The ACP Advocate is a bi-weekly e-newsletter that provides ACP members with news about public policy issues affecting internal medicine and patient care.
June 7, 2024
Advocacy in Action
Leadership Day Efforts Advanced ACP Advocacy Priorities, Laid Groundwork for Future Opportunities
Top priorities this year included legislation to reduce administrative burden for physicians, support physician payment and strengthen the physician workforce.
Action Alert: Urge Congress to Act on Health Care Legislation
ACP is calling on you to contact your members of Congress asking them to act on pending health care legislation that ACP members who attended Leadership Day presented as priorities for internal medicine physicians and your patients. The Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act would increase the number of residency positions by 14,000 slots over seven years. The Physician Fee Schedule Update and Improvements act would ease pressures on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by offering more flexibility in setting payment rates, making them more predictable, and updating average costs doctors incur in calculating reimbursement. The Safe Step Act is a bipartisan bill that would improve insurer transparency, lay out exceptions to fail first protocols, and require that a group health plan provide an exception to any medication step therapy protocol.
Visit ACP's Legislative Action Center to learn more and take action. A sample email message is provided for you that includes space for you to personalize the letter. Join the Advocates for Internal Medicine network to receive ACP's action alerts directly and advocate for the interests of internal medicine in Washington.
Boston Internal Medicine Physician Dr. Elisa Choi Awarded the 2024 Neubauer Award for Advocacy Work
A strong leader in the Massachusetts ACP Chapter, Choi has forged several new advocacy efforts in addition to mentoring and advising junior member physicians.
Congressional News and Perspective
ACP Advocating for Passage of Legislation to Extend Pandemic-Era Telehealth Flexibilities
Legislation currently being considered would remove geographic restrictions and expand originating sites for telehealth services for another two years.
In Case You Missed It
Advocacy News from ACP
ACP Response to CMS Medicare Advantage Data Request for Information
Letter in response to CMSRequest for Information on Medicare Advantage program.
Health IT End-Users Alliance (the Alliance) Comments on ONC Draft Strategic Plan
Comments on ONC 2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan, that identify areas of opportunity for collaboration with ONC.
ACP Statement to House Ways and Means Committee Health Subcommittee Hearing on the Collapse of Private Practice
Statement in response to the hearing on the Collapse of Private Practice: Examining the Challenges Facing Independent Medicine, recommending ways to improve the viability of primary care and internal medicine practices.
Joint Letter to Federal Agencies Calling for Stronger Enforcement Against Unauthorized E-Cigarettes
Joint letter urging federal agencies to use every enforcement tool to clear the market of unauthorized e-cigarette products that put young people at risk for nicotine addiction and other significant health harms.
ACP Support Letter to the Senate HELP Committee for S. 3679, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act
Letter in support of legislation that would reauthorize essential programs to prevent and reduce mental health conditions, substance use disorders, instances of suicide and burnout in physicians through grant funding and education.
ACP Advocate is copyrighted ©2023 by the American College of Physicians.
