Hartford Business Journal

16 Hartford Business Journal • October 30, 2017 • www.HartfordBusiness.com By Matt Pilon mpilon@HartfordBusiness.com A longtime relationship between the Connecticut State Medi- cal Society, a leading voice at the state Capitol on health- care issues, and the Fairfield County Medical Association has fractured after what some members say were years of mutual mistrust and squabbling. The two groups, which provide lobbying, professional development and other ser- vices to their physician members, officially cut ties in February, when the Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) changed its bylaws and eliminated or "deunified" its connections to the Fairfield doctors group, the Hartford Business Journal has learned. It also restricted Fairfield County Medical Association board members from being on its board. While the spat could be chalked up to internal politics, it may have broader im- plications for both groups, including shifts in membership and related dues revenue, depending on how things play out. "It's never good to have a split like this," said Dr. Robin Oshman, a Westport physi- cian. "It's like a divorce. Nobody wins. There's always fallout from an event like that." The medical society said its decision to cut ties in February was a response to a similar action taken months earlier by the Fairfield County Medical Association. Tensions rose this past summer, when the CSMS forced several doctors who were on both organizations' boards to choose sides, arguing that the dual roles would present an "irreconcilable conflict." Among other issues, there were also previ- ous disagreements over some legislative efforts — including on bills in 2012 and 2013 that relaxed continuing education require- ments and changed malpractice-related rules — to the point where the Fairfield association hired its own lobbyist several years ago. Strained relations cropped up again in September at the medical society's 225th an- nual meeting in Southington, when a group of Fairfield County doctors were denied entry to the event to vote for society board seats. Security guards were present, as the society said it suspected there would be an attempt to disrupt the event at the Aqua Turf. Organizers also called the police after the Fairfield doctors were "verbally abusive" — a claim the doctors deny. No charges were filed, according to a police report. Fairfield physicians said they were upset not being allowed to vote for the society's board members, including a contended president-elect seat. Oshman, the Fairfield County group's endorsed president-elect candidate, lost. The medical society said it provided plenty of warning that attendees needed to register for the event and that the doctors who were denied access failed to do so. Members of the Fairfield association said the medical society's communications lead- ing up to the event were deliberately decep- tive in an effort to control the vote's outcome. "They've just done something truly egre- gious, to keep people out of an annual meet- ing because they were trying to control the vote," said Dr. Randy Trowbridge, president of the Fairfield County Medical Association. CSMS pushed back against virtually every allegation. "In a profession devoted to caring, it is regrettable and embarrassing that this small group of disgruntled FCMA physicians would resort to angry, ag- gressive and threat- ening behavior for no real purpose, and in the process, spoil what should have been a celebratory 225th anniversary event," the society said in emailed re- sponses to questions from the HBJ. Membership fight The spat could make it more dif- ficult for doctors to present a uni- fied front to state lawmakers, either in trying to craft legislation or kill it. Both organizations could also be impacted financially as they depend on dues-paying members to fund their respective budgets. Since the two groups split, Fairfield County doctors now have the option of only joining the Fairfield County Medical As- sociation. Previously, they were required to join both organizations. Alternatively, Fairfield County doctors could decide to join just the CSMS, which signaled in August that it intended to start a chapter in southwest Connecticut — a de- velopment the Fairfield County association viewed as an encroachment on its turf. "There will be an element of trying to get membership from us," Trowbridge said. However, the exact progress of that effort is unclear. "We have numerous Fairfield County members who continue to be active in CSMS, and we will continue to serve them and en- sure they are represented on our council," the Doc Disagreement CT State Medical Society, Fairfield County physicians split Mark Thompson, Executive Director, Fairfield County Medical Association Matt Katz, CEO, Connecticut State Medical Society The Fairfield County Medical Association and the Connecticut State Medical Society have fractured their relationship. FCMA President Dr. Randy Trowbridge, a Danbury physiatrist says: "We're not even thinking about them anymore." HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER

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