Federal policies should encourage patients to make educated decisions to receive safe and effective vaccines, and ACEP supports the freedom of every patient, especially those who are pregnant, to make informed and evidence-based choices on vaccination in consultation with their physician. However, patients are denied that choice if access is prevented, supplies become limited, or development of new countermeasures is frozen altogether.

Further, absent a federal recommendation, insurance companies may not cover certain vaccinations, which will only exacerbate cost and access challenges for millions of people.

Emergency physicians strongly urge U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies to maintain and bolster our nation’s world-class evidence-based public health practices, including robust vaccine research, development, and distribution strategies that meet the needs of a changing threat landscape. ACEP supports ongoing funding for vaccines and clear guidance that holds insurance companies accountable for covering vaccinations at no cost to patients and health care workers.

“Frontline physicians must be protected in order to protect the public. Impeding access to vaccines – whether for COVID or emerging viruses – compromises our ability to respond and care for those in need,” said ACEP President Alison J. Haddock, MD, FACEP.

New South Carolina Law Requires Physician Onsite in All Hospital EDs

South Carolina recently passed legislation requiring all hospitals with emergency departments (EDs) to have at least one physician physically onsite. South Carolina ACEP (SCCEP) worked tirelessly to support this legislation.

SCCEP credits the swift enactment of the bill to their advocacy’s focus on patient safety. They showed legislators that an emergency physician-led care team is integral to high quality patient care.

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“The South Carolina Chapter is pleased with the incredible support we received from our legislators on this issue,” said Lee Katherine “Kat” Moore, MD, FACEP, president of SCCEP. “Our advocacy focused on preserving the existing standard of care. We emphasized that the bill was necessary to maintain the high level of expertise currently present in all our emergency departments.”

South Carolina H. 4067 was signed into law on May 12 and took immediate effect. The bill was modeled on similar laws in Virginia and Indiana that use language developed by ACEP. Both bills passed with strong support from state chapters.

ACEP is proud to lead efforts nationwide to champion emergency physicians as the leaders of care in every ED.