Welcome to The ACP Advocate,
Today we start by updating you on what Congress has (and has not) done regarding health care since our last issue. The tax bill, which passed Congress in late December, included the repeal of the individual insurance requirement. This is projected to cause premiums in the individual insurance market to rise and millions to lose coverage. For this reason, ACP has strongly urged Congress not to repeal the mandate. ACP was able to get two important "wins" in the tax bill, though: the tax deductibility of student loan interest payments and medical payments are preserved as we recommended.
Congress also was unable to agree on a long-term reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program, Community Health Centers, and the National Health Service Corps, or to fund other vital health programs beyond a short-term funding extension that ends Jan. 19. Take a look at the article for more information on what has been done and what still needs to happen.
Our second story is all about a new policy from the College calling for equity and transparency in physician compensation regardless of personal characteristics. I encourage you to read the story to hear from ACP's Chair of the Board of Regents, Dr. Susan Hingle, about how this issue has had an impact on her.
Finally, our last story lets you know about what happened at the most recent AMA meeting. A resolution introduced by ACP resulted in the AMA joining us in urging Congress to maintain the deductions for student loan interest payments and medical expenses in the tax legislation. As we recommended, the AMA also reaffirmed opposition to work requirements for Medicaid.
For more coverage of what's happening in Washington, take a look at my award-winning blog, The ACP Advocate Blog by Bob Doherty. You can also follow me on Twitter @BobDohertyACP.
As always, please send your feedback and suggestions on this newsletter to: TheACPAdvocate@acponline.org.
Yours truly,
Bob Doherty
Senior Vice President
Governmental Affairs and Public Policy
American College of Physicians
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| In the news |
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Numerous Health Issues Still Await Resolution by Congress
ACP ramps up advocacy efforts, saying the stakes are too high to pull back
Jan. 12, 2018 (ACP) -- Hopes were that a new year would bring change in the halls of power. But as the American College of Physicians sees it, a do-nothing Congress is back to its old habit of failing to act ... (read more)
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ACP Takes a Stand for Equity in Physician Compensation
Gender, race and other personal characteristics should not affect pay, according to new position statement
Jan. 12, 2018 (ACP) -- Illinois internist Dr. Susan Hingle remembers discovering how her income didn't measure up.
The realization came when she checked a database and found that the state-funded pa... (read more)
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AMA Acts on ACP's Health Care Concerns
Group's position has become more aligned with College's priorities, ACP delegate says
Jan. 12, 2018 (ACP) -- Several issues of key importance to the American College of Physicians took center stage at the latest American Medical Association House of Delegates meeting.
Topping the lis... (read more)
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| About this newsletter |
| The ACP Advocate is an e-newsletter, edited by the College's Washington, DC governmental affairs division, created to provide you, our members, with succinct news about public policy issues affecting internal medicine and patient care. To learn more about ACP's Advocacy and to access the ACP Advocate archives, go to www.acponline.org/advocacy. |
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| In focus |
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Making the Case to Address Clinician Burnout |
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ACP Practice Advisor recently launched a new module geared to help users with the issue of clinician burnout. The module will help you learn to recognize burnout and how to develop and implement well being initiatives within your practice or program (registration required).
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