Peter Schorsch
Today, the Senate Health Policy Committee will take up Senate Bill 8, from Fort Myers Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto, which seeks to give medical professionals further training in ways to stem Florida’s worsening opioid crisis.
The American Board of Medical Specialties, the leading not-for-profit organization overseeing physician certification in the U.S., is applauding the measure.
In a statement Monday, ABMS is urging the committee to pass SB 8, which recognizes “the important role that specialty training and certification play in assuring that patients receive high-quality care.”
Benacquisto’s bill, in part, mandates added training for all Florida physicians in the proper use of pain management.
According to the ABMS statement: “Keeping physicians up-to-date on the most effective treatments and therapies is critical to high-quality care, and is central to the mission of the ABMS.”
ABMS also commends the bill’s protection of patient access to critical specialty care.
Physicians certified by ABMS Member Boards regularly assess and expand medical knowledge and skills. ABMS believes SB 8 is crucial for Floridians to continue receiving high-level health care from physician specialists.
“The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is pleased that SB 8 recognizes the importance of specialty certification in ensuring that patients receive up-to-date medical care,” said Dr. Richard Hawkins, ABMS President and CEO. “Protecting the care delivered by physicians with specialty training and certification, including subspecialty certification by one of our 24 Member Boards, is a testament to the confidence that patients, physicians and hospitals have in board-certified physicians.”
Recognizing how specialty physicians are on the front lines in deterring opioid dependency, Hawkins said SB 8 joins ongoing efforts within the ABMS Boards Community, which offer subspecialty certificates in pain medicine: Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Psychiatry/Neurology.
The Senate Health Policy Committee meets at 4 p.m. in Room 412 of the Knott Building of The Capitol.
