Postmortem: AADA Legislative Conference
From the President
Dr. Tomecki served as Academy president from March 2021 to March 2022.
By Kenneth Tomecki, MD, FAAD, November 1, 2021
Postmortem: "examination of a dead body," or "process of evaluating success (or failure) of a project’s ability to meet its goals." Given that definition, the recent AADA Legislative Conference, aka "project," was a success. It forcefully addressed several areas of dermatologic concern, and it made an imprint with many folks on Capitol Hill. The meeting attracted 217 participants, the second-highest attendance (the 2021 meeting had 331 attendees), with 177 AAD members (75 for the first time), 34 residents, four medical students (invited by AAD members), and 38 attendees from the Coalition of Skin Diseases, including several dermatology nurses. California had the largest contingent (12 members and four patient advocates), followed by New York (11 members and three patient advocates), and Florida (10 members and three patient advocates). Pennsylvania and Tennessee each had nine members in attendance. Participants hailed from 36 states and Washington, D.C.
The meeting began with a welcome webinar on Sept. 23 with Jim VandeHei, Axios CEO and co-founder of Politico, as keynote speaker, who set the tone on the D.C. political arena and the early months of the Biden administration. Drs. Bruce Brod (GAHP Council) and Kelly Pagliai Redbord (Congressional Policy Committee) led the member prep session that Sunday, providing an overview of legislative priorities and dermatologic concerns, an integral component of the meeting; their playbook set the stage. Kevin Schultze, SoapBox VP, emphasized the do’s/don’ts of congressional meetings (i.e., how to interact and respond during congressional meetings).
2021 AADA Legislative Conference
Get highlights from the virtual 2021 AADA Legislative Conference.
On Sept. 28, participants spent the day meeting with members of Congress and staff in virtual mode (or tele-conference). 219 congressional meetings occurred, 42 with actual members of Congress, either Senators or Representatives. 69 meetings occurred with senior-level staff, the rest with junior staff. Member advocates had targeted 80 offices where congressional representatives serve on key committees or hold leadership positions; those meetings had top priority (obviously).
The actual meetings focused on two topics: 1) emphasis on the need to support physician work and practices, by preventing/forestalling Medicare physician cuts by maintaining the 3.75% increase to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, by extending the Medicare sequester moratorium, and by waiving the PAYGO requirements connected to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021; 2) preservation of patients’ access to therapy, by stressing the critical role of physicians in determining proper care for patients and by lessening, hopefully eliminating, the burden of step therapy protocols, coupled with cosponsorship and support of the Safe Step Act. The COVID pandemic and its impact on health care was a common theme during most meetings and understandably so. The pandemic has directly impacted patient care and how dermatologists maneuver through the regulatory quagmire.
AADA advocacy priorities
Learn more about the Academy's advocacy priorities.
Bottom line: the legislative meeting is alive and well as a critical component of Academy and member advocacy, perhaps last year and this year more than ever. The meeting is the focal point for legal, regulatory, and political matters as they pertain to the specialty. Until last year, the legislative meetings were "live" and in-person, which tend to be more meaningful and memorable (for both sides), but, given the pandemic, the AADA and its members had to pivot and adjust to virtual mode, which worked surprisingly well, with increased attendance, perhaps increased focus, welcomed flexibility, and hopefully some solid, tangible results, all from the comfort of home, office, or clinic. As such, the legislative meeting remains intact, viable, and instrumental as a unique opportunity for staff and members to hear each other, to engage with health policy mavens and experts, and to tap any and all available resources to help make the specialty better and stronger. Interest in the meetings remains strong and participation crosses the breadth of specialty, as does the overall impact. For those who participated, my thanks, on behalf of the AADA, the membership, and patients coast to coast. For those who did not, I hope that you consider participating next year, at least to some degree. In the meantime, compose a letter or email missive for your member of Congress or senator, outline what needs to be done, and encourage that person to do something. What happens in D.C. affects all of us. Raise your voice, make your mark, make a difference.
