SLMMS Advocacy Committee Establishes 2024 Legislative Priorities and Calendar for Resolutions

The SLMMS Political Advocacy Committee met on December 5 to draft the Medical Society’s 2024 Legislative Priorities and set the calendar for the development of SLMMS-sponsored resolutions to take forward to the Missouri State Medical Association’s annual convention in April. The Committee’s report was adopted by the SLMMS Council at their December 11 meeting.

SLMMS 2024 Legislative Priorities

The top priorities for the St. Louis Metropolitan Medical Society (SLMMS) for the upcoming 2024 legislative session have been developed by the SLMMS Political Advocacy Committee.  They include the following:

• Support coverage of mental health issues, including drug addiction as a medical condition, and encourage physicians to acquire greater understanding of the issues involved
• Continue to oppose attempts by non-physicians to independently practice medicine, and protect collaborative practice and the physician-led health care team approach to patient care
• Advocate for transparent terminology to be used by all healthcare providers in patient care and advertising, as well as support efforts that protect patients from misrepresentations by health care providers
• Seek definition of Medicine and Surgery through legislation and/or regulation
• Protect the privacy of the physician-patient relationship from all governmental and non-physician interference
• Concentrate on aspects of tort reform laws that remain to be addressed
• Support a safe practice environment for all physicians and enforcement of penalties for assault on health care personnel
• Support for legislation allowing physicians to provide safe evidence-based medical care to all patients without fear of criminalization
• Support efforts that are in the best interest of public health and safety

2024 Calendar for Resolutions

Thursday, February 15, 2024 – Delegates’ Briefing – 6:00 p.m. via Zoom (RSVP required) – First review of proposed resolutions

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 – SLMMS March Council Meeting – 6:00 p.m.  – Second review and Council approval of resolutions

Friday, March 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. – Deadline to submit to MSMA for inclusion in convention materials

Friday, April 5 through Sunday, April 7, 2024 – MSMA Annual Convention and meeting of the House of Delegates – Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel

SLMMS Members – if you have an idea or concept for a resolution, and wish to bring it forward for consideration and review, please plan to attend the Delegates’ Briefing on February 15. The meeting will be held via Zoom. To participate, contact Dave Nowak, SLMMS Executive Vice President, at dnowak@slmms.org to register, and the Zoom link and meeting materials will be forwarded to you.