While celebrating ACEP’s 50th Anniversary in San Diego, hundreds of ACEP members also confirmed and celebrated their commitment to advocacy on behalf of emergency medicine and patients. As in years past, ACEP Council members stepped up to the plate during the NEMPAC Council Challenge to ensure that emergency medicine stays at the top of the leaderboard among medical PACs.

NEMPAC collected a record total of more than $350,000 from Council members. Of note is the strong support by all Council members representing the Emergency Medicine Resident Association (EMRA), who strive each year to be the first group within the Council to reach 100-percent participation at the premier “Give-a-Shift” donor level. Thirty-nine state chapters and the Government Services chapter reached 100-percent participation this year. In addition, 38 Past-Presidents and Past-Council Speakers met the challenge of NEMPAC Chairman Peter Jacoby, MD, FACEP and added their support. Combined with thousands of donations from ACEP members across the country, NEMPAC is well on its way to setting an all-time fundraising record to reach a goal of $2.3 million for the 2018 cycle.

This outpouring of support in a pivotal election year will ensure that NEMPAC can continue to educate new and veteran lawmakers and help emergency medicine identify friends and champions in Congress so that ACEP’s ambitious legislative agenda stays on course. NEMPAC is tracking to contribute more than $2 million to 27 Senate candidates and 160 House races. Candidates worthy of NEMPAC support are vetted and approved by the NEMPAC Board of Trustees who value those who will support emergency medicine issues and are committed to bipartisan advocacy.

NEMPAC, along with the strong work of ACEP leaders and staff shaping and influencing health care policy in Congress and the efforts of more than 4,000 members in ACEP’s 911 Legislative Grassroots Network, led to key legislative successes this year for emergency medicine and patients, including:

• Passage of ACEP-initiated bills to address the opioid crisis
• Formation of an FDA Drug Shortage Task Force brought on by pressure from a bipartisan, bicameral congressional letter initiated by ACEP and other medical specialties.
• EMS Standing Orders Bill Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017 enacted into law.

On Monday evening during ACEP18, hundreds of NEMPAC VIP donors were recognized at a special reception at the San Diego Wine and Culinary Center for supporting NEMPAC at the “Give-a-Shift” level for five years or more. Even more donors were recognized and thanked at the NEMPAC reception later at the USS Midway. Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), the only board-certified emergency physician in the U.S. Congress, was a special guest.