2013 Summit allows surgeons to put advocacy into action

The second annual American College of Surgeons Advocacy Summit took place April 14-16, in Washington, DC, in conjunction with the ACS Leadership Conference. The event rallies surgery’s collective grassroots advocacy voice, with more than 200 surgeon attendees learning about such topics as reforming the Medicare physician payment system, protecting the surgical workforce, and funding graduate medical education (GME) before spending a day on Capitol Hill meeting with their representatives and senators and congressional staff.

Understanding the issues

Health care costs continue to rise, particularly as baby boomers age and increase the demand services. The ACS Young Fellows Association (YFA) sponsored a panel at the Summit on the future of health care. Moderated by Scott Coates, MD, FACS, Vice-Co-Chair, the YFA Member Services Work Group, speakers included Gail Wilensky, PhD, senior fellow, Project Hope; Harold Miller, executive director, Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform; and Frank G. Opelka, MD, FACS, Associate Medical Director, ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy.

Dr. Wilensky discussed physician payments, the cost of health care, and spending—topics that have recently gained traction. She expressed skepticism about whether programs such as accountable care organizations (ACOs) – designed to provide more coordinated, high quality care to Medicare patients – are the answer to physician payment woes. However, she said bundled payments,¹ which encourage efficiency by offering a single payment to multiple providers of services delivered during a single episode of care or over a specific period of time, could result in lower costs.

Advocacy Summit participants

Dr. Miller, however, said that some accountable care arrangements may benefit surgeons and patients while reducing Medicare spending. Under the model he suggested, health care professionals would participate in a flexible, alternative payment and delivery system that best fits their practices and that delivers high-quality, efficient care.

The College has offered another option—the Value-Based Update (VBU), ² noted Dr. Opelka. The VBU calls for replacing the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula used to calculate physician payment with a system that improves outcomes, quality, safety and efficiency while reducing the growth in health care spending. Dr. Opelka noted that the VBU would combine the College’s century of experience in quality measurement to improve patient care and reduce costs,

Atul Grover, MD, chief public policy officer, Association of American Medical Colleges; Doug Henley, MD, chief executive officer, and executive vice president, American Academy of Family Physicians; and Samuel Finlayson, MD, MPH, Kessler Director, Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, offered distinct viewpoints on physician workforce issues. Dr. Grover discussed specialty choice among physicians and practice locations, deficit reduction plans, and incentives for surgical practice in rural areas. Dr. Henley provided data on what he believes are probable causes of the current workforce shortage and suggested possible solutions, including appropriately valuing and compensating primary care physicians to address the income gap between primary care and other specialties and reforming GME. Dr. Finlayson believes that increasing the number of surgeons is an "unwise response to the workforce crisis" and that "addressing geographic and specialty distribution is the main challenge."

Maria Ghazal, vice president and counsel of the Business Roundtable, which represents the interests of many of the nation’s largest companies, invited the College to collaborate on many issues, including the development of state insurance exchanges. Greg Gierer, vice president of policy, America’s Health Insurance Plans, agreed that collaboration can effectively address health care reform, particularly cost-containment. Mr. Gierer discussed health care cost and how insurers are leading changes in the marketplace through collaboration with providers and possible means of providing care to vulnerable populations through public-private cooperation. Harlan F. Weisman, MD, chairman and chief executive officer of Coronado Biosciences, Inc., talked about regaining the country’s status as the world leader in the development of pharmaceutical research and advancement.

The price of politics

Bob Woodward, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The Washington Post and author of The Price of Politics, opened the Summit on Sunday evening as the keynote dinner speaker. He focused many of his comments on political investigative reporting, providing examples of events that have had a profound impact on today’s political climate, including President Bill Clinton’s impeachment and Vice-President Al Gore’s unsuccessful run for president. Mr. Woodward discussed his disappointment with the today’s media’s fact-finding methods, asking, "Why isn’t the media doing more?"

Technology-driven campaigns

Mike Allen, chief White House correspondent for Politico and author of the Politico Playbook was the featured speaker at the Summit’s political luncheon. His talk centered on Barack Obama’s second presidential election bid and how the president’s reelection campaign effectively used technology-driven communications.

