On Wednesday, ACEP responded to a congressional request for information (RFI) issued by House Energy and Commerce Committee member Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA). The RFI sought input from relevant health care industry stakeholders on ways to “reform and improve” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), particularly in light of the agency’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on lessons learned from the frontlines of the pandemic response, ACEP’s response identified key priority areas to enhance the CDC’s response capabilities, including improving collaboration and communication across all levels of government, creating a stable and resilient data collection and dissemination plan, and investing in community emergency departments (EDs) as the health care safety net. ACEP also emphasized the development of the ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide to support emergency physicians in treating the disease and providing optimal care to patients in the face of evolving guidance and best practices. In addition, ACEP highlighted the importance of accurate and reliable data collection and recommended the CDC work with external registries, such as the Clinical Emergency Data Registry (CEDR). ACEP continues working with Congress to identify and develop solutions to improve our nation’s public health emergency response efforts for future outbreaks or other needs.

On Wednesday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled, “Lowering Unaffordable Health Costs: Legislative Solutions to Increase Transparency and Competition in Health Care.” The hearing included two panels of witnesses: the first featured the Honorable Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the second featured several witnesses across a wide array of perspectives. Topics addressed during the hearing included the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers, expansion of physician owned hospitals, incentivizing health care professionals to practice in rural and underserved communities, and of note, the Administration’s flawed implementation of the No Surprises Act’s (NSA) independent dispute resolution (IDR) process.

Representative Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA) raised concerns to Administrator Brooks-Lasure regarding the implementation of the IDR process, highlighting a significant backlog of disputes that have yet to undergo eligibility determinations. While staffing updates were mentioned in the administrator's written testimony, no specifics on progress were provided. ACEP continues working at both the legislative and regulatory levels to address the challenges and flaws in the implementation of the NSA, and is actively collaborating with other physician specialties to develop solutions.

ACEP recently launched the 911 Network Advocacy Leaders Program to support emergency physicians interested in taking their engagement and advocacy with federal legislators and staff to the next level. If you are interested in joining or already have a relationship with a federal legislator, complete this short form to receive more information.

During LAC23, there will be a special lunch session for our ACEP Advocacy Leaders on Monday, May 1 at noon. Brad Fitch, President and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation, has created a special presentation to help you take your advocacy to the next level. A boxed lunch will be provided to the first 50 Advocacy Leaders who register for this session – contact us to reserve your lunch spot!

NEMPAC VIP Reception (by invitation only)
Sunday, April 30 from 6:00 - 8:00pm, Hay Adams Hotel – Top of the Hay 
The NEMPAC VIP Reception is an excellent chance to network with ACEP leaders and your colleagues who support a strong, unified advocacy effort on behalf of emergency medicine and patients.

NEMPAC donors at the Sterling level or above ($600 for attending physicians/$60 for residents/fellows/medical students annually) are invited and encouraged to attend. Donors who are currently eligible will receive an invitation via email.

Click here to contribute to NEMPAC and secure your invitation.

Questions about your donation status? Click here to email us.

Congressional Dine-Around 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 dinners during LAC23 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. Food and drink are included with your contribution. 

An RSVP is required to attend the dine-arounds – click here to email us. 

Confirmed dine-arounds*:

• Rep. John Joyce, MD (R-PA-13), Sunday, April 30, Dinner, 7:30pm, Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, 750 15th St NW
• Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Monday, May 1, Reception, 6:30-7:15pm, 224 7th St SE
• Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN-08), Monday, May 1, Dinner, 6:30pm, The Capital Grille, 601 Pennsylvania Ave NW
• Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Monday, May 1, Dinner, 6:00pm, Bistro Bis, 15 E St NW
• Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tuesday, May 2, Reception, 6:15-7:00pm, The Dubliner, 4 F St NW

*The dine-around schedule is subject to change and additions.

Contributions or gifts to NEMPAC are voluntary and are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. The amount given or refusal to donate will not benefit or disadvantage you. By law, we may only use your contribution to support federal candidates if your contribution is made using a personal credit card or personal check. We are required to provide your employer name, your occupation, and to obtain an original signature of the ACEP member if contributing by credit card. NEMPAC encourages personal contributions. All non-personal contributions to NEMPAC will be used to defray costs of educational programs for NEMPAC and other activities permissible under federal law.

As you may know, this is the first year of a new reporting option in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) called MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs). MIPS is the major quality reporting program for physicians and Medicare, and MVPs represent a new approach that will allow clinicians to report on a uniform set of measures on a particular episode or condition to get MIPS credit. ACEP developed an emergency medicine-focused MVP that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) included in the first batch of MVPs starting in 2023. The registration period for MVPs is now open and closes on November 30.  

Should you register?  How do you select an MVP? Read the Regs and Eggs blog post for an overview of your MIPS reporting options, including MVPs, and how to register for an MVP if you choose to do so.

To share legislative activity happening in your state, contact Christopher Johnson. Check out the state legislation that is currently identified and being tracked by ACEP:

• Scope of Practice
• Violence Against Healthcare Workers
• ED Boarding and Crowding
• Private Payer/Insurance
• All Other Bills