The 2025 MSSNY House of Delegates reaffirmed strong support for medical liability reform. However, a major threat looms: Wrongful Death Expansion (A6063/S4423) has passed the Senate and awaits Assembly action.

This bill would significantly increase malpractice exposure in New York—already the highest payout state in the nation—and could further strain access to care.

Take action now:
Visit the NYSSPS Legislative Action Center to urge the Governor and your Assemblymember to oppose this legislation.

More policy updates here: MSSNY 2025 HOD Summary

Join NYSSPS and The Doctors Company for an accredited webinar on major allegations in plastic surgery claims over the past 15 years.

Session Objectives:

• Identify trends and risk factors in plastic surgery claims

• Improve informed consent and cultural competence

• Address bias in clinical encounters

Speaker: Lisa McCorkle, MSN, MBA, RN, CPPS, CPHRM, CPHQ
Accreditation: 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

Register today!

On May 7, 2025, the New York State Society of Plastic Surgeons met with lawmakers in Albany to advocate for legislation that protects patients and promotes the value of physician-led care.

NYSSPS supported:

• Gold Card Prior Authorization Reform (A2352): Streamlines approval for high-performing physicians to reduce delays in care.

• Overpayment Recovery Limits (A3365/S5209): Caps insurance clawbacks to 3 months, improving practice sustainability.

• Truth in Advertising: Increases transparency about healthcare professional credentials and training.

NYSSPS opposed:

• Wrongful Death Expansion (A6063/S4423): This costly bill has passed the Senate this week and awaits Assembly action.

• Non-physician Microneedling and Laser Hair Removal (A3084a; A1916/S6231): Procedures with real risks that must remain under medical supervision.

Advocacy Win:

Assembly Bill A5469 proposed to modify New York State Tax Law to apply a sales tax on elective cosmetic procedures. 

If passed, A5469 would have imposed new taxes on services such as elective aesthetic surgeries, increasing out-of-pocket costs for patients and potentially deterring access to medically appropriate procedures that enhance quality of life, even if not deemed reconstructive by strict definitions.

Thanks to strong opposition from NYSSPS and other stakeholders, the bill did not advance and the enacting clause was stricken, preventing it from moving forward this session.

Follow our legislative priorities 

by: Richard F. Cahill, JD, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Doctors Company

Healthcare practitioners often receive inquiries from students seeking opportunities to shadow or observe, volunteer, or learn through a formal clinical rotation. High schools may offer programs and courses that focus on careers related to medicine, dentistry, or nursing. The requests for shadowing experiences can also come from college and vocational students.

Understanding what being a healthcare professional entails is critical for any individual considering a career in the industry. Observing, volunteering, and mentoring opportunities may be rewarding for the professional and benefit the learner by fulfilling requisite application criteria. Although it is a great opportunity to promote your profession, it is also important to recognize the risks to your patients, employees, and your practice if you decide to accommodate such requests.

Before deciding to allow students into your office, explore their personal expectations as well as the impact it could have on your practice. Identify and validate the program associated with the inquiry and understand the objectives that are expected to be achieved. It is important for practitioners to differentiate between shadowing or observing, volunteering, and a formal clinical rotation in which direct patient care is provided.

Learn more

NYSSPS encourages members to participate in the upcoming ASPS Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC. Join colleagues from across the country to meet with federal legislators and advance key issues in plastic surgery.

More information and registration: ASPS Advocacy Summit

The New York State Society of Plastic Surgeons (NYSSPS) is pleased to announce the launch of its Resident Advocacy Fellowship Program!

This initiative will provide residents with firsthand experience in advocacy, giving them the tools they need to influence policies impacting patient care and the profession.

By participating, residents will:

• Gain exposure to healthcare policy issues

• Engage directly with policymakers and legislative leaders

• Develop advocacy and leadership skills

• Build connections with experienced plastic surgeons and mentors

More information about the program can be found online:  https://nyssps.org/Resident-Advocacy   

Deadline to apply for the first round is May 31, 2025.   

Fellowship awards and travel expenses provided to the top three applicants: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/nysspsfellowship 

Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
The Doctors Company and TDC Group

Across the U.S., healthcare systems are beset by limited resources and widening care gaps. Patients are frustrated by long wait times, fragmented care, inaccessible services, and extraordinary costs. These challenges are forcing leaders to pursue new solutions, including artificial intelligence (AI) tools, expanded roles for advanced practice clinicians (APCs), and innovative business models.

Executive Summary

Frontline clinicians contend with worsening physician shortages, nuclear verdicts driving up professional liability costs, and an alarming expansion of medical care deserts, especially for maternity care. For patients, these issues translate into unmet needs, eroding trust, and a growing sense that the system is not working for them.

Evolving technologies powered by AI offer opportunities for U.S. healthcare organizations, but they also raise pressing questions about patient safety, privacy, and practitioner liability. Meanwhile, retail giants like CVS, reeling from unsustainable experiments in healthcare delivery, are pivoting to newer strategies, while pharmaceutical companies are expanding into telehealth and direct care services. These shifts complicate efforts to provide seamless, patient-centered care and maintain accurate, comprehensive medical records.

Each year, TDC Group predicts emerging healthcare trends over the next decade, focusing on the challenges, risks, and opportunities that shape the industry.

Read the predictions - Healthcare 2035 Report

Key Deadline: Draft resolutions must be submitted to NYSSPS for consideration by Friday, January 31, 2025.

Looking ahead to the 2025 Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) House of Delegates Meeting in April we encourage you to participate in crafting impactful resolutions.

As members of the New York State Society of Plastic Surgeons (NYSSPS), you have a unique opportunity to influence policies and positions that directly impact our profession.

If you’d like to collaborate with our Executive Council to draft and submit a resolution, please email us at nyssps@gmail.com.

Why This Matters

• The HOD is MSSNY’s primary policymaking body, where resolutions proposed by members and specialty societies are debated and voted on.
  
  
• Policies adopted by the HOD guide MSSNY’s advocacy efforts with state legislators, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders. By submitting resolutions, NYSSPS ensures that issues important to plastic surgeons are part of the broader physician advocacy agenda in New York.
  
  
• The HOD provides a platform for NYSSPS to advocate for policies tailored to the unique challenges faced by plastic surgeons and their patients.