Need for Data to Inform MedChi Policy & Legislative Actions

MEDCHI, THE MARYLAND STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY
HOUSE OF DELEGATES

INTRODUCED BY: Montgomery County Medical Society

SUBJECT: Need for Data to Inform MedChi Policy & Legislative Actions

REFERRED TO:

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  1. Whereas, data is one of the most valuable assets in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare

  2. landscape, driving informed decision-making and shaping the future of patient care; and

  3.  

  4. Whereas, data-driven decision-making is essential for lawmakers, regulators, and policy

  5. influencers, as evidence-based information forms the backbone of sound policy formulation

  6. and regulatory frameworks; and

  7.  

  8. Whereas, MedChi physicians and leaders are increasingly asked by state and federal

  9. legislators to provide concrete data to support their positions on issues such as third-party

  10. payment inadequacies, workforce shortages, and patient care challenges; and

  11.  

  12. Whereas, without readily accessible data, MedChi is at a significant disadvantage in

  13. effectively advocating for meaningful change on behalf of its members and the broader

  14. healthcare community; and

  15.  

  16. Whereas, the current healthcare environment is complex, with rapid changes in

  17. reimbursement models, workforce dynamics, and patient care needs that require real-time,

  18. accurate data to support advocacy efforts; and

  19.  

  20. Whereas, MedChi has engaged consultants and firms in the past to survey physician trends

  21. and workforce needs, recognizing the critical importance of data in shaping policy; and

  22.  

  23. Whereas, MedChi has taken steps to enhance its internal physician demographic data, but

  24. lacks a comprehensive and centralized resource capable of providing economic, payer,

  25. hospital, financial, health status, and demographic information on a continuous basis; and

  26.  

  27. Whereas, having a dedicated, in-house data resource would greatly strengthen MedChi’s

  28. ability to respond to legislative and regulatory inquiries, bolster its lobbying efforts, and better

  29. advocate for physicians and patients across the state; therefore be it

  30.  

  31. RESOLVED, that MedChi commit the necessary resources to develop and maintain a

  32. repository of current economic, payer, hospital, financial, health status, and demographic

  33. data, and make this resource available to MedChi physicians, leaders, staff, and contract

  34. lobbyists to support policy initiatives and legislative actions; and that MedChi prioritize the

  35. acquisition and integration of this economic, payer, hospital, financial, health status, and

  36. demographic data repository as a critical function of its policy and advocacy efforts to ensure

  37. that it remains a leading voice in healthcare policy in Maryland and beyond.