MCMS Pulse Points
Let Your Voice Be Heard
Attend the next MCMS Board Meeting

Tuesday, March 10, 2020
6:00 p.m.
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
101 Bill Smith Blvd.
King of Prussia, PA 19406

Email [email protected] to RSVP
Save the Date!

Healing the Healer - Physician Burnout Symposium

Saturday, March 28, 2020

150 McCloskey Road
Flourtown, PA 19031
Message from the Board Chair
“Staying Engaged”

Hello, and Happy New Year from the Montgomery County Medical Society. I hope you and yours had a healthy and happy holiday season. Now that 2020 is upon us, new challenges await, and our county medical society is primed for action.

Last year saw numerous challenges for the House of Medicine in Pennsylvania, but also brought cause for optimism and hope. An attempt to eliminate the ban on ‘venue shopping’ in medical malpractice cases was tabled for now, in no small part due to a grassroots swell of support from physicians across the state. An organized effort by leadership from county medical societies, in co-ordination with PAMED, succeeded in bending legislator’s ears. 

Then, on October 31st, the state Supreme Court eliminated the 7-year ‘Statute of Repose’ by a single vote. Originally enacted when MCARE was written, this provision of the law limited the time frame to file a medical malpractice action to 7 years from the date of the alleged injury. Although the 2-year window to file a claim from the time of discovery remains in place, this ruling has the potential to greatly expand malpractice liability risk for physicians across the state. The repercussions of this decision will not be fully known for some time, but our county medical society is diligently monitoring future developments, and will continued to keep you informed. 

Finally, just last week, Michael Turzai, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, announced that he would not seek re-election this fall. A friend to Pennsylvania physicians, Speaker Turzai has been instrumental in working with organized medicine to preserve physician-led, team-based care in our state from attempts by the PA Coalition of Nurse Practitioners to end it via legislative fiat. While the impact of his retirement is also still an ‘unknown’, MCMS continues to support preserving physician-led, team-based care in our state, and will work with PAMED as the situation develops.
 
In each of these instances, the presence—or lack thereof—of the unified voice of physicians has often been the deciding factor in our continued efforts to protect and preserve the patient-physician relationship. And to accomplish that goal, we must stand together. In a world where doctors are subject to an unrelenting amount of pressure every single day, finding the time to engage in advocacy can be difficult (to say the least). To our members, I wish to extend a heart-felt “thank you” not only for your support, but for your commitment and trust. To those who are wavering on the value of joining, I understand your hesitation, but I say to you: give us a chance. While many battles remain, I see reason for hope. The more we stand together, the stronger we will be. We’ve already begun to move the needle, and while it’s a marathon and not a sprint, the more ‘boots on the ground’ to carry the baton, the better the chances of reaching the finish line.

Your voice matters. The work you do every day matters. YOU matter. Join us.
 
Warm regards,
Jay Rothkopf, MD
Chairman, Montgomery County Medical Society
PAMPAC Donations

The Pennsylvania Medical Political Action Committee (PAMPAC) is the political arm of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. PAMPAC is made up of members of the Pennsylvania Medical Society who are interested in making a positive contribution to the medical profession through the political process. PAMPAC supports pro-medicine candidates running for the Pennsylvania state legislature or statewide office.
Pfyer Fund Application Available Now

Thanks to the generosity of Howard F. Pyfer, MD, the Montgomery County Medical Society offers reimbursement for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. MCMS members under the age of 45 are eligible for a maximum reimbursement of five hundred ($500) dollars. For a full list of requirements, visit the scholarships page of our website . 

Click here to download the scholarship application.
Advocacy Updates

  • Prior Authorization - CRNPs continue to push legislators to grant them the same autonomous clinical authority as physicians. Senate Bill 25, having passed the Senate for the second straight session, currently awaits consideration by the House Professional Licensure Committee. House Bill 100, a companion bill to Senate Bill 25 is on the same docket. CRNPs are aggressively lobbying legislators…physicians must do the same if we are to preserve a collaborative system that is the model in 28 other states across the country.
  • Out of Network Billing - House Bill 1862 has been formally introduced and passed the House Insurance committee. Efforts are underway to seek amendments to the legislation that will level the playing field between providers and insurers while at the same time remove patients from the middle. PAMED supports the Kaufer and Rothman Amendments to HB 1862.
  • Act 112 of 2018 - Recently, Rep. Jozwiak authored HB 2103 which seeks to exempt specific cardiac testing from notification requirements. PAMED continues to support legislation aimed to amend and improve Act 112 of 2018.
  • For a full list of advocacy issues, click here.
William W. Lander, MD 2019 MCMS
Medical Student Scholarship Recipients
Sara Briker
Perelman School of Medicine at Univ. of PA
Class of 2023

I am honored and excited to have been chosen as a recipient of the Montgomery County Medical Society-William W. Lander, MD, Medical Student Scholarship. I grew up in Abington and attended college at Villanova University and am very grateful to have the support of the Montgomery County Medical Society as I begin medical school close to home at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Though undecided regarding a medical specialty, I am certain that I will pursue a field that enables me to develop longitudinal relationships with patients.
Andrew Parambath
Perelman School of Medicine at Univ. of PA
Class of 2023

I would like to thank the Montgomery County Medical Society for the William W. Lander, MD, Medical Student Scholarship. It is an honor to receive this award and be supported by the Montgomery County Medical Society and physicians that made this scholarship possible.

My first year in medical school has already been an amazing journey. I have explored the intricacies of the human body through anatomy while learning the biochemical and cellular processes that sustain life. It is incredibly humbling to receive this knowledge and realize how far medicine has come and the amount of discovery that still must be made in the field. I am excited by the innovation that occurs each day in the field of healthcare, such as using VR technology for surgeon training and the power of genomics in precision medicine. With this scholarship and the support of my family, I aspire to become an excellent clinician, innovator, and leader in medicine with the goal of providing the best care to my patients.  


  • March 10, 2020 - MCMS Board Meeting - MontCo Chamber of Commerce
  • March 28, 2020 - Healing the Healer - Physician Burnout Symposium
  • May 12, 2020 - MCMS Board Meeting
  • September 8, 2020 - MCMS Board Meeting
  • November 10, 2020 - MCMS Board Meeting