ACOs&
How to Advocate for EM
Steven Elsbecker D.O. & Casey Fox D.O.
EM3
9/11/13
Objectives
• ACOs and why you should care about them.
• Why should you get involved in healthcare advocacy?
• How do I get involved?
Why Do We Need a Change?
• Fee for Service Model
Problems With FFS Model
• Insurance companies worry about shareholders
• Hospitals worry about profit margins (or just staying afloat)
• Physicians worry about law suits and their 401k’s
• And patients…
ACO Goals
• Realign interests
• Cost efficiency is king
• Dollars saved within the system are recognized and redistributed• Physician reimbursement
• Cost to patient reduced
How to Get Involved
At the Local, State, and National level
Why Advocate?
• ACEP Code of ethics state:• “EPs have an ethical duty to promote populations health by
advocating for laws, policies and programs to improve the overall health and safety of the public”
• Advocacy includes physicians day on the hill, testifying before a committee, corresponding or meeting with elected officials, drafting a bill, etc
Find Your Passion
• Advocacy is best done when it is founded on passion
• EPs are confronted daily with situations that they wish they could change• EMTALA issues, malpractice caps, reimbursement plans
• Determine what you care about, and change it for the best
Be Informed
• Once you find your passion….
• Research the subject matter
• Understand you opponents views• Gun control review NRA website and policies
• Be familiar with current legislation
• Understand your elected officials voting record
Establishing Contact
• Think about it as a consult….• Who you are
• What you want them to do
• Tell the story concisely
• Restate your request
Establishing Contact
• Means of establishing contact• Direct mail
• Telephone
• Face to Face
• Testifying in Committee
• Social Media
Social Media
• Use of social media allows two way traffic between officials and their voters
• The use of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have made access to your advocacy target easier than ever• @RepJoeHeck
• @repdinatitus
• @RepHorsford
• @EMAdvocacy
Summary
• Our current FFS model is unsustainable
• ACOs aim to realign fiscal goals and improve efficiency and outcomes
• Get involved in one of the many outlets available to us
• Get involved in something that you’re passionate about
• Its easier to get in touch with elected officials than you think
Questions?
Rep Joe HeckJoy Leblanc
Rep Steven HorsfordDetrick Sanford
Rep Dina TitusSusan Petersen
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