Advocating Across Practice Settings
Over the past two years, MSCE leadership has engaged directly with health plan CEOs, chief medical officers, provider network vice presidents, and claims processing teams across the region’s major payors. Our message has been consistent: independent practices, hospitals, and physician-led medical centers must have reasonable, sustainable contracts and the operational tools, including credentialing support, reliable claims adjudication, and responsive communication channels, to function effectively and serve their patients.
Progress has been incremental, but it is real. We consider it a meaningful win that lines of communication are open, that payor leadership is at the table, and that dialogue has been positive and responsive. That did not happen by accident.
We are also building the infrastructure to amplify our voice, developing online resources for members, conducting a membership-wide survey, and partnering with leadership and counsel of the Medical Society of the State of New York to strengthen our collective advocacy.
The People Behind the Work
The Practice Management Committee is led by:
- Richard Carlson, MD, FAAP – Chair, Practice Management Committee
- Jennifer Carlson, LMSW – Co-Chair, Practice Management Committee
The committee:
- Reviews and analyzes practice management issues submitted by physicians and practice leaders
- Develops educational programming and resources to address emerging practice challenges
- Identifies common payer issues and prepares summaries and talking points for payer meetings
- Collaborates with MSCE leadership and partners to improve the practice environment in Western New York
Payer liaison roles include:
- Michael Terranova, MD – Liaison, Univera
- Michael Merrill, MD – Liaison, Independent Health / MVP
- John Gillespie, MD – Liaison, Univera
These physician liaisons help ensure that real-world concerns from practices are communicated clearly to health plans and that ongoing dialogue remains focused on solutions that support both physicians and patients.