Public Policy & Advocacy

Massachusetts Chapter Advocacy Mission

Our mission is to advocate for policy change that improve access, quality and effectiveness of health care for patients in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In addition to a passionate advocacy for our patients, we advocate for policies that enhance the practice of medicine for physicians and allow us to provide the highest quality, efficient care to our communities. 

The committee has 20-30 members that meet quarterly to discuss policy issues and advocate for them through various efforts including speaking with legislators and providing education to Chapter members, policy makers, and the general public. In between meetings, subcommitees and working groups move forward with advocacy efforts through collaborations with allied community organizations. 

2022 Virtual Advocacy Day

March 30, 2022

Advocacy Subcommittees

  • Advocacy Day - This subcommittee is responsible for organizing Advocacy Day at the State House, including selecting legislation and speakers. They also organize the meetings between participating members and their state legislators to discuss important legislation.
  • Advocacy Education - This subcommittee is dedicated to bringing training in various advocacy skills to chapter members. Our goal is for members to feel well-equipped to tackle issues affecting their patients and practice through various forms of advocacy ranging from conversations with legislators, to writing op-eds and coalition-building. 
  • Opioid Use Disorder - This subcommittee is focused on addressing the opioid epidemic by increasing access to care through education and advocacy.
  • Professions in Medicine (POM) - This subcommittee is focused on promoting the health and well being of physicians and reducing the administrative burden on physicians. The POM subcommittee was active in developing the strategy for discussing the Fail First bill during our Advocacy Day.
  • Racial Justice - This subcommittee aims to promote legislation which improves racial equity in the healthcare system. They have supported and promoted bills such as the Safe Communities Act in Massachusetts.

2022 HIGHLIGHTS:

  • HPPC remains engaged in working with Rep Vargas and his coalition to eliminate religious exemptions to vaccines in schools. Members also testified in front of the house to promote this bill and wrote an op-ed in Commonwealth Magazine https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/abolish-the-vaccine-religious-exemption/
  • One of our members also wrote a key Op-Ed in Commonwealth Magazine to promote Telemedicine across straight lines to improve access to care. https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/telemedicine-should-be-able-to-cross-state-lines/
  • During our most recent Advocacy Day at the State House on March 30, 40 MA ACP members met with MA legislators to advocate for bills to improve access to care including increasing access to treatment for opiate-use disorders through pilot of Safe Consumption Sites and streamlining application processes to safety net programs for our patients through a common application. The specific bills will advocated for were: 

    S.1272/H.2088 An Act relative to preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment
    S.761/H.1290 An act to streamline access to critical public health and safety-net programs through common application
    H 1311 An Act relative to step therapy and patient safety.
    H. 2411 An Act relative to vaccines and preventing future disease outbreak 

    For more information about these bills, please read our leave behind documents.

ACP Leadership Day on Capitol Hill

ACP’s annual national advocacy event, Leadership Day, will take place in Washington, D.C. this year on May 14-15. Leadership Day enables the College to increase its presence on Capitol Hill and advocate directly with Congress in support of legislation directly impacting internal medicine physicians and their patients. To help our members prepare for Leadership Day, we have developed a frequently asked questions (FAQs) document with logistical information for the event. The FAQs can be accessed here.

REGISTER NOW FOR LEADERSHIP DAY 2024 – DEADLINE APRIL 15

Online registration is now open for Leadership Day 2024 here. The event will include educational briefings, advocacy training, lively Q&A, and an opportunity to meet with your members of Congress. A $50 registration fee will be charged to attendees at the time of registration, except for medical students and resident/fellows in-training members, who are exempt. The deadline to register is Monday, April 15.

MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS – DEADLINE APRIL 15

A room block has been designated for Leadership Day attendees at the Westin Washington, DC Downtown hotel in Washington, D.C., located at 999 9th Street, NW, at the discounted rate of $369 per night. Hotel reservations can be made online at: American College of Physicians Leadership Day. Please ask for the “American College of Physician’s Leadership Day” event if you are making your reservation by phone. The deadline to make hotel reservations is Monday, April 15. If you are unable to acquire a room in our block, please contact Shuan Tomlinson at stomlinson@acponline.org.


State Health Policy

ACP's State Health Policy program helps internal medicine physicians gain influence in their state capitols on issues affecting them and their patients. Learn more about key policy issues impacting states, how ACP members can act, and other available tools and resources.

Latest News

Resolutions

ACP Board of Governors Resolution Guide for ACP Members - A how-to on drafting a resolution that allows members to shape ACP policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine.
Electronic Resolution System - find Chapter Sponsored Resolutions
The Policy Library - a repository of ACP's current and historic policies and the Policy Compendium 

Advocates of Internal Medicine Network (AIMn)

AIMn Logo

Join colleagues in the Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (AIMn) in advocating for the interests of internal medicine in Washington, D.C. The AIMn program is for ACP members interested in participating in federal advocacy. It is designed to help members engage with their federal lawmakers on policy issues important to ACP and internal medicine.

Legislative Action Alerts