As Emergency Medicine Physicians it is imperative that we protect and are able to effectively serve ALL of our patients.  Cutting reimbursement will endanger many, and put others at significant risk.  I ask that you please reconsider this issue and do not pass this legislation, which will reduce reimbursement. 

Many of the conditions listed may be preventable but when they show up in an Emergency Department the time for prevention is past and these are truly emergent conditions.

Virginia's actions will cripple emergency physicians', staff, and hospitals’ ability to provide quality access to care — both during the current COVID-19 crisis and long after. This issue is also exacerbated by louder calls for greater social justice and racial equality in healthcare. 

 I support the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians and the Medical Society of Virginia and I oppose the reimbursement policy of the ER Utilization program scheduled to be implemented on July 1 2020.  This policy will hurt disadvantaged patients and my peers.

Thank you, 

Jeffrey Morgan, MD