One of the key ways in which the College works to effect public policy,
is through participation in coalitions and other collaborative efforts
with medical societies and related health groups. Such collaborative
efforts provide a means through which the College can effectively apply
its resources in concert with others and focus them collectively toward
a common goal. The following are some of the Coalitions through which
the ACC has successfully worked:
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/
1-800-284-KIDS
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is the action arm of the National
Center for Tobacco-Free Kids, the country's largest non-governmental
initiative ever launched to protect children from tobacco addiction.
The Campaign works to protect kids from tobacco by: raising awareness
that tobacco use is a pediatric disease; changing public policies to
limit the marketing and sales of tobacco to children; altering the environment
in which tobacco use and policy decisions are made; and actively countering
the tobacco industry and its special interests.
- Partners for Effective Tobacco Policy
A key aspect of Campaign membership is the opportunity to participate
in a coalition called the Partners for Effective Tobacco Policy
(PARTNERS). The Partners coalition works to achieve tobacco policy
change at the federal level. Currently, more than 60 national organizations
are committed to reducing death and disability caused by tobacco
use through activity in this collaborative vehicle.
Coalition for Health Funding
http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/healthfunding/start.htm
703-476-8060
The Coalition for Health Funding is a nonprofit alliance of 40 national
health organizations that works in a nonpartisan fashion to ensure that
health discretionary spending remains highly visible as Congress and
the Administration set federal budget priorities. Working with its members
that together represent 40 million health care professionals, researchers,
lay volunteers, patients and their families, the Coalition seeks to ensure
that funding for the programs and agencies that comprise the U.S. Public
Health Service is adequate to meet public need. Founded in 1970, the
Coalition is the oldest, most broadly based health coalition focused
on the budget and appropriations process for discretionary programs.
National Coalition for Heart and Stroke Research
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1072
The National Coalition for Heart and Stroke Research consists of 18 national
organizations representing more than 5 million volunteers and members
united in support for increased funding for heart disease and stroke
research. The mission of this coalition is to influence the process by
which the Executive Branch and Congress determine levels of funding for
cardiovascular and stroke research in favor of increased allocations.
The core functions of the coalition are be to generate larger grassroots
support for increased heart and stroke research funding, to foster and
support activities and strategies to increase research funds, and to
generate increased media coverage of heart and stroke issues.
Doctors for Medical Liability Reform
http://www.protectpatientsnow.org
Doctors for Medical Liability Reform (DMLR) is a coalition of 230,000
practicing medical specialists dedicated to protecting patients’ access
to health care by promoting the passage of federal legislation, including
a cap on non-economic damages awarded in medical liability cases.
Coalition for Affordable Health Care
http://www.healthtaxcredits.org/
The Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) was founded in 2001
as a consensus began to develop among various entities, including physician
organizations, employers, insurers and consumer groups, as to how to
increase the number of medically insured in our country. CAHC advocates
for market-based solutions, including advanceable and refundable tax
credits, to extend health coverage to uninsured Americans.
Coalition for Patient-Centered Imaging
800-435-9203
Coalition for Patient-Centered Imaging (CPCI) is a coalition of medical
societies dedicated to ensuring that patients continue to have access
to essential diagnostic imaging services in their physicians’ offices.
CPCI was formed in July 2002, in part, as a response to a misinformation
campaign targeted at non-radiologist physicians, such as cardiologists,
orthopaedic surgeons, and urologists, who provide in-office imaging services.
CPCI firmly believes treating physicians must continue to be able to
provide in-office diagnostic testing in order to best meet the needs
of their patients. In-office imaging provides the fastest, most efficient
and often most reliable results, which are used by treating physicians
in making life-saving decisions.
Ad Hoc Coalition to Save Lives through Public Access to Defibrillation
www.americanheart.org
The “Ad Hoc Coalition to Save Lives through Public Access Defibrillation”,
based out of the American Heart Association's office of Public Advocacy,
serves to promote grater access to automated external defibrillation
through federal legislation and funding measures. A loose organization
of some 40 groups, the coalitions is made up of private and non-profit
organizations of all sizes and from all across the United States.
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
http://www.womenheart.org/index.asp
The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease was founded in 1998
by three women who had heart attacks while in their 40s and faced many
obstacles during their recoveries, including misdiagnosis, under-treatment
and social isolation. The Coalition is the nation's only patient advocacy
organization that represents 8 million American women living with heart
disease and aims to improve their quality of life and cardiac health
through support, information and advocacy.
Stop Stroke Coalition
www.americanheart.org
The Stop Stroke Coalition works to raise awareness of the seriousness
of cardiovascular diseases and acts as a resource center on heart and
stroke issues, including biomedical research, quality and availability
of care, and health promotion and disease prevention. The Coalition also
works to advance public policy aimed at fighting cardiovascular diseases,
specifically stroke. For additional information, click
here. |
