Although it is still early in 2016, you are probably already tired of seeing political ads and hearing about this year’s upcoming elections. Please keep reading; this article will not be filled with polling numbers, match-ups or any other presidential election metrics! It will let you in on some of the information involving contests that are sometimes overlooked in a presidential election year: state legislative and gubernatorial races.
State-level elections decide the outcomes of state administrations and legislatures, both of which have the most direct impact on the practice of medicine. State legislators introduce and support legislation that can promote or eliminate patient-centered, physician-led anesthesia care within their state. Governors sign these bills into law and also single-handedly determine whether states opt out of the Medicare patient safety requirement for physician supervision of anesthesia. Making sure patient and physician advocates win these seats is crucial to the provision of safe...
