Forty-four DHPA Board Members participated in 106 meetings on Capitol Hill over two days—marking the most meetings ever held between independent physician specialists and Members of Congress and their staffs.
During these meaningful and productive meetings, DHPA physicians were recognized by many offices for the assistance our organization provided Congress in its bipartisan efforts to repeal the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR)—an effort that included 1,800 emails and phone calls in support of repeal over the span of a 10-day period last Spring.
This year, DHPA presented three clear legislative goals to Members of Congress and their staffs: support the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act; modernize the Stark Law to provide clarity and flexibility for participation in value-based payment models; and preserve the site-of-service provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.
DHPA board members also took the opportunity to remind policymakers that independent physician practices provide a high-quality, less expensive alternative to procedures in hospital outpatient departments.
In addition to meetings on Capitol Hill, Board Members joined Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ) for congressional fundraisers. These three legislators have been constant champions on many issues of importance to our patients, our private practices and our craft.