State Update

Elections 2006: Advocacy Begins at the Ballot Box

It’s only August, but it’s not too early for physicians to start flexing their advocacy muscle for the forthcoming elections. This year’s elections will provide physicians with an opportunity to affect health care policy on both state and national levels. The choices voters make this fall could have a significant effect on how you practice medicine and on the quality of care your patients receive for years to come.

While we can’t predict the specific outcome, we know that a new governor will be elected to replace Mitt Romney. The new governor will make critical appointments to agencies such as the Board of Registration in Medicine, the Department of Public Health, and the Division of Insurance. These new appointees could significantly affect physician practices and the care given to patients. Of special concern will be the leadership provided by the next governor around the implementation of the new health access law -- both in how health insurance coverage is delivered to the uninsured, and in efforts to promote quality and cost effectiveness in the delivery of care.

In addition to electing a new governor, voters will choose a new lieutenant governor and attorney general for four-year terms. The entire state Legislature will also be elected -- all 40 senators and 160 representatives. On the federal level, voters will decide on the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Kennedy and all 10 Massachusetts seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The MMS urges physicians to actively participate in the political process and lend their expertise and experience to the debate on health care issues. First, learn about the candidates and the issues. Most major candidates have a website that explains their stance on key areas such as health care. Also, try to meet the candidates in person and explore the depth of their interest in issues that affect you and your patients. Share your expertise and let the candidates know where you stand on the issues. Finally, if you find a candidate you feel comfortable supporting, build a strong relationship with that candidate -- this will afford you a much more open line of communication if and when your candidate takes office.

At the very least, make informed voting choices. The key dates to remember are as follows:

• September 19 -- Primary Election Day
  Sometimes these preliminary races are more critical than those contests in the November election.
• November 7 -- Election Day

This is the final opportunity to vote for governor, the U.S. congressional delegation, and the state Legislature. There may also be statewide referenda on a variety of subjects.

– Steve Shestakofsky