ADVOCACY A review of the ways your organization is influencing change. ASPS is working closely with state and federal governments, third party payers, and organized medicine to preserve your practice autonomy and protect your bottom line. Here are just a few ways the Society was active in advocating on your behalf in 2012: 2012 STATE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS • Actively supported efforts in California and Washington to defeat proposals for cosmetic taxes on elective procedures. • Supported the efforts of the Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons to pass stronger liposuction safety requirements. • Supported the New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons in its successful repeal of the cosmetic procedures tax. • Championed tough “Name Your Board” truth in advertising legislation in Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, New York and Utah, with successful enactment in Maryland and Utah. • Successfully opposed dental scope of practice expansion legislation in New York. • Supported legislative and regulatory initiatives in Florida, New Jersey, Oregon and Virginia that would implement patient safety protections in the officebased surgical setting. • Successfully opposed Massachusetts medi-spa legislation that inappropriately targeted cosmetic medical practices. • Supported breast reconstruction patient education bills in Alabama, Massachusetts and Washington State. • Supported enactment of California legislation that stiffens penalties for unlawful, corporate-owned chain med-spa operators who may be practicing medicine without proper licensure or ownership structure. • Participated in the American Medical Association Scope of Practice Partnership. HEALTH POLICY AND ECONOMICS FDA, CONGRESS, CMS: A FULL PLATE OF FEDERAL ACTIVITIES • Continued to fight for permanent repeal of the flawed Medicare Physician Payment Formula Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) and helped stop a 30% payment cut for physicians. • Successfully sought a provision to allow specialties to control quality measure development and allow use of clinical registries to satisfy the requirements for Medicare Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). • Supported legislation that repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). • Advocated for Medicare Private Contracting legislation. • Reintroduced the Children’s Access to Reconstructive Evaluation and Surgery (CARES) legislation. • Introduced legislation designed to increase breast cancer patient awareness about their reconstruction options. • Supported legislation regarding truth and transparency to combat false advertising by nonphysician providers. • Fought to stop GME payment cuts • Advocated for legislation that makes changes to meaningful use standards for electronic health records. • Fought for medical liability reform. W W W. P L A S T I C S U R G E R Y. O R G