GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
I Street Advocates Sue Emmer, JD
I
Street Advocates joined the American Academy of Medicine (AAEM) team on February 1 of this year. Founded 25 years ago by Sue Emmer, JD, as Emmer Consulting, the I Street Advocates health practice has grown into a small, boutique government affairs firm that offers comprehensive federal and state government relations and public policy services. I Street Advocates provides a broad range of services such as advocacy, policy development, coalition management, and strategic advice. Like our clients, we are mission-driven, so our top priority is to promote their values and translate those values into tangible public policy. Sue Emmer leads the I Street Advocates health practice and uses her experience as a former Senate health aide and Department of Health and Human Services staff person to understand and respond to the specific needs of Congressional and Administration principals and staff. Brian Hess is the I Street state and grassroots advocacy expert who is handling AAEM state work. Brian Young brings experience from the consumer advocacy world to AAEM’s work with the Federal Trade Commission. I Street Advocates believe in the Like our power of a small clients, we are team. Each team member owns the mission-driven, project, values the so our top priority client, and feels a is to promote personal responsibility for serving the their values and client’s needs. We translate those have brought this values into tangible approach to AAEM public policy.” and have enjoyed getting to know the AAEM Board, Government Affairs Committee, and AAEM staff. We attended the recent Austin Scientific Assembly and learned more about AAEM member experiences and policy needs. I Street has prioritized AAEM’s signature legislative effort and primary goal—the introduction of due process legislation for emergency medicine physicians. On May 6, U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representatives Raul Ruiz, M.D.
(D-CA), John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA), Katie Porter (D-CA), and Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) introduced S.42781/H.R.83252 the Physician and Patient Safety Act to restore due process rights for physicians.3 Unlike in prior years, the bill extends to all hospital staff physicians. AAEM led the effort on bill introduction. The bicameral, bipartisan press release included a quote from AAEM President Dr. Frolichstein.4 We plan to feature the bill at our early June Hill Day as well. We ask AAEM members to reach out to their Member of Congress requesting bill cosponsorship. In our short time with AAEM we have worked on other important issues including opposing state corporate practice of medicine efforts and other scope of practice proposals. At the state-level, we have engaged in several states on CPoM legislation. In California, the bill (AB-31295) we endorsed overwhelmingly passed the Assembly and is on the way to the Senate. We have also worked with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on significant milestone initiatives like the final non-compete rule which includes physicians and supporting our former AAEM President’s participation in a recent FTC workshop on private equity and corporate influence on health practice. At the FTC Workshop, the FTC, DOJ, and HHS announced a Request for Information on private equity impact on the healthcare system. I Street worked with AAEM to submit detailed comments in this proceeding. We look forward to getting to know AAEM and its members better and continuing our important policy work on behalf of AAEM. References 1. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4278/cosponsors ?pageSort=lastToFirst&loclr=cga-member 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8325?q=%7B%22 search%22%3A%22hr+8325%22%7D&s=2&r=1 3. https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/TAM24525.pdf 4. https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-marshallintroduces-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-restore-due-process-rights-inhealth-care/ 5. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_ id=202320240AB3129
COMMON SENSE JULY/AUGUST 2024
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