The examples of chapter advocacy efforts in this section are gleaned from various sources including chapter newsletters, web sites and direct communication with chapter executives or elected leaders. Is your chapter planning an advocacy initiative or working on significant legislation or regulations in your state? Let us know.
California: Protecting Payment for Emergency Care
CAL/ACEP is closely following several important pieces of legislation. The Maddy Emergency Medical Services Fund bill would reauthorize a key funding stream that supports both pediatric trauma care and the Maddy Emergency Medical Services Fund. The chapter is supporting a bill to reform the broken dispute resolution process used in determining payment for out-of-network emergency care. The chapter is also pursuing legislation to permanently allow emergency medicine researchers to conduct research in life-threatening situations when informed consent cannot be obtained from the patient.
Michigan: Continuing the Push for Medical Liability Reform
The chapter will again focus on pursuing a liability reform bill that would provide protection for EMTALA-mandated care. The chapter is working with its lobbying firm, as well as a public relations firm, to help define the chapter's strategy.
Minnesota: Fighting More Medicaid Cuts
MNACEP leadership will be meeting with health care legislative leadership and the governor's staff to discuss emergency care. The chapter is opposing any further payment reductions for emergency care in the state Medical Assistance program. Other issues the chapter is monitoring include mandated nurse staffing ratios and Medicaid expansion to 138% of the FPL.
New Jersey: Chapter Launches Grassroots Advocacy Campaign
NJ-ACEP will begin a new grassroots advocacy program this spring that focuses on bringing emergency physicians and members of the New Jersey legislature together to discuss key issues. The chapter has secured an ACEP chapter grant designed to educate state legislators on the real costs associated with emergency care. The chapter personalized the national "Just 2%" campaign with New Jersey statistics in an effort to debunk the myths associated with problems in the emergency department.
Several ACEP Chapters hold state advocacy meetings where their members come to the state capital to meet with their legislators and discuss issues of importance to emergency medicine. Here are highlights of some of those meeting that were already held this year and others that are being planned.
Maryland: The chapter held its "Day at the Statehouse" on February 13 and included a clever twist. Members provided blood pressure screening and consultation to elected officials. More than 200 delegates and their staff stopped by the room where MDACEP was set up and, as seen in these photos from the event, chapter members had a great opportunity to provide a service while talking with delegates about issues of importance to MDACEP.
New York: On February 12, members of the New York ACEP Board of Directors and some of their colleagues traveled to Albany for the annual lobby day to meet with key legislators and staff regarding New York ACEP's 2013 legislative priorities: access to care, fair payment for emergency physicians, medical liability protection for emergency care providers under EMTALA, opposition to nurse practitioners' scope of practice expansion, and physician involvement.
Texas: The chapter is focusing on two legislative priorities, preservation of tort reform victories from 2003 and HB 245, which addresses psychiatric patients in the ED. The chapter held the first of several advocacy events, in conjunction with the Texas Medical Association. Three hundred doctors were in attendance, 53 were TCEP members. One of the priorities of the event was to promote Medicaid expansion and restore funding that was cut in the last session.
Arizona: AzCEP held its annual Emergency Doc Day at the Capitol on February 6.
Florida: FCEP members will be meeting in Tallahassee and visiting with legislators during the chapters "Emergency Medicine Days" March 11-14.
Illinois: ICEP will hold its EM Day in Springfield on March 13, and members in the Chicago area are invited to "Get on the Bus" and travel together to take part in this effort to help lobby for emergency medicine.
Ohio: Ohio ACEP EM Advocacy Day at the Statehouse will take place Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Key legislators and the state Medicaid director will speak at the event. The chapter plans to re-introduce legislation for EMTALA limited liability and legislation, suggested by ACEP's peer-to-peer counseling model.
Wisconsin: The chapter's "Day at the Capitol" will be in Madison on April 18th in combination with the chapter annual business meeting. The chapter is making a big push for participation from as many residents and members as possible.