 |
|||
IMPORTANTPlease ReadFebruary, 2004 Dear Colleague, Thanks to lobbying on your behalf by The American College of Cardiology, recent legislation prevented a dramatic cut in Medicare reimbursement for 2004. The estimated real dollar value of this legislation to the average Connecticut cardiologist is approximately $16,000.00 in 2004. We are asking you to give back some of that money to the group that helped this happen, the ACC PAC. We know that you are inundated with requests for money. These are the reasons the ACC deserves your support. 1) The ACC has advocated on your behalf for many things that are important to cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and their patients. · Medicare reimbursement (practice expense, annual updates etc) · Medical liability reform · Regulatory relief · Funding of screening services for Medicare patients · Access to health care for all Americans · Patient Bill of Rights (with respect to HMO’s) · NHLBI funding · Right to collective bargaining etc
The fight is far from over.
2) ACC lobbying has helped prevent a 4.4% reduction in Medicare physician reimbursement in 2004. Instead there will be increases: General cardiology 3.0% Invasive cardiology 4.1% Rhythm disorders 0.5% Echocardiography 2.7% Nuclear cardiology 2.7% Total cardiology 2.9% Thoracic surgery 3% 3) Whether we like it or not, it is difficult to get the attention of our representatives if we cannot provide them with any financial support and show our support for their reelection campaigns. Without their attention, it is impossible to educate them about the issues that are important to us and our patients.
4) We and other colleagues within ACC have volunteered our time to lobby on your behalf. We have no more spare time than you do! Our time cannot be used effectively if we don’t have the funds to get the attention of the people that count.
5) The ACC cannot legally use your membership dues to provide financial support to candidates for office. However, it should be noted that roughly 1/3 of the ACC’s operating budget is spent on related advocacy efforts.
6) In surveys of member needs, advocacy is always identified as a top priority. Yet fewer than 0.01 % of ACC members have made PAC contributions and the total amount collected in 2003 was under $200,000.
7) PAC is not a dirty word. A PAC is the only legal way for groups of individuals to contribute financially to political parties or individual candidates for office. A PAC levels the playing field for groups like physicians who don’t have the resources comparable to billion dollar corporations.
8) ACC PAC funds are used wisely. The overhead is 0 % so all contributions are spent on giving to federal candidates and their campaign and leadership committees. All contributions are screened carefully according to the criteria listed on the following page.
9) The amount we are requesting ($25/month) is small… less than the cost of dinner out on Friday evening. It is less than 2% of what you will receive as a result of ACC’s success from this year’s Medicare reimbursement fight alone.
10) This is an important election year. We must be able to support the candidates who support us.
11) No other group advocates as effectively for us and our ability to provide the best possible care to patients with heart disease. If you have time, please read the attachments concerning the PAC FAQ’s, ACC 2004 advocacy agenda, and the disbursement of PAC funds to date. If you have questions please contact either of us directly.
Please don’t delay! Do the right thing today! Please return your check or credit card pledge using the enclosed form. Frequently Asked Questions 1) Why should I contribute to the PAC when I already pay my ACC dues? While it is true that the ACC Foundation to whom you pay your annual dues has an active advocacy division, the tax status of the Foundation precludes its making monetary contributions to individual parties or candidates. The reality is that without such contributions, it is difficult for the College’s lobbying efforts to have much of an impact. This was one of the major reasons for the creation of the PAC in 2002.
PAC money is given to candidates who support the college’s advocacy initiatives. A copy of the 2004 priorities is included. Suffice it to say that fighting for fair reimbursement for cardiologists and protection from the medical liability crisis have also been high priorities for the college for the past several years. Without your support, the PAC’s efforts going forward will be significantly hindered. This is at a time when we know that without legislative relief, a cliff-like fall in the Medicare reimbursement rate is just around the corner and the medical liability crisis is affecting more and more cardiologists.
2) Why I should contribute if I am in academics or a hospital employee? The ACC advocacy agenda is important to everyone. In academics, reimbursement for clinical care is one of the ways of buying protected time. At least part of the crisis in academic medical centers is related to reductions in reimbursement for clinical services. ACC also lobbies for NHLBI funding. If congress chooses not to allocate funds to the NIH, there is less grant support available for academic cardiologists. ACC advocates for supporting our ability to provide care to the uninsured and other needy people with heart disease.
