MSV and specialty society PACs join forces

June 2011

In an effort to more explicitly demonstrate to legislators the powerful voice of physicians in political campaigns, the Medical Society of Virginia Political Action Committee (MSVPAC) has embarked on an effort to coordinate with specialty societies that have political action committees (PACs) to back friends of medicine in Virginia.

MSVPAC and specialty society PACs are informing legislators via letter about the collective PAC contributions made by medical societies. This process can help solidify in the minds of legislators the shared causes and interests physicians have across the commonwealth and in all specialties. Through these letters, organized medicine can reiterate the importance of having strong leaders in the General Assembly with whom medical societies can work to ensure that physicians, their practices and their interactions with their patients are not burdened by unnecessary regulation and government intervention.

Physicians across the commonwealth and in all specialties have shown on many occasions their commitment to working with General Assembly leaders to make Virginia the best place to practice medicine and receive care.

The joint letter notes that while MSV and specialty societies appreciate legislators’ past collaborations with physicians, the cooperation of physicians and legislators for the benefit of medicine and patients is an on-going endeavor.

As of early June, legislators who received these joint letters include:

Sen. John Edwards (D-Roanoke)
Del. Dickie Bell (R-Staunton)
Del. Scott Garrett, M.D. (R-Lynchburg)
Sen. Ralph Northam, M.D. (D-Norfolk)
Del. Dave Nutter (R-Christiansburg)
Del. John O’Bannon, M.D. (R-Henrico)
Del. Chris Peace (R-Mechanicsville)
Del. Chris Stolle, M.D. (R-Virginia Beach)
Sen. John Watkins (R-Chesterfield)

The following medical societies and PACs have joined MSV in this initiative:

American Academy of Pediatrics – VA Chapter
Psychiatric Society of Virginia Political Action Committee (PSYCHMD-PAC)
VA Chapter – American College of Radiology Political Action Committee
Virginia College of Emergency Physicians (EMPAC)
Virginia Orthopaedic Society Political Action Committee (ORTHO-PAC)
Virginia Society of Anesthesiologists Political Action Committee
Virginia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons Political Action Committee (EYE-PAC)
Virginia Society of Plastic Surgeons Political Action Committee

MSV lobbyists, as well as lobbyists for the specialty societies, have also begun an outreach campaign to meet with many of these legislators in their districts to discuss the priorities affecting physicians and their patients. Additional visits with legislators are planned for later this summer and fall.