911 Information (FAQ) Page

More than 2,000 ACEP and EMRA members are participating in the 911 Legislative Network, acting as resources and health care issue experts for federal legislators to maximize the voice of emergency medicine in the federal legislative process. ACEP established the 911 Network in 1998 to encourage our members to cultivate long-term relationships with federal legislators, convey ACEP's legislative and regulatory priorities-in an effective manner, and affect the final outcome of federal legislation important to the specialty of emergency medicine.

The 911 Network is effective and important to the practice of emergency medicine:

• The 911 Network is the only dedicated grassroots advocacy action network that speaks on behalf of the specialty of emergency medicine and patients seeking emergency care;
• 911 Network Members act as resources and health care issue experts for federal legislators and their staff to maximize the voice of emergency medicine in the federal legislative process;
• 911 Network Members are the first line of defense and are valued experts in Washington, DC when critical federal legislation is considered;
• Recently, 911 Network Members have advocated on a host of issues that impact emergency medicine including the successful repeal of the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) created in the ACA, mental health legislation, Graduate Medical Education (GME) reform, funding for emergency medicine research and trauma care, and medical liability reform including legislation to provide liability protections for EMTALA related care and safe harbor legislation, to name a few;
• The 911 Network “Weekly Update” is sent to all Network Members by email every week that Congress is in session to provide a summary of the latest legislative and political issues impacting emergency care. For samples of recent weekly e-mails, click here.

The Network is comprised of State, Leaders, Team Captains and Team Members.

LEVEL I: 911 NETWORK MEMBERS

• 911 Network Members receive weekly public policy and advocacy updates via email and are asked to respond to ACEP Action Alerts when needed.

LEVEL II: TEAM CAPTAINS

• Team Captains are self-identified ACEP advocates who want to play a more substantive role in national policy and advocacy efforts on behalf of emergency physicians and their patients. Team Captains are asked to actively serve for at least two years (the length of one congressional session). Additional activities may include:
  • Develop on-going communications with Member of Congress’ legislative staff person responsible for health issues
  • Participate in a district meeting in a Member of Congress’ local office, preferably with the Member but also with staff
  • Join Member of Congress’ social network including Facebook, Twitter, etc. as applicable
  • Host an Emergency Department visit for a Member of Congress and/or staff
  • Recruit 5 new 911 Network advocates
  • Deliver a NEMPAC check locally to a congressional candidate if requested by the ACEP national office or attend a local fundraiser as a representative of ACEP
  • Attend the annual Leadership and Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC
  • Participate in Team Captain/State Leader conference calls, Advocacy Webinars and/or Tele forums as scheduled.

LEVEL III: STATE LEADERS

ACEP State Chapters and the Federal Government Affairs Committee are encouraged to identify and nominate State Leaders. The responsibilities and expectations for the State Leaders are similar to those for the Team Captains with some additional duties. Team Captains, State Leaders are asked to actively serve for at least two years (the length of one congressional session).

Additional duties for State Leaders may include:

• Provide at least one legislative update (verbal, written, or online) to your state chapter per year. Legislative updates can be presented at Chapter Annual Meetings, via chapter newsletter, or via email to state members.
• Distribution of ACEP action alerts through appropriate state communication vehicles (e-lists, newsletters, websites, Twitter, etc.).
• Coordination of 911 Network and Team Captain recruitment at Chapter Annual Meetings (or other events, as appropriate). State leaders are asked to help recruit additional Team Captains, ED Visits facilitators, and Advocacy Conference participants from key districts within their state.

There are several ways that ACEP communicates with the 911 Network Members:

WEEKLY UPDATE

Sent by email weekly when both the House and Senate are in session to inform you of the latest legislative, political and regulatory issues and activities. Action Alerts: Sent by email requesting you contact your Representative or Senators about a specific issue or vote. A link to the Advocacy Action Center is provided where you will find sample letters and talking points that can be sent directly to your legislators with a click of a button.

CALL ALERTS

We provide an (800) number that you can use to call your Representative's or Senators' offices. Often the message is as simple as, "I live in Representative X's district and would like him or her to support bill # xxx".

DELIVERY OF NEMPAC CONTRIBUTIONS

Some NEMPAC contributions are delivered directly by 911 Network members who reside in the legislators’ districts. This helps reinforce the presence of a local contact and resource on emergency medicine issues and provides the Network member with another opportunity to interact with legislators. To view photos of ACEP members delivering NEMPAC contributions, please click here.

ED VISITS

We also encourage 911 Network members to invite their legislators to tour their emergency department. This provides the legislator and staff the opportunity to witness, first-hand, the operations of an ED and to meet their constituents. We provide assistance in setting up the visit. To view photos of past ED Visits, please click here.

TRAINING

To help improve your lobbying skills, political education training through the “School of Political Advocacy” is offered each year during the ACEP Scientific Assembly. The school teaches new 911 members the federal legislative process and effective grassroots lobbying techniques. This training will help you communicate more effectively with your legislators. ACEP 911 Network members are also encouraged to attend the annual ACEP Leadership and Advocacy Conference (LAC) held in Washington, D.C. every spring.