The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) advocates with Congressional lawmakers on issues relating to patient safety, research funding, payment policy and more. AADA staff and member volunteers continuously monitor legislative activity, weigh in on issues that affect the specialty, and proactively pursue legislation that benefits dermatologists and their patients.

Current legislative priorities

The AADA is currently pursuing a number of legislative priorities on Capitol Hill. In September, more than 100 dermatologists and patient advocates joined forces in Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress on many of these issues at the 2012 Legislative Conference. 

Find out more about the AADA's federal legislative priorities below:

Health system reform legislation: Given the results of the 2012 elections, several health care policies and laws established under the Affordable Care Act will move forward. The AADA has prepared for the possibility that implementation of these policies would proceed and will continue to work to ensure that the voice of dermatology is heard.

• Visit the Health System Reform Resource Center to learn how the 2012 election results will affect implementation of the ACA.
• The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) has been a target for repeal. Learn more about the provision and read the repeal bills.
• Supreme Court upholds the Affordable Care Act.
• Congress repeals 1099 tax form provision.

Medicare physician payment: Only action by Congress can fix ongoing flaws in the formula used to calculate physician payment under Medicare. Your AADA monitors all Medicare-related legislation with a focus on payment related to the sustainable growth rate (SGR).

• AADA signs AMA letter urging SGR repeal.
• AADA urges congress to protect Medicare physician payment.
• OMB releases report detailing sequestration cuts.
• Visit the AADA physician payment Web page.

Indoor tanning: The AADA continues to push the federal government to enact laws that will protect consumers and promote awareness about the dangers of indoor tanning. Currently, the AADA is promoting the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act.

• Energy and Commerce Committee releases tanning salon investigation.
• Visit the AADA federal indoor tanning legislation page.
• The dangers of indoor tanning.
• Rep. Brian Bilbray speaks out about skin cancer.

Medical research funding: As Congress debates the fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget, the AADA is pushing to ensure the National Institutes of Health and other important agencies receive much-needed government funding

• AADA urges Congress to stop medical research funding cuts.

• AADA supports legislation establishing skin cancer research fund.

• Summary of FY2013 President's Budget.
• On March 14, the AADA joined several other organizations in urging House Defense appropriators to support funding for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program in the FY2013 Department of Defense Appropriations bill.
• AADA, along with other One Voice Against Cancer member organization, sent a letter to the House of Appriopriations Committee urging congress to support funding for cancer prevention and control programs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
• Read letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee, from AADA and other One Voice Against Cancer member organizations, urging support for a National Institutes of Health budget.

• FY2012 final appropriations summary.
• The AADA signed on to a letter thanking the House Appropriations Committee for including funding for the Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program in the FY 2012 Department of Defense Budget. The AADA sent a similar letter to Senate appropriators to urge their support as the legislation is being negotiated.
• Read the One Voice Against Cancer coalition letter to the House appropriations leadership.
• Visit the AADA supercommittee page to see how their decisions may affect medical research and education funding.
• The AADA joins hundreds of organizations in opposing cuts to medical research funding for FY 2012. Compare House and Senate proposed funding levels to FY 2011.
• The AADA opposes spending cuts of graduate medical education (GME) funding.

Medical liability reform: The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that medical liability reforms would reduce federal deficits by more than $50 billion over 10 years. The AADA strongly supports the restoration of balance to, and reform of, the medical liability system.

• HR 5, which the House Judiciary Committee has passed, would cap non-economic damages at $250,000.
• The AADA sent a letter to Chairman Smith of the Judiciary Committee expressing support for HR 5.

Truth in advertising: The AADA supports federal laws that