The 2011 ACEP Council considered several resolutions during its annual meeting in October, including issues that are related to the emergency medicine practice environment, College bylaw changes, and physician education.

This year’s 333-member Council represents all 53 chapters, 30 ACEP Sections of membership, the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA), the Association of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine (AACEM), and the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD).

The Council shares responsibility with the ACEP Board of Directors for initiating policy, and it shapes the strategic plan by representing their constituencies.

Resolutions can be proposed by chapters, sections, or individual ACEP members, and they are deliberated during the Council’s annual meeting, which is open to the public.

The resolutions adopted this year by the Council were reviewed and approved by the ACEP Board of Directors during a meeting at the end of Scientific Assembly.

After extensive discussion, the Council decided not to adopt a resolution that asked for the support of a single-payer national health insurance program.

Opponents indicated that because the definition of “single-payer” had not been decided, it would be unwise to support the idea blindly and the resolution could tie the hands of the ACEP Board of Directors in its advocacy work.

A resolution asking ACEP to advocate for an All Specialty Physician Board to advise or replace the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) was referred to the ACEP Board to provide it with flexibility in advocating for an alternative to the IPAB.

Council members adopted a resolution to work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure uniform interpretation and consistent investigations regarding EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act) complaints.

A review and update of the ACEP policy statement,“Emergency Physician Contractual Relationships,” and the statement’s dissemination to other organizations, such as the American Hospital Association and the American College of Health Care Executives, was also adopted by the Council.

A resolution to develop model language for emergency physician employment contracts was also adopted.

The Council referred a resolution asking ACEP to investigate avenues for federal tax relief for physicians providing care to uninsured and underinsured patients.

Council members expressed support for the concept of the resolution, but referred it to the ACEP Board, which will be able to determine the most appropriate timing and approach.

A resolution to create a policy that would prohibit ACEP Board members from using their ACEP positions for conducting corporate business was discussed extensively, and, ultimately, the Council decided to refer it to the Board.

With regard to emergency physician education, the Council approved resolutions to help develop curricular tools about sexual assault examinations, and to promote resources for residents about professional liability litigation.

A new Council seat was approved this year. Beginning with the 2012 meeting, a representative from the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) will have a vote on the ACEP Council.