2023 SCCACS Advocacy Efforts
In 2023, we built on the successful passage of AB 2260-Emergency Response: Trauma Kits, which placed bleeding control kits in newly constructed building. Assembly member Rodriguez introduced both AB 70-Emergency response: trauma kits and AB 71-Pupil instruction: bleeding control. This expands placement of bleeding control kits to renovated buildings and requires school districts to provide information on bleeding control on their websites. SCCACS and the JAC-ACSCC supported both AB 70 and 71.
As surgeons we continue to care for patients with firearm related injuries and deaths. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and the Association for the Surgery of Trauma have both provided statements and recommendations outlining strategies to increase firearm safety and reduce firearm related violence (Statement on fire arms – The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (aast.org) and (https://journals.lww.com/journalacs/Fulltext/2019/02000/Recommendations_from_the_American_College_of.7.aspx). It is in the spirit that the SCCACS and the JAC-ACSCC is supporting AB 28-Gun Violence Prevention, Healing and Recovery Act which places a tax on firearm and ammunition sales. The revenue will support efforts including research and programs aimed at decreasing firearm related injuries. This bill will not penalize firearm sellers or otherwise discourage lawful firearm sales.
Continued advocacy efforts were done with the passage of both AB 70 Emergency Response: Trauma Kit and AB 28 Firearms and Ammunition: Excise Tax. AB 70 will provide bleeding control kits for renovated buildings and AB 28 will place a tax to the manufactures of firearms and ammunitions. That revenue will go to supporting violence prevention programs and other initiatives to help decrease gun violence. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and the Association for the Surgery of Trauma both provided statements and recommendations outlining strategies to increase firearm safety and reduce firearm related violence (Statement on fire arms – The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (aast.org) and (https://journals.lww.com/journalacs/Fulltext/2019/02000/Recommendations_from_the_American_College_of.7.aspx).
Despite support from the National American College of Surgeons and the JAC-ACSCC, AB 632 Health Care Coverage: Prostate Cancer Screening was vetoed by the Governor. In addition, SB 868 to provide bleeding control kits to all CA classrooms and AB 71 to provide bleeding control instruction to high school student are on a two-year cycle. The JAC-ACSCC will continued to work with legislators.
AB 28, 70, 71, 632 and SB 868 were all supported by SCCACS and the Joint Committee of the ACS CA Chapters (JAC-ACSCC).
Lastly, SB 516 Health Care Coverage: Prior Authorization had undergone amendments and currently in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on a two-year cycle.
State Legislatures Help Advance Policies Favoring Surgical Patients
2023 saw state legislatures convened for the first full sessions since COVID-19. Overall, more than 104,000 state bills were introduced and 14,538 were enacted.
At the 2023 ACS Advocacy Summit surgeons met with representatives and addressed multiple issues including Medicare Reimbursement, addressing the physician workforce by addressing student loan debt, ensuring access to general surgery, and supporting the American College of Surgeons Priorities including: cancer prevention research, firearm injury prevention research and Mission Zero.