This post was authored by Kim Allan Williams, Sr., MD, FACC, president-elect of the ACC.

Hundreds of cardiovascular professionals will gather in Washington, DC, Sept. 14-16 to get up-to-speed on the health care landscape and become effective advocates for patients and cardiovascular professionals during ACC’s 2014 Legislative Conference.

Given that we’re in the midst of an era of constant change and increasing burdens within the health care system, it’s only appropriate that this year’s conference will focus on how ACC is leading the transformation of care. This event provides the opportunity to interact with congressional and federal policymakers as well as national health experts, and discuss the regulation and legislation which is vital to the success of practices in every setting.  With 33 Senators and all members of the House of Representatives up for re-election this year, your voice as an ACC member is critical to ensuring that cardiology’s interests are protected.

To kick off the conference, celebrated political power couple James Carville and Mary Matalin will take the stage during a special dinner hosted by ACC Political Action Committee (ACCPAC), which serves as the voice of cardiology. As most of us live far away from the Capital Beltway, this annual event provides an insider’s view of the political landscape in Washington.

After a night of networking and supporting the ACCPAC, it’s time to delve into the education. The first day provides a look at hot issues impacting the health policy landscape, with sessions led by ACC staff and/or issue experts with the goal of equipping participants with the knowledge needed to effect change. An impressive lineup of speakers from several government agencies will provide vital insight into the health care climate and the direction medicine is headed. Speakers will include:

• Michael S. Lauer, MD, FACC, FAHA, director, division of cardiovascular sciences, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• Mark Miller, executive director, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
• Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration

Key congressional staff from the Senate Finance, House Ways and Means, and House Energy and Commerce committees will also be on hand to provide a view from the Hill. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to hear what these influencers have to say.

On the second day, attendees will head to Capitol Hill to meet directly with lawmakers. This is a unique opportunity for ACC members to provide insight into the practice of medicine and help legislators understand how the decisions they make impact cardiovascular professionals and their patients. From my experience, the most successful Hill meetings are those made up of ACC members from across the care team and/or at various stages in their careers. The breadth of experiences can really bring an issue to life for a lawmaker and their staff.

I encourage you to register for the conference and secure your tickets for the ACCPAC dinner by emailing Kendra Adams at kadams@acc.org before it’s too late. Hope to see you in DC in September!

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