Advocacy highlights from the AAO-HNSF 2018 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience

Another successful Annual Meeting & OTO Experience has come and gone. If you were unable to join us in Atlanta, Georgia, below is a brief overview of the advocacy events and opportunities that took place.

Advocacy Booth — Annual Meeting attendees had the opportunity to join the ENT Advocacy Network for timely “insider” updates and a free subscription to the monthly e-newsletter The ENT Advocate. Learn more about the Academy’s legislative priorities, regulatory and private-payer activities, grassroots initiatives, and political programs by visiting www.entnet.org/advocacy.

Grassroots Initiatives — The Board of Governors and Advocacy staff recruited new AAO-HNS volunteers to the PROJECT 535 and State Trackers programs. As a reminder, the goal of PROJECT 535 is to build relationships with federal legislators in every U.S. congressional seat—435 in the House and 100 in the Senate. PROJECT 535 establishes key “grasstop” contacts—voting physicians with access to national leaders in every district. The AAO-HNS works closely with its volunteer physician State Trackers and state otolaryngology societies to advocate for the specialty at the state level. Want to get involved? Send an email to govtaffairs@entnet.org to sign-up!

ENT PAC Success at Annual Meeting — Thanks to the generous support of our members, ENT PAC—the Academy’s Political Action Committee—exceeded its goal, raising over $20,000 during the AAO-HNSF 2018 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience.*

Lunch among Advocacy Leaders — On Sunday, October 7, the ENT PAC Board of Advisors hosted the annual Advocacy Leadership Luncheon. Attendees included 2018 ENT PAC Leadership Club, “First 50,” and Chairman’s Club donors; representatives from the various AAO-HNS Sections and the Board of Governors; and other key advocacy leaders. During the event, attendees discussed critical healthcare issues with special guest speaker, U.S. Representative Earl “Buddy” Carter, a member of the Health Subcommittee of the powerful House Committee on Energy & Commerce. For more information about the ENT PAC contribution levels, email entpac@entnet.org or visit www.entpac.org (use your AAO-HNS password to log in).

Special Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Session — The AAO-HNS added a late-breaking session to the Annual Meeting agenda spotlighting the CY 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule & Quality Payment Program proposed rule. Session attendees heard from Barbara Connors, DO, MPH, the Chief Medical Officer for CMS Region 3 and Academy leaders about CMS reasoning and the AAO-HNS concerns related to the proposed new policies and payment proposals on the day-to-day practice of otolaryngology.

To receive the latest legislative and political news year-round, follow us on Twitter (@AAOHNSGovtAffrs) and join the ENT Advocacy Network by emailing govtaffairs@entnet.org.

*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.