AAHPM Advocacy Amplifies Your Voice

AAHPM brings the stories of hospice and palliative medicine directly to policymakers, promoting issues of importance to palliative care and hospice patients and the health professionals that care for them. Leveraging its representation in Washington, DC, the Academy tracks critical health policy developments and works to ensure that the interests of the field are advanced in the legislative and regulatory arenas.

Policy Priorities

The needs of patients and their families throughout the care continuum guide AAHPM’s policy agenda. These priorities, reviewed annually, help direct the Academy’s efforts and resources, including collaboration with outside entities.

AAHPM 2012 Public Policy Priorities

Advocacy Oversight

A standing Public Policy Committee composed of Academy members helps define AAHPM’s public policy agenda and oversees its advocacy initiatives. The 2011-12 Committee is chaired by Stephen A. Leedy, MD FAAHPM.

There are currently two working groups of the Public Policy Committee. The State Issues Working Group, chaired by Gregg VandeKieft, MD MA, was established to guide the Academy’s efforts to develop the infrastructure necessary to examine state health care policy issues and provide members with resources necessary to advocate on behalf of their patients and the field at the state level. The Emerging Payment/Delivery Models Working Group, chaired by Phil Rodgers, MD FAAHPM, tracks the development of new care models designed to foster improved coordination and quality through a patient-centered approach, including accountable care organizations and the patient-centered medical home. The working group provides subject-matter expertise while advocating for the role of palliative care and hospice care providers and organizations in any new payment and delivery systems.

Washington Representation

To further the Academy’s advocacy agenda, in February 2010 AAHPM contracted with DC-based Hart Health Strategies, a bi‐partisan consulting and lobbying firm specializing in legislative and regulatory health care issues. The Hart team has extensive experience working on federal health care legislation and the rulemaking and regulatory process for health programs. The firm’s other clients include physician and patient organizations, as well as individual companies involved in health care.

External Involvement

AAHPM seeks opportunities to amplify the voice of hospice and palliative medicine when advocating for sound health policy, partnering with outside groups as appropriate to promote the Academy’s advocacy agenda.

American Medical Association

National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care