Hoosier physicians and medical students wearing white coats flooded the third-floor south atrium of the state Capitol on March 12 to meet with legislators on Physician Advocacy Day.
"Physician Advocacy Day was a resounding success thanks to the dedication of physicians across Indiana and our ISMA staff," said Tyler Heavin, MD, ISMA District 5 alternate trustee and an emergency medicine physician with Hendricks Regional Health. "It was a great way to connect with other physicians, share our unique perspectives with legislators and promote physician-led healthcare for our fellow Hoosiers."
The final attendance of 153 was the highest in at least six years and is believed to be the highest ever. Physicians and students talked one-on-one with multiple legislators, expressing the importance of maintaining access to quality health care for all Hoosiers. They also highlighted specific issues, such as prior authorization reform, preservation of Medicaid, additional GME funding to create more residency slots and elimination of noncompete clauses for all physicians.
It was the first Physician Advocacy Day that Jason Bredenkamp, MD, attended. "What an honor and privilege to be with fellow physicians, dressed in our white coats, putting forth an effort to make a difference for our patients," said Bredenkamp, president of the Vanderburgh County Medical Society and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville. "To say I was impressed would be an understatement. This will be a must-attend event for me going forward."
Chad Curtis, DO, said the experience allowed him to remember the history surrounding Indiana and the importance of advocacy because of its lasting impact on the medical profession.
“Hearing from our elected representatives and the frontline warriors of our government relations team is, in my view, essential training,” Curtis said. “For me, Advocacy Day is a philosophical show of force -- a call to ensure that the health of our patients remains the foundation upon which a just and flourishing society is built. We gather, not just as physicians but as guardians and caretakers of the moral and ethical imperative that every citizen of Indiana deserves care, compassion, and the opportunity to thrive."
Over 75% of the attendees who completed a post-event survey stated they would be very likely or likely to attend future Physician Advocacy Day events, and nearly 70% reported their interest in advocacy increased after the event. Over 90% of respondents stated the talking points provided for conversations with legislators were of value.
ISMA’s government affairs team and physician leadership held individual meetings with 11 House and Senate health committee and the House Insurance Committee members.
“These meetings are an invaluable opportunity for legislative leaders to hear directly from physicians at a point in the session when the work on final details of bills is getting underway,” said ISMA Vice President of Government Affairs John Ruckelshaus. “Having such a large turnout magnifies ISMA’s message about the critical importance of physician-led health care.”
Thank you to all who attended!
