The Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons is coordinating activities and proactively identifying and supporting issues that impact practicing surgeons and patients at the state and national levels.  This is in collaboration with all three CA chapters formally termed the Joint Advocacy Committee of the ACS California Chapters (JAC-ACSCC). 

Upcoming Legislation:

AB 977: Emergency departments- assault and battery

AB 71: Pupil Instruction-bleeding control

SB 868: Pupil safety- trauma kits

Electric bike legislation:

AB 530: vehicles-electric bicycles (will prohibit a person under 12 from operating an electric bicycle of any class. Would create e-bike training program and licensing (online written test and state-issued photo)

AB 1774: vehicles-electric bicycles (which prohibits modification of an electric bike to change the speed capability)

AB 1778: vehicles-electric bicycles (will prohibit anyone under age 16 from riding a Category 2 or 3 e-bike.  Would require helmets for all class 2 or 3 electric bicycles)

Prior Authorization CMADocs > Stop Health Care Delays

Medicare Physician Payment Cuts Cuts overshadow new services in 2024 Medicare payment schedule | American Medical Association (ama-assn.org)

California Medical Association Priority Issues:

AB 470-Continuing medical education: physicians and surgeons

AB 571- Medical malpractice insurance

SB 487-Abortion: provider protections

SCCACS Advocacy Committee

Chair – Sigrid Burruss, MD, FACS
Loma Linda University

Thomas Duncan, DO, FACS
Ventura County Medical Center

Sammy Eghbalieh, MD, FACS
Southern CA Multispecialty Center

Lorrain Kelley-Quon, MD, FACS
CHLA/USC

Hari Keshava, MD
UCI

John Lam, MD, FACS
Southern CA Permanente Medical Group

Learn more about other advocacy efforts from 2023 in the Advocacy Archive.