News
February 2014 · Volume 24 & Issue 2
A Monthly Publication of the Greater Louisville Medical Society
Physician-led Team
Determined to Affect
Kentucky Health Laws
Policy and Advocacy Team Chair, Mary
Helen Davis, MD, and Rep. Darryl Owens
Presenting
the GLMS
Proposed
Ballot
wide smoking ban, and the pitfalls
inherent with medical marijuana.
Born out of a desire for Louisville-area physicians to have more input with Kentucky’s
law-making body, the budding GLMS Policy
and Advocacy Team has gained incredible
momentum over the last several months.
The team’s enthusiasm was recently on display at its most recent Legislative Reception
held on January 14. Senator Dan Seum
said, “I haven’t seen this many people in
attendance at a legislative reception in 31
years.” That sentiment was echoed by the
other 10 legislators in attendance while
rubbing elbows and conversing with a jampacked room full of engaged physicians and
other key stakeholders.
Previews of the Legislative Session were
delivered by Representative Jim Wayne,
Representative Darryl Owens and Senator
Dan Seum, Senate Majority Caucus Chair.
Topics addressed at this venue included
the Good Samaritan bill, Medical Orders
for Scope of Treatment (MOST), expert witnesses for medical liability cases, a state-
President, James Patrick Murphy,
MD, MMM, said, “Kentucky has the
third highest drug overdose mortality rate in the country, and fourteen
other states have already passed
Good Samaritan legislation to address the problem.” In a nutshell, if a
witness to a drug overdose calls 911,
a Good Samaritan law provides immunity
from criminal prosecution for minor drug
trafficking issues for both the witness and
the victim. “This is a way to save hundreds
of lives the first year it’s enacted, and it
won’t cost a nickel.” A Good Samaritan bill
has already been introduced in this session, and the Policy and Advocacy Team
is encouraging physicians to contact their
legislators to seek passage.
Led by Chair, Mary Helen Davis, MD, and
Vice Chair, Tracy Ragland, MD, the Policy
and Advocacy Team is doing everything
possible to reach out to legislators to help
them make key health care decisions that
affect patients and physicians. The group’s
leaders have a message for all physicians:
“We need you to be successful. If you are
frustrated with what is coming out of Frankfort and have issues that are near and dear
to your heart, please get on board. Its all
(continued on page 3)
Members have until Feb. 28 to review the proposed ballot of candidates for this year’s GLMS
election and, if they desire, submit a petition
to be added to the final ballot. The proposed
ballot was developed by the 2014 Nominating
Committee, the proposed ballot was sent to
voter-eligible members by email on Feb. 1, and
it is posted at www.glms.org under Physician
Alerts.
Candidates are presented for the following offices: president-elect, vice president, secretary,
at-large board members, Judicial Council, KMA
delegates, in-training delegates and the 2015
Nominating Committee. Terms begin in June.
Any member not slated who desires to run for
an office may submit a petition containing the
valid signatures of at least 200 active GLMS
members to the GLMS offices no later than the
end of business on Friday, Feb. 28. An official
petition form is available at www.glms.org
or you may call 502-736-6362 for assistance.
Voting instructions for the online election will
be provided in March.