In an unprecedented procedural move ------ in essence taking a bill from start to finish in one day------ the Arizona House and Senate passed legislation on Thursday that restores the Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Hospital DSH and Rural Hospital Reimbursement funding. At a time when continued cuts are inevitable, having the legislature restore funding is both remarkable and a huge victory for healthcare in Arizona. ArMA, along with the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Arizona College of Emergency Physicians, the Maricopa Integrated Healthcare System, Mayo Clinic, Banner Health, St. Joseph's Hospital, Scottsdale Healthcare and other health care groups as well as the Arizona State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, worked diligently to urge legislators to vote to restore this critical funding. The measure passed both houses with the two-thirds bipartisan vote necessary to enact it with an emergency clause allowing it to become law upon the signature of the Governor yesterday. This is the first positive news for healthcare funding this session and it bodes well for the 2010 budget as it is being developed. Congratulations to all who worked to restore the funding to these vital programs and thanks to all the legislators who stood up for physician training and our health care safety net.

But wait, there is more .........

Over the last 6 months, ArMA spearheaded an AMICUS effort to challenge an Arizona Appellate Court decision that knocked down a critical component of our tort reform success, "qualifications of expert witnesses". Today, the Arizona Supreme Court found in our favor and held that ARS 12-2604 is substantive and does not violate the separation of powers doctrine, effectively reinstating the expert witness qualifications statute.

Both of these successes fall into the "GINORMOUS WIN" category.