Capitol Hill Caucus

ACCP Members Descend on Washington, DC, for 17th Annual ACCP Capitol Hill Caucus
at a Momentous Time

Lawrence C. Mohr, Jr, MD, FCCP with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Members of the ACCP Maryland delegation with Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) (Left to right) Jason S. Vourlekis, MD, FCCP, Maria Jison, MD, FCCP, Albert J. Polito, MD, FCCP, Anastassios C. Koumbourlis, MD, MPH, FCCP Sen. Cardin, Neri Cohen MD, FCCP, Alvin Thomas, MD, FCCP, and Rex Yung, MD, FCCP

As federal lawmakers negotiated historic health-care reform legislation and avoiding a 21% cut in Medicare physician payments, more than 80 ACCP members descended on Washington, DC, on March 8-9, 2010, for the 17th Annual ACCP Capitol Hill Caucus. Attendees met with representatives from 192 congressional offices to urge legislators to address the growing critical care workforce shortage, permanently repeal the flawed Medicare sustainable growth rate formula, and support a congressional resolution regarding 2010: The Year of the Lung.

On the first of this 1-1/2 day event, participants assembled at The Fairfax at Embassy Row to receive background information about the priority legislative issues for chest medicine. Guest speakers included Atul Grover, MD, FCCP, Chief Advocacy Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges; Richard Deem, Senior Vice-President, American Medical Association; and Ellen Riker, Senior Policy Advisor, Holland & Knight.

Attendees also received insider tips and techniques to help influence elected officials from the “Advocacy Guru,” Stephanie Vance. The dinner speaker featured David Hunt, MD, FACS, Chief Medical Officer, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.

The following morning participants reconvened in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room, formerly the Russell Caucus Room, on Capitol Hill to discuss health system reform with Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and former Representative Jim Davis (D-FL-11).

Daniel A. Nader, DO, FCCP, ACCP Governor for Oklahoma and a 2010 caucus attendee, noted that “The ACCP Capitol Hill Caucus is a tremendous experience and education in real-life politics.” Learn more about the advocacy priorities for pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, including a free ACCP advocacy education podcast on the critical care workforce shortage. There is 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^™ available for this podcast.