Advocacy

The Medical Society and TMA advocate on behalf of Tennessee physicians to pass public policy and legislation that improves the practice of medicine, both at the state and federal level, and benefits patient care for all Tennesseans.

We are the only statewide organization representing physicians from every medical specialty. We encourage physicians to become advocates for their profession and learn the legislative process.

Organized Medicine Works

The Tennessee Medical Association and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society are dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness and well-being of members while protecting the health care interests of patients. We are strongest when we work together and when organized medicine represents all doctors, regardless of specialty differences, practice affiliation or political parties. We are the only unified group in Tennessee fighting for doctors.

Liability Reform. Since TMA’s 2008 Medical Liability Reform Law went into effect there have been 50% fewer lawsuits filed in Tennessee. Fewer lawsuits have led physicians to spending 20 to 50% less on their liability insurance premiums. TMA, local medical societies, and our members led the charge to reform our medical liability system and the first significant reforms in decades were signed into law in 2008. In 2009, we also passed a bill to provide privileged status to peer review done by medical groups. In 2011, we won caps on non-economic damages in malpractice lawsuits. This victory was the result of a long-term fight in the Tennessee General Assembly.

The fight to maintain a favorable liability system is ongoing. Every year new legislation is introduced to chip away at these reforms, but organized medicine remains alert and active to preserve this progress.

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The number of bills introduced during a typical two-year legislative session and actively tracked by TMA and your Medical Society to protect your ability to practice medicine. Hundreds of these bills could impact how YOU practice medicine. Many bills would encroach on the practice of medicine, expand the scope of practice for those who didn’t go to medical school, or weaken important public health measures. Recently, TMA killed bills that would have required criminal background checks for new physician office employees, and allowed psychologists to prescribe. TMA amended legislation that created a state Controlled Substance Monitoring Database to make the process easier for medical practices while providing needed information to physicians.
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The number of critical topics in TMA’s On-Line Law Guide. The Guide is continually updated on legal topics that impact the practice of medicine. Added to access to TMA’s excellent legal division where members can pose medico-legal, regulatory, or practice management issues, these resources more than recoup the value of your dues. In addition, members can get discounted rates on contract review.

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The number of Chattanooga physicians who receive Liability Protection for Charity Care they provide through Project Access and Volunteers in Medicine. In 2007 the Governor signed the Medical Society’s legislation that provides liability protection (except in cases of gross negligence) to physicians who provide charity health care through organized programs, such as Project Access. For information, call Tonya Williams or Rae Bond at 423-622-2872.

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Areas in which you can get assistance from TMA’s Practice Management Center, including a Medical Practice Guide to Tennessee’s Doctor Shopping Law, resources to assist with FTC Red Flag rules implementation (while continuing the fight to stop application of the rules to physicians); a Guide to Supervising Nurse Practitioners, updates on prescribing requirements, tamper proof prescription pads, and myriad other issues, and help with insurance hassles.
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Copies of the Medical Society Physician Directory distributed annually, making it the premier referral source for the health care community. The Medical Society also provides a telephone referral service for member physicians and fields daily calls from doctors and patients looking for physicians.
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Instances of positive media coverage of the profession of medicine generated by the Medical Society’s ongoing work with the media and efforts to increase public understanding of medicine through programs like Mini-Internships and the Youth Leadership Forum, Project Access, and other community health initiatives. Members are invited to submit articles to our weekly“Ask the Doctor”column in the local daily newspaper.

 

TMAPAC

TMAPAC is a non-partisan, independent political action committee established by the Tennessee Medical Association aimed at the election and retention of pro-medicine candidates.

The TMAPAC Committee consists of nine physician members (one from each Tennessee Congressional District), three physician at-large committee members (one from each Grand Region – West, Middle, East), plus one TMA Alliance (TMAA) member and one Tennessee Medical Group Management Association (TMGMA) member. In addition, the committee may include one Young Physician Section representative, one resident and one student representative. All appointments to the TMAPAC Committee are made by the TMA Board of Trustees.

The committee is responsible for reviewing and approving campaign contributions with advice from TMA lobbyists regarding how legislators vote on Capitol Hill and whether they are supportive of physician healthcare issues. TMAPAC contributions are given to legislators who are friendly to medicine and sit on important committees and/or hold leadership roles.

Legislative Contacts

Change is practically the only constant in health care practice today, including rules and regulations, clinical methods, and expectations. With medical liability reform, TennCare, declining fees and increasing expectations regarding quality of care rendered, physicians need a reliable entity to advocate for the interests of patients and those who serve their needs. Legislative influence and advocacy are the major priorities for the Medical Society. The Medical Society, through its Committee on Legislation and Public Policy, monitors legislative and regulatory developments in Nashville and Washington. The committee is an effective voice for physicians. Your active participation in your Medical Society is more important than ever.

Voice your opinion today!

Many times, we are confronted with issues that affect our medical practice or our patients. Do you want to voice your opinion? If so, you can write your state Senator or Representative and let them know how you stand on the issue at hand. Please refer to the address prompt below for more information on how you can contact your legislators.

Tennessee Governor

Governor Bill Lee
TN State Capital, First Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-2001
Fax: 615-532-9711
bill.lee@tn.gov

Tennessee State Senators

Senator Todd Gardenhire, District 10
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Ste. 716 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-6682
Fax: 615-253-0209
sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov

Senator Bo Watson, District 11
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Ste. 706 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-3227
Fax: 615-253-0280
sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov

Tennessee State Representatives

Representative Greg Martin, District 26
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Ste. 586 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-2548
Fax: 615-253-0305
rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Patsy Hazelwood, District 27
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Ste. 606 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-2746
Fax: 615-253-0304
rep.patsy.hazelwood@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Yusuf Hakeem, District 28
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Ste. 524 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-2702
Fax: 615-253-0351
rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov

Representative Greg Vital, District 30
425 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
Ste. 550 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-741-1934
Fax: 615-253-0271
rep.greg.vital@capitol.tn.gov

United States Senators

US Senator Marsha Blackburn
United States Senate
357 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3344
Fax: 202-228-0566
http://blackburn.senate.gov/

Sen. Blackburn’s Chattanooga Office
10 West MLK Blvd, 6th Floor
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 541-2939
Fax: (423) 541-2944

US Senator Bill Hagerty
United States Senate
248 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-4944
http://hagerty.senate.gov/

Sen. Hagerty’s Chattanooga Office
900 Georgia Ave, Ste. 260
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-752-5337
Fax: 423-752-2504

United States Representatives

Congressman Chuck Fleischmann
2187 Rayburn House
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3271
Fax: (202) 225-3494
http://fleischmann.house.gov

Rep. Fleischmann’s Chattanooga Office
900 Georgia Ave., Suite 126
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: 423-756-2342
Fax: 423-756-6613

Congressman Scott Desjarlais
2304 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6831
Fax: (202) 225-5172
http://desjarlais.house.gov/

Rep. Desjarlais’s Cleveland Office
301 Keith St., Suite 212
Cleveland, TN 37311
Phone: 423-472-7500
Fax: 423-472-7800