Can't make it to DC? There is still time to register and join us virtually!
Virtual LAC will live stream the Health Policy Primer courses from Sunday, July 25, all courses on Monday, July 26 and the advocacy and virtual Hill visit prep session on Tuesday, July 27. Virtual registrants can also participate in the legislator meetings on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 27. Scroll down for more detailed information about the agenda and opportunities for engagement with legislators and your ACEP colleagues.
The American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law on March 11, 2021, included $140 million in funding to support one of ACEP's top advocacy priorities -the "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act." This critical funding, which ACEP helped secure, will support mental and behavioral health training for health care professionals, other health care providers, and first responders. It will also give health providers and associations resources to promote mental and behavioral health, and finally, will help create an education and awareness campaign encouraging healthy work conditions and the use of mental and behavioral health services by health care professionals.
Today, ACEP is extremely pleased to report that the Biden Administration, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has started the process of distributing a portion of this funding through grants - just a few months after the American Rescue Plan was enacted!
Specifically, HRSA announced the availability of $103 million through three separate grant programs. The grants aim to reduce burnout and promote mental health among the health workforce.
Promoting Resilience and Mental Health Among Health Professional Workforce - HRSA plans to provide $29 million over three years to around 10 health care organizations to support members of their workforce. According to HRSA, the funding can be used for "establishing, enhancing, or expanding evidence-informed programs or protocols to adopt, promote and implement an organizational culture of wellness that includes resilience and mental health among their employees." It is important to note that medical associations can apply for this funding. ACEP worked hard to ensure that some of the Dr. Lorna Breen funding could be provided to medical societies, since they know the unique needs of their own members and how best to support them.
Health and Public Safety Workforce Resiliency Training Program - HRSA will provide approximately $68 million over three years to approximately 30 educational institutions and other nonprofit entities that train providers who are early in their health careers. According to HRSA, the funding can be used to help provide "evidence-informed planning, development and training in health profession activities in order to reduce burnout, suicide and promote resiliency among the workforce."
On Thursday, the House Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (L/HHS) funding bill by a 33-25 vote.
The $253.8 billion L/HHS package represents an increase of $55.2 billion above FY2021 funding levels and includes several provisions aimed at improving the public health infrastructure and supporting the continued response to COVID-19, increasing funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and providing additional resources for states and local governments to address critical public health needs.
Among the provisions related to emergency medicine, the bill provides $9 million for the ACEP-developed and supported Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) program, an increase of $4 million. The bill also provides $5 million for the MISSION ZERO program to help civilian trauma centers train and incorporate military trauma care providers and teams into care centers; $25 million for federal gun violence research; $50 million for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to support research related to identifying and reducing health disparities.
The House is anticipated to pass many of the annual appropriations packages prior to the September 30 fiscal year deadline. However, the process has been significantly delayed in the Senate and the outlook for the traditional appropriations process is uncertain, raising the likelihood of another Continuing Resolution (CR) as a potential outcome.
Also on Thursday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a markup of 19 different bills addressing a wide variety of topics, including opioid response efforts, social determinants of health, immunization, and maternal health.
Several of the bills targeted at addressing the nation's opioid epidemic would provide additional resources and training to health care providers, regulators, and other stakeholders - a point of renewed focus for Congress as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data this week showing more than 93,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2020.
The subcommittee also reported legislation to improve our health data infrastructure with a particular emphasis on understanding and addressing social determinants of health and reducing health disparities, including legislation to establish an interagency council on social determinants of health through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The issue of health equity and disparities is a core element of ACEP's mission both internally and in our advocacy efforts with legislators and regulators alike, and ACEP DC staff continue to work with Congress and the Administration to monitor and advance policies to further this ongoing effort.
In addition to the opportunity to advocate on behalf of emergency medicine to Congress, the 2021 Leadership & Advocacy Conference will offer thought-provoking, inspiring and challenging sessions by nationally recognized speakers and key decision-makers who will provide you with the inside information and skills you need to maximize your effectiveness as an emergency medicine leader and advocate.
