Minutes of the
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Louisiana State Medical Society
Board of Governors Meeting – April 21, 2020
Call to Order
6 Katherine Williams, MD, President, called the meeting to order, on Tuesday April 21, 2020 at 6:05 P.M.
Verification of Quorum
Dr. Paddock verified the presence of a quorum.
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Update from the President
12 Dr. Williams provided a comprehensive overview on some of the issues and business the Society has been 13 working on since the first week of the COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana. 14 15 This week we began the 6th week of COVID-19 in Louisiana. During that time, the LSMS has been 16 actively engaged with the Governor’s office, Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Department of 17 Insurance, state legislators, our federal congressional delegation, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 18 Services, Centers for Disease Control, Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, Louisiana Board of 19 Pharmacy, LAMMICO, Louisiana Patients Compensation Fund, Louisiana Association of Business and 20 Industry, local banks, local CPAs, American Medical Association, and a host of others on behalf of 21 Louisiana physicians. During that time, we disseminated fifteen (15) COVID-19 Bulletins via email, each 22 containing pertinent and timely information for physicians and their practices related to navigating this 23 pandemic. Additionally, the Society has conducted 2 statewide surveys related to COVID-19, which have 24 helped direct and focus our on-going efforts. Dr. Williams reminded anyone who may have missed an 25 update and/or who wanted to share, that all of the bulletins, as well as, a plethora of COVID-19 resources, 26 can be located at www.lsms.org. 27 28 Dr. Williams went on to state that during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LSMS focused 29 its efforts on the following: ▪ Expedited COVID-19 testing for physicians and all other healthcare workers. Unfortunately, this 32 did not happen because of a national/federal testing shortage that remains an issue almost two 33 months later. ▪ Created an effective personal protective equipment (PPE) conservation plan considering supply 36 shortages and the apparent lack of any reserve supplies becoming available in the near future. This 37 has been a very successful endeavor. 30 31 34 35 ▪ Worked with various stakeholders to file legislation that would potentially force insurance 40 companies to honor business interruption policies for physicians (and others) who had an active 41 business interruption policy prior to the declaration of an emergency by the Governor. I anticipate 42 these bills will be heard in May 2020 if/when the Louisiana Legislature reconvenes. 38 39
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▪ Established uniform exemptions for physicians related to seeing patients via telemedicine.
▪ Established payment parity between telemedicine and face-to-face visits.
▪ Advocated for immunity provisions for providers from civil liability during COVID-19.
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