In 2021, ACEP chapters were busy advocating for the specialty, hosting educational events, and continuing to support their members through the pandemic.

As we kick off 2022, the chapters were each invited to share their highlights from 2021 and what’s planned for this year.

Learn more about ACEP chapters, including how you can join local advocacy efforts. 

ALABAMA

The Alabama Chapter hosted the first in-person, post-COVID ACEP regional conference—the EMerald Coast Conference—in Destin, Florida, in June. Multiple hands-on workshops were provided as well as a special opportunity for advanced-level clinicians to participate in a procedural boot camp. Make plans to bring your family to Destin for this year’s event June 6–9, 2022. Learn more.

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ARIZONA

Arizona Chapter’s board member and state representative, Dr. Amish Shah, proposed legislation that was signed into state law and was also accepted as a Council resolution at ACEP21. It prohibits a third-party contractor from taking retaliatory action against a contracted health care clinician who reports an unlawful activity, policy, or practice to the contracting health care institution. 

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ARKANSAS

Arkansas Chapter leader testified against SB 289/Act 462: To Create the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act. This bill would allow clinicians and insurer’s to deny care or coverage to a patient based on the clinician or insurer‘s personal moral, ethical, or religious beliefs. The Arkansas Chapter believe this bill was too broad and would open the gate for legalized discrimination in medicine with little to no recourse for patients. The legislature passed the measure in spite of broad concerns from the Arkansas medical community over the bill’s language.

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CALIFORNIA

Due to advocacy by the California Chapter, state law now prohibits stand-alone psychiatric facilities from refusing to accept the transfer of a patient from an emergency department based on insurance status. The state budget also appropriated $40 million in grant funding for hospitals to hire behavioral health navigators in the emergency department, a follow-up to our successful campaign to secure $20 million in grants for emergency department substance use navigators.

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COLORADO

In 2020, Colorado ACEP created a COVID Task Force that involved associate and medical directors from across the state. The TF’s goal was to share information and brainstorm ways to help each other through the pandemic. In 2021, legislators and journalists became aware of this group and were eager to participate in informing the public, ensuring legislative priorities, and addressing imminent struggles. The group continued to evolve and is planning a summit in 2022.

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