b"CSMS' PRESIDENT'S MESSAGEThe 2025 legislative session has come to a close, offering an importantmoment to take stock of what we accomplished, what we confronted,and what remains ahead. If there is a single defining feature of thisyears work, it is the growing influence of forces beyond our controlon the practice of medicine.Still, even amid uncertainty, there were opportunities to make progress.This session unfolded against a backdrop of evolving federal policy changesthat may significantly impact Connecticut. Proposed adjustments to Medicaidthreaten to reduce Connecticuts federal funding, with potential ripple effects onpublic health programs, education budgets, and services such as SNAP. These proposalsremain under consideration at the federal level, and their outcomes are not yet resolved. For physicians, the stakes are high. These changes could directly affect the resources available to support patient care and sustain medical practices.While these federal uncertainties hung overhead, two key issues dominated the state-level debate. First, a proposal from the Governor and the Office of Health Strategy to cap out-of-network physician payments at 240% of Medicare. Second, the long-overdue increase in Medicaid payment rates for physicians.The out-of-network cap proposal was deeply flawed. It was based on the mistaken premise that it would reduce healthcare costs. It also assumed it would protect patients, despite the fact that such protections already existat both the state and federal levels. In reality, the proposed bill would have eliminated what little leveragephysicians still have to negotiate fair contracts with insurers. It would have shifted even more power into the hands of the too-powerful health insurance industry. Defeating this proposed bill quickly became the toppriority this session. Connecticut does face a healthcare cost problem. It also faces a health insurer problem. Lawmakers continue to focus on physicians as a key source of rising costs while largely overlooking the unchecked growth in health insurance company profits. If the state is serious about affordability, it is time to consider whether healthinsurer profits should be capped, as they are for regulated utilities. The current model is unsustainable.Despite the odds, the proposal to cap out-of-network payments was defeated. Achieving that outcomerequired sustained and strategic effort. It was the product of a coordinated effort by organized medicine. CSMS worked alongside hospitals, specialty societies, and advocacy partners to oppose the measure. The message was delivered clearly to legislators, to the media, and to the public. That message carried. The proposal failed. This outcome is proof of what is possible when physicians stand together. It is a reminder that advocacy can succeed, even when the odds are long.On Medicaid, the state budget passed by the legislature includes an increase in physician payment rates. The exact amount and structure of these increases are still being finalized. While the increase is not enough to completely undo 17 years of failed rate increases, it represents progress. It is also important to recognize the context. Connecticut is facing the possible loss of hundreds of millions of federal dollars due to federal changesin Medicaid financing. Against that backdrop, any increase is a step forward and a sign that physicianvoices were heard.Throughout the session, CSMS ensured that physicians had a seat at the table. Legislators were reminded that while physicians are not the primary drivers of healthcare costs, we are often the ones expected to absorb the consequences. We spoke openly about burnout, workforce shortages, and the challenges of sustaining medical practices under current conditions and outside pressures. We talked about private equity, and how to curb bad actors while preserving physician autonomy. Lawmakers were reminded that access to caredepends on meaningful investment in care delivery."