The College is making sure policymakers hear deep concerns directly from the frontlines.

ACEP included a breakdown of this legislation in the latest episode of the webinar series, “Capitol Rounds.” This most recent webinar features Sar Medoff, MD, an emergency physician in Georgia and a member of ACEP’s State Legislative and Regulatory Committee, presenting the Medicaid work requirement experience in Georgia and Arkansas as a preview of potential challenges that national implementation could bring.

ACEP advocacy staff also discussed OBBBA’s five-year, $50 billion rural health transformation program, the effect on Medicare physician payment, and ACEP-opposed changes to federal student loan programs.

Beyond OBBBA, there are new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rules that include numerous updates that ACEP helped develop and strongly supports. If finalized as written, the proposed changes include notable wins for emergency physicians:

• the first Medicare payment increase for emergency physicians in six years,
• permanent codes for emergency medicine and critical care telehealth services, and;
• a new, more sophisticated, quality measure to tackle the boarding crisis.

ACEP is proud to be the voice of emergency physicians amid sweeping federal policy changes. Although the policy landscape remains fluid, it is increasingly clear that now is the time emergency physicians must stay educated, stay engaged, and stand together.

ACEP encourages members to get involved by joining the 911 Network and learning how to contact lawmakers directly through the ACEP Advocacy Center.

Learn More

New York ACEP-Supported Bill Would Ease ED Violence Reporting

In a major step to improve protections for emergency physicians and care teams, a New York ACEP (NYACEP)-supported bill would empower victims of workplace assault to give statements at their job sites. This bill requires hospitals to create or use existing committees to review instances of violence and receive feedback from employees on how these situations can be addressed and staff protected.

“Our health care professionals deserve a workplace free from violence,” said Penelope C. Lema, MD, FACEP, president-elect of NYACEP. “The passage of this bill reaffirms that the safety of those who care for our communities must be a priority. We are grateful to Assembly member Cruz and Senator Sepúlveda for recognizing this critical need and driving meaningful change.”

Supporters of the bill include the Workplace Violence Prevention Alliance, a unified group comprised of NYACEP, the New York State Emergency Nurses Association, and the American Nurses Association – New York.