Priority Issues

Learn more about the public policies currently before Congress for consideration, which have real and profound implications for your patients and your practice. This section includes relevant background information, graphs, and talking points.

Current Priority Issues for Chest Medicine

• Health System Reform
  • ACCP Principles for Health System Reform
  • Letter from Kalpalatha K. Guntupalli, MD, FCCP, ACCP President, to ACCP members
    December 17, 2009


• Medicare Elimination of Consultation Codes


• Critical Care Workforce Shortage
  • “e-Dear Colleague” letter from Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9)
    and Eric Cantor (R-VA-7)
    May 19, 2009
  • Press release from the Office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
    May 12, 2009
  • “Dear Colleague” letter from Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Mike Crapo (R-ID)
    May 7, 2009
  • Press release from the Office of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
    March 18, 2009
  • Talking points/the "ask"
  • Q & A
  • Graphs
    • The critical care workforce supply and demand gap
    • ICU patient population growth
  • The legislation
    • S 1020
    • HR 1581
  • 2004 CHEST special report