In April, the Massachusetts legislature approved a very controversial bill requiring all 6.5 million residents of the state to have health insurance or face penalties. Last week the law was enacted, stipulating that residents with annual incomes below the federal poverty level are eligible for no-cost care. Residents with annual incomes up to three times the poverty level can enroll in state subsidized plans, while those with incomes more than three times the poverty level can choose their own coverage from new, lower-cost private plans if they are not offered coverage through their employer. Needless to say, other states are watching closely.

The movement in Massachusetts, Michael Moore's "Sicko", and other highly publicized healthcare stories are setting the stage for a very active debate on US healthcare during the upcoming Presidential election. Heavily affected by the outcomes of this debate, Physicians have a vested interest to remain well-informed and organized with respect to the public dialog.

After working with physicians for years, I am keenly aware of the myriad of challenges you already face...many of which are interconnected. Few professionals deal with the level of complexity involved in delivering both optimal and cost effective medical care in addition to managing a career, practice and caring for family.