The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) works to promote federal policy that advances the practice of preventive medicine across all levels of the health system. The College has a strong record of endorsing policies that bolster disease prevention and health promotion efforts that aim to save lives, create healthier communities and transform our healthcare system.

In 2023 ACPM will prioritize the following policy issues.

Tier I

ACPM will take action on these critical issues to:

  • Advocate for increased funding and support of the preventive medicine pipeline, by educating Congress and the Administration of the untapped dividends realized through training preventive medicine physicians and their impact on the health system through pandemic preparedness and other public health priorities.

    • Advocate for expanded funding levels to support all certified preventive medicine residency programs in the Health Resources and Services Administration fiscal year 2024 budget to address the shortage of preventive medicine physicians in our health system.

    • Increase engagement with other regulatory bodies, including the Veterans’ Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to expand opportunities for collaboration with and support of preventive medicine residency programs.

    • Advocate for sufficient federal funding for CDC and state and local health departments to support public health readiness and preparedness to protect the public in the face of ongoing pandemic disease and other health threats.

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  • Advocate for science-based, evidence-supported public health policy development and decision-making processes at all levels of government. Such as Supporting the goals of the National Vaccine Plan and other vaccination initiatives; Supporting data modernization efforts that support science-based policy; and Advance efforts to coneract and prevent medical disinformation

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  • Advocate for the support of local and state health departments' work in community outreach in prevention efforts for chronic disease.

 

Tier II

ACPM will actively work with key partners to:

  • Support the Prevention and Public Health Fund and increase support for the National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of Disease Prevention.

  • Support health care reform efforts that maintain support for disease prevention and health promotion programs and adhere to ACPM’s Principles of Health Reform, including:

    • Maximizing health care coverage through insurance or government-delivered programs.

    • Retaining established current patient protections, including prohibitions on exclusions for pre-existing conditions and prohibitions on benefit caps.

    • Ensuring a viable safety net that includes appropriate resourcing of and eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Programs.

    • Supporting first dollar public and private insurance coverage of recommended clinical preventive services.

  • Support advocacy for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight of tobacco containing and associated products, and support efforts to implement community-based tobacco prevention and cessation efforts including:

    • Prohibiting access and marketing to children and adolescents, and those under the age of 21;

    • Regulating the ingredients and chemicals included in tobacco products; and

    • Limiting exposure in public and high-risk environments.

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  • Advocate for public health engagement and action on climate change including adoption and implementation of effective mitigation and adaptation measures, including prioritizing investment in public health preparedness, surveillance, education, training and research.

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  • Support efforts to protect the health of women and women’s reproductive rights.

    • Ensure women’s access to comprehensive, coordinated and high-quality reproductive health services to include education; emergency, short and long-term contraception; and comprehensive family planning services.

  • Support advocacy for healthcare financing policy that prioritizes value of investments in health, including a focus on prevention, population health and social determinants of health in public policy to ensure that ACPM’s Pillars of our Health System are enacted.

  • Support efforts to advance policy that supports measures to prevent violent death and injuries in communities around the country.

    • Support study on the effect of gun violence and unintentional gun-related injury on public health and safety.

    • Support evidence-based restrictions on gun sales and implementation of background checks.

  • Support advocacy for sustained, predictable and sufficient funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    • Oppose any cuts for public health activities at the CDC including community prevention initiatives, research, surveillance and tracking, and public health infrastructure.

    • Support a public health emergency fund at the CDC with a minimum $300 million investment that does not supplant other funding.

  • Support our coalition partners in advocating for increased non-defense discretionary (NDD) funding, relief from sequestration, the authorization and reauthorization of public health programs, and the highest funding possible for the 302(b) allocation to the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriation Subcommittees.

  • Support efforts to educate Congress and the Administration on the potential of lifestyle medicine and support federal legislation and policy positions that support science-based integrated care models that incorporate prevention, lifestyle medicine, and existing standards of care.

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  • Support efforts with our partners in addiction medicine to fund programs and training in the field of addiction medicine and substance use prevention and treatment.