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Public Policy & Advocacy

    Updates from Kelly Evans-Hullinger, MD, FACP
    Health and Public Policy Committee Chair

    Nationally, the American College of Physicians continues robust advocacy for our patients and our profession. One big win in 2020 was the revision of E&M coding and documentation requirements as well as increased payment under Medicare which went into effect on January 1, 2021. The ACP Advocacy Team was also very active in many aspects of legislative action taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Locally, our state Health and Public Policy Committee is monitoring the current state legislative session for bills relevant to the care of patients in our state. As always, I would encourage our members to be in contact with your lawmakers at the local and state levels to be a resource they might call upon when an issue related to health care arises.

    I am sending my sincere thanks for all your work across our state.

    Kelly Evans-Hullinger, MD, FACP
    Chair, South Dakota Chapter Health and Public Policy Committee

    2022 Health Policy Internship Program

    ACP is now accepting applications from medical students and residents for the 2022 Health Policy Internship Program, which will take place May 2 through May 27, 2022. The ACP Health Policy Internship provides a multifaceted opportunity to learn about the legislative process, health policy, and advocacy in organized medicine. 

    One resident/fellow and one medical student will be selected to work in ACP’s Washington, DC office with Governmental Affairs and Public Policy staff.  The application closes on October 31, 2021. For more information about the program, please visit Health Policy Internship Program or contact Josh Serchen at jserchen@acponline.org with any questions.

    Call for Resolutions

    Spring 2022 Board of Governors Meeting

    Are you concerned about a practice or clinical issue or have an idea you'd like to suggest? If so, you might consider submitting a resolution to your Governor or chapter council.

    Initiating a resolution provides ACP members an opportunity to focus attention at the ACP national level on a particular issue or topic that concerns them. Participating in the Board of Governors resolutions process provides the ACP grassroots member a voice and allows you to shape College policy that impacts the practice of internal medicine. When drafting a resolution, don't forget to consider how well it fits within ACP's Mission and Goals. In addition, be sure to use the College’s Priority Themes to guide you when proposing a resolution topic.

    Not sure how to begin drafting a resolution? Researching the College's position on an issue can give you a start. Visit the ACP Online homepage and click the "Advocacy" link in the right-hand, top margin to access ACP policy positions, read about recent ACP advocacy activities, or search ACP's library of policies and recommendations. You also have access to the Electronic Resolutions System (ERS) where you can search past or proposed resolutions. A copy of the resolutions process is available on the ERS, which furnishes more details on formatting resolutions, as well the process for submission, review, and approval.

    Members must submit resolutions to the Governor and/or chapter council. A resolution becomes a resolution of the chapter once the chapter council approves it. If effecting change interests you, the deadline for submitting new resolutions to be heard at the Spring 2022 Board of Governors Meeting is October 4, 2021.

    Share your good idea with us. Draft a resolution.

    ACP 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