Check out the Health Policy Primer- Presented by ACEP's Young Physician Section and EMRA for exciting content developed for residents, young physicians, and first-time attendees. Everyone is welcome! Highlights include
Drop the Mic Advocacy
Health Policy Through the COVID-19 Lens
Clinicians in Policy and Politics Panel
Steps to Success: A Roadmap to Getting Involved and Making a Difference - Alison Haddock, MD, FACEP
Earn CME and find ways to advance your career into the future of EM with the Leadership Summit. Ask ACEP's top leaders your questions LIVE as our specialty looks to the future during the Workforce Townhall discussion. Other sessions include:
Solutions for the Opioid Crisis - (Moderator) Alexis M. LaPietra, DO, FACEP; Eric M. Ketcham, MD, MBA, FASAM, FACHE, FAAEM, FACEP; Gail D'Onofrio, MD, FACEP
Rescuing Victims: If Not Us, Then Who? - Jaime H. Hope, MD
Telemedicine: Expanding Opportunities to Deliver Emergency Care - (Moderator) Judd E. Hollander, MD, FACEP; Shruti Chandra, MD, MEHP; Alan Sazama, MD
You won't want to miss the signature Leadership & Advocacy Courses:
Breaking Down Barriers: Improving Health Equity Through the Emergency Department - Aisha Terry, MD, FACEP - ACEP Board Member; Orriel Richardson - Counsel, House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee; Mary Moody - Health Policy Adviser, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Medicare Cliff Notes: Reimbursement, Reform, and You - Aaron Cohen, Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC; Casey Quinn, Senior Health Policy Adviser for Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02)
#SocialCongress: Perceptions and Use of Social Media on Capitol Hill, Led by Brad Fitch, President of the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF)
Lastly, you'll hear from ACEP's Advocacy Team, Soapbox Consulting LLC, and Members of Congress forthe Advocacy Training & Issues Briefing. Highlights include:
U.S. House Problem Solvers Caucus - Working Together for a Greater Good - Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05) - Democratic Chair; Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) - Republican Chair
Mental Health Support for Health Care Workers - Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Click here to contribute to NEMPAC and secure your invitation.
Questions about your donation status?Click here to email us.
Congressional Dine-Arounds Events Sponsored by NEMPAC
Join your ACEP Board members and colleagues! The NEMPAC Board has identified congressional leaders deserving of special recognition and support for their work on national health policy impacting emergency medicine and patients. NEMPAC is hosting in-person dine-around events at LAC21 as a unique opportunity to discuss health care policy and the national political environment in small group settings. NEMPAC is donating to these legislators' campaigns and attendees are asked to donate personally as well in some cases. Food and drink are included with your contribution.
Confirmed legislators include:
Rep. Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA) - emergency physician
Rep. John Katko (R-NY)
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
Rep. Brad Wenstrup, DPM (R-OH) -podiatric surgeon
Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL), Chair of the Future Forum PAC, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), and invited members Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN), Rep. Stephen Horsford (D-NV), Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), and others.
Click here to view the dine-around schedule, suggested contribution amounts, and RSVP information.
*The dine-around schedule is subject to change and additions.
Another week, another major regulation. A couple of weeks ago, federal agencies released the No Surprises Act Interim Final Rule, and this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP) proposed rule. As a reminder, the PFS and QPP rule is the major annual rule that affects Medicare payments for physicians and other health care practitioners for the next calendar year. Comments on the rule are due on September 13, 2021.
ACEP is still reviewing the 1,700+ rule and will be releasing a comprehensive summary next week.
On Tuesday, ACEP responded to a proposed rule issued by CMS that would update payment parameters for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Exchanges and repeal certain provisions related to the Section 1332 waivers.
As background, Section 1332 of the ACA allows states to apply for a waiver, that, if granted by CMS, would enable the states to use a different approach to covering their populations than the traditional ACA Exchanges. The ACA includes guardrails to ensure that the alternate approach adopted by the state would provide coverage that is as comprehensive and affordable as the coverage would otherwise have been through the ACA Exchanges.
The last administration issued guidance that provided an extremely flexible interpretation of the guardrails-- paving the way for the proliferation of Association Health Plans and short-term, limited-duration plans (which do not have to cover all ten essential health benefits). ACEP opposed the initial release and subsequent codification of this guidance.
CMS is now proposing to eliminate the Trump Administration's guidance and implement a stricter interpretation of Section 1332 guardrails. In our comments, we support this proposal.
On Monday, CMS opened a National Coverage Determination (NCD) analysis to review and determine whether Medicare will establish a national Medicare coverage policy for monoclonal antibodies targeting amyloid for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The analysis will determine whether the evidence meets the Medicare law's requirements by using a process that includes an assessment of the clinical evidence such as published clinical studies, professional society guidelines, and public comments to determine coverage.
