PCIM - Chapter Advocacy Efforts

Advocate for Internists in Harrisburg and Washington

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physician Services, Inc. has taken an active role in working to represent internists to state government, to Washington, and to third party payers in Pennsylvania.

The unique and intense political atmosphere of Pennsylvania state government demands such activity. During the past fifteen years, internists have developed an advocacy program in state government, the General Assembly and the house of organized medicine in Pennsylvania. We have assumed a key role in Harrisburg as an advocate for internists and patients alike. Our efforts have addressed such divergent subjects as "scope of practice" issues, laboratory certification, and regulation of Medicaid programs, particulating patients' public health needs, and medical malpractice/Mcare fund issues. (See Current Legislative and Regulatory Issues, below)

Today, there are more than 100 health care related political and lobbying organizations in Pennsylvania. The ACP Pennsylvania Chapter has made a commitment to efforts to insure physicians' and patients' rights within the new health care marketplace. It has taken a leadership role among state specialty societies in battling the domination of the marketplace by the Blues. And we hope to expand our advocacy efforts in the coming years. This will require political involvement at all levels - grass roots, leadership and financial - if we are to be successful in greater representation for our members.

Pennsylvania Chapter Advocacy Committees

The ACP Pennsylvania Chapter has two standing committees which deal with subjects relating to state and federal government actions and actions by insurance companies or hospital systems. These are:

The Medical Services and Clinical Practice Committee -- Charles Cutler, MD, Chair, (610) 279-8300 and Jaan Sidorov, MD, Vice Chair, (570) 271-8763.

This committee is responsible for:

  • Studying the relationship between practitioners and health insurance companies
  • Soliciting reports of problems and issues from the membership
  • Meeting with representatives of the state's blue cross/blue shield plans, and with other major health insurance companies or hospital systems as appropriate or indicated.
  • Suggesting changes in regulation or legislation affecting physician/third party payor relations to the Council
  • Maintaining liaison with the Hospital and Health System Alliance of PA and with member hospitals as appropriate
  • Developing positions for actions by the Carrier Advisory Committee, Medical Assistance Advisory Committee and other agencies involved in oversight or payment of physicians for the practice of medicine.

The Health and Public Policy Committee chaired by Ralph Schmeltz, MD, (724) 229-3300, and Vice Chair, Herb Diamond, MD, (412) 578-6929.

This committee is responsible for:

  • Monitoring issues relating to state and federal government
  • Providing a report at each council meeting
  • Analyzing and developing recommended positions for the ACP Pennsylvania Chapter on specific legislation and regulations
  • Developing relationships with other health-related organizations
  • Preparing alerts for ACP Pennsylvania Chapter members
  • Developing a public policy manual
  • Annually updating all public policies of the ACP Pennsylvania Chapter
  • Subjecting all public policies to sunset review after ten years.

Page updated: 10-24-06

What's New

Contact Information

Eastern Region
Richard J. Simons, MD, FACP, Governor

Southeastern Region
Charles Cutler, MD, FACP, Governor

Western Region
Alejandro R. Gonzalez, MD, FACP

John Derrickson
Executive Director
Phone: 610-543-6880 or Toll-free: 800-846-7746
Fax: 610-543-6806
E-mail: pcim.hq@verizon.net