Lobbying Is Essential
“Without a strong PAC, we have no chance, and our patients and practices will continue to suffer.”
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ACEP Now: Vol 43 – No 12 – December 2024— John R. Corker, MD, FACEP | Ohio
John R. Corker, MD, FACEP, pointed out that every day, decisions are made by nonphysicians that directly affect the ability of emergency physicians to care for patients. NEMPAC, he said, gives physicians a seat at these decision-making tables—whether it’s legislation or executive action, Medicare physician payment, or insulin price caps. Elected officials and their decisions have a big effect on patients and practices every day. Dr. Corker said he still has friends on the Hill from his time as a policy fellow.
“When I asked them how it’s possible that physicians’ salaries account for less than eight percent of total health care costs yet remain the only sector of health care that has their payment cut by Medicare every year (hurts us and patients, doesn’t help the budget), their only response was ‘the insurance companies and hospitals lobby better,’” Dr. Corker said. “That’s it, that’s the answer. Without a strong PAC, we have no chance, and our patients and practices will continue to suffer.”
Dr. Corker said it should be recognized that NEMPAC supports a bipartisan group of elected officials who have either proven or promised to support the issues important to our patients and practices. He understands that no candidate is perfect, and rarely does everybody agree on all issues. That is why NEMPAC’s support is revisited each cycle in case new candidates emerge or others don’t live up to their promises.
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