Public Policy & Advocacy

Interested in advocacy but not sure how to get involved? Does the very idea of the word “advocacy” scare you? Already involved in advocacy but looking for extra practice?

Join one of our workshops!

“How to Talk to Legislators”
(Presented by the Massachusetts ACP’s Subcommittee on Advocacy Education.)  
Thursday, March 4th, 5:30 – 7:30 PM ~ To register - click here

Monday, March 22nd , 7:30 – 9:30 PM ~ To register - click here
(FREE for ACP members only!)
A Zoom Link will be sent upon registration.

Agenda –

• Introductions
• Advocacy Panel Discussion
• Video: “How to Talk to Legislators”
• Simulation Sessions with “Legislators”
• Wrap-up
   

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Advocacy Day Online

This year, we will be hosting another VIRTUAL Advocacy Day on March 30, 2021 from 9:30am - 3:00pm. Given the significant changes in how legislators are interacting with their constituents during the pandemic, this event will focus on introducing participants to the foundations of advocacy with an emphasis on virtual platforms. As always, we will guide the participants through an overview of local legislation regarding pertinent topics for ACP members and provide an interactive practice session on "How to Talk to Legislators." Small group breakout rooms will allow participants to practice their skills in a low-stress environment with experienced moderators. The day will culminate in an organized meeting with a legislator. 

The deadline to register is March 12, 2021 at 5:00PM.

Click HERE to register. 

Last year, our Advocacy Day Online event occurred virtually, on the cusp of lockdown due to COVID-19, and featured discussion on important legislation at the State House. The keynote was delivered by Dr. Stephanie Woolhandler, an internist and national expert on single-payer healthcare systems. It also featured discussion on legislation eliminating the religious exemption for vaccination, addressing high prescription drug costs, and encouraging treatment of substance use disorder by ensuring that a person on probation with substance use disorder would not be re-incarcerated for relapse if that is the only infraction. We have a similarly exciting agenda planned for this year's Advocacy Day and hope you will join us!

Elisa I. Choi, MD, FACP, FIDSA, Governor, MA Chapter

Zoe Tseng, MD, FACP, Co-Chair, Health and Public Policy Committee
Shela Sridhar, MD, Co-Chair, Health and Public Policy Committee 

Aisha James, MD, Co-Chair, Advocacy Day Planning Subcommittee
Stephanie Titus, MD, Co-Chair, Advocacy Day Planning Subcommittee

2020 Online Advocacy Day

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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. 

We currently have five subcommittees focused on specific tasks or topics: Advocacy Day at the State House, Advocacy Education, Environmental Justice, Opioid Use Disorder, and Violence Prevention

• 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. 

• Environmental Justice - This subcommittee is focused on environmental justice and its impact on health within local communities in Massachusetts. They identify educational opportunities for members and work closely with other local environmental groups, acknowledging the connection to the broader environmental movement. ​

• Opioid Use Disorder - This subcommittee is focused on addressing the opioid epidemic by increasing access to care through education and advocacy.

• Violence Prevention - This subcommittee is focused on identifying, reducing, and preventing violence in our communities. This group aims to address the increasing public health concern and plans to focus on three main areas: domestic violence, racial violence, and gun safety. They take a proactive role in screening, education, and advocacy; identifying gaps and creating screening tools for physicians to implement in their practice. 

2021 HIGHLIGHTS:

-A working group with HPPC has been working closely with Rep. Vargas to create a coalition to eliminate the religious exemption for vaccine uptake.

-Members of our committee testified in Feb. 2021 to support the creation of a health equity task force to ensure that our most vulnerable patients have access to care as well as crucial preventative measures including the Covid-19 Vaccine. ​

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Advocacy Resources

Learn more about ACP’s advocacy work including stances on key health policy issues. 

Get involved! Join the Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (AIMn) or attend the annual Leadership Day in Washington, D.C.

Stay informed:

• 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 Advocacy Blog by Bob Doherty
• Public Policy Virtual Library (PPVL) - a repository of ACP's current and past policies and recommendations.

Hear Dr. Dan Levy's interview with his local NPR station and read our chapter's Ten Priorities for Payment and Practice Reform with a Focus on Primary Care: A Policy Statement.

Massachusetts Contacts

• Find Your Massachusetts State Legislator
• Find Your US Senator
• Find Your US Congressperson

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