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ACP on Presidential Election and Support for Telemedicine
In a letter sent by the president of the American College of Physicians (ACP) to its members, it suggests strategies to the President-Elect which includes the support for telemedicine.
Dear ACP Member, |
I am writing to share with you the American College of Physicians’ plans to address the implications of the 2016 U.S. Presidential and Congressional elections. We are preparing for a new administration in Washington, D.C., and assessing the challenges and opportunities related to health care and our policy priorities that will come in this new environment. |
The election has evoked strong reactions from ACP members, both within the U.S. and abroad. Like the public, ACP members have divergent views. What unites us is our abiding commitment to our profession, and to our patients. We affirm our continued commitment to equal access to care and non-discrimination against persons based on their gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation, including support for our international ACP members and immigrants to the U.S. who are concerned about potential changes in U.S. immigration policies. |
The College, as a matter of U.S. law and practice, is non-partisan. We engage in advocacy based on policies that have been adopted by our Board of Regents, through a deliberative, consensus-building process involving our policy committees, councils and elected Board of Governors and Regents, supported by a rigorous review of the evidence of how different policy options will affect patient care. We are obliged to pursue these policies no matter the results of any given election. |
Accordingly, ACP will strive to engage in a constructive and bipartisan way with President-elect Trump and his administration, and with Congress, to achieve bipartisan progress on the College’s policy objectives. Our hope is to find common ground. If policies are proposed by the new administration or Congress that in our judgment would be detrimental to our profession and our patients, we won’t just seek to prevent them from being implemented, we’ll offer better alternatives. We remain steadfast in our mission to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine and supporting the critical role played by internists and other primary care physicians in providing high-value, team-based, patient and family-centered care, continuing the transition to value-based payment models, and reducing administrative burdens that interfere with the patient-physician relationship. |
Let me share with you some of the areas where we think bipartisan progress may be possible:
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We are also aware of areas where ACP’s policy objectives do not appear to be aligned with those of the new administration and Congress and may be more challenging:
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Over the next few weeks, we will assess our advocacy priorities to determine how best to proceed given the election. |
How can you help? Please email me with your thoughts on ACP advocacy priorities. Let your ACP chapter governors, U.S. and international, know if you have suggestions for them to take to the Board of Governors. And, if you are a U.S. member of the College, become a grassroots activist for internal medicine by joining our Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (AIMn). As a member of AIMn, you will get timely and concise updates on key developments in Congress, and what you can do to help us achieve our advocacy priorities in this new environment. |
Sincerely, |
Nitin S. Damle, MD, MS, MACP President American College of Physicians |