Engaging New York Physicians and Patients Whats Wrong With Wrongful Death Last year Gov Hochul vetoed a bill passed by the State Legislature that Greatly expanded damages in wrongful death actions ID: 1047147
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1. MSSNY Strategy for Opposing Wrongful Death Bill (A.6698/S.6636) Engaging New York Physicians and Patients
2. What’s Wrong With Wrongful Death? Last year Gov. Hochul vetoed a bill passed by the State Legislature that:Greatly expanded damages in wrongful death actions Would increase medical liability insurance premiums by 40%. Despite MSSNY opposition, a new version of this bill passed. Unless vetoed by the Governor, this bill will harm doctors, hospitals and patients, jeopardizing access to care in underserved communities, as doctors retire or leave the state.We need your help to urge Gov. Hochul to VETO
3. Summary of Action to DateMSSNY Meetings/Calls with Governor’s Office, DOB, DFSMSSNY Letters to HochulMSSNY Actuarial Study (with hospitals)Physician Letters to HochulPhysician Calls to HochulOp Eds Submitted/PublishedSocial Media PostsEmail blasts to MembersArticles in MSSNY Pulse + Insider
4. Educating MSSNY MembersAdvocacy info on wrongful death has been communicated on all available MSSNY channels, including: Newsletters: Pulse (57,000 circ), Insider & Buzz (members only), Capital UpdateEmail BlastsSocial Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, X Website: Latest News, Online Toolkit
5. Press Play!
6. Educating the PublicOp-Eds/Letters to the Editor:The River Journal – 05/24/23Letter to the Editor: Impact of Wrongful Death Liability Bill( Westchester County Medical Society Leadership)Island360 – 05/24/23Readers Write: Harmful malpractice bills increase liability premiums for physicians (Dr. David Podwall, Nassau County Medical Society President)Mid-Hudson News – 05/25/23Opinion: New liability bill doesn’t resolve Hochul’s concerns, will undermine access to care - Mid Hudson News(Dutchess County Medical Society)
7. Educating the PublicOp-Eds/Letters to the Editor:Rochester Democrat & Chronicle – 06/25/23The Wrongful Death Bill(Monroe County Medical Society President Dr. Hemant Kalia)Syracuse.com – 08/17/23Medical liability bill would be catastrophic for Onondaga Co. physicians (Onondaga County Medical Society)Times Union – 08/18/23Wrongful-death bill won't improve maternal health outcomes(MSSNY President Dr. Paul Pipia)
8. Educating the PublicOp-Eds/Letters to the Editor:Syracuse.com – 08/17/23Medical liability bill would be catastrophic for Onondaga Co. physicians (Onondaga County Medical Society)Times Union – 08/18/23Wrongful-death bill won't improve maternal health outcomes(MSSNY President Dr. Paul Pipia)Press Republican – 08/30/23Letter to the Editor (MSSNY Speaker Dr. William Latreille)Buffalo News – 09/01/23Another Voice: Grieving Families Act still needs revision (Erie County Medical Society President Dr. John Fudyma)
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10. Press CoverageMedpage Today – 03/10/23Who can sue docs for wrongful death? Some states are trying to expand that group (MSSNY President Dr. Parag Mehta quoted)New York State of Politics – 05/24/23New York medical organizations continue to oppose wrongful death expansion (MSSNY mentioned)Spectrum News 1 State of Politics – 06/07/23Revised wrongful death expansion will head to Hochul's desk (MSSNY President Dr. Paul Pipia quoted)Insurance Journal /Claims Journal – 06/13/23New York Lawmakers Again Pass Wrongful Death Damages Bill. Is Another Veto in Store? (MSSNY President Dr. Paul Pipia quoted)Spectrum Local News – 06/29/23Health care organizations in New York urge veto of wrongful death expansion (MSSNY mentioned)
11. Press ReleasesNew York Physicians, Serving Patients Across The State, Call On Hochul To Veto Liability Bill - July 19, 2023New York Physicians Deeply Concerned that State Legislature Passes Another Bill to Expand Damages in Wrongful Death Cases – June 6, 2023Medical Society Expresses Alarm Over Assembly Passage of Bill That Would Harm Patient Access to Care - June 2, 2023New York Physicians Oppose Amended Grieving Families Bill – May 22, 2023
