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HomeAbout ACPChapters & RegionsUnited StatesMassachusettsPublic Policy & Advocacy

Public Policy & Advocacy

    Save the Date: 

    How to Talk to Legislators
    Saturday, March 23rd from 9-1 pm

    Register Now!

    Advocacy Day at the State House
    Tuesday, March 26th from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

    To register for Advocacy Day at the Statehouse 2019, follow this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MAACPadvocacy2019.

    Please note that you must be a member of ACP to participate. Click on the membership tab at the top of the page for information on joining ACP.

    Three bills we will be specifically addressing during the training and the meetings with legislators on Advocacy Day:

    An Act to promote transparency and prevent price gouging of pharmaceutical drug prices (SD2059) Montigny
    The Attorney General can monitor prescription drug cost trends, can require drug companies and PBM to be interrogated and provide testimony on pharmaceutical costs and trends. AG may investigate drug company or PBM to see if they engaged in anti-competitive behavior or engaged in unfair methods of competition. Reiterated in prior versions of this bill: that CHIA will analyze drug costs including wholesale acquisition cost changed, trends in net expenditures, R&D, marketing and advertising costs, drug rebates, vouchers, cost disparities between prices charged to purchasers in MA and those outside of U.S.

    An Act relative to universal background checks for private gun sales (HD836) Linsky
    In brief, this legislation would close a loophole in state law that currently allows for private firearms sales to be completed without a federal background check on prospective buyers. It would require a National Instant Criminal Background System (NICS) check by a licensed gun dealer prior to any private sale or transfer of a firearm. Dealers would be able to charge a fee of $25 per transactions for these services.This legislation is modeled after laws in 8 other states and Washington, D.C., and would ensure that private sales are subject to the same background check requirements as sales conducted at licensed gun shops.

    The Safe Communities Act (HD.1520/SD.926) Balser, Miranda & Eldridge
    In brief, this act would bar law enforcement and court personnel from asking people about their immigration status unless required by law. The State Policy already have a similar policy. Requires ICE to have people sign a consent form explaining their rights to have an attorney present or decline an interview (similar to Miranda rights). Keeps police, court officers, and jail officials from telling ICE when someone is about to be released, unless they are being released after serving a criminal sentence. Ends contracts with ICE (287(g)) that allow state and county personnel to act as federal immigration agents. Mandates training law enforcement agencies.

     

    MISSION:

    Our mission is to advocate for policy that improves the quality and effectiveness of health care in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that promotes the practice of medicine.

    The committee has 25-30 members that meet at least 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.

    We currently have five subcommittees: Advocacy Day at the State House, Advocacy Education, Immigrant and Refugee Health, Opioid Use Disorder, and Prescription Drug Costs.

    • 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.
    • Immigrant & Refugee Health - This subcommittee is focused on improving the healthcare of our immigrant and refugee patients through education and advocacy.
    • Opioid Use Disorder - This subcommittee is focused on addressing the opioid epidemic by increasing access to care through education and advocacy.
    • Prescription Drug Cost - This subcommittee is focused on addressing rising prescription drug costs and its impact on patient care through advocacy.

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    The Prescription Drug Pricing subcommittee has been working closely with Senator Montigny to advocate for prescription drug price transparency legislation at the State House. They provided testimony at the State House in July 2017 on the impact of rising prescription drug costs on patients and published an op-ed on KevinMD.com in November 2017 advocating for the State Senate to support stronger provisions in legislation on prescription drug costs.

    The opioid use disorder committee organized a CME program on May 8, 2018 “You Can Do It: Buprenorphine Prescribing in Primary Care,” which presented multiple viewpoints on prescribing buprenorphine in primary care and different models of care that can make it successful and rewarding.

     

      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:

      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

       

         

        Leadership Day on Capitol Hill

        The 27th annual Leadership Day on Capitol Hill was held on May 14 - 15, 2019 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC.  This two-day advocacy event is a great opportunity for the College and our members to increase our presence and bring visibility to issues of concern to Congress.  As usual, there were training sessions and briefings by congressional staff and key government officials.  Attendees also received a comprehensive orientation on ACP’s top legislative priorities.  A special briefing for Residents/Fellows-in-training and medical students was also provided.  Visits to Capitol Hill will take place on the second day. 

        Save the Date - Leadership Day 2020
        May 12 - 13, 2020

        This event is open to ACP members only.  ACP members interested in participating in Leadership Day 2019 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 on Leadership Day or to access reference materials from Leadership Day 2019, go to: https://www.acpservices.org/leadership-day/what-leadership-day.  If you have further questions, please contact Shuan Tomlinson via email or at 800-338-2746, ext. 4547.

        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

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