Learn about the Academy's advocacy priorities and how to join efforts to protect your practice.
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A call to action on Medicare reform
From the President
Dr. Cronin served as Academy president from March 2023 to March 2024.
By Terrence A. Cronin Jr., MD, FAAD, May 1, 2023
In 1938, a small group of 17 dermatologists
founded the American Academy of Dermatology
to advance our clinical practice and education,
all with the goal of enhancing patient care. For
all the changes that have occurred in medicine,
dermatology, and health care in general since
1938, our mission at the Academy is as relevant
as it was for our founders: to provide safe and
quality patient care.
We know that when it comes to health care,
change is inevitable. Some change, however,
needs to be fought against on behalf of our
patients. Payment instability threatens our
ability to provide care.
Last year, your Academy fought against
Medicare payment cuts of 8.5% or more that were
scheduled to begin on Jan. 1, 2023. Our advocacy
efforts were rewarded when President Biden
signed into law an omnibus spending package
that included partial relief from the Medicare
cuts — reducing the cut from 8.5% to 2% in 2023.
While the relief fell short of the AADA’s
and the physician community’s requests,
congressional action on this critical issue
was influenced by the grassroots efforts of
dermatologists, patients, and the membership
of other medical associations:
2,100 AADA members sent nearly
10,000 emails and messages to
Capitol Hill.
2,000 members of the public sent
messages via AADA’s action alert center
— at least 965 patients and 336
practice staff. The remainder were
concerned citizens or physicians.
Your Academy staff didn’t do this alone.
Clearly, the strength and involvement of our
members are the keys to our success. However,
the work is not over yet. The AADA and the
physician community have stressed and will
continue to stress that any cut is unacceptable.
That is why the AADA’s top priority in
2023 is Medicare reform. We need a system
that establishes a positive annual inflation
adjustment, eliminates budget neutrality
requirements, and removes overly burdensome
documentation and compliance activity.
“The strength of an organization depends on the involvement of its membership.”
─ John Shaw, MD, Academy President 1977
Academy advocates attend the SkinPAC event in Vancouver.
However, the only way we’re going to get
there is with more help from you. Consider this
a call to action. When I call on you to act, it
won’t be minor. It will be something important,
like contacting your member of Congress or
meeting with a leader who’s in town. We must
do whatever it takes to move the needle, and we
must do it together as one forceful unified front.
We need to keep the pressure up and I hope you
will join me in fighting this important battle this
year. Our ability to provide patient care is at
stake.
Take Action
Find out how you can get involved in the Academy’s
advocacy efforts.
Presidential spotlight
It takes a dedicated and engaged membership to move the needle on the issues facing our patients and practices, and sometimes our most diligent members can go unrecognized. As a toast to our unsung heroes within the Academy, I will be featuring one hardworking member at the end of this column each month.
This month’s recipient of the Presidential Spotlight goes to:
Clifford Warren Lober, MD, JD, FAAD
Clifford Warren Lober, MD, JD, FAAD
When coverage for Mohs surgery was in jeopardy, he worked with five national (AADA, ASDSA, AOCD, ACMS, and ASMS) and three state (FAD, FSDS, and FMA) organizations to maintain coverage and appropriate reimbursement. When women with psoriasis were to be denied the use of biologic agents unless they first failed on methotrexate, he worked with the Academy, the Psoriasis Foundation, and state organizations to negate this attempt. When coverage and payment for the treatment of actinic keratosis were in jeopardy, he represented the Academy in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and successfully addressed this issue. He has represented dermatology to the Florida Medicare carrier (First Coast) on the Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee since its inception, and for two years was co-chair of this committee. His dedication and leadership to the Florida Board of Medicine and the AAD are truly exemplary.
His commitment and successful acts of advocacy deserve our admiration and
certainly the Presidential Spotlight!
AAD/A Impact Report
Read more about the Academy’s most recent advocacy wins.
The American Academy of Dermatology is a non-profit professional organization and does not endorse companies or products. Advertising helps support our mission.
