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- Presentation
Advocacy: Return on the Investment (If You Wait Long Enough!)
Description
In this session led by Clint Peoples, a dermatologist and vice chair of the AMA's District of Columbia Section Council, advocacy efforts in the medical community are highlighted, specifically how they relate to pressing healthcare issues in Washington, DC. Advocacy is described as a multifaceted approach involving grassroots education about healthcare practices, regulatory challenges, and improving patient access to care. Key issues include declining physician payments, increasing costs of care, and the need for reforms in prior authorization and copay accumulators. The conversation emphasizes the importance of organized medicine in advocating for equitable and quality care amid changing legislative landscapes, including expanded scopes of practice for allied health professionals that risk undermining physician oversight. A recent victory in prior authorization reforms exemplifies successful advocacy efforts, while the challenges presented by the new scope of practice provisions in DC showcase the ongoing battles in the field. Furthermore, the need for timely responses is stressed as advocacy requires immediate action to counteract aggressive legislative changes that could impact patient care and access. Overall, Peoples encourages participation in advocacy as a collective effort necessary for improving healthcare outcomes.
View moreConclusions
- Advocacy in healthcare is multifaceted and essential for influencing physician practices and patient care.
- There has been a significant decline in Medicare physician payments adjusted for inflation, impacting access to care.
- Key advocacy priorities include ensuring equitable quality care, protecting physician practices, promoting public health, and making affordable care accessible.
- Recent legislative wins include the passage of the Copay Accumulator Amendment Act in DC, which protects patients from excessive out-of-pocket costs.
- Prior authorization reforms, based on AMA model legislation, aim to streamline processes and enhance transparency in care decisions.
- Despite the passage of the Prior Authorization Reform Amendment Act, it faces challenges in application, particularly for public insurance due to funding issues.
- Organized medicine successfully secured a CMS final rule that aligns Medicare and Medicaid policies with prior authorization reforms.
- Legislation in DC aims to expand the scope of practice for various allied health professionals, potentially undermining physician-led care.
- The iPLEDGE program for isotretinoin has undergone significant changes due to concerted advocacy efforts, improving patient access to necessary treatment.
- Emerging legislative actions restricting gender-affirming healthcare represent a significant challenge and require continued advocacy to protect patient care.
- The importance of integrity in the physician-patient relationship remains a central theme amidst legislative pressures affecting medical decisions.
- J Am Acad Dermatol; 2022 May:86:1165-7.
- Shin, et al. JAMA Derm. 2023.