EDPMA Political Action Committee
The EDPMA-PAC is a federally qualified political action committee of the emergency medicine practice management industry affiliated and sponsored by the Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA).
The EDPMA-PAC is a trade association PAC whose political contributions support elected officials and candidates for federal office who recognize and support the critical role, and value of emergency medicine in our healthcare system.
Purpose
The EDPMA-PAC’s purpose is to further the advocacy agenda of EDPMA by supporting the election of federal and state legislators who are engaged in the healthcare debate and who understand the important role that emergency physicians play as a cornerstone in the nation’s healthcare safety net. The EDPMA-PAC supports candidates who believe that emergency medicine is a vital element of America’s healthcare system.
How does an EDPMA-PAC contribution benefit emergency medicine?
In today’s political environment of increasing regulation and decreasing revenue, EDPMA must be proactive. Contributions to the EDPMA-PAC provide EDPMA the opportunity for you to amplify your voice by helping us to educate Members of Congress and State Legislators about EDPMA’s legislative and regulatory priorities.
Why is contributing to EDPMA-PAC critical now?
Emergency medicine continues to face significant threats from reductions in reimbursement from both private insurers and government healthcare programs. Now, more than ever, we need elected officials who understand the need for legislation that ensures that emergency care is funded appropriately. We have seen insurer-backed “think tanks” and lobbyists spread mistruths about the value of emergency medicine in our fragile healthcare system. We must have Members of Congress and State Legislators who understand the real truth, and value, of the care we provide.
Who does EDPMA-PAC support?
Since the EDPMA-PAC was formed in 2003, it has supported both Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate. Special consideration is given to Members of Congress and candidates for elected office who are in a unique position to support EDPMA’s interests, especially those who were practicing healthcare professionals before running for office. The decision of which candidates to support is made by the EDPMA-PAC Committee comprised of individuals from EDPMA member organizations.
Who can contribute? Are there contribution limits?
Any member organization of EDPMA can authorize their individual employees to be part of the EDPMA-PAC solicitable class and eligible to contribute. Personal contributions are limited to $5,000 per year. Contributions to federal PACs are not tax-deductible.
I want to get involved with the EDPMA-PAC or I have questions. Who do I contact?
Contact @info@edpma.org for more information.
Dr. Bing Pao is the EDPMA-PAC Chair.
Wake Emergency Physicians, PA’s PAC Story
Wake Emergency Physicians, PA (WEPPA) established a Political Action Committee in 2005 and has had great success supporting winning candidates that advocate for our patients and our specialty.
One of our early successes was supporting North Carolina legislators that passed tort reform in 2011 that included a cap on non-economic damages (originally $500,000 updated annually for inflation. It is currently at $656,730) and a “gross negligence” standard for emergency medical care. While this law continues to be challenged, it has stood for 13 years and has resulted in significantly lower professional liability costs that makes North Carolina an attractive place for physicians to live and work.
Over the years, the WEPPA PAC has supported legislators who voted for Medicaid expansion, prudent layperson legislation and reasonable limits on scope of practice. Most recently our PAC supported an emergency medicine physician who ran for the NC State House in 2022 and won. Dr. Reeder’s bill requiring law enforcement at all hospitals that have emergency rooms was signed into law last October and will improve safety across the state for providers, patients and their families.
WEPPA encourages all of our shareholder physicians to contribute at minimum of $100 a month from a payroll deduction with the option to have a portion of the contribution go directly to NEMPAC as well. The WEPPA PAC uses the funds to directly support candidates and also gives annual PAC to PAC contributions to EDPMA, the North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians and the North Carolina Medical Society.
While setting up and maintaining a PAC is not difficult, there are a number of very specific laws and reporting guidelines you must follow so getting advice from your state medical society, an attorney familiar with FEC guidelines or another knowledgeable expert is highly recommended!