparities, identifying causes, and proposing effective strategies. Provides physician awareness and education, patient/ public education, youth-focused mentoring and education programs on the vital role of minority physicians, and improved data collection on race and ethnicity.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER/TERRORISM RESPONSE
Assists MSSNY in responding to NYS public health emergencies. Provides educational programming for physicians and public health officials.
HEART, LUNG, CANCER
Examines diseases related to heart and pulmonary systems, and cancer. Focus is on prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation processes. Encourages and supports research and education activities that enhance and improve patient care and physician expertise and knowledge.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Examines and discusses all aspects of infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis, and STDs. Develops policy on immunizations and other harm reduction efforts. Educates physicians, conducts relevant programs, develops recommendations, and provides expertise when MSSNY interacts with state agencies and elected officials.
EDUCATION AD-HOC COMMITTEE
Consists of medical schools deans, physicians in private practice, students and residents. Focuses on issues related to medical education, both osteopathic and allopathic; general medical issues; physician workforce; and others that affect medical education and medicine in general.
PHYSICIAN WELLNESS & RESILIENCE COMMITTEE
Stress is a serious problem with serious consequences faced by many physicians throughout their professional careers. It is a critical challenge for the medical profession and the overall healthcare system. This committee provides a resource, and addresses ways to help colleagues understand the issues and develop skills to manage their own stress.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND FAMILY HEALTH
Addresses the spectrum of health issues across the entire life cycle, from preconception to end-of-life care. Supports educational programs for the general public and for physicians; addresses the various methodologies to promote health and prevent diseases or conditions related to physical and mental health; formulates the development of policy around family health topics; and provides advocacy for these policies and for legislative or regulatory issues.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND PATIENT SAFETY
Committed to the improvement of patient care and enhanced outcomes. Looks at topics related to physicians and other health care professional to ensure effective strategies to improve health outcomes while enhancing overall quality
Continuing Medical Education Committees
Miriam Hardin
Manager
COMMITTEE ON CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION
MSSNY is recognized as an intrastate accreditor by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), and is also an ACCME-accredited CME provider. The Committee on CME oversees the Subcommittee on Educational Programs (which fulfills MSSNY’s role as Accredited Provider) and the Subcommittee on Surveys (which fulfills MSSNY’s role as Recognized Accreditor).
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Reviews, approves, and evaluates all CME activities accredited by the Society, and assists non-accredited physician organizations seeking joint providership for their CME activities. Members of the subcommittees must be members of the full CME Committee.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON SURVEYS
Reviews applications, surveys CME providers, and makes recommendations on accrediting and reaccrediting CME providers and accepting progress reports. The full CME Committee ratifies its decisions.
CME ACCREDITATION APPEALS AD HOC COMMITTEE
MSSNY-accredited CME providers that have received an adverse decision, such as non-accreditation or probation, and who have not succeeded in having the decision reversed via the reconsideration process, may request a hearing before the CME Accreditation Appeals Committee. The committee does not meet regularly; it is called into service if a MSSNY-accredited CME provider initiates the appeals process. Members of the CME Appeals Ad Hoc Committee may not serve as members of the CME Committee or its subcommittees.
Division of Physician Payment and Practice Committees
Heather Lopez
Vice President
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH INSURANCE
Maintains an effective liaison with health plans and their oversight organizations (i.e. the NYS DOH, DFS, and CMS). Explores ways to improve the patient–physician relationship based on the interactivity between patients and their health plans. Deals with issues related to all different insurers and addresses aspects of these programs that impact both the medical community and program recipients.
COMMITTEE ON WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND NO-FAULT INSURANCE
Addresses relevant aspects of the State Workers’ Compensation program, including schedule of medical payments, performance of carriers, the arbitration process, and related legislation. Identify and recommend solutions to prevent or reduce accidental injuries which occur in transportation, recreation, work or the home. Considers issues relating to physical medicine and rehabilitation, the injured and disabled, and allied health professionals involved in rehabilitation. Interacts with the NYS Insurance Department concerning issues pertaining to No-Fault Auto.
Division of Membership Committees
Valerie Cammiso
Vice President
MEMBERSHIP
Proposes and reviews efforts to recruit, retain and recapture members.
IMG/ETHNIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS COMMITTEE
Provides a forum for addressing concerns of physicians who attended medical school abroad.
LONG-RANGE PLANNING
Looks at all aspects of MSSNY and the county societies, with the goal of positioning the societies to attain growth in membership, efficiency in operations, cost savings, and greater relevance to the physician population.
MEMBER BENEFITS
Supervises and evaluates existing membership benefits programs. Investigates new programs that may be of value and interest to physician members and their families and recommends high-quality offerings for Council approval.
WOMEN PHYSICIANS COMMITTEE
Addresses women physician’s issues and concerns, including women’s health issues, work/life balance, pay disparities, sexual harassment, representation in leadership roles, and family-friendly employment policies.
Committee for Physician Health
Terrance Bedient
Vice President
CPH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Committee for Physician Health (CPH) is MSSNY’s program to identify, refer for treatment, monitor progress in recovery and advocate for physicians suffering from substance abuse/dependencies and/or other psychiatric disorders. The Advisory Committee provides oversight of the CPH operation, advice and counsel to medical and/or program directors, and expertise on program-related issues; it serves as a resource for outreach and the identification of local volunteers
