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.

Alaska:  Trauma Registry and Prescription Monitoring Funding
The chapter worked on an effort to restore funding for Alaska's trauma registry, as well as funding for the prescription monitoring program. 
  

California:  Annual Legislative Leadership Conference  
California ACEP will hold its annual Legislative Leadership Conference this month in Sacramento. The event will include policy and legislative updates from the chapter, elected officials and other policymakers, as well as legislative visits by attendees. The day will conclude with a reception attended by key policymakers and LLC participants.   

Maryland:  Maryland General Assembly Comes to a Close
Some of the issues followed by MDACEP were: cannabimimetic agents, health care staff agencies, firearm safety, overdose response program, workplace violence, automated external defibrillator programs, and child abuse and neglect reporting.

Minnesota:  Nurse Ratio Staffing and Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Legislation
Minnesota passed legislation to expand medical assistance coverage from 75% of the federal poverty guidelines to 138% of the FPG.  Also, MN developed one of the first state-run health care exchanges under the ACA called MNSure, which will allow Minnesota residents up to 400% of the FPG to access coverage through medical assistance or through a subsidy.  MN ACEP worked to make changes to a recent mandated nurse staffing ratio bill and worked to oppose a change in the nurse practitioner scope of practice law which has effectively been killed for this legislative session.

New Jersey:  Physician Assistants and Advanced Practice Nurses Legislation Seeks to Change Current Practice
Two bills have been introduced that seek to change the way in which physicians work with physician assistants and advanced practice nurses in New Jersey.  The PA legislation would permit each physician to develop the PA’s scope of practice independently and eliminate the need to sign off on charts within a specified number of days.    The APN legislation would allow the allied health providers to practice independently without a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician.  APNs cite physician shortages and cost savings.  NJ-ACEP is reviewing both bills, and working with the “house of medicine” on appropriate responses.

Ohio:  2013-2014 Leadership Development Academy Class Selected
Congratulations to the Ohio ACEP members selected to be part of the Leadership Development Academy,  a year-long program designed to build leadership, advocacy, communication and public education skills:  Baruch Fertel, MD, MPA, Julian Jakubowski, DO, Andrea Kreiger, MD, Nicole Veitinger, DO, MA.  

South Carolina:  SCCEP Past President Joins SC Department of Health and Human Services
Congratulations to Dr. Tripp Jennings, past-president of SCCEP for this appointment.   In this role, he and two other physicians will provide advice to the agency on pay for performance initiatives, clinical integration, hotspot interventions and quality improvement.

Utah:  Clear and Convincing Evidence Legislation
Utah passed clear and convincing evidence legislation several years ago with a sunset provision attached and it came up for review this year. The state medical association (UMA) was able to push the sunset to 2016, but UMA is planning to try and completely strike the sunset during the 2014 legislative session.  Dr. Jim Antinori, one of the most active UCEP members as well as a Board member, is also the Chair of UMA’s legislative committee, so we have an inside track on what is happening legislatively each year.   UCEP is a co-sponsor of the state medical association’s legislative reception held during the session each year, which was in February this year.     

Chapter State Advocacy Meetings 

Here are highlights of some of the meetings that were already held this year and others that are being planned.

Arizona:  AzCEP had more than 50 emergency physicians attend the chapter ED Doc of the Day program.  In addition to 15 legislative visits, more than 60 legislators and staff members attended the chapter luncheon on the Capitol lawn.  The chapter focused on the issue of accepting federal dollars in order to provide health care coverage for more Arizona residents, which Governor Brewer supports.  

Florida:  On March 11-14th in Tallahassee, more than 55 emergency physicians, nurses and supporters took the Capitol by storm to lobby for FCEP's 2013 legislative/regulatory agenda.  Increased participation and sponsorship resulted in more appointments and visits this year, as seen here. Within two days, all 160 legislators were visited by appointment or received information regarding the top legislative priorities facing emergency medicine and an educational booklet that covers access to care, fair payment and EMTALA. 

Nebraska:  The chapter held an advocacy breakfast at the state capitol on March 12, sponsored by Nebraska Medical Association members and Nebraska Medical Association Alliance.  Attendees had the opportunity to visit with senators on current issues affecting the practice of medicine including efforts regarding the PDMP.

Ohio:  The Ohio ACEP EM Advocacy Day was held in March. Ohio ACEP leaders met with State Senator Shannon Jones, Vice Chair of the Senate (Finance) Medicaid Committee and Chair of the Senate Medicaid, Health and Human Services Committee; State Representative Lynn Wachtmann, Chair of the House Committee on Health & Aging; and Ohio’s only physician in the House, State Representative Dr. Terry Johnson.

Wisconsin:  The Wisconsin Chapter will have its Emergency Physicians Day at the Capitol this month.  It will be an action packed day of issue briefings, visits with state lawmakers and the WACEP Annual Business Meeting.  Around 45 practicing physicians and residents are signed up to participate. WACEP is working with the hospital association and the state medical society on a bill to “clarify” informed consent language in Wisconsin which was confused by a Supreme Court decision last year.  The chapter is also working on language for legislation to be introduced this year to modify the standard for bringing a malpractice suit against a doctor when the patient is covered under EMTALA.