Sen. Boucher: Legislator of the Year Fairfield County Medical Association

Dr. Robin Oshman, president of FCMA presenting Senator Toni Boucher with the Fairfield County Medical Association Legislator of the Year Award.

Hartford, CT – State Senator Toni Boucher (R-Wilton) is honored to receive the Legislator of the Year Award from the Fairfield County Medical Association. Sen. Boucher was recognized during the Association’s semi-annual meeting on October 9 in Norwalk.

The Association’s president, Dr. Robin Oshman, presented Boucher with a plaque and expressed the doctor’s gratitude for the senator’s sponsorship of Senate Bill 466: An Act Concerning Continuing Education of Physicians. Senator Boucher is recognized by the medical community as strong advocate for preserving the freedom of physicians in Connecticut to provide patients the quality care they deserve.

“I am honored to receive this award from the Fairfield County Medical Association. I have been a longtime advocate for the quality of care our residents receive as well as preserving the doctor patient relationship,” said Sen. Boucher. “There are some substantial barriers to this profession in our state and I am committed to continue to partner with our doctors and the medical community. They face strong headwinds as they work hard to heal their patients and manage support staff while fitting in continuing education courses. This initiative is a step in the right direction.”

“It is rare for a legislation to be unanimously passed at every step of the legislative process in the first year a bill is introduced, but that is exactly what happened,” said Mr. Mark Thompson, executive director of the Fairfield County Medical Association. “The fact the bill passed so quickly is a testimony to both its need and also the high level of respect that Sen. Boucher has among her colleagues at the State Capitol.”

The bill unanimously passed out of the Public Health Committee, unanimously passed in the Senate, unanimously passed in the House of Representatives, and was signed into law by in June 21, 2013. Sen. Boucher says measures like this will allow doctors practicing in Connecticut to gain flexibility in an environment that has already become over burdensome for doctors.

At the start of the Connecticut General Assembly’s 2013 legislative session, Sen. Boucher worked closely with the Association to craft a bill that would help physicians save critical time and give them more control over their continuing education. This change allows doctors to spend more time treating patients instead of being in a classroom.

The Fairfield County Medical Association also recognized Boucher for her courage and diligence in preserving the integrity of the medical liability Certificate of Merit and protecting the freedom of physicians in Connecticut to attend the medical needs of their patients.

“It is unfortunate that Medscape Medical News reports that Connecticut has become the worst place to practice medicine in the Northeast. We have much more work to do to relieve some of the pressure placed on a physician because of concerns like medical malpractice and vaccine issues,” said Boucher.

The state’s medical profession and healthcare institutions have testified before the General Assembly about the difficulties the face in attracting and retaining doctors under the current medical malpractice laws that make medical liability insurance premiums in Connecticut among the highest in the nation.