MEET YOUR LSMS COUNCIL ON LEGISLATION
MESSAGE FROM YOUR COL LEADERS ABOUT THE LSMS
COUNCIL ON LEGISLATION
The Council on Legislation is composed of one member from each of the LSMS’ ten (10) medical districts, one member from each LSMS Section as delineated in our bylaws. Additionally, a specialty medical society who sends a physician representative to our annual meeting will receive one seat on the council. Lastly, the LAMPAC Chair serves as an ex- officio member. Prior to each session the COL meets to identify issues of concern for physicians. As part of this meeting, members determine a path forward on how to solve problems caused by these varying issues, which may include seeking legislation. On one of the first Saturdays of each session, members spend the morning reviewing legislation and determining a position for filed instruments. This is the primary tracking document that staff will use throughout the legislative session. Each week during session, Zoom meetings are held to update the COL and seek information and guidance on any changes made to particular bills. During these weekly calls, amendments are discussed, and positions can be changed. It is a huge time commitment from these physicians. Please give them your thanks if you happen to know them!
REPRESENTING
MEMBERS
Chair
Matthew Giglia, MD
MATT GIGLIA, MD COL CHAIR
CLAY RUNFALO, MD COL VICE CHAIR
Vice-Chair
Clayton Runfalo, MD
District 1
Maurice Sholas, MD
District 2
Luis Arencibia, MD
The 2025 Fiscal Session of the Louisiana Legislature is done! After thoughts and conversations, we believe now is the time to make sure all physicians understand that there is trouble ahead for our patients and us. So, we want to reflect on a few details that were made crystal clear this session. 1. Soundbites and social media posts reign supreme. We’re clearly still living in the world of “if it’s on the internet, it must be true,” only we’re now including social media. We continue to expend energy to overcome misinterpretation of facts and information put out into the world through the use of one-line posts and ten-second videos. The upside is that while legislators clearly need social media to push their messaging, they do seem to recognize the dangers of believing everything they see and hear. However, that distrust has not transferred itself to the general public, many of whom live in echo chambers devoted to their own interpretation of fact. 2. Our continued push for physician involvement cannot stop! While we don’t want to sound like we’re fussing, we are fussing!!! As physicians, we all must take heed! Science and medicine are under attack! Our staff has been screaming this from the rooftops for several years now. We need to hear them. We were witnesses to what they have been telling us. We can’t continue to rely solely on them to deliver our message. While we sincerely thank the COL and members who are involved and do take action, your patients need more of us to step up! 3. Your personal stories and answers are impactful. Those physicians who took the time to testify at the Capitol made a difference! Our appreciation for your time and expertise is huge. To name some of those we remember appearing: Drs. Bridges, Bocchini, Fletcher, Prasad, Trawick and Tynes. Please forgive us if we missed anyone and know we welcome your willingness to join the conversation. 4. We need you to commit to membership and support. Please make sure you are up to date on your membership – to include verifying we have accurate information enabling us to communicate with you. Please contribute to our PAC. Please recruit your peers to the fold. Please ask for staff to share knowledge by hosting a meeting of your peers and allowing them to give you a legislative update. (Bonus – CME is available!) Please pay attention to what you’re hearing locally and share that information with us. We end by saying Thank You to the LSMS staff. This session was frenetic in its pace and in the number of issues discussed. Our staff worked diligently to protect us and our patients. Take the time when you see them to express your appreciation to them, too.
District 3
Christopher Rodrigue, MD
District 4
Deborah Fletcher, MD
District 5
Vince Forte, MD
District 6
Cheryl Hickey, MD
District 7
Steven Hale, MD
District 8
Christina Lord, MD
District 9
Kevin Duplechain, MD
District 10
Joshua Sleeper, MD
Private Practice Section Matthew Bernard, MD Employed Physician Section Clay Runfalo, MD Young Physician Section Ken Ehrhardt, MD Resident / Fellow Section Omar Leonards, MD Medical Student Section Olivia White LAMPAC Chair (ex-officio) Susan Bankston, MD Addiction Medicine Smita Prasad, MD Cardiology Frederico De Puy, MD Emergency Medicine Daniel Sessions, MD Family Medicine Richard Bridges, MD Internal Medicine Celeste Newby, MD OB-GYN Nicole Freehill, MD Orthopaedics Samer Shamieh, MD Psychiatry Robert Dahmes, MD Radiology Neel Gupta, MD
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