Save the Date: 4/17 Legislative Leadership Conference/Lobby Day

Join SFMS for the CMA Legislative Leadership Conference on April 17 in Sacramento. We’re excited to announce California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Governor Jerry Brown as special guest speakers.

SFMS members have the unique opportunity to gain advocacy training and network with colleagues throughout California at this annual event. Legislative Day is offered at no cost to SFMS members. Please email SFMS at info@sfms.org or call (415) 561-0850 if you would like to attend this event.

The morning includes speeches from a number of key legislative leaders. Attendees will go to the Capitol in the afternoon to meet with legislators on health care issues. The meetings will be scheduled and coordinated by local county medical societies.

Medical students and residents

Funding may be available to offset travel expenses to participate in the event. We will be organizing a vanpool for participants. Please contact SFMS for more information.

Hotel Details

Sheraton Grand Sacramento is extending a discounted rate of $159 for conference participants. Online reservation instructions are available here. Reservations can also be made by calling (800) 325-3535 or (916) 447-1700 – ask for the California Medical Association corporate rate.

Calif. Attorney General Files Brief Supporting Health Reform Law

California Attorney General Kamala Harris (D) has joined nine other attorneys general in filing a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the constitutionality of the federal health reform law, SF Weekly‘s “The Snitch” reports.

The brief was filed with the St. Louis-based Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is reviewing a lawsuit challenging the reform law (Jamison, “The Snitch,” SF Weekly, 8/22).

Background

A number of lawsuits are challenging the constitutionality of the law.

Most recently, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month ruled that the law’s requirement that U.S. citizens purchase health insurance exceeded the scope of federal power.

However, the California-based Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the law.

Observers say the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately will rule on the law (California Healthline, 8/15).

Details of the Brief

Harris filed the brief with attorneys general from:

• Connecticut;
• Delaware;
• Hawaii;
• Iowa;
• Maryland;
• New York;
• Oregon;
• Vermont; and
• The District of Columbia.

The brief supports the constitutionality of the reform law and urges the court to affirm states’ rights to protect the health and safety of their citizens.

Harris said in a statement that the law “strikes an appropriate, constitutional balance between federal and state authority over the health care system.”

She added that the law “establishes federal standards, backed by federal funding, to expand access to affordable coverage” while giving states leeway to design systems that work best for their residents (Highland Community News, 8/22).

Read more: http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2011/8/23/calif-attorney-general-files-brief-supporting-health-reform-law.aspx#ixzz1Vt4KZUvG