Legislative Archives

SCMS Legislator of the Year Awards

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SCMS "2008 Representative of the Year" - Rep. Alan Hays

Representative Alan Hays was recognized for the second straight year for all his efforts on behalf of patients and the medical community.  Rep. Hays is pictured receiving his awards for 2007 & 2008, along with John Robertson, MD, SCMS Executive Director Carrie Gilbert and Glen Davis, MD.-

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SCMS "2007 Representative of the Year" - Rep. Alan Hays

Representative Alan Hays was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2006.  As a retired dentist from Umatilla, Rep. Hays has first hand knowledge of the intricacies of caring for patients.  Over the past two years he has used that knowledge as he has passionately fought for the rights of physicians and patients.  He has truly become a friend of the medical community.

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SCMS “2006 Legislator of the Year”- Rep. Dr. Ed Homan

Representative Ed Homan was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2002.  For the last four years he has worked tirelessly for the interests of all Florida's physicians in the state legislature, while still maintaining his orthopedic practice.

Ed has a special relationship with the SCMS.  He joined us when we walked for Sen. Mike Haridopolos in 2003, he included the SCMS in a recent legislative forum on future healthcare issues, and keeps us apprised of ongoing legislative issues.  He understands the importance of the political process, and represents the sacrifice it takes to make a difference.  The time Ed spends makes it easier for each of us to practice every day.

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SCMS “2005 Legislator of the Year” – Rep. David Simmons

Seminole County State Representative David Simmons was awarded the SCMS “2005 Legislator of the Year” award for the work he did placing limitations on Amendments 7 and 8 that exceeded medical community requests.  In his crucial position the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, he made sure that the enabling legislation passed would both benefit and protect all Floridians.

The Seminole County Medical Society Delegation at the 2005 FMA Annual Meeting, with Seminole County Representative David Simmons and his FMA “2005 Legislator of the Year” award.  From left to right: Sanjiv Kapil, MD; Glen Davis, MD; State Representative Dr. Ed Homan; 2005 FMA President Dennis Agliano, MD; Sam Omar, MD; State Representative David Simmons, Ken Wing, MD; Richard Bragg, MD; and Clyde Clymer, MD.

The SCMS Legislative Committee

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SCMS 2008 Legislative Committee:

Glen Davis, MD - Chair
Frank Clontz, MD
Shirley Davis, MSN - Alliance
Bob Feldman, MD
Hank Greenberg, MD - FMA Representative
Josh Helman, MD
Steve Lester, MD
Sam Omar, MD
Hal Pineless, DO
Sanjay Reddy, MD
John Robertson, MD
Norma Ryan, Alliance President
Lloyd Werk, MD
Richard Bragg, MD - SCMS President

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Legislative Committee Updates:

Legislative Committee minutes - 10/6/08

Legislative Committee minutes - 6/3/08

Legislative Committee Update - 3/28/08

Legislative Committee minutes - 3/4/08

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Legislative Committee Purpose:

The Legislative Committee of the Seminole County Medical Society will inform and advise the members of the Medical Society regarding legislative issues on the local, state, and national levels. The Committee will solicit the help and support of the membership on critical legislative issues, and work to maximize the Society’s influence in legislative affairs.

The Committee will:

1. Interview candidates for elected positions, and distribute information on their positions to the membership. The Committee will utilize the resources and coordinate efforts with FLAMPAC.
2. Assign members to both meet with, and become “Key Contacts” with individual elected legislators. The Committee will relate information about those legislators to the membership.
3. Solicit the membership’s views on political issues that pertain to healthcare.
   Work with the Society’s Program Director to coordinate the attendance of elected officials at Medical Society meetings, so members can have an opportunity to meet and lobby legislators on important issues.
4. Coordinate political fundraising efforts to maximize the Society’s political influence. The Committee will keep the membership informed on the results of fundraising efforts.
5. Coordinate membership campaign assistance for selected races, including door-to-door walking campaigns, or providing members with flyers for candidates or on issues to be posted in offices during elections.
6. From time to time address specific issues and engage the membership in specific political efforts.
7. Represent the interests of the membership at the Florida Medical Association’s Annual Meeting. The Committee will solicit members for Resolutions to be introduced at that meeting.
   Liaison with other County Medical Societies on legislative efforts.
8. Work closely with the SCMS Alliance on legislative efforts.

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The SCMS Delegation for the FMA Annual Meeting

Delegation for the 2007 FMA Annual Meeting

• John Robertson, MD
• Vraj Panara, MD
• Ken Wing, MD

SCMS Resolutions presented at the 2005 FMA Annual Meeting

During the 2005 FMA Annual Meeting the Seminole County Medical Society Delegation presented 10 important Resolutions.  The results of those proposals were:

1. Emergency Room Call Coverage – the FMA set up a committee to look at whether the ER call coverage problem can be addressed using a statewide perspective.
2. Establishing the “Standard of Care” for Medical Expert Testimony – the FMA will use the items the SCMS proposed to help create a standard.  The SCMS is in the process of putting the standard for SCMS physicians in the SCMS By-laws.
3. Reducing Liability Risk – the FMA established that physicians have the right to limit their practices.
4. Patient Safety Initiatives – most of the language and recommendations proposed by the SCMS were incorporated into the FMA’s new patient safety policy.
5. The FMA and Information Technology – the FMA committed to maintaining a leadership position in IT among state medical associations.
6. Curbing Negative Political Activity – this Resolution did not pass, but FMA leaders committed to maintaining professionalism in future political debates.
7. Income Tax Credits for Uninsured Care – this did not pass as a Resolution, but we have received assurance that it will be kept under consideration by the AMA.
8. Creating a FMA Defense Expert Witness Program - action was deferred on this Resolution to concentrate on the Expert Witness Reform issue.  The SCMS is developing having most of this option available for SCMS members through the new SCMS medical liability protection program.
9. Creating a FMA Legal Defense Program - action was deferred on this Resolution to concentrate on the Expert Witness Reform issue.  The SCMS is developing having most this option available for SCMS members through the new SCMS medical liability protection program.
10. Creating a Program for Self-Insured Physicians – action was deferred on this Resolution so the FMA could concentrate on the Expert Witness Reform issue.