Newsletters

POSTED: June 16th, 2023
POSTED IN: 2023 Quarter 2, EM Pulse - The Official Newsletter of MOCEP,

Written by Jonathan Heidt, MD, MHA, FACEP, Chair EMPAC

The Missouri Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee (EMPAC) has had a busy year advocating for issues that directly impact the daily practice of emergency medicine physicians across the state and the ability of all Missourians to access high-quality emergency care.  During the 2023 legislative session, we have been able to support many members of the legislature who have been our allies with our causes, while also providing education on the current and future battles that face emergency medicine.

One reoccurring issue that we have had to continually battle is scope of practice.  We firmly believe that physician-led care teams should be available to our patients in the emergency department.  Once again, we had to fight against independent practice and the elimination of collaborative practice agreements.  Thankfully, with the help of our allies, we were able to stop an attempt again this year; however, we expect it to arise again in 2024.

Another legislative success this year was expansion of postpartum Medicaid coverage.  After a difficult journey through the legislature, postpartum coverage has been extended from 60 days to 12 months.  The progression of this bill was uncertain at times as amendments were added in an attempt to thwart its progress.  Through tireless advocacy work, a clean version of the bill was passed extending this important coverage.  

We also had success in supporting the state recognition of the new CMS designation of rural emergency hospitals.  We have been deeply concerned about the rapid closure of access to emergency care in Missouri’s rural communities.  In some parts of our state, our patients are over an hour away from the closest emergency department.  Even though this new designation is not the solution to the problem, it may allow emergency departments to remain open that would have otherwise closed due to financial constraints.  

Even though the 2023 legislative session ended only a few weeks ago, we are already preparing for 2024 and we need your support!  We anticipate legislative areas of focus to include peer review protection for EMS, reduction of violence in our emergency departments, and the plague of boarding and overcrowding.  

In 2023, there was an attempt to allow peer review protection for EMS in order to improve quality of care.   Unfortunately, the trial attorneys were able to confuse the issue, which prevented the bill from passing.  We anticipate this action to be a priority early in the next legislative session in order to get it passed.

Violence in our emergency departments has also been on the rise.  The majority of emergency physicians and nurses can attest to having been verbally or physically assaulted while at work.  The increase in violence has risen during the COVID 19 pandemic, resulting in worsening burn-out of physicians and nurses.  This trend is unacceptable and must stop.  

All of us have also witnessed the impact that boarding and crowding has had on the quality of care that we are able to deliver in the emergency department.  Patients are forced to wait not only hours for an inpatient bed, but in some instances several days.  The overcrowding issue not only diminishes the care we are able to provide but also exacerbates the problem of violence in the emergency department.  This issue is quite complex due to misalignment of financial incentives in the healthcare system; however, despite the complexity, we must start looking for future solutions.

We appreciate your support of the Missouri Emergency Medicine PAC.  Our fight is far from over.  Please consider donating today so that we can continue to advocate for issues that matter to you and will impact your daily practice!  You can donate by adding funds to your ACEP dues invoice for the Missouri EMPAC, or by going to our website and contributing here.