We didn’t have Montana representation in DC this year, but I wanted to share with you the issues we advocated for on the Hill this year.
The “Addressing Boarding and Crowding in the Emergency Department (ABC-ED) Act”
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- This ACEP-developed legislation that is about to be introduced is the product of the College’s ongoing work to address the boarding crisis, and a direct result of previous LAC advocacy. Informed by ACEP’s own boarding summit and the 2024 AHRQ boarding summit, the bill would:
- utilize existing federal grant programs to help promote and expand bed tracking and capacity management systems;
- establish two new models under the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) that HHS may test that focus on 1) improving care for older adults (i.e., a nod to the GEDA program) and, 2) on improving timely acute care for individuals experiencing psychiatric crisis (i.e., a nod to our “Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act”); and,
- require the Comptroller General to conduct a study on best practices for public health data systems for tracking hospital capacity and their impact on ED boarding, EMS wall times, and more. The bill is led by Reps. John Joyce, MD (R-PA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI).
- This ACEP-developed legislation that is about to be introduced is the product of the College’s ongoing work to address the boarding crisis, and a direct result of previous LAC advocacy. Informed by ACEP’s own boarding summit and the 2024 AHRQ boarding summit, the bill would:
Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R. 929 / S. 266):
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- This legislation will reauthorize the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act that was originally signed into law on March 18, 2022.
- That law was made possible by ACEP advocacy, including previous LAC advocacy, and ACEP continues to work with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation to lead the reauthorization effort, including leading a recent multi-stakeholder letter to Congress signed by nearly 70 organizations.
- This bipartisan, bicameral legislation was marked up during the 118th Congress and reported out of both committees of jurisdiction with overwhelming bipartisan support.
- It was also included in the 2024 bipartisan, bicameral health package that was ultimately not included in the year-end continuing resolution, so action is still required to ensure this landmark, first-of-its-kind law is reauthorized.
Protecting Access to Lifesaving Emergency Care:
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- As highlighted in the new RAND report highlighting the value of emergency medicine, the combination of declines in commercial payments, the 2.83 percent Medicare PFS cut that went into effect on January 1, 2025 that remains unaddressed by Congress, and potential major changes to the Medicaid program through the upcoming budget reconciliation process that could result in millions of Americans losing access to Medicaid coverage, emergency medicine is in a uniquely challenging situation.
- Advocates will highlight the unique nature of EM, especially the delivery of care under the federal EMTALA mandate and the burden of uncompensated care for emergency services, and urge the need for stability and sustainability for the emergency care safety net.
By Jessica Vaughn, Chapter Executive of Montana ACEP Chapter