An election campaign must be broad and optimistically open to change, explained Mr. Allen.

Training to be an effective advocate

Christopher Kush, grassroots expert and CEO of Soapbox Consulting, helped participants navigate their day on Capitol Hill.

"Hook, line, and sinker" is a three-phase method Mr. Kush suggests advocates use when meeting with a member of Congress. He says ultimately an advocate has three minutes for introductions (hook), five minutes to tell the story(line), and five minutes to make the request and discuss it (sinker).

In preparation for Lobby Day, participants received individualized legislative meeting schedules, educational literature, and a pocket card that listed the critical health care talking points, or "Congressional Asks."

A limited-edition book, Inspiring Quality Tour: Lessons Learned in the Pursuit of Quality Surgical Health Care, was released in conjunction with the Summit, summarizing the College’s 18-month effort to create a national dialogue about surgical quality and patient safety through a series of ACS Surgical Health Care Quality Forums. Participants received a personal copy of the book, as well as one to present to policymakers on Lobby Day. The book can be accessed at facs.org/quality/lessonslearned.html.

Grassroots and the ACSPA-SurgeonsPACS

In advance of Lobby Day, several members of Congress provided insight into issues in need of bipartisan solutions, such as medical liability reform and reimbursement. Legislators who spoke included: Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Chair, House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee; Larry Bucshon, MD, FACS (R-IN); and Ami Bera, MD (D-CA).

"Get involved and stay involved," was the common message among many presenters. Jeff Carroll, Chief of Staff for Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), presented Winning in Advocacy: Why Grassroots and Messaging Matter, emphasizing political action committees (PACs), such as the American College of Surgeons Professional Association (ACSPA)-SurgeonsPAC. "Access comes through PAC donations," said Mr. Carroll. "It’s important to encourage members to give to the PAC. PAC donations help build trust and get you in the door to create effective relationships."

Mr. Carroll also discussed the importance of grassroots efforts, and which methods work best, pointing out that "a lot of members of Congress pay attention to social media-and the College should, too."

PAC contributors participated in a wine-tasting fundraiser and reception hosted by the ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC at the National Museum for Women in the Arts and attended by 11 lawmakers , including Rep. Dan Benishek, MD, FACS (R-MI), Rep. Diane Black, RN (R-TN), Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX), Rep. Lois Capps, RN (D-CA), Rep. Phil Gingrey, MD (R-GA), Rep. Andy Harris, MD (R-MD), Rep. Joe Heck, MD (R-NV), Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Rep. Phil Roe, MD (R-TN), and Rep. Tom Price, MD, FACS (R-GA).

The 2014 Advocacy Summit will take place March 29-April 1 in Washington, DC.

Ms. Moye is Communications Manager, Division of Integrated Communications, Washington, DC.

The second annual American College of Surgeons Advocacy Summit took place April 14-16, in Washington, DC, in conjunction with the ACS Leadership Conference. The event rallies surgery’s collective grassroots advocacy voice, with more than 200 surgeon attendees learning about such topics as reforming the Medicare physician payment system, protecting the surgical workforce, and funding graduate medical education (GME) before spending a day on Capitol Hill meeting with their representatives and senators and congressional staff.

Understanding the issues

Health care costs continue to rise, particularly as baby boomers age and increase the demand services. The ACS Young Fellows Association (YFA) sponsored a panel at the Summit on the future of health care. Moderated by Scott Coates, MD, FACS, Vice-Co-Chair, the YFA Member Services Work Group, speakers included Gail Wilensky, PhD, senior fellow, Project Hope; Harold Miller, executive director, Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform; and Frank G. Opelka, MD, FACS, Associate Medical Director, ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy.

Dr. Wilensky discussed physician payments, the cost of health care, and spending—topics that have recently gained traction. She expressed skepticism about whether programs such as accountable care organizations (ACOs) – designed to provide more coordinated, high quality care to Medicare patients – are the answer to physician payment woes. However, she said bundled payments,¹ which encourage efficiency by offering a single payment to multiple providers of services delivered during a single episode of care or over a specific period of time, could result in lower costs.