12. Press Play!
13. Social Media
14. Press Play
15. Keep Your Doc in NY Campaign
16. How Can I Help? Need ideas? Here’s a sample!Submit an Op-Ed to Your Local Paper!Engage with Us on Social Media !X, Instagram,Threads: @MedSocietyNYSFB & LinkedIn: @MSSNY
17. Check out MSSNY’s Wrongful Death Toolkit!How Can I Help? Call 518-474-8390 and press option 3. Then press option 1 to leave a voicemail or option 2 to speak with an operator.Go to MSSNY’s Grassroots Action Center at mssny.org. It’s under the Take Action tabEmail the Governor!Call the Governor!
18. What do I say?I am urging that the new version of the Grieving Families Act be vetoed, and instead be re-drafted so it can protect our patients’ continued access to our healthcare system. The new bill is only marginally different than the legislation the Governor vetoed earlier this year, which she vetoed because of the huge potential adverse impact to our health care system.The new version would still exponentially expand damages awardable in a wrongful death action. Make sure you identify yourself and state where you are from!
19. What else? The inclusion of non-economic damages under this bill is why studies have shown it would lead to a nearly 40% premium cost increase. This undoubtedly will have an enormously disruptive impact on our already stressed healthcare system, considering that New York physicians and hospitals already face by far and away the highest medical liability insurance costs in the country. The Governor fought for substantial investments in the State Budget to help address the financial challenges facing our hospitals and community-based providers. However, this bill would completely undo these positive investments that had been allocated to protect the stability of our healthcare safety net.
20. Wait…there’s more! The physician community stands ready to work with all parties on a revised bill to ensure legal remedies for grieving families, but at the same time protect the ability of New York’s physicians, hospitals, and health care workers to deliver the care our patients expect and deserve. Again, this bill must be vetoed and re-drafted to include provisions to reduce New York’s excessive liability costs. Otherwise, our already challenging access to care problems will be made far worse.Thank you for your time!
21. Wrongful Death ToolkitAdditional ResourcesGo to mssny.org for more resources on wrongful death, including: MSSNY Specialty Society Letter to the GovernorOp-edSocial Media Posts and GraphicsTalking PointsLRANY 2023 Legislator FlyerLRANY 2023 Medical Liability Costs ReportPress Release: New York Physicians Deeply Concerned that State Legislature Passes Another Bill to Expand Damages in Wrongful Death CasesPress release: New York Physicians, Serving Patients Across The State, Call On Hochul To Veto Liability Bill
22. Summary of Actions Needed1. Physician Letters to Hochul15,000 = target number11,355 = sent to date (only 1,500 since June) 3,645 = additional letters 2. Physician Calls to Hochul Outreach to:MSSNY email blasts (membership + leaders)County Medical Societies (see dates)MSSNY Groups (see next slide)Specialty SocietiesNon-MSSNY Hospitals/GroupsEthnic SocietiesOther
23. MSSNY Member GroupsAlbany Gastro Consultants (Group)Bassett Healthcare (Group)Coalition of Asian-American IPA (Institution)Canton-Potsdam Hosp (Group)Community Care Physicians. PC (Grp)ENT & Allergy Assoc. (Group)Family Care Medical (Group)General Physician PC (Group)Healthcare Associates in Med. P.C. (Grp)Hudson Headwaters Hlth Net (Group)Intergrated Med. Prof. (Group)LIJ/NSUH Northwell Health (Institution)Long Island Community Hosp. (Institution)Long Island Plastic Surgical Group PC (Organization)Northern Westchester Hosp. (Institution)NSPC Brain and Spine (Organization)NY Cancer & Blood SpecialistsNY Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (Grp)NY Presby Bkln Methodist (Institution)Orleans Community Health (institution)Ortho. NY (Group)Samaritan Medical Center (Institution)Schenectady Anesthesia (Group)St. Peters Hlth Partners Med. Assoc. (Inst)Upstate Medical (Group)Windsong Radiology (Group)Zwanger-Pesiri (Group)
24. Contact Zina Cary at zcary@mssny.com (518) 465-8085Thank YouTogether we are #MSSNYStrong