Yesterday, we responded
to a concerning state bill seeking to restrict certain physicians from
performing select spine procedures. Louisiana House Bill 941 proposes to only
allow physicians who have completed a residency in orthopedic surgery or
neurosurgery to perform certain procedures of the spine. Read our letter
to the Louisiana Health and Welfare Committee in opposition to this bill.
As of today, May 11, the Health
and Welfare Committee voted to voluntarily defer the bill to allow for
additional study of the issues. We will continue to monitor and keep members
updated.
It is the position of the AAPM&R that physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists with adequate procedural training can safely and effectively perform interventional diagnostic and therapeutic pain and minimally invasive spinal procedures.
While AAPM&R supports patient access to safe, high-quality health care, we are concerned that this bill may result in unintended consequences that restricts the practice of qualified physicians and limits patient access to less invasive, but effective, alternative interventional spine procedures. AAPM&R is further concerned with state legislative efforts to broadly delineate which medical procedures and treatments qualified physicians are competent to perform.
AAPM&R also supported a coalition letter to the Louisiana Health and Welfare Committee in opposition HB 941. The Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 11, at 9 am CT to discuss this bill. AAPM&R will continue to actively monitor the progress of this legislation.