Advocacy Summit participants

Dr. Miller, however, said that some accountable care arrangements may benefit surgeons and patients while reducing Medicare spending. Under the model he suggested, health care professionals would participate in a flexible, alternative payment and delivery system that best fits their practices and that delivers high-quality, efficient care.

The College has offered another option—the Value-Based Update (VBU), ² noted Dr. Opelka. The VBU calls for replacing the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula used to calculate physician payment with a system that improves outcomes, quality, safety and efficiency while reducing the growth in health care spending. Dr. Opelka noted that the VBU would combine the College’s century of experience in quality measurement to improve patient care and reduce costs,

Atul Grover, MD, chief public policy officer, Association of American Medical Colleges; Doug Henley, MD, chief executive officer, and executive vice president, American Academy of Family Physicians; and Samuel Finlayson, MD, MPH, Kessler Director, Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, offered distinct viewpoints on physician workforce issues. Dr. Grover discussed specialty choice among physicians and practice locations, deficit reduction plans, and incentives for surgical practice in rural areas. Dr. Henley provided data on what he believes are probable causes of the current workforce shortage and suggested possible solutions, including appropriately valuing and compensating primary care physicians to address the income gap between primary care and other specialties and reforming GME. Dr. Finlayson believes that increasing the number of surgeons is an "unwise response to the workforce crisis" and that "addressing geographic and specialty distribution is the main challenge."

Maria Ghazal, vice president and counsel of the Business Roundtable, which represents the interests of many of the nation’s largest companies, invited the College to collaborate on many issues, including the development of state insurance exchanges. Greg Gierer, vice president of policy, America’s Health Insurance Plans, agreed that collaboration can effectively address health care reform, particularly cost-containment. Mr. Gierer discussed health care cost and how insurers are leading changes in the marketplace through collaboration with providers and possible means of providing care to vulnerable populations through public-private cooperation. Harlan F. Weisman, MD, chairman and chief executive officer of Coronado Biosciences, Inc., talked about regaining the country’s status as the world leader in the development of pharmaceutical research and advancement.

The price of politics

Bob Woodward, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The Washington Post and author of The Price of Politics, opened the Summit on Sunday evening as the keynote dinner speaker. He focused many of his comments on political investigative reporting, providing examples of events that have had a profound impact on today’s political climate, including President Bill Clinton’s impeachment and Vice-President Al Gore’s unsuccessful run for president. Mr. Woodward discussed his disappointment with the today’s media’s fact-finding methods, asking, "Why isn’t the media doing more?"

Technology-driven campaigns

Mike Allen, chief White House correspondent for Politico and author of the Politico Playbook was the featured speaker at the Summit’s political luncheon. His talk centered on Barack Obama’s second presidential election bid and how the president’s reelection campaign effectively used technology-driven communications.

An election campaign must be broad and optimistically open to change, explained Mr. Allen.

Training to be an effective advocate

Christopher Kush, grassroots expert and CEO of Soapbox Consulting, helped participants navigate their day on Capitol Hill.

"Hook, line, and sinker" is a three-phase method Mr. Kush suggests advocates use when meeting with a member of Congress. He says ultimately an advocate has three minutes for introductions (hook), five minutes to tell the story(line), and five minutes to make the request and discuss it (sinker).

In preparation for Lobby Day, participants received individualized legislative meeting schedules, educational literature, and a pocket card that listed the critical health care talking points, or "Congressional Asks."

A limited-edition book, Inspiring Quality Tour: Lessons Learned in the Pursuit of Quality Surgical Health Care, was released in conjunction with the Summit, summarizing the College’s 18-month effort to create a national dialogue about surgical quality and patient safety through a series of ACS Surgical Health Care Quality Forums. Participants received a personal copy of the book, as well as one to present to policymakers on Lobby Day. The book can be accessed at facs.org/quality/lessonslearned.html.

Grassroots and the ACSPA-SurgeonsPACS

In advance of Lobby Day, several members of Congress provided insight into issues in need of bipartisan solutions, such as medical liability reform and reimbursement. Legislators who spoke included: Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Chair, House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee; Larry Bucshon, MD, FACS (R-IN); and Ami Bera, MD (D-CA).

