We’ve reached the time of year when there are glimpses of spring finally popping up all around us. Trees are starting to bloom, and warmer, longer days are gracing us after a dark, cold winter. The daffodils are up and blooming, and as an avid gardener, I always look forward to spring and the renewed sense of growth and optimism it brings with it.
Spring is also a pivotal time on the KMA calendar. The 60-day legislative session is nearing completion, although there is quite a bit left to be done. Our 2024 priority issue is prior authorization reform, and it recently gained momentum with the introduction of legislation in the Senate that mirrors the KMA-supported House Bill 317. There’s still time for this bill to move through the legislative process, so please continue contacting your legislators in both the House and Senate to voice your support for House Bill 317 and Senate Bill 270. It’s important that our legislators hear our side of the story, and our patient’s side of the story. KMA members have done a fantastic job this year of reaching out and telling their stories about the impact of prior authorization on patient care! Thank you!
Next month is also the deadline for applications for the 2024 class of the Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute (KPLI). KPLI is an award-winning leadership program for Kentucky physicians that focuses on the personal, business, advocacy, and communications aspects of leadership. I think it is significant that a growing number of current KMA leaders are graduates of KPLI. As a KPLI alumni myself, the skills I have learned have been invaluable to me in my roles in KMA, as well as in my practice. If you are interested in applying, please visit kyfmc.org/leadership to learn more, or reach out to KMA Education Director Miranda Mosley, mosley@kyma.org.
Last month I highlighted Dr. Don Swikert’s leadership, and I would be remiss if this month I did not also highlight Dr. Nancy Swikert’s leadership. I was in my early years on the executive committee and was a new leader during Dr. Nancy’s presidency. Her theme was “The House of Medicine.” At the time, I thought this was a feel-good theme, as KMA was fairly well united on nearly all fronts. Fast forward to today, in which not only medicine, but society as a whole, seems torn asunder by various issues. These are challenging times to be a leader at any level, including the exam room where we are now questioned on the science of vaccines and other treatments we took for granted only a few years ago. Thankfully, KMA and medicine has been able to stay focused on these issues that impact our patients through our “House of Medicine.” For these reasons, I find myself often thinking of Dr. Nancy’s words, especially this year as I serve as president.
Finally, spring signals the deadline to renew your KMA membership if you have not already done so. I am proud that KMA is a true membership organization, and it’s because of you that we are able to provide so many benefits and programs that impact the health of Kentucky in such a positive way. Renewing your membership is easy and can be done by visiting members.kyma.org. If you have any questions, please reach out to the KMA membership department at member@kyma.org.
