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 which aim to improve the nation’s health.

In 2018 ACPM will prioritize the following policy issues.

Tier I

ACPM will take a lead role in advocacy to:

1. Educate Congress and the Administration of the inherent value realized through training preventive medicine physicians, their impact on the health system, and the need to expand the preventive medicine training pipeline.

• Advocate for the restoration of FY2016 level funding provided to preventive medicine residency programs in the Health Resources and Services Administration fiscal year 2019 budget in the amount of $11.136 million.
• 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.

2. Prevent violent death and injuries in communities around the country.

• Provide $25 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to all 50 states and territories.
• Remove all federal restrictions and assure adequate funding of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study the effect of gun violence and unintentional gun-related injury on public health and safety.

3. Educate Congress and the Administration on the power of Lifestyle Medicine to transform the health system to one that focuses on the actual causes of disease and preventing, treating, and reversing the progression of disease. Support federal legislation in line with the tenants of Lifestyle Medicine.

Tier II

ACPM will actively work with key partners to:

1. Ensure that any healthcare reform efforts maintain support for disease prevention and health promotion programs and adhere to ACPM's Principles of Health Reform, including:

• Retain coverage for all those currently insured;
• Ensure patient protections in the marketplace, including prohibitions on benefit caps and prohibitions on discriminations against persons with pre-existing conditions;
• Support first dollar public and private insurance coverage of recommended clinical preventive services; and,
• Support access to, and coverage of, immunizations, including adult immunizations, as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

2. Protect disease prevention and health promotion programs and incentives in any entitlement reform attempts.

3. Support federal funding and legislation consistent with preventive medicine to address the opioid epidemic and other substance use disorders.

4. Advocate for sustained, predictable, and sufficient funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Prevent further cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund provided to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Oppose any cuts for public health activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) including community prevention initiatives, research, surveillance and tracking, and public health infrastructure;
• Support a public health emergency fund at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a minimum $300 million investment that does not supplant other funding.

5. In collaboration with our coalition partners, advocate 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.

Tier III

As these issues arise, ACPM will work to:

1. 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.

2. Support public health efforts around firearms injury and death.

• Support evidence-based restrictions on gun sales and implementation of background checks.
• Ensure access to mental healthcare for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses and substance use disorders and full funding of federal incentives for states to provide information about disqualifying mental illnesses to the National Instant Check System for firearm purchasers.

3. Raise the minimum age of legal access to all tobacco products to 21 years and support Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight of e-cigarettes and associated products.

4. Uphold vaccination requirements for school entry and limit vaccine exemptions to only those with medical contraindications. Oppose efforts that aim to roll back government support of vaccinations.