As Congress returns to session Tuesday, physicians representing more than 10,000 of their colleagues headed to Capitol Hill to urge senators to include them in the healthcare reform debate.
They plan to deliver the "US Physicians Appeal," signed by more 10,000 physicians across the country, which urges policymakers to include frontline working physicians in national healthcare strategy.
Physicians leveraged the power of social media by using Sermo, the largest online physician community, to make their voices heard and take an active role in the debate.
In making its appeal to Congress, the group said physicians have a unique perspective on the systemic changes needed because they are on the forefront of care every day – in between patients, hospitals, Medicare, Medicaid and insurance companies. Physicians, more than any stakeholder group, understand the need for pragmatic reform, not politically negotiated reform, the appeal states.
According to a recent poll on Sermo, true healthcare reform will only succeed if:
- Unnecessary tests and procedures are reduced through tort and malpractice reform.
- Billing practcies are streamlined and and pricing is made more transparent (through an alternative to CPT codes), allowing doctors to spend more time with their patients and less time on paperwork.
- Medical decisions are made by physicians and their patients, not insurance company administrators.
- An adequate supply of qualified physicians is assured by revising the methods used for calculating reimbursements.
Daniel Palestrant, MD, Sermo's CEO, was slated to meet with other physicians in the office of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) as they delivered the "US Physicians Appeal."
"With the appeal physicians are seeking participation from every member of the U.S. Senate to work with us on bridging a communication gap dominated by the influence of special interests," Palestrant said. "Through an online forum lawmakers can discuss ideas and developments in the healthcare reform debate, in real time. If the physician voice is loud enough, it will be heard."
Coburn, a practicing physician, is the first lawmaker to reportedly engage with physicians on Sermo, posting about tort reform and the establishment of expert panels to review medical disputes.
"My desire is to receive and pass on concerns and ideas to the politicians who are shaping the direction of our profession," he said.
More than 110,000 physicians use Sermo's social networking platform, Palestrant said. By using Sermo, he said, the physician community and lawmakers can work together to bring about meaningful, effective change.
Real-time polling of physician opinion is a trademark of Sermo`s technology. More than 2,200 physicians weighed in on Coburn`s post last week with their thoughts and ideas on how to make healthcare reform possible.
