January 2017
The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
As promised, Republican law makers have wasted no time in moving forward with the repeal of the ACA. They are moving forward with repealing key provisions by use of a reconciliation bill, which only requires a simple majority vote in the Senate (as opposed to a super majority of 60 votes to overcome a filibuster). Your AMA has recently sent a letter to Congressional leadership asking them to first lay out a replacement plan before moving forward with the repeal of the ACA. Since our letter was released (Jan 3), other Congressional Republicans have come out expressing the same sentiment. Even news sources (e.g., The Boston Globe) have come out praising the AMA saying "the American Medical Association has it exactly right."
Drug Pricing
Although the ACA continues to dominate the news, the AMA has also been focusing advocacy efforts on drug pricing reform. In its newest campaign, your AMA is aiming to make drug pricing more transparent, restore affordability, and put patients over middlemen. Just recently the AMA came out with a website known as truthinrx.org. Visit the site in your free time to educate yourself and learn how to get involved.
Medical Student Advocacy and Region Conference
The Medical Student Advocacy and Region Conference will be held in Washington, D.C., March 9-11. This conference is very popular among our medical student members and registration is limited, so be sure to register as soon as possible. Highlights include:
- Two-night hotel stay with complimentary continental breakfast and planned social events at night
- Educational programming: includes effective lobbying techniques, advocacy, health policy and technology in health care
- Congressional visits: meet with your senators and representatives on Capitol Hill
- Region meetings and reception: discuss advocacy, policy and leadership goals with your AMA Medical Student Section
- AMA Clinical Skills Workshop: hone your suturing skills, ultrasound techniques and more
The scope of our advocacy efforts will be announced soon. Educational materials will be distributed at the conference and also made available online, so you will have the opportunity to become familiar with the issues prior to the conference.
Lastly, don’t forget to apply for leadership opportunities by Jan 31st! Feel free to contact me with questions regarding applying to the Government Relations Advocacy Fellow position.
Sincerely,
Christopher Clifford, MSIV
Government Relations Advocacy Fellow
American Medical Association
T: (202)789-7424
christopher.clifford@ama-assn.org
Washington Brief Archives
November 2016
October 2016