"Get involved and stay involved," was the common message among many presenters. Jeff Carroll, Chief of Staff for Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), presented Winning in Advocacy: Why Grassroots and Messaging Matter, emphasizing political action committees (PACs), such as the American College of Surgeons Professional Association (ACSPA)-SurgeonsPAC. "Access comes through PAC donations," said Mr. Carroll. "It’s important to encourage members to give to the PAC. PAC donations help build trust and get you in the door to create effective relationships."

Mr. Carroll also discussed the importance of grassroots efforts, and which methods work best, pointing out that "a lot of members of Congress pay attention to social media-and the College should, too."

PAC contributors participated in a wine-tasting fundraiser and reception hosted by the ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC at the National Museum for Women in the Arts and attended by 11 lawmakers , including Rep. Dan Benishek, MD, FACS (R-MI), Rep. Diane Black, RN (R-TN), Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX), Rep. Lois Capps, RN (D-CA), Rep. Phil Gingrey, MD (R-GA), Rep. Andy Harris, MD (R-MD), Rep. Joe Heck, MD (R-NV), Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Rep. Phil Roe, MD (R-TN), and Rep. Tom Price, MD, FACS (R-GA).

The 2014 Advocacy Summit will take place March 29-April 1 in Washington, DC.

Ms. Moye is Communications Manager, Division of Integrated Communications, Washington, DC.

The second annual American College of Surgeons Advocacy Summit took place April 14-16, in Washington, DC, in conjunction with the ACS Leadership Conference. The event rallies surgery’s collective grassroots advocacy voice, with more than 200 surgeon attendees learning about such topics as reforming the Medicare physician payment system, protecting the surgical workforce, and funding graduate medical education (GME) before spending a day on Capitol Hill meeting with their representatives and senators and congressional staff.

Understanding the issues

Health care costs continue to rise, particularly as baby boomers age and increase the demand services. The ACS Young Fellows Association (YFA) sponsored a panel at the Summit on the future of health care. Moderated by Scott Coates, MD, FACS, Vice-Co-Chair, the YFA Member Services Work Group, speakers included Gail Wilensky, PhD, senior fellow, Project Hope; Harold Miller, executive director, Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform; and Frank G. Opelka, MD, FACS, Associate Medical Director, ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy.

Dr. Wilensky discussed physician payments, the cost of health care, and spending—topics that have recently gained traction. She expressed skepticism about whether programs such as accountable care organizations (ACOs) – designed to provide more coordinated, high quality care to Medicare patients – are the answer to physician payment woes. However, she said bundled payments,¹ which encourage efficiency by offering a single payment to multiple providers of services delivered during a single episode of care or over a specific period of time, could result in lower costs.

Advocacy Summit participants

Dr. Miller, however, said that some accountable care arrangements may benefit surgeons and patients while reducing Medicare spending. Under the model he suggested, health care professionals would participate in a flexible, alternative payment and delivery system that best fits their practices and that delivers high-quality, efficient care.

The College has offered another option—the Value-Based Update (VBU), ² noted Dr. Opelka. The VBU calls for replacing the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula used to calculate physician payment with a system that improves outcomes, quality, safety and efficiency while reducing the growth in health care spending. Dr. Opelka noted that the VBU would combine the College’s century of experience in quality measurement to improve patient care and reduce costs,

Atul Grover, MD, chief public policy officer, Association of American Medical Colleges; Doug Henley, MD, chief executive officer, and executive vice president, American Academy of Family Physicians; and Samuel Finlayson, MD, MPH, Kessler Director, Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, offered distinct viewpoints on physician workforce issues. Dr. Grover discussed specialty choice among physicians and practice locations, deficit reduction plans, and incentives for surgical practice in rural areas. Dr. Henley provided data on what he believes are probable causes of the current workforce shortage and suggested possible solutions, including appropriately valuing and compensating primary care physicians to address the income gap between primary care and other specialties and reforming GME. Dr. Finlayson believes that increasing the number of surgeons is an "unwise response to the workforce crisis" and that "addressing geographic and specialty distribution is the main challenge."

