ACCP GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY

ACCP Grassroots Advocacy

As the practice of medicine and federal government policy increasingly intersect, a growing number of public policies will continue to arise that have real and profound implications for you and your patients. As a constituent and a respected member of your community, you are in a unique position to educate your congressional delegation about the issues important to chest medicine and serve as a chest medicine resource. In doing so, you can help ensure that patients under your medical care, as well as patients nationwide, receive quality health care.

You can make a difference. In 2008, ACCP members sent thousands of messages to their federal legislators with a very significant result affecting all of our members. Congress overrode a presidential veto to create national Medicare coverage for pulmonary rehabilitation and avert significant Medicare physician pay cuts. Recently, an ACCP member, just like you, spearheaded legislation to increase federal funding for asthma research. Due to his efforts, the Family Asthma Act was introduced in the US Senate and US House of Representatives. In the month following the 2008 ACCP Capitol Hill Caucus, a total of 20 new legislators signed on as cosponsors of legislation that is important to chest medicine.

The ACCP provides many ways for you to get involved in grassroots advocacy based on your availability, which include, but are not limited to, e-mailing your congressional delegation, making visits to their district offices, inviting them to visit your hospital/clinic, and attending congressional town hall meetings. We strongly encourage you and your patients to take advantage of the following user-friendly tools on our ACCP Grassroots Advocacy Web site to help you engage in these important advocacy activities and make a difference today.

Government Relations Committee: Learn more about the ACCP committee charged with addressing public policies that are important to chest medicine.

Legislative Action Center: Identify and contact your congressional delegation regarding the priority issues for the medical profession.

Priority Issues: Learn more about the public policies currently before Congress for consideration.

Capitol Hill Caucus: Find the program description, and register for this important, annual event held in Washington, DC.

Webinars: Without ever leaving your desk, you can receive the latest information about the public policies that most affect you and your patients.

Advocacy Tool Kit: Use a wide variety of tools to help you advocate effectively.

Advocate of the Year: Meet the ACCP grassroots advocates who have taken exceptional measures to advance the public policy agenda of chest medicine.

Contact Information: Questions? The ACCP staff is ready to help you advocate effectively. Your feedback regarding this site also is appreciated.

Practice Management: Find the resources you need to achieve efficient practice management and optimal patient care.