3) Can I determine who will receive my money? Although PAC funds are all distributed in a bipartisan way, it is possible to designate that your money be given to a specific party candidate, but your request may not be honored if the candidate opposes ACC positions on key issues. However, there are good lines of communication to the PAC Executive Board and any request for support of a specific candidate will be given careful consideration.
4) Who determines who receives money? The PAC executive board with input from ACC staff selects recipients. The criteria used are: 1) Relationship with cardiology key contacts in district 2) Voting record on issues important to ACC 3) Key position on health or appropriations committee or in leadership position 4) Completed questionnaires by non-incumbents Despite our meager contributions to the PAC to date, we in Connecticut have been major recipients of PAC funds. For example, the ACC PAC has funded, to the extent possible, Nancy Johnson, our Congresswoman, who chairs the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. She is extremely powerful and has been a strong advocate for physicians’ rights. Whatever your personal politics, it is essential that the College be able to support individual candidates who support the things for which we are fighting.
4) How much money do other groups contribute? One of our major opponents, the Association of American Trial Lawyers, receives on average over $1600/yr from each member. Their members view it as simply a cost of doing business. Given the size of their war chest, it is not surprising that tort reform has been so difficult. It is also worth noting that most, if not all, of the other medical specialty PAC’s are better funded than our own both in terms of absolute dollars and member participation.
5) How much should I give? We are requesting a minimum donation of $300.00 per year. This can be paid in a single installment or billed as $25.00 per month to a credit card. When viewed in that context, this represents less than the equivalent of a single dinner out per month. However, contributions at a higher level would be greatly appreciated. Our goal is to achieve 100% member participation
6) How will my gift be acknowledged? First, you will have the personal gratitude of your colleagues who have given their own time and money to participate in ACC legislative activities. In addition, the Connecticut Chapter will acknowledge all donors in our newsletter, at our annual meeting and in all PAC related correspondence. At the national level, all donors are acknowledged at the annual scientific session on the main exhibit floor as well as at Chapter night. Donors of $1,000 or more will receive an invitation to a special PAC dinner during the annual meeting that will feature a Member of Congress. Click Here to Download A Printable PAC Regristration Form Recipients, to date, of ACC PAC Funds Candidate Contribution List 2003 U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Roy Blunt (D-7th MO) Rep. F. Allen Boyd, Jr. (D-2nd FL) Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-13th OH) Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-26th TX) Rep. Richard Burr (R-5th NC) Rep. Eric I. Cantor (R-7th VA) Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-18th CA) Rep. Bud Cramer (D-5th AL) Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-4th TN) Rep. Tom DeLay (R-22nd TX) Rep. Tom Feeney (R-24th FL) Rep. Mark Foley (R-16th FL) Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-11th GA) Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6th TN) Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-8th PA) Rep. Ralph M. Hall (D-4th TX) Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (R-14th IL) Rep. Tim Holden (D-17th PA) Rep. Nancy L. Johnson (R-5th CT) Rep. Ric Keller (R-8th FL) Rep. Mark S. Kirk (R-10th IL) Rep. Ken Lucas (D-4th KY) Rep. Donald A. Manzullo (R-16th IL) Rep. Jim Matheson (D-2nd UT) Rep. John P. Murtha (D-12th PA) Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-9th GA) Rep. Michael G. Oxley (R-4th OH) Rep. Collin Peterson (D-7th MN) Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-At Large ND) Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-15th OH) Rep. David Scott (D-13th GA) Rep. Charles W. Stenholm (D-17th TX Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-3rd LA) Rep. Gene Taylor (D-4th MS) Rep. Bill Thomas (R-22nd CA)
U.S. Senate
Sen. Christopher S. "Kit" Bond (R-MO) Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK) Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Candidate Contribution List 2001-2002 U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-9th FL) Rep. Roy Blunt (R-7th MO) Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-13th OH) Rep. John D. Dingell (D-16th MI) Rep.-elect Rahm Emanuel (D-5th IL) Rep.-elect Tom Feeney (R-24th FL) Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-6th CT) Rep. John Mica (R-7th FL) State Senator John M. Nutting (D-2nd ME) Rep. Joseph R. Pitts (R- 16th PA) Rep. John Shadegg (R-4th AZ) Rep. W. J. Tauzin (R-3rd LA) Rep. Bill Thomas (R-21st CA) Rep. Dave Weldon (R-15th FL)
U.S. Senate
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) Rep. John Cooksey (R-LA, ran for Senate) Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK) Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) |
|||