The Issues

The NCMS Government Affairs staff takes action on the most pressing issues facing the profession of medicine, both at the national and local levels. Below are some of the priority legislative issues on which the NCMS takes action. For a recap of all the recent action at the General Assembly, be sure to check out our Legislative Blog.

We’re advocating for systemic changes that prioritize clinician well-being and build a health care workforce that meets North Carolina’s needs.

  • Address Workplace Violence Against Health Care Teams
  • Expand Physician and Physician Assistant Workforce to Support North Carolina Communities
  • Protect the Well-Being of the Health Care Workforce

We’re advocating for comprehensive health care reform that enables clinicians to put patients first by providing high value, evidence-based care.

  • Redesign Health Care Payment Models to Support Value Driven Care
  • Support Health Insurance Reform to Improve Coverage & Cost of Care
  • Prioritize Patient Safety by Promoting Team-Based Care & Meaningful Physician Collaboration
  • Preserve Medical Liability Reform

We’re advocating for measures designed to support physicians and physician assistants’ role as patient advocates.

  • Defend against Legislative Intrusion into the Clinician-Patient Relationship
  • Prevent Criminalization of Health Care Decision Making
  • Remove Barriers Impacting Clinicians’ Ability to Exercise Their Best Professional Judgement When Making Patient Care Decisions.

How You Can Make a Difference

As the largest physician organization in the state, the NCMS devotes significant resources to advocating physician viewpoints in the public policy arena. Success in these endeavors requires direct physician involvement. All physicians are encouraged to devote some time to understanding the medical issues addressed by the General Assembly and to work with the NCMS to assure the views of the medical community are presented to policy makers in an organized and effective fashion.

The louder our voice – the larger our impact.

Advocacy Events are your chance to learn more about the ins-and-outs of the government affairs and how best to engage with your legislator on healthcare issues.

Be sure to register today for these upcoming events:

For more information on Advocacy Events or how you can become more involved in the legislative process, please contact Hannah Rice, (919) 833-3836 ext. 4162, [email protected].

NCMS Key Contacts are a network of North Carolina physicians who can be relied upon to contact their legislators on important issues being debated in the General Assembly. By agreeing to become a Key Contact, we become partners. The Government Affairs staff will provide you with all the necessary background information, pertinent talking points, phone numbers, and addresses; you do the talking in your own way on the issues with which you feel most comfortable. To be a Key Contact, e-mail Hannah Rice details.

It is critical that physicians financially support candidates for the General Assembly and Congress who truly understand the relevant issues affecting healthcare today. NCMS PAC allows us to express our support with one unified voice. The strength of NCMS PAC is vitally important during an election year because it helps us to elect candidates who fairly represent issues important to the medical community. Join NCMS PAC today!

Download our list of 2023 Legislative Priorities (PDF)

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