Government Affairs Highlights from the Annual Meeting
During the AAO-HNSF 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM in Vancouver, BC, Academy members visited the ENT PAC and Grassroots Booth—the Government Affairs “hub” during the meeting—to learn more regarding the Academy’s federal legislative priorities, grassroots initiatives, and new/ongoing political programs. Here is a brief overview of what took place in Vancouver. #FixtheSGR This year, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce (E & C) and Ways and Means (W & M) committees have been diligently working on the development of legislation to repeal the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula used to determined payments to physicians in the Medicare program, and replace it with a new payment system that rewards the delivery of high-quality and efficient healthcare. In late July, legislation was unanimously passed by the E & C Committee, setting the stage for possible passage of legislation by the end of the year. AAO-HNS members are encouraged to contact their lawmakers via an AAO-HNS “Legislative Action Alert” to urge swift passage of SGR repeal legislation. In Vancouver, the Grassroots Table provided attendees with easy access to the Action Alert and additional information about other AAO-HNS federal legislative priorities. Calling All Residents! In Vancouver, the ENT PAC Board of Advisors and staff were excited to launch a new Resident and Fellows-in-Training PAC and Advocacy Involvement Campaign. The program, which relies on a simple point system, provides participants the opportunity to accrue points for themselves and their training program based on involvement in various AAO-HNS advocacy and political activities. For more information, email govtaffairs@entnet.org. ENT PAC Goes “Rogue” On Monday, September 30, all 2013, ENT PAC Investors were invited to attend the annual PAC “thank you” reception. This year’s event took place at the Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar in Vancouver. The ENT PAC Board of Advisors and staff thank all 2013 PAC Investors! For more information, contact entpac@entnet.org.* Lunch among Leaders On Tuesday, October 1, former Member of Parliament and Leader of the Liberal Party in Canada, the Honourable Bob Rae, spoke at the ENT PAC Chairman’s Club ($1,000+ annual contribution) Luncheon. The lunch featured a roundtable discussion about healthcare delivery in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about ENT PAC Leadership Clubs, visit www.entpac.org. What Is I-GO? The newest AAO-HNS advocacy program, the In-district Grassroots Outreach or “I-GO” program, was launched earlier this year and extensively discussed during this year’s annual meeting. The program, which encourages AAO-HNS members to engage in in-district advocacy opportunities (e.g., meeting with a lawmaker, attending a fundraiser, participating in a townhall, etc.), was a main tenet of the Government Affairs programming in Vancouver. The AAO-HNS Government Affairs staff and physician advocacy leaders hope the I-GO program will strengthen our advocacy “footprint” and provide AAO-HNS members with increased opportunities to develop relationships with lawmakers locally and, when applicable, participate in the political process. For more information, contact govtaffairs@entnet.org. Until the AAO-HNSF 2014 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM in Orlando, ensure you receive the latest legislative and political news by joining our social media networks. “Follow” us on Twitter @AAOHNSGovtAffrs, “Like” us on Facebook, and “Connect” to us on LinkedIn! *Contributions to ENT PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are voluntary, and all members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Federal law prohibits ENT PAC from accepting contributions from foreign nationals. By law, if your contributions are made using a personal check or credit card, ENT PAC may use your contribution only to support candidates in federal elections. All corporate contributions to ENT PAC will be used for educational and administrative fees of ENT PAC, and other activities permissible under federal law. Federal law requires ENT PAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of the employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. ENT PAC is a program of the AAO-HNS, which is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code.
During the AAO-HNSF 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM in Vancouver, BC, Academy members visited the ENT PAC and Grassroots Booth—the Government Affairs “hub” during the meeting—to learn more regarding the Academy’s federal legislative priorities, grassroots initiatives, and new/ongoing political programs. Here is a brief overview of what took place in Vancouver.
#FixtheSGR
This year, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce (E & C) and Ways and Means (W & M) committees have been diligently working on the development of legislation to repeal the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula used to determined payments to physicians in the Medicare program, and replace it with a new payment system that rewards the delivery of high-quality and efficient healthcare. In late July, legislation was unanimously passed by the E & C Committee, setting the stage for possible passage of legislation by the end of the year. AAO-HNS members are encouraged to contact their lawmakers via an AAO-HNS “Legislative Action Alert” to urge swift passage of SGR repeal legislation. In Vancouver, the Grassroots Table provided attendees with easy access to the Action Alert and additional information about other AAO-HNS federal legislative priorities.
Calling All Residents!
In Vancouver, the ENT PAC Board of Advisors and staff were excited to launch a new Resident and Fellows-in-Training PAC and Advocacy Involvement Campaign. The program, which relies on a simple point system, provides participants the opportunity to accrue points for themselves and their training program based on involvement in various AAO-HNS advocacy and political activities. For more information, email govtaffairs@entnet.org.
ENT PAC Goes “Rogue”
On Monday, September 30, all 2013, ENT PAC Investors were invited to attend the annual PAC “thank you” reception. This year’s event took place at the Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar in Vancouver. The ENT PAC Board of Advisors and staff thank all 2013 PAC Investors! For more information, contact entpac@entnet.org.*
Lunch among Leaders
On Tuesday, October 1, former Member of Parliament and Leader of the Liberal Party in Canada, the Honourable Bob Rae, spoke at the ENT PAC Chairman’s Club ($1,000+ annual contribution) Luncheon. The lunch featured a roundtable discussion about healthcare delivery in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about ENT PAC Leadership Clubs, visit www.entpac.org.
What Is I-GO?
The newest AAO-HNS advocacy program, the In-district Grassroots Outreach or “I-GO” program, was launched earlier this year and extensively discussed during this year’s annual meeting. The program, which encourages AAO-HNS members to engage in in-district advocacy opportunities (e.g., meeting with a lawmaker, attending a fundraiser, participating in a townhall, etc.), was a main tenet of the Government Affairs programming in Vancouver. The AAO-HNS Government Affairs staff and physician advocacy leaders hope the I-GO program will strengthen our advocacy “footprint” and provide AAO-HNS members with increased opportunities to develop relationships with lawmakers locally and, when applicable, participate in the political process. For more information, contact govtaffairs@entnet.org.
Until the AAO-HNSF 2014 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM in Orlando, ensure you receive the latest legislative and political news by joining our social media networks. “Follow” us on Twitter @AAOHNSGovtAffrs, “Like” us on Facebook, and “Connect” to us on LinkedIn!
*Contributions to ENT PAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are voluntary, and all members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Federal law prohibits ENT PAC from accepting contributions from foreign nationals. By law, if your contributions are made using a personal check or credit card, ENT PAC may use your contribution only to support candidates in federal elections. All corporate contributions to ENT PAC will be used for educational and administrative fees of ENT PAC, and other activities permissible under federal law. Federal law requires ENT PAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of the employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. ENT PAC is a program of the AAO-HNS, which is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code.