Maria Ghazal, vice president and counsel of the Business Roundtable, which represents the interests of many of the nation’s largest companies, invited the College to collaborate on many issues, including the development of state insurance exchanges. Greg Gierer, vice president of policy, America’s Health Insurance Plans, agreed that collaboration can effectively address health care reform, particularly cost-containment. Mr. Gierer discussed health care cost and how insurers are leading changes in the marketplace through collaboration with providers and possible means of providing care to vulnerable populations through public-private cooperation. Harlan F. Weisman, MD, chairman and chief executive officer of Coronado Biosciences, Inc., talked about regaining the country’s status as the world leader in the development of pharmaceutical research and advancement.

The price of politics

Bob Woodward, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The Washington Post and author of The Price of Politics, opened the Summit on Sunday evening as the keynote dinner speaker. He focused many of his comments on political investigative reporting, providing examples of events that have had a profound impact on today’s political climate, including President Bill Clinton’s impeachment and Vice-President Al Gore’s unsuccessful run for president. Mr. Woodward discussed his disappointment with the today’s media’s fact-finding methods, asking, "Why isn’t the media doing more?"

Technology-driven campaigns

Mike Allen, chief White House correspondent for Politico and author of the Politico Playbook was the featured speaker at the Summit’s political luncheon. His talk centered on Barack Obama’s second presidential election bid and how the president’s reelection campaign effectively used technology-driven communications.

An election campaign must be broad and optimistically open to change, explained Mr. Allen.

Training to be an effective advocate

Christopher Kush, grassroots expert and CEO of Soapbox Consulting, helped participants navigate their day on Capitol Hill.

"Hook, line, and sinker" is a three-phase method Mr. Kush suggests advocates use when meeting with a member of Congress. He says ultimately an advocate has three minutes for introductions (hook), five minutes to tell the story(line), and five minutes to make the request and discuss it (sinker).

In preparation for Lobby Day, participants received individualized legislative meeting schedules, educational literature, and a pocket card that listed the critical health care talking points, or "Congressional Asks."

A limited-edition book, Inspiring Quality Tour: Lessons Learned in the Pursuit of Quality Surgical Health Care, was released in conjunction with the Summit, summarizing the College’s 18-month effort to create a national dialogue about surgical quality and patient safety through a series of ACS Surgical Health Care Quality Forums. Participants received a personal copy of the book, as well as one to present to policymakers on Lobby Day. The book can be accessed at facs.org/quality/lessonslearned.html.

Grassroots and the ACSPA-SurgeonsPACS

In advance of Lobby Day, several members of Congress provided insight into issues in need of bipartisan solutions, such as medical liability reform and reimbursement. Legislators who spoke included: Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Chair, House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee; Larry Bucshon, MD, FACS (R-IN); and Ami Bera, MD (D-CA).

"Get involved and stay involved," was the common message among many presenters. Jeff Carroll, Chief of Staff for Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), presented Winning in Advocacy: Why Grassroots and Messaging Matter, emphasizing political action committees (PACs), such as the American College of Surgeons Professional Association (ACSPA)-SurgeonsPAC. "Access comes through PAC donations," said Mr. Carroll. "It’s important to encourage members to give to the PAC. PAC donations help build trust and get you in the door to create effective relationships."

Mr. Carroll also discussed the importance of grassroots efforts, and which methods work best, pointing out that "a lot of members of Congress pay attention to social media-and the College should, too."

PAC contributors participated in a wine-tasting fundraiser and reception hosted by the ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC at the National Museum for Women in the Arts and attended by 11 lawmakers , including Rep. Dan Benishek, MD, FACS (R-MI), Rep. Diane Black, RN (R-TN), Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX), Rep. Lois Capps, RN (D-CA), Rep. Phil Gingrey, MD (R-GA), Rep. Andy Harris, MD (R-MD), Rep. Joe Heck, MD (R-NV), Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Rep. Phil Roe, MD (R-TN), and Rep. Tom Price, MD, FACS (R-GA).

The 2014 Advocacy Summit will take place March 29-April 1 in Washington, DC.

Ms. Moye is Communications Manager, Division of Integrated Communications, Washington, DC.