Advocacy Resource Center
The Arkansas Chapter, in coordination with its members, works with key policymakers to shape policy that addresses today’s ongoing public health concerns, like:
- Ensuring access to quality health care for all citizens of Arkansas.
- Reducing health care providers’ administrative burdens.
- Advancing continued medical liability reforms.
- Improving financing of health care for private and government payers.
- Demanding direct payment of physicians by insurance companies regardless of the physician’s “network affiliation.”
Below are some simple things that Arkansas Chapter members can do to have a positive effect on Arkansas’ public policy formation
American College of Surgeons National Advocacy Initiatives
See what advocacy efforts are being followed at the federal level by visiting the American College of Surgeons Advocacy and Health Policy Portal.
Why Should You Give to SurgeonsPAC?
The political climate in Washington may change but one thing remains constant: our patients will always need surgery and surgeons. The ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC is nonpartisan, supporting both Democrat and Republican U.S. House and Senate candidates for Congress who share the College’s commitment to quality, affordable, accessible patient care. SurgeonsPAC needs a strong voice on Capitol Hill to ensure our profession and patients remain a top priority. SurgeonsPAC brings a national focus to local issues, so it is important to stay involved at both the local and the national levels. With our upcoming advocacy day in Washington, and several other ongoing physician payments, GME, HIT/data, cancer, trauma, liability reform and workforce initiatives the College is actively working to promote, we have a unique opportunity to expand our presence this election cycle via further engagement in the College’s advocacy and political efforts. While less than 3% of College members contribute to SurgeonsPAC, the potential to grow our market share and remain competitive among other medical PACs is great. Contributions to SurgeonsPAC are completely voluntary and any/all dollar amounts are appreciated and welcomed. I invite you to join or renew your SurgeonsPAC contribution today as a win for our PAC is a win for your patient. Contributions to ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are voluntary, and all members of ACSPA have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. Federal law prohibits ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC from accepting contributions from foreign nations. By law, if your contributions are made using a personal check or credit card, ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC may only use your contribution to support candidates in federal elections. All corporate contributions to ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC will be used for educational and administrative fees of ACSPA and other activities permissible under federal law. Federal law requires ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC 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. ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC is a program of the ACSPA, which is exempt from federal income tax under section 501c (6) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Take Action
Follow these simple steps to locate your policymaker.
- Type your zip code into the “Write Your Legislators” box to the right (make sure you do this for both your home and where you practice because the elected leaders may differ) and click “Go”.
- You will be transferred to the Surgery State Legislative Action Center. This page shows a partial list of elected officials who represent you. To obtain additional elected officials, you must enter your address. (Remember, home and practice addresses may produce different legislators. You are encouraged to check both addresses.) Click on “Go”.
- After pressing “Go”, a list of your state senators and state representatives, along with your congressional representative are listed. Other links to government agencies and local governments are also listed at the bottom of this page.
- If you click on one of your elected officials, you are taken to a page that offers a short biography, a contact page, and listing of committees they serve on.
- Make your voice heard on surgical issues that you feel are important.
Locating and familiarizing yourself with your representatives is the first step in changing the medical-political landscape. Start today!