Support ACEP’s “Just 2%” Campaign

ACEP has launched a campaign to educate policymakers, the news media and the public about the value of emergency medicine and that emergency care constitutes less than 2% of all health care spending. To hear some talk about rising health care costs, you'd think it was more like 50%! Because of the cost-cutting environment in Washington and in state legislatures, this campaign is designed to promote the high value of emergency care. The campaign launched with a Health Writers' Conference in New York, featuring ACEP members from Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Texas, Oregon and Washington, DC,  highlighting different aspects of emergency care.

In addition, the results of a new ACEP member poll were released showing increased stress on emergency departments. ACEP spokespersons in 10 top media markets are conducting media interviews to promote the poll results and reinforce the “Just 2%” messages.

Help support the campaign!  THANK YOU!!

Other Legislative Initiatives

Hawaii ACEP represents the rights and interests of our members and patients in the state capitol of Honolulu. As a strong and unified medical specialty organization, we lobby for numerous legislative initiatives to empower emergency physicians and protect our patients.

Recent activities include support of emergency physician tax credit legislation, as well as multiple pieces of legislation that mandate transparency in the allocation of health insurance premiums by insurance companies. Some of the most exciting legislative news in recent years pertains to a new tax credit for emergency physicians who work a minimum of 576 on-call hours in a state-approved emergency room. Here are the details:

Emergency room physician tax credit.
(a) There shall be allowed to each qualified taxpayer subject to the taxes imposed by this chapter, an emergency room physician tax credit that shall be applied to the qualified taxpayer’s net income tax liability, if any, imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which the credit is properly claimed.

(b) As used in this section, “qualified taxpayer” means a physician licensed under chapter 453 and who:

     (1) Works as an emergency room physician in a state-approved hospital emergency room on an on-call basis;
     (2) Has worked a minimum of five hundred and seventy-six on-call hours in the year for which the tax credit is claimed; and
     (3) Does not owe the State delinquent taxes, penalties or interest.

(c) The tax credit shall be in an amount equal to five per cent of the amount of medical malpractice insurance premium paid by the qualified taxpayer for the taxable year in which the credit is claimed.

(d) If the tax credit claimed by the qualified taxpayer under this section exceeds the qualified taxpayer’s income tax liability, the excess of credit over liability shall be refunded to the qualified taxpayer; provided that the tax credit properly claimed by a qualified taxpayer who has no income tax liability shall be paid to the qualified taxpayer; and provided further that no refunds or payments on account of the tax credit allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1. This Act, upon its approval, shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.

ACEP Looking for Volunteers for Advocacy Efforts on the Federal Level

Are you a member of ACEP’s 911 Legislative Network?

ACEP established the Network in 1998 to encourage emergency physicians to cultivate long-term relationships with federal legislators, convey ACEP's legislative and regulatory priorities-in an effective manner, and influence the final outcome of federal legislation important to the specialty of emergency medicine. There are now nearly 1400 ACEP members participating, 10 from our state.

In 2009, when Congress tackled legislation to overhaul our healthcare system, ACEP recognized that it is more important than ever for emergency physicians to have a role in shaping federal health care policy on behalf of our patients and our specialty.

To further advance the work of the Network, our chapter has been asked by ACEP to identify a “State Leader” for the 911 Network who will coordinate federal advocacy efforts within our state and communicate information and action items from ACEP on federal legislation back to our chapter members.

If you are interested in serving as our State Leader, please contact Jeanne Slade in the ACEP Washington, DC office at 800-320-0610, ext 3013.

Emergency Medicine Action Fund Announced

New grassroots effort aims to influence health care reform’s regulatory implementation.

By Nancy Calaway

ACEP Communications Manager

With changes in the health care system already underway, a new initiative is looking to positively impact the regulations that will be written and implemented under this sweeping reform.

The Emergency Medicine Action Fund, launched by ACEP in February, will pool contributions from individual emergency physicians and groups, chapters, and anyone else interested in advancing emergency care to provide financial support for advocacy activities in the regulatory arena.

“This is probably the most important, defining moment for emergency medicine in our lifetime,” said ACEP President Dr. Sandra Schneider. “The decisions that are made now will set the course for us for years to come and we must positively influence the regulatory agenda. This Action Fund will help us do that and create a practice environment we can thrive in.”

The Emergency Medicine Action Fund will pursue a regulatory agenda that supports emergency physicians and quality emergency care.  For example, evolving practice models and demonstration projects, such as accountable care organizations and bundled payments, are two areas of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act where the Action Fund might be able to wield some influence.

“We need to be out there with the rule writers, working to ensure that emergency medicine’s perspective is valued,” said Dr. Angela Gardner, ACEP Past President who first proposed a national grassroots initiative focused on federal regulatory affairs. “It is critical that we be involved in these decisions regarding the formation of the future of health care delivery. This is our opportunity to be part of it.”

The following organizations have been invited to designate representatives to the initial Board of Governors – American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM), American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP), Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA), Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA), and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).

One of the unique features of the Emergency Medicine Action Fund is that chapters can band together to form coalitions that would be eligible to have a seat on the Board of Governors.  Or chapters can organize individuals and groups in their states for collective representation. The first 10 groups of contributors at $100,000 will be granted seats on the Action Fund’s Board of Governors.

“We are encouraging chapters and small to mid-sized groups to combine their resources,” Dr. Schneider said. “This is intended to be an inclusive effort, and everyone’s contributions are needed.”

The Emergency Medicine Action Fund is modeled on a successful initiative sponsored by CAL/ACEP, CAL/AAEM, EDPMA, and rural emergency physicians in California that has raised several million dollars for state advocacy since 2004.

Wes Fields, chair of the California Emergency Medicine Advocacy Fund, said their program doubled the size of the CAL/ACEP advocacy staff, increased the number of lobbyists and consultants, and engaged in legal activities related to physician payment practices.  He has been appointed by Dr. Schneider as the founding chair of the new national Action Fund.

“I view this as the best form of free speech on behalf of emergency physicians and our patients,” Dr. Fields said. “It is not partisan. It is not political.

“The rule writers and the policy makers will hear emergency medicine speaking with one voice, with one set of goals, one approach,” he added. “We need wide and deep support, even from those who are not members of the College.”

CEP America, the nation’s largest emergency medical partnership, will be the inaugural donor to the Emergency Medicine Action Fund, pledging $100,000.

Activities planned by the Emergency Medicine Action Fund are intended to enable participants to make contributions that would be tax-deductible business expenses (tax deductibility can be determined only by participants’ tax advisors).

NEMPAC, the National Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee of the ACEP, gives contributions to candidates who have listened to the needs of emergency medicine and made a positive change. However, NEMPAC may be used only to support candidates.

The Action Fund can enhance regulatory advocacy with policy makers to ensure emergency physicians receive fair payment for their services. It can also fund numerous meetings with regulators to help guarantee that patients receive the best care, and provide funding for studies to demonstrate the value of emergency medicine.

“With the new Congressional session upon us, it is as important as ever to be active on both the legislative and regulatory fronts,” Dr. Schneider said. “We will depend on all of these funds to make our case. This will be the year we ask everyone to dig a little deeper. In these challenging times, we need contributions to both the Action Fund and NEMPAC.”

Find out more about the Emergency Medicine Action Fund at www.acep.org/EMActionFund.