Weiss said most patients don't understand the difficulty physicians encounter in running their practices, which have all the same challenges of small businesses.
"We have office staff and nurses to pay, phone, electric bills, and they aren't free," he said. "Michigan is 48th in the nation in reimbursement. Costs are increasing faster than reimbursement. Most patients don't know this."
Another critical service provided to members is lobbying of legislators and monitoring bills that could impact physicians.
Weiss said the association's lobbyist, Kevin McKinny, president of Lansing-based McKinney & Associates, spends the week visiting with legislators and monitoring bills.
"We like to keep our members informed about anything that might impact their practice," he said.
The association recently took a position to oppose Senate Bill 2, which would grant additional independence and prescribing authority to advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners, certified nurse anesthetists and certified clinical nurses.
"I don't think nurse practitioners have the same educational background and clinical experience as physicians," Weiss said. "If this bill allows them to do the same thing as an allopathic and osteopathic physician, it concerns me."
The Michigan Osteopathic Association joined the Michigan State Medical Society in supporting legislation that would expand Medicaid.
Studies have shown that Michigan could save nearly $1 billion in projected healthcare expenditures over the next 10 years if it expands Medicaid to people with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. An estimated 600,000 low-income uninsured people could be covered by Medicaid.
"We are trying to reach out and provide medical care for everybody. I don't want to exclude people," Weiss said.
Osteopathic physicians receive the same type of training that allopathic, or medical doctors, receive. They also have a focus on the musculoskeletal system that includes a technique called osteopathic manipulative treatment, which is similar to chiropractic and massage therapy.
More than 60 percent of osteopathic physicians provide primary care, and the majority accept Medicaid patients, Weiss said. Others provide care in various specialties, including surgery, radiology, emergency medicine and oncology.
Weiss received his osteopathic degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and is an assistant of obstetrics and gynecology. He also trains resident physicians at McLaren Macomb Hospital.
"Health reform challenges osteopathic physicians" originally appeared in Crain's Detroit Business.