The 2021 Legislative Session has been extended, so we have a few open dates for Doctor of the Day. If you would like to volunteer the week of April 12th, fill out the form to let us know. https://www.arkmed.org/advocacy/docoftheday/
Scope of practice bills are now being heard in the House and Senate Public Health Committees, and we are sending members important updates and alerts on these bills that can have a big impact on your practice and career. If you are not receiving these email updates, log…
Today at 12 p.m., the House and Senate of the 93rd General Assembly will convene at the state Capitol. You can view today's proceedings and future committee meetings by visiting www.arkleg.state.us. From that page, scroll down and click on the view video icon that will open up the…
The upcoming legislative session is shaping up to be one of our most challenging sessions yet, said AMS Director of Governmental Affairs Scott Smith at the AMS Legislative Meeting held virtually on November 5. Physician leaders and members met to discuss the upcoming issues of what can be…
Every two years, Arkansas Medical Society members meet to discuss medical issues that could be considered in the upcoming legislative session. All AMS members are invited to attend. This is a great opportunity to share your views on critical issues. Sign up today at the Zoom meeting link below!…
On October 1, one month before the election, the Arkansas Supreme Court ended Safe Surgery Arkansas’ efforts to repeal, by public referendum, an optometry scope of practice expansion. We have enjoyed and appreciated the nationwide support from the House of Medicine. We are extremely disappointed and frustrated. …
The value of medical school and residency is under attack legislatively. Every legislative session, Arkansas physicians (as well as physicians in every other state) are faced with scope of practice legislation that threatens patient safety and devalues medical school and residency training. Safe Surgery Arkansas is a coalition…
Legislative Highlights from the 2019 Regular Session of the Arkansas General Assembly AMS actively tracked and worked 237 of the 1670 bills filed in the 2019 legislative session. The following bills represent some of the more high-profile issues AMS successfully fought for, amended and/or monitored closely that we…
Over and over, surveys and focus groups reaffirm that AMS members see “advocacy” as the main reason for being a member. It is job #1 for AMS, no doubt … but what does advocacy really mean for you? For AMS, advocacy comes in different forms. Whether it’s at…
Today the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the Arkansas Secretary of State must continue to count the ballot referendum signatures that were collected earlier this year to place Act 579 (optometric surgery) on next year’s ballot. The lawsuit, brought by Safe Surgery Arkansas, challenged the Secretary of State’s…
Safe Surgery Arkansas, a coalition of medical doctors with years of extensive surgical training, announced the formation of a ballot question committee to coordinate a statewide referendum challenging Act 579 of 2019. The coalition includes members from the Arkansas Ophthalmological Society and the Arkansas Medical Society. To suspend…