With our economy struggling and people hurting, a general tax increase is a poor option. But there is one tax change that I believe we should consider: a targeted tax increase that is good policy and justified by its unique features. I am talking about the Physician Tax, or Doctors’ Quality Assurance Assessment Program (QAAP). I support a 2% tax on a doctor’s adjusted gross revenues, similar to what we already do with HMOs, hospitals, and nursing homes, which would allow the state to receive more of our fair share of funds back from the Federal Government. If we raised $150 million with the tax, the feds would give us $350 million, and we would have $500 million dollars to help avoid devastating cuts to Michigan’s health care programs.

Some argue that about half of the doctors in the state won’t treat Medicaid patients who are people that are struggling financially and have no insurance, because the state reimbursement rates are so low that they lose money on each patient. And the budget plan that was recently pushed through would cut those already low rates an additional 8%. The result of that budget will be even fewer doctors taking Medicaid, reducing access to care, and increasing the most expensive care, the emergency room.

Dumb, right? If we want to be smart, we could use the half billion the QAAP expansion raises, and increase reimbursement rates to doctors from the low Medicaid rate to the generous Medicare rate. The result would be more doctors participating, increased access to care for the poor, efficient care instead of expensive emergency care, and increased pay for doctors. If about 3% of a doctor’s patients are Medicaid patients, the doc would break even. Any more than 3% and he would make money. If he treats fewer or none, he would actually lose money.

Doctors hate the idea of a Physician Tax. I can understand that, and I try to patiently respond to their comments, questions, and outraged objections, because what I seek is an honest evaluation and negotiation on this option. Doctors have many objections and I would submit there are ways to address them equitably if we come to the table together and negotiate instead of just saying no.

Have I been successful yet in opening a dialogue with these doctors? Not really. Most just say, vociferously, NO. A few have been patient and reasonable, and have considered the QAAP on its merits, even if they still don’t like it. But the Medical Society, the Doctors’ lobbyist, has just said no. I am now getting “robo-calls” in my district warning my constituents that I want to tax sick people. This is an attempt to intimidate me and other colleagues into turning tail and running. These guys don’t know me. It has the opposite effect.

I believe the real objection is that some doctors will not treat Medicaid patients. The public already pays significant taxes to fund Medicaid. Doctors contribute by treating those patients. What is the contribution of doctors who do not treat these patients? The QAAP expansion is a unique option for doctors that could make health care better. Isn’t it at least worth talking about?  That is my duty to you, and I will not shirk it.

Sen. Deb Cherry (D-Burton) will be participating in a meeting on the future of health care. On Thursday, February 5, she will attend the Genesee County Medical Society’s dinner and business meeting to speak as part of a panel on the topic, “The Future of the American Health Care System.”

She will talk about issues such as how the recent economic downturn is affecting health insurance in Michigan, the importance of funding programs that help care for vulnerable citizens such as children, expectant mothers, the elderly, and the disabled, and the importance of the new SCHIP expansion.

Sen. Cherry is passionate about making sure all Michigan residents have adequate health care, and as the ranking Democrat on the Department of Community Health and Retirement Appropriations Subcommittees, she is able to influence legislation that determines spending on a host of human and health services issues. She was recently appointed by Democratic Leader Mike Prusi to serve on the Finance Committee, where she will continue her work to make sure that important state services, including health programs, receive the funding they need to be effective.

Every day, thousands of hard-working Michigan families are subjected to cigarette smoke in the workplace. Employees of bars, restaurants, some offices, and factories are involuntarily exposed to the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States: secondhand smoke. According to a University of California, Berkeley study, food service workers are approximately 50% more likely to develop lung cancer than the general public, primarily due to secondhand smoke at work.

Thirty-three states have already passed legislation to protect workers from secondhand smoke, and I’d like Michigan to become number thirty-four. Yesterday I spoke at the State Capitol at the “Campaign for Smokefree Air” rally, urging action on legislation that would make all Michigan workplaces smokefree.

People have the right to breathe clean, smokefree air, especially when working to support themselves and their families. Jobs are necessary for survival, and most places of employment have strict guidelines in place to keep their workers safe from harm. Secondhand smoke is harmful, and I’m hoping the House will recognize this and take a stand for smokefree workplace legislation before the end of the month.

Here I am speaking to a crowd inside the Capitol rotunda. Everyone was fired up!

The view from the top... people from all over Michigan showed up to support smokefree workplaces.

Yesterday the Michigan Senate voted with a strong bipartisan majority to pass HB 4163, which will make Michigan workplaces smokefree.

Sen. Ray Basham (D-Taylor) first introduced similar legislation as a member of the House in 1998. You can watch a clip of his testimony before the House Commerce Committee in support of HB 4163 from last June here.

Several members of the Democratic Caucus offered floor statements on the smokefree workplace legislation yesterday, which you can see here:

• Sen. Ray Basham
• Sen. Mark Schauer
• Sen. Gilda Z. Jacobs
• Sen. John Gleason
• Sen. Glenn S. Anderson
• Sen. Martha G. Scott

During Tuesday’s session this week, I made the following statement about an amendment I proposed to the Department of Community Health budget. You can read more about the amendments we offered that day here.

This amendment is one that we have talked about many, many times and it has to do with the Healthy Michigan Fund. As you know, as we have talked about earlier, this budget cuts the Healthy Michigan Fund almost in half and rolls up all of the line items which delineate the programs that are funded by the Healthy Michigan Fund.

So that you understand the programs that would be impacted by this—let me just tell you about a few of them. One is the Alzheimer’s Disease Outreach and Education Program; another is the Cancer Prevention and Control Program; cardiovascular chronic disease prevention programs; dental programs; anti-diabetics programs; huntington’s disease programming; immunization programming; infant mortality programming; lead poisoning programming; nurse family partnerships programs; physical fitness, nutrition and health education; pregnancy prevention programs; and anti-tobacco, anti-smoking prevention programs.

So, Mr. President, thank you. I just wanted to outline how important it would be if all these programs got cut. They are as you know, very important to all of our citizens. One of the things that I also want to point out is that as we roll these programs up into one line item, the Senate potentially will never know what is being funded through this program.

I think it is important for us to know what the Healthy Michigan Fund funds, what programs are funded, and it is important that we continue to fully support these programs. They are some of the few programs that each one of our communities has a say in. Our communities are involved, for hundreds and thousands of volunteers are involved in these programs and it is important that they continue.

I ask members to support this amendment, and again, I hope that we would be wise in our judgment and adopt it.

The Campaign for Smokefree Air (CSA) is currently accepting submissions for their Michigan Smokefree Video Challenge, where people from all over the state can submit a YouTube video telling state Senators why they believe Michigan should go smokefree. CSA is looking for creative entries that explain how working in a smoking environment is impacting your health.

For more than ten years I have been working to make Michigan smokefree, so I’m excited about this competition and hoping that you can help CSA send a message to my fellow Senators that this issue has strong public support.

Last December the Michigan House voted 56-46 to pass Rep. Brenda Clack’s (D-Flint) legislation banning smoking in Michigan workplaces, including bars and restaurants. Rep. Clack’s bill and my own legislation (SB 109) both have bipartisan support, which is why CSA needs your help to urge my Senate colleagues to take action on these bills and add Michigan to a growing list of states that have gone smokefree.

Videos can be posted on the CSA YouTube website, and must be submitted by Friday, March 21. For complete information on the rules, visit www.MakeMIAirSmokefree.org. The winning contestants will have their video concept considered for future CSA promotional campaigns.

With your help we can get proactive about protecting the health and well-being of all Michigan residents.