Message from the CMS President

Your Medical-Legal Source

THE PHYSICIANS Legal Issues Conference returns on June 7-9, 2018. Your Chicago Medical Society proudly cohosts this annual event in conjunction with the American Bar Association.

Last year’s program set a record for CMS members in attendance. This confirms a growing interest in legal issues due to new payment models and regulatory changes sweeping the medical profession. Both our physicians and their administrative staff want help navigating today’s healthcare system. CMS has answered that need with unparalleled education.

Where else can you interact with national experts as they discuss physician hospital collaboration; employer and hospital relationships, structuring physician super groups; healthcare dispute and conflict resolution; payer-provider contracting; physician unionization; private equity and physician investment opportunities?

The Chicago Medical Society formed this collaborative venture with the ABA’s Health Law Section several years ago. We did this after hearing from many members who said they wanted a different kind of education. Rather than specialty content, they clamored for help mastering daily practice challenges.

Our CMS-ABA partnership provides highly focused content with panelists and speakers all at one location. A two-day wealth of riches on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

Other topics this year will address issues like steering clear of draconian Medicare rules and the False Claims Act. After a period of uncertainty, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has committed to moving ahead with value-based payment initiatives. Physicians face an array of participation options, plus regulatory and legislative considerations. Speakers will address this fast-changing area.

We have sessions on fair market value; out-of-network payment issues; disruption and impairment in the workplace; and the anatomy of a malpractice lawsuit.

A physician and attorney also will lead an interactive discussion on scenarios from the front lines of the opioid crisis that implicate medical ethics. Consent, confidentiality and their exceptions in both medical and legal practice will be addressed. Likewise, the medical community is at the center of a vigorous debate on the appropriate use of medical cannabis. Panelist will have a moderated debate about the pros and cons to patients’ utilization and certifying patients for cannabis use.

In between sessions, you’ll have opportunities to network with your physician colleagues and health law attorneys. A golf competition on Saturday pitting doctors against lawyers concludes the conference.

We hope the conference communicates that even in today’s uncertain political environment, with complex federal and state regulatory requirements, ever-changing and yes, lower reimbursement, physicians can adapt and thrive.

The Physician Legal Issues Conference is one more benefit of membership in the Chicago Medical Society. Please be sure to attend.

Vemuri S. Murthy, MD
President, Chicago Medical Society