MAG Board members,
The following is a high-level summary of some noteworthy MAG news and notes…
Please register for the 2021 ‘Physicians’ Day at the Capitol,’ which will be a virtual event that takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17. This free event will feature leaders from the Georgia House and Senate. It will cover a variety of key topics, including COVID-19 relief, vaccines, health insurance reform, and rural health care. Click here to log into your MAG membership account to register for the event. Registrants will receive a Zoom meeting link on February 16 – the day before the event. Contact Christiana Craddock at 404.421.0912 or ccraddock@mag.org with questions about the event. Contact Dawn Williams at 678.303.9261 or dwilliams@mag.org for help using MAG’s membership system.
Several key bills were recently introduced in the Georgia General Assembly, including a prior authorization measure (S.B. 80) by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, M.D. (R-Marietta) and a COVID-19 liability measure (H.B. 112) by Rep. Trey Kelly (R-Cedartown) – which has already passed the House Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System. Monitor MAG’s e-News from the Capitol, which is distributed every Friday during the session, for details on these and other important bills. Contact Derek Norton at dnorton@mag.org with questions.
The latest edition of MAG's ‘Top Docs’ show addresses the 2021 state legislative session, and it features three MAG members who serve in the Georgia General Assembly – including Sens. Dean Burke, M.D. (R-Bainbridge), Kay Kirkpatrick, M.D. (R-Marietta), and Ben Watson, M.D. (R-Savannah). Click here to watch the episode.
Members of the MAG Medical Reserve Corps will begin vaccinating Fulton County residents for the COVID-19 virus at a site near North Point Mall in Alpharetta on February 16. The effort may be expanded to additional sites in Fulton County in the coming weeks. The MAG MRC has identified more than 80 physicians who are preparing to serve as volunteer vaccinators. Contact Fred Jones at fjones@mag.org with questions.
MAG has signed a letter that calls for Congress to pass legislation to extend the current moratorium on the two percent Medicare payment sequester beyond the March 31 expiration date and for the duration of the public health emergency.
MAG is finalizing its plans to develop a member PPE discount program with Agility Logistics. MAG is also exploring the possibility of expanding the program to other states in the region to achieve greater savings. Contact Ryan Larosa at rlarosa@mag.org with questions.
The job description for the position of MAG Executive Director and CEO has been posted online. Click here for the job description. MAG Board members who would like to suggest candidates for the position can contact Jill Christie at jchristie@tuftassoc.com. The position is expected to be filled by the middle of the year.
MAG Treasurer Tom Emerson, M.D., and MAG Secretary Debi Dalton, M.D., have announced their plans to run for the offices of MAG president-elect and MAG secretary (second term) during this year’s House of Delegates meeting – which is scheduled to take place on Jekyll Island on October 23-24.
MAG is mourning the loss of one of its former presidents, Alva L. Mayes Jr., M.D. Dr. Mayes was a pediatrician who served as MAG’s president in 1995-1996. In 1999, he was honored with MAG’s Distinguished Service Award. It is also worth noting that Dr. Mayes was the president of the Bibb County Medical Society in 1981. He graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Click for Dr. Mayes’ obituary.
Please remember to click here to get a quote on a MAG Insurance Agency/MedPro medical malpractice policy. MAG/MedPro have already delivered savings for a number of physicians in the state. Contact Ryan Larosa at rlarosa@maginsuranceagency.com with questions.
If you haven’t already done so, please click here to renew your MAG dues for 2021 – keeping in mind that you will need to reset your password to access MAG’s new and improved membership system. Contact Dayna Jackson at djackson@mag.org with questions.
The next MAG Board of Directors meeting will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 8 on a virtual basis. The third and final Board meeting of the year is scheduled to take place on Jekyll Island on Friday, October 22 (before the House of Delegates meeting). Details will be distributed in the near future.
Always feel free to contact me with comments or questions – and we always welcome and value your suggestions.
Thank you,
Tom Kornegay
Interim Executive Director & CEO
Medical Association of Georgia
tkornegay@mag.org
