Indiana-ACC Legislative Day

Cardiology Day at the Capitol: Advocating for A Healthy Indiana

Indiana-ACC members participated in the Indiana-ACC Legislative Day on February 18, 2010. We discussed the following:

ISSUE #1: Smokefree Indiana
The Indiana-ACC would like to see a smoking ban in all public places. Smoking is a leading cause of the most common forms of heart and vascular disease, major lung diseases, and some of the most common forms of cancer. Nearly one-fifth of deaths from cardiovascular disease are attributable to smoking — deaths that are preventable. Passive or involuntary smoking and smokeless tobacco share many of these adverse effects upon health. According to a report by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 26.1 percent of adults Indiana smoke - the highest rate in the country. The same report estimates that smoking related health problems cost the state nearly $2 billion annually.

Across the United States, 17,622 municipalities are covered by a 100% smokefree provision in workplaces, and/or restaurants, and/or bars, by either a state, commonwealth, or local law, representing 74.1% of the US population. Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have local laws in effect that require 100% smokefree workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars. It is time for Indiana to be included in these smokefree statistics. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) strongly supports HB 1131, legislation which would create a comprehensive statewide smoke-free law. The bill prohibits smoking in: (1) public places; (2) enclosed areas of a place of employment; and (3) certain state vehicles. HB 1131 passed out of the House has been referred to the Senate and is working through the Senate Committee on Commerce and Public Policy & Interstate Cooperation.

ISSUE #2: Open Access
Open access to medical care for Indiana patients is vital. Insurance contract issues can sometimes interfere with access to treatment. We are disappointed that HB 1022 was not passed and that insurance companies can dictate the number of patients that a practice must accept. Insurance companies seek to develop value-driven health insurance products in response to pressure from employers and purchasers in order to improve quality and moderate costs. However, we are seeing that insurance companies continue to increase requirements for prior authorization, pre-certification and post-treatment outcomes information, which place additional demands on health care staff and lead to delays in treatment. We ask that insurance contract issues not be allowed to detract from good patient care.

ISSUE #3: Indiana Medical Liability System
The Indiana malpractice law has been successful. However, there is erosion of this success due to 1) the inflation of the cap on pain and suffering awards; 2) the ability of attorneys to file claims whereby the discovery expense is born by the Indiana Department of Insurance and the malpractice insurance companies; and 3) we have seen results of the Illinois Supreme Court ruling that overturned their caps. Fairness, Transparency and Financial Responsibility should all be considerations as we look at ways to keep Indiana a good place to practice cardiology; we want Indiana to be a state that provides a friendly environment for health care workers. States that have implemented medical malpractice reform have been able to attract new doctors thus offering better care for the state’s population. Concurrently, states that do not have such reforms - or more recently, states that have seen existing malpractice laws eroded - have seen a decrease in the number of physicians per capita and a rise in the cost of care. The American College of Cardiology looks forward to working with the legislature on this important issue.