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.
November 8, 2024
Congressional News and Perspective
Language in Appropriations Bills Addresses Potential Overestimation of Medicare Code Utilization
ACP was instrumental in providing report language calling for the Government Accountability Office to study whether CMS overestimated utilization in the last 10 years.
Patients Before Paperwork
ACP Urging Congress to Preserve Telehealth Flexibilities and Ensure All Patients Have Access to Care
Current legislation would strengthen telehealth by expanding access to high-speed internet service and boosting the nation's health care infrastructure to respond to cyberattacks.
ACP Regulatory News
ACP Offers New Patient-Facing Resources for Open Enrollment in the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace
Physicians can provide the resources for patients to enroll in ACA coverage, Medicare or Medicaid.
In Case You Missed It
Last Chance: Apply to be an Intern in ACP's Washington, DC Office
The 2025 ACP Health Policy Internship application cycle is now open through Nov. 15. The annual internship program provides an opportunity for ACP Resident/Fellow and Medical Students members to learn about the legislative process, health policy, and advocacy in organized medicine. Interns will have the opportunity to attend Congressional hearings, coalition meetings, issue briefings, and accompany government affairs staff on lobby visits to members of congress and their staff, political action committee (PAC) fundraisers, and to other events. The interns will participate in ACP's Leadership Day, including assisting with programming during the two-day meeting. The internship lasts from April 1, 2025, to April 30, 2025, and pays a $4,000 stipend. Find additional information and application instructions on ACP's website.
State Health Policy Networking Webinar and Election Recap
Join ACP for a State Health Policy Networking webinar on Nov. 19 from 3 to 4:30 PM, Eastern time. Hear from ACP's Chief Advocacy Officer, Shari Erickson with ACP's reaction to the election and a look ahead for advocacy. Register online.
Action Alert: Urge Congress to Fix Medicare Payment
ACP is calling on you to contact your members of Congress to support a Medicare payment fix this year that stops scheduled payment cuts to physicians. The Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule includes a 2.8 percent payment cut for all physicians and other clinicians treating Medicare patients, which represents the fifth straight year that the Medicare PFS rule cuts payment rates for physicians and other clinicians. Medicare payment rates have fallen 29 percent over the last two decades, but the cost of running a practice is estimated to increase by 3.6 percent in 2025. Please email your U.S. Representatives and urge them to pass legislation that not only stops another damaging round of cuts to Medicare payments, but also provides greater certainty and stability for clinicians serving Medicare beneficiaries.
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.
Recently in Annals of Internal Medicine
Quick Hits
Advocacy News
Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Urging Passage of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023
Joint letter urging Congressional leaders to pass H.R. 3838/S. 2415, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023, which would continue crucial federal support for the state-based maternal mortality review committees that review pregnancy-related deaths to identify causes and make recommendations for the prevention of future mortalities.
ACP Support Letter for the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act
Letter applauding the introduction of the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act, which aims to create a more comprehensive federal response to future cyberattacks by bolstering our nation's health care infrastructure and facilitating multi-departmental collaboration.
ACP Support Letter for the Affordable Connectivity Program
ACP letter in support of the Secure and Affordable Broadband Expansion Act, S. 4317/H.R. 9193, which would fund the Affordable Connectivity Program and provide eligible households with a discount for high-speed internet services, ensuring that millions of Americans will have internet access to reach their health care practitioners.
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