AAPM&R Expands Reach on Capitol Hill During Virtual Fly-In, Sharing Top Advocacy Priorities with More Than 50 Offices

June 21, 2021

On June 17, AAPM&R completed our second virtual Day on Capitol Hill. After the nation’s healthcare was uprooted by the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) over the last 16+ months, AAPM&R had no shortage of advocacy priorities, which included:

• Calling on the federal government to create and implement a national crisis plan addressing the Long COVID crisis.
• Streamlining prior authorization and expanding telehealth access after the PHE to increase access to rehabilitation services.
• Increasing patient access to post-acute care rehabilitation services by increasing flexibility in the inpatient rehabilitation facility three-hour rule and urging a delay in the implementation of the IMPACT Act.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Day on Capitol Hill was limited to members of the Health Policy and Legislation (HP&L) Committee. The in-person visits typically included ten members of HP&L who met with approximately 25 offices. This year, we had 20 members reaching more than 50 offices.

The virtual platform allowed AAPM&R to expand our reach on the Hill and demonstrate the value of rehabilitation to twice as many Congressional representatives. Having meaningful conversations with this many offices on our top advocacy priorities, including our focus on the Long COVID crisis, is a major win in demonstrating the value of PM&R.

Participating HP&L members:

• Richard G. Chang, MD, MPH, FAAPMR
• Carl D. Gelfius, MD, FAAPMR
• Keith J. Foster, MD, MBA, CPE, FAAPMR
• Nneka L. Ifejika, MD, MPR, FAAPMR (Chair)
• Prakash S. Jayabalan, MD, PhD, FAAPMR
• Nandita S. Keole, MD, FAAPMR
• James J. Miller, MD, FAAPMR
• Sindhu Pandit, MD, FAAPMR
  

Participating members outside of HP&L:

• Michelle S. Gittler, MD, FAAPMR (Past President)
• Amy J. Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAPMR (Secretary)
• Andre Panagos, MD, FAAPMR (Chair; Specialty Brand Expansion Committee)
• Stuart M. Weinstein, MD, FAAPMR (President)
• Thiru M. Annaswamy, MD, MA, FAAPMR (Quality, Practice, Policy and Research Committee)
• Prateek Grover, MBBS, FAAPMR (Quality, Practice, Policy and Research Committee)
• Susan Lee Hubbell, MD, FAAPMR (Quality, Practice, Policy and Research Committee)
• Valerie Ann Jones, MD, FAAPMR (Quality, Practice, Policy and Research Committee)
• Stuart J. Glassman MD, MBA, FAAPMR (Corporate Relations Committee)
• Sarah K. Hwang, MD, FAAPMR
• Anjali N. Shah, MD, FAAPMR
• Gregory M. Worsowicz, MD, MBA (Past President)