Whether you are working on the frontlines caring for COVID-19 patients, or your practice has suffered a substantial loss of patients and income, or you are otherwise affected, the pandemic has brought much added stress for physicians.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is changing rapidly. For the latest updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), check these local and national websites regularly.

The St. Louis County Department of Public Health has announced two important enhancements to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) that covers much of Missouri including Jackson, Clay and Cass counties.

The Kansas City Medical Society welcomes Betty M. Drees, MD, FACP, as our 2020 president. An endocrinologist, Dr. Drees is Dean Emerita of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, where she served as dean from 2001 to 2014. Since 2018, she has been president of the Graduate School of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

Thanks to you, our members, the Kansas City Medical Society enjoyed a most successful year in 2019. We are reaping the benefits of the merger that created one metropolitan medical society. We look forward to even greater success in 2020. Here are some highlights that took place in 2019 ... because of you.

North Kansas City Hospital has appointed Stephen L. Reintjes, Sr., MD, as president and chief executive officer of the hospital and its physician network subsidiary, Meritas Health. A KCMS past president, Dr. Reintjes is expected to succeed current president and CEO Peggy Schmitt in early April when she plans to retire.

Health care costs weigh heavily on Americans’ minds, with 73% concerned about their ability to pay for an unexpected medical treatment, according to the 2019 biennial Survey of America’s Patients by the Physicians Foundation. In addition, the survey found that Americans are unclear about policy proposals for a single-payer system, with an overwhelming number (77%) confused about what a single-payer system means.