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

• Email

• 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