FloridaMedical ASSOCIATION PO. Box 1060 | Talohassoo, FL | $2802 ieiing Physioars Pracice Medicine 490 Pedrort Dive E. | Tallahassn, FL | 82308 January 6, 2011 Office of Governor Rick Sott State of Florida The Capito! 400 S. Monroe treet Talahassee, FL 32399-0001, ear Governor Scott, ‘Congratulations on your Inauguration asthe 45" Governor of the State of Florida. The Florida Medical Assocation, representing more than 20,000 physicians and serving more than 18 rilin Florida patients, looks forward to working closely with you on your goal of creating obs and promoting a more favorable business climate. We stand with you in your efforts to make Florida a better place to lve and work by eliminating excessive litigation, which drives physicians ‘ut of our state and limits access to care, ‘eating more than 450,000 jobs in Florida (S percent of total employment inthe state), $22, bilfon in rel disposable income related to those jobs, and $56 bilion in total economic activity ach private practice physiian in Florida supports, on average, 19 addtional jobs, $813,000 in Income for those jobs, and $2.3 millon in total economic activity. jor economic engine. Phyicans are responsi for Yet, these benefits to Florida's economy from practicing physicians cannot be taken for granted. Florida ike the rest of the nation, faces a growing shortage of physicians. Ths looming criss has significant economic consequences, because when a physician leaves the state retires early, oF leaves private practice Florida loses out on widespread economic benefits In addition, a viable Physician workforce is necessary to ensure access to are and maintain our state's quality of life standards. Because of unfavorable public pole factors, rida currently losing ia the competition with ‘other states to recruit new physiclans and retain our existing physicians. Florida's Medicald payment rates fr physician services ae among the lowest inthe United States. At the same ‘ime, Florida physicians pay the highest medical ability premiums in the country. The repercussions of not addressing low Medicaid physician payment rates and the high cost of ‘medical ability insurance include: fewer physicians to choose from, longer wait times to receive emergency cate, and reduced acess to specialists. Fe TS ST '850.224.6406 | 850.224.6627 Fax | www fmaontine.orgGovernor Scott January 6, 2011 Page? In 2008, Florida was ranked 50” among states on the “US. Tort Labilty Index” and Florida's ‘elatve tort costs were the highest in the nation. The negative litigation environment in Florida hha resulted in a large number of physicians either decreasing ar eliminating services such as ‘obstetric care, general surgery, and emergency room coverage. {As you mentioned in your Inaugural Adress, Texas isthe god standard for higation reform. In 2003, Texas passed sweeping medical iblity reforms. After these reforms passed, Texas ‘experienced a dramatic increase in its physician workforce, as well za greater number of specialists practicing in high-risk lds and emergency settings. The FMA shares your enthusiasm and applauds your commitment to aggressively pursue “Texas-style” ort reform in Flovida During the upcoming legislative session, the FMA willchampion a package of mecca laity ‘reforms that are designed to bring more fakness othe tort system, These measure incude ‘expert witness form, equal access to medical witnesses, and emergency room sovereign Immunity. In addition, the FMA supports the proposal to provide sovereign immority to ‘physicians who treat Medicaid patients ‘ver the past 135 years, the FMA has advocated fr the availability of high quality healthcare {or all Floridians. We look forward to working with you to enact policies that will encourage ‘exiting physicians to remain in Florida and atract new physicians tothe state, wile azo ‘creating new jobs and improving Florida's economy, sincerely, Timothy 1 Sapleton Executive Vice President cc: Mike Haridopotos, Senate President Dean Cannon, House Speaker