• There has been no resolution to the SGR, which determines Medicare rates. Despite a temporary reprieve of the 21% cut facing emergency physicians through the end of May, there is no permanent fix to the flawed formula to determine these rates.
• Boarding was not addressed in any way.
• The Emergency Care Coordination Center (ECCC) within the Department of Health and Human Services was not authorized.
• Payment for services provided to illegal immigrants (formerly Section 1011) was omitted, but remains a substantial concern for many emergency departments.

As several hundred emergency physicians visit Capitol Hill this month during the Leadership and Advocacy Conference, these and many more issues will be brought up with the lawmakers.

Because most of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 don’t take effect for months or years, there is still time for us to constructively improve it with additional legislation or regulatory language.

Emergency physicians are innovators and problem-solvers by nature. No matter the issue that faces us—be it a legislative decision or a regulatory interpretation—I have absolute confidence that our specialty and our members have significant contributions to make in the effort to provide better health care for all Americans.