ACP - Florida Chapter - Public Policy & Advocacy

About ACP

Public Policy & Advocacy

Chapter Legislative Initiatives
Mission: To enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine.

2013 Florida Chapter Legislative Agenda

Florida Chapter State Advocacy Page

Important Health & Public Policy Updates

6-6-13: Governor Rick Scott signed Tort Reform Bill Today
5-10-13: 2013 Legislative Tallahassee Wrap-up
4-26-13: Legislative Session Report Week Eight
4-19-13: Legislative Session Report Week Seven
4-12-13: Legislative Session Report Week Six
4-5-13: Legislative Session Report Week Five
3-29-13: Legislative Session Report Week Four
3-22-13: Legislative Session Report Week Three
3-5-13: Help Prevent Deceptive Use of the term "Doctor" Req Action for Senate Health Committee March 7, 2013
2-22-13: February 22, 2013 Final Pre-Session Legislative Update
2-15-13: February 15, 2013 Legislative Report from the Capitol
2-8-13: February 8, 2013 Tallahassee Legislative Report
1-30-13: 2013 Pre-Session Tallahassee Report
1-4-13: Legislative Update

Archived Legislative Reports

Florida Chapter Wins Permanent Injunction Against Physician Gag Law

After over a year of litigation, the Florida Chapter and its allies won a permanent injunction prohibiting the State of Florida from enforcing the 2011 law that forbade physicians from discussing a patient’s gun ownership. In finding the law unconstitutional, the U.S. District Court relied heavily on the Chapter’s argument that any such law was an unconstitutional abridgement of a physician’s First Amendment right to free speech.

Read the full announcement (July 19, 2012)

On 7/20/11, the Florida Board of Medicine announced that implementation of the new prescription law will be delayed until August 29. The new law relates to prescribing controlled substances. Download the full update and excerpts from the new law

Advocacy Resources

Where the College Stands on key health policy issues, news and recent policy changes

Visit Legislative Action Center for more information about the new Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (AIMn) and the Richard Neubauer Advocate for Internal Medicine Award.

State Health Policy Pages
Home Page
News and Info
"Essential Health Benefits"

Consumer Web site: Affordable Care Act- site provides clear, trusted, concise and understandable information--by state, by timeline, and by different patient characteristics (like small business, under or over age 65).
An Internist’s Practical Guide to Understanding Health System Reform- practical resource guide for internists on recently-enacted health care reform legislation and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
AmericanEHR Partners: an interactive website designed to assist medical practices compare, select, and implement electronic health records.
The ACP Advocate: bi-weekly, e-newsletter created to provide ACP members with news about public policy issues affecting internal medicine and patient care.
The ACP Advocate Blog by Bob Doherty
Legislative Action Center
Electronic Resolution System - find Chapter Sponsored Resolutions
Member Advocacy - Other resources to help members advocate ACP policy
White House Health Reform Web site - useful state-by-state data that highlights the current status of health care and the need for reform this year.
Project Vote Smart - a comprehensive database that helps you identify federal and state legislators, through a zip code search, and research their positions, voting records, campaign finances, performance evaluations, and even send them an email.
Public Policy Virtual Library (PPVL) - a repository of ACP's current and historic policies and the Policy Compendium.