Public Policy Statements
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Letter to Wellstar Health System CEO: Not Enforcing Non-Compete Clause in Contracts as they Prepare to Close
Dear Ms. Saunders, On behalf of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), we write in support of Senator Warnock’s letter to encourage you to remove the non-compete clauses within physician contracts due to the closing of Wellstar Health System. AAEM is the specialty society of board-certified emergency physicians representing over 8,000 members. The Academy […] -
AAEM Board of Directors response to DOJ/FTC on merger guidelines
DOJ/FTC Request for Information on Merger Enforcement Comments from the American Academy of Emergency Medicine Thank you for looking into this important issue. In 2018, the AMA conducted their yearly Physician Practices Benchmark Survey and concluded that for the first time, more physicians were employees rather than owners of their practices1. While this may not […] -
Introduction of SCD Medicaid Demo Bill
Dear Senators Booker and Scott and Representatives Davis and Burgess: The undersigned organizations, all committed to improving outcomes for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD), look to you for needed leadership in addressing the needs of this community. As we recognize the SCD patient and provider communities during Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, we remain […] -
Rep. Stevens Leads Effort to Designate September 17th as National Physician Suicide Awareness Day
Livonia, Mi– Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Senator Stabenow (D-MI) introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution designating today, September 17th as National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. This resolution is co-led by; Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D-IL), Rep. David McKinley (R-WV), Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA), and Rep. Judy Chu […] -
Sanctity of the Doctor-Patient Relationship
AAEM supports the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship and object to any interference in thatrelationship. Approved 9.16.21 -
Joint Letter to US Department of Veterans Affairs Supremacy Project
Dear Secretary McDonough: The undersigned physician organizations have recently learned of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supremacy Project. We are writing to express our serious concerns with the VA’s efforts to develop National Standards of Practice for physicians and other health professionals that supersede state scope of practice and licensure laws. In particular, we […] -
UnitedHealthcare Retroactive Denial of Emergency Care and the Prudent Layperson Standard
Vicki Norton MD FAAEM, AAEM Board of DirectorsSaba Rizvi, MD FAAEM AAEM recognizes UnitedHealthcare’s deferment of their dangerous and ill-advised policy to limit patients seeking emergency care. Patients who fear they are having a true emergency should not be deterred from going to the emergency department. They should not be concerned about their insurance later […] -
UnitedHealthcare Retroactive Denial of Emergency Care and the Prudent Layperson Standard
Vicki Norton MD FAAEM, AAEM Board of DirectorsSaba Rizvi, MD FAAEM AAEM recognizes UnitedHealthcare’s deferment of their dangerous and ill-advised policy to limit patients seeking emergency care. Patients who fear they are having a true emergency should not be deterred from going to the emergency department. They should not be concerned about their insurance later […] -
Joint Letter to Congress regarding Surprise Medical Billing in COVID-19 Relief Package
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: The undersigned state and national medical societies, representing hundreds of thousands of frontline physicians, thank you for your continued efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know, this public health crisis is stressing physician practices more than any time in our country’s history. […] -
Joint Letter to CMS to Sunset Waivers When PHE Concludes
Dear Administrator Verma: The undersigned organizations represent the hundreds of thousands of physicians who provide care for our nation’s Medicare patients every day. We are writing to strongly support the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) decision to temporarily waive certain regulatory requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. These temporary waivers, in extraordinary circumstances, have […] -
Joint Letter to Veterans Health Administration on CRNA Oversight
Dear Dr. Stone: The undersigned medical associations and medical specialty societies are writing to register serious concerns with the Health Care Professional Practice in VA Memorandum (Memorandum) issued by the Office of the Under Secretary of Health on April 21, 2020, and underlying Directive 1899 (Directive). The undersigned organizations urge the Secretary to amend Directive […] -
Joint Letter Urging Congress to Extend Eligibility for the PPP Loan Program
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: The undersigned state, specialty, and national medical associations collectively employ thousands of employees and represent hundreds of thousands of physician members across the country. We greatly appreciate the actions taken by Congress to help physicians on the frontlines of patient care meet thedemands of the […] -
Joint Letter to Congress Urging inclusion of the Targeted and Limited Liability Protections in Bipartisan Bill, H.R. 7059, the “Coronavirus Provider Protection Act”
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: The undersigned state, specialty, and national medical associations represent hundreds of thousands of frontline medical and mental health physicians who are diagnosing, testing, treating, and counseling millions of our nation’s patients in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this unprecedented national health emergency, physicians and […] -
Joint Letter Encouraging the Passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, Congressman McCarthy, and Senator Schumer: In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the twelve undersigned organizations representing behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment providers and public health advocates write to encourage Congress to pass the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act (MAT Act, H.R. 2482, S. 2074). This bipartisan, bicameral legislation […] -
Joint Letter to Congress Urging further Protections for Healthcare Workers during COVID-19
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: The American Medical Association and undersigned state medical societies and national physician specialty organizations appreciate the recent actions taken by Congress and the Administration to help physicians, other health care clinicians, and hospitals on the frontlines of care meet the demands of the rapidly evolving […] -
Letter to Congress for Further Protections during COVID-19
Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy: The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is a nonprofit medical association founded to promote fair and equitable practice environments for emergency physicians. AAEM membership includes over 8,000 emergency physicians and residents across the United States who are committed to the principle that every […] -
Joint Letter to HHS: Emergency Funding for Physicians through the CARES Act
Dear Secretary Azar: The undersigned organizations represent the hundreds of thousands of physicians who treat our nation’s patients every day. We are writing to request immediate financial assistance for physicians across the country who are taking heroic action to treat patients with the novel coronavirus, providing ongoing care for patients with chronic conditions and urgent […] -
Letter to President Donald J. Trump Calling for Protections for EPs from Malpractice during COVID-19
Dear President Trump: The American Academy of Emergency Medicine represents over 8000 emergency physicians and emergency medicine residents across America, and is the only professional society for the doctors who staff our nation’s emergency departments that restricts membership to board-certified specialists in the field. These dedicated physicians are on the front line of the COVID-19 […] -
Letters to All 50 Governors Calling for Protections for EPs from Malpractice during COVID-19
Dear Governor, The American Academy of Emergency Medicine represents over 8000 emergency physicians and emergency medicine residents across America, and is the only professional society for the doctors who staff our nation’s emergency departments that restricts membership to board-certified specialists in the field. These dedicated physicians are on the front line of the COVID-19 epidemic, […] -
Federal Trade Commission: Non-Competes in The Workplace: Examining Antitrust and Consumer Protection Issues
Dear Chairman Simons: This letter is sent in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) January 9, 2020 workshop concerning Non-Competes in the Workplace. The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) welcomes any relief the FTC may bring to the unfair use of non-compete clauses in the employment contracts of practicing emergency physicians.