Welcome to the ACP Advocate,
Today's first article takes an in-depth look at what could happen if Congress abolishes the health reform law without a replacement. Seven years ago, the Affordable Care Act -- the most wide-ranging health care legislation since the 1960s -- became the law of the land. Today, Congress and the White House seek to dismantle it. What happens if they succeed?
We note how repealing the ACA without a replacement would affect a wide swath of U.S. residents -- eliminating health insurance for millions and ending a variety of protections for millions more who still have coverage.
To help our members and the public understand the full effect that repealing the ACA would have, ACP created a fact sheet that details the potential impact. The article looks at some of its highlights.
And, despite a heavy dose of uncertainty, it appears that more than 12 million people signed up for health insurance coverage in 2017 under the ACA, just a small dip from the previous year. Our second article today explains this year's numbers and provides perspective for them.
The next issue of the ACP Advocate will be distributed on March 10. One of the articles will feature a look at the recent development in Florida concerning physicians counseling patients on gun safety. It'll be all about one of ACP's big wins so far this year. (See link to the right for ACP news release.)
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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Repeal the Affordable Care Act?
Here's what could happen if Congress abolishes the health reform law without a replacement
Feb. 24, 2017 (ACP) -- Seven years ago, the Affordable Care Act -- the most wide-ranging health care legislation since the 1960s -- became the law of the land. Today, Congress and the White House seek to dism... (read more)
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Enrollment Dips as Turmoil Surrounds the Affordable Care Act
Despite problems and uncertainties, 12 million sign up for 2017 coverage
Feb. 24, 2017 (ACP) -- Despite a heavy dose of uncertainty and bad tidings, it appears that more than 12 million people signed up for health insurance coverage in 2017 under the Affordable Care Act, just a sm... (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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ACP Applauds Court Decision Overturning Ban on Physicians Counseling Patients on Gun Safety |
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On February 16, following legal efforts taken by ACP members in Florida, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit overturned Florida state law preventing physicians from counseling patients on firearm safety and violence. ACP has long recommended that physicians ask about gun ownership as a normal part of screening patients. Read more about the case and ACP's involvement in the March 10 issue of The Advocate. |
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Heading to ACP's Internal Medicine 2017 Meeting? Check out Health Policy courses |
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On Fri. Mar. 31, Examining the Rise in Prescription Drug Pricing and Costs (9:30am-10:30, Rm 1).
On Sat. Apr. 1, 60 Minutes: Special Report on Hot Issues in Health Policy (9:30am-10:30, Rm 8), Climate Change: The Health Perspective (4:00pm-5:00, Rm 2).
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Heading to ACP's Internal Medicine 2017 Meeting? Check out Medical Practice Management courses |
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On Thur. Mar. 30: Patients before Paperwork: What Can Be Done to Ease Administrative Burdens on Physicians and Their Patients? (8:15am-9:15, Rm 2), ACP's Dragon's Lair: Breathing Fire into Health Care Transformation (11:15am-12:45, Rm 14), Implementing Revenue-Positive and Time-Saving Adult Immunization in Your Practice (11:15 am-12:45, Rm 1), Hospital Inpatient Coding: Thinking inside the Box (2:15 pm-3:45, Rm 7), Opportunities for Subspecialists: Navigating Alternative Payment Models under MACRA (4:30pm-5:30, Rm 8),
On Fri. Mar. 31: There Is No Place like Home: Why Patient-Centered Medical Homes and PCMH Specialty Practices Are Here to Stay (7:00am-8:00, Rm 7), Promise and Peril of Value-Based Payment: What Will You Be Measured On—and Will You Measure Up? (11:15am-12:45, Rm 8), More News You Can Use: Current Best Practice Advice (11:15 am-12:45, Rm 20A), MIPS Reporting: Managing the Health IT Challenges (11:15am-12:45, Rm 7), New Physician/Provider Boot Camp (11:15am-12:45, Rm 2), Outpatient Coding: Do It Right and Get Paid for What You Do (2:15pm-3:45, Rm 1), iPatient/Electronic Health Records (2:15pm-3:45, Rm 7), What May Change Your Practice Tomorrow: Hot Topics in Medical Informatics (4:30pm-5:30, Rm 2),
On Sat. Apr. 1: C. Wesley Eisele Lecture: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Physicians in the Digital Age (8:15am-9:15, Rm 7), Team-Based Care: Interprofessional Practice Innovations in Primary Care (11:15am-12:45, Rm 1), Billing and Coding: What You Didn’t Learn in Residency, and Why It Matters (11:15am-12:45, Rm 8), MIPS or APM: Making the Most of Medicare Payment (11:15am-12:45, Rm 7). |
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Heading to ACP's Internal Medicine 2017 Meeting? Check out Health Information Technology courses |
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On Thur. Mar. 30: Looking Towards 2020: New Care Delivery Models Enabled by Existing and Near Future Technology (11:15am-12:45, Rm 7),
On Fri. Mar. 31: Beyond the Hype and into the Real World: Making Mobile Health (mHealth) Matter for Your Practice (8:15am-9:15, Rm. 7), MIPS Reporting: Managing the Health IT Challenges (11:15am-12:45, Rm 7), iPatient/Electronic Health Records (2:15pm-3:45, Rm 7), What May Change Your Practice Tomorrow: Hot Topics in Medical Informatics (4:30pm-5:30, Rm 2),
On Sat. Apr. 1: C. Wesley Eisele Lecture: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Physicians in the Digital Age (8:15am-9:15, Rm 7), Blogging and Social Media in Health Care (8:15am-9:15, Rm 2), Telemedicine Use in Providing Quality Care (9:30am-10:30, Rm 7), What Physicians Really Need from EHRs to Be Successful in a Value-Based World (2:15pm-3:45, Rm 7), Wearables, Smartphones, Trackers—Oh My: The New Age of Patient Technologies (4:00pm-5:00, Rm 8). |
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