ACEP Takes a Stand Against Corporate Overreach 

ACEP issued a statement last month in support of Senate Bill 951 in Oregon, which would limit external management services organizations from exercising control over physician medical decision making and non-compete clauses in employment contracts. ACEP affirmed its stance that medical decisions must be made by physicians and any practice structure that threatens physician autonomy, the patient physician relationship, or the ability of the physician to place the needs of patients over profits should be opposed. 

ACEP identified these business or management decisions should only be made by a physician: 

• Determining how many patients an emergency physician must see or supervise in each period of time, how many hours an emergency physician must work, or how many hours of coverage are provided.
• Determining which patients will be seen by an emergency physician or a physician assistant/nurse practitioner or how such patients seen by a physician assistant/nurse practitioner shall be supervised by an emergency physician.
• Selection, hiring/firing (as it relates to clinical competency or proficiency) of emergency physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
• Setting the parameters under which the practice will enter into contractual relationships with third-party payers.
• Oversight of policies and procedures for revenue cycle management, including coding and billing procedures, reimbursement from insurers, and collections for patient care services.

Catch up on advocacy at the ACEP State Legislative Dashboard. 

Impact Report Shows How ACEP Advocates, Fights, Protects  

ACEP’s recently released Impact Report shows how ACEP spent 2024 protecting emergency physicians, patients, and the community.  

Each ACEP member should have received a hard copy, but the 24-page document also can be accessed online. In an email to members announcing the release of the Impact Report, ACEP President Alison J. Haddock, MD, FACEP pointed out that “ACEP confronted our challenges and achieved key victories, bringing immediate relief while laying the groundwork for future success. Our 2024 Impact Report highlights these efforts. In 2024, we:  

• Engaged with the FTC and DOJ on consolidation and non-competes  

• Pushed for national action on boarding  

• Advocated for legislation preventing violence against physicians  

• Piloted an ED Accreditation Program to improve your practice   

Your continued membership drives these accomplishments and empowers ACEP to protect and secure the future of emergency medicine. ACEP will never stop fighting for you!”  

The Impact Report breaks down initiatives on issues that matter most to emergency physicians, such as boarding, scope of practice, ED violence, reimbursement, leadership, and more. It also offers a glimpse into ACEP’s advocacy on the federal, state, and local level. For example, ACEP analyzed more than 7,450 pages of federal regulations in 2024 to determine their impact on emergency medicine. The College filed four amicus briefs in court cases related to EMTALA violations, abortion, and the flawed implementation of the surprise billing law. Advocacy victories highlighted in the report show the importance of collaboration with ACEP chapters.  

The Impact report also demonstrates how ACEP is raising the bar for the specialty through accreditation programs.  

Registration Open for ACEP25  

Registration is open for ACEP25 in Salt Lake City.  

Get $100 off when you register using promo code Climbing.

Join your emergency medicine friends September 7-10 for the world’s largest emergency medicine conference. The Section Hall Crawl is back. The ACEP25 Block Party is set for 5 p.m. on September 9, and Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton will share his inspiring journey of resilience – from childhood illness to cancer battles – offering a powerful message of perseverance, hope, and turning obstacles into opportunities during the Opening Session.  

A Wellness Hike will get you out in the fresh air, and two nights of mix-and-mingle activities by JamPack offer a great way to end a busy day of learning.  

Of course, the world-class Exhibit Hall exposes you to the latest technology in patient care. See everything Salt Lake City and ACEP25 have to offer and register early. Be sure to check out the popular pre-conference courses!