Executive Memo: What Will 2023 Hold?

Conrad Amenta, SFMMS Executive Director

WHAT WILL 2023 HOLD?

The physicians of San Francisco and Marin Counties faced myriad challenges in 2022, and their leadership proved indispensable to overcoming them.

Throughout the year, I heard from members that it sometimes felt like it had never been more difficult to be a physician. But our physicians came together to support their colleagues and friends and leaned into their values to advocate for policies that are rigorous, evidence-based, and compassionate. At the local, state, and federal levels, SFMMS leaders were there —meeting with legislators, helping to author policies that responded to the moment, and picking one another up. Among many other things, your physician leadership: • Convened community stakeholders to meet with the

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to advocate for continued funding to Laguna Honda Hospital.

As a part of these efforts, UCSF residents raised their voices and published articles about the importance of long-term care in their communities. In October, CMS announced they’d agreed to a deal with San Francisco to extend federal funding to Laguna Honda for a year while the hospital pursues recertification, protecting some of our most vulnerable patients from ‘transfer trauma.’ • Stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Planned Parenthood and joined a coalition of pro bono lawyers from the

San Francisco Bar Association to provide care and protection to patients traveling to California to seek abortions. • Supported several local and state candidates for office who share our values, contributing to their campaigns via our

SFMMS Political Action Committee and helping them to become our elected representatives. SFMMS’ Board of

Directors endorsed then-candidates/now-Assemblymembers Matt Haney and Damon Connolly, longtime local policymakers who now represent us at the state level. • Elected several physicians to key positions in organized medicine at the California Medical Association and American

Medical Association, ensuring the voice and perspective of physicians in San Francisco and Marin is heard across the country. • Brought together members via community and physician wellness initiatives and retreats to nourish and sustain their practice. • Supported numerous community benefit organizations with grants disbursed via our Community Service Foundation. You can read more about the accomplishments of our physician members in the SFMMS Annual Report, which you can find in this issue of our journal and on our website at www.sfmms. org/about. In 2023, the SFMMS Board of Directors and Executive Committee will continue to identify opportunities to advance health equity, protect your patients, and support our physicians with the latest news, resources, community events, and leadership opportunities. Several policy opportunities are also on the horizon, including advocating for increased Medi-Cal payment to improve access to care, Medi-Cal program reform via the ‘CalAIM’ initiative, and working with our County Boards of Supervisors to articulate a strategy for long-term care and residential drug treatment capacity. Thank you for your work in 2022, and all you do to inspire us. We’ve accomplished much together, and we’re just getting started.