May 2005
May 31, 2005
Public Health
Representation on US Trade Advisory Committees
ACPM staff attended a meeting arranged by the
Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health with the
US Trade Representatives Office. The Assistant United
States Trade Representative for Intergovernmental
Affairs, the Director of Service Trade Negotiations, and
an Associate General Counsel were present. The need for
greater public health representation on the US Trade
Advisory Committees was discussed using specific
examples of trade agreements with a potential impact on
public health. The USTR stated that high level
discussions were underway to address these concerns and
urged continued informal communications while
deliberations were taking place.
May 19, 2005
Trade Agreements Affecting
the Medical Profession
The AMA organized a meeting with the US Trade
Representatives Office (USTR) to discuss trade and its
significance for the medical profession. The ACPM, a
sponsor of a resolution which called on the AMA to take
a greater role in trade issues, offered a public health
voice in the proceedings. While most of the discussion
centered around medical service abroad and licensing
concerns, the ACPM reiterated its position that the
public would be better served by public health
representation on the USTR’s trade advisory committees
to provide expertise on trade and its impact on public
health. A letter calling for greater public health
representation drafted by the Center for Policy Analysis
on Trade and Health and cosigned by the ACPM was given
to the USTR representative.
May 18, 2005
Health
Programs Funding
ACPM staff attended a meeting between the Friends of
HRSA and the CDC coalition to discuss the recent cuts in
the CDC budget and the implications for health programs
funding. Because of shared interests, discussions also
focused on how lobbying efforts could be more
collaborative between the two coalitions.
May 3, 2005
Promoting
Medicare Preventive Services
ACPM staff attended the “National Strategy Meeting:
Recommendations for a National Strategy to Promote
Utilization of New Medicare Preventive Services
Benefits” sponsored by the American Health Quality
Foundation. This stakeholder meeting brought together
representatives from Quality Improvement Organizations,
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and various
specialty societies to develop recommendations and
resources needed to encourage the utilization of new
Medicare preventive services, with an emphasis on the
Welcome to Medicare Visit.
May, 2005
GME
Funding Strategy
ACPM staff lobbied on Capitol Hill for reform of
Preventive Medicine graduate medical education (GME)
funding. Senator Harkin (D-IA) sponsored the HELP
America Act which included a section on funding for
preventive medicine residencies. Meetings were held
with Harkin’s Health Legislative Aid to devise
strategies to build bipartisan support from both the
House and the Senate.
