Public Policy & Advocacy
Leadership Day 2011
The annual Leadership Day at Capitol Hill was a great experience. Several chapter members attended to meet with Congressmen and Representatives to discuss important issues impacting both local and national health issues. Please take a few moments to view some photos from the event.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Updates and Information
Health IT Information
Check out some very helpful information and resources regarding Health IT.
Medicare Payment Basics from MedPac
A 2010 guide to understanding how Medicare’s payment system works for 18 categories.
Federal Rules and State Roles in Health Reform by the Alliance for Health Reform 
Advocacy Publications
Many internists and patients are still grappling with the multitude of changes taking place as a result of national health reform legislation enacted six months ago. Two ACP publications were developed to help bring some clarity to the issue. Please take a few minutes to review these resources.
Leadership Day on Capitol Hill
2012 Leadership Day
New date June 6-7
Liaison Hotel
415 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
The twentieth annual Leadership Day on Capitol Hill will be held on June 6-7, 2012 at the Liaison Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Leadership Day enables the College to increase its presence on Capitol Hill and bring our issues of concern to U.S. lawmakers.
This two-day event provides ACP members with advocacy and/or media training, an update on the College's priority legislative issues; briefings from Members of Congress, Administration officials, and key Capitol Hill staffers; and an opportunity to meet with your state's elected officials. A special briefing for associate and medical students is also provided.
ACP members interested in participating in Leadership Day 2012 should contact their chapter Governor to let him/her know of your interest and to be included in the chapter delegation congressional meetings.
For more information, please contact Shuan Tomlinson at stomlinson@acponline.org or 800-338-2746 ext. 4547.
Advocacy Resources
Where the College Stands on key health policy issues, news and recent policy changes
**NEW** - Our biggest news is that after more than 15 years as the “Key Contact Program,” we have a new name for the advocacy program and a new name for our annual grassroots advocacy award. ACP advocacy will also now be active in social media, which should make engaging with your lawmakers much easier, effective and enjoyable.
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.
ACP has launched another new web resource - http://www.acponline.org/advocacy/election_2012/ for ACP members and other interested persons on the views of the GOP presidential candidates and President Obama compared to ACP's policy positions. It also discussed physicians' responsibilities to advocate for their patients and includes resources for members to learn about how they can become more involved in the election. The materials will be continually updated throughout the election cycle (including removing candidates as they drop out of the race).
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.
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Contact Information
R. Dobbin Chow, MD, FACP,
Governor, Maryland Chapter
Maryellen Woodward
920 Trinity Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Chapter Administrator
Office: 410-332-8444
Fax: 410-636-3403
E-mail: mew4work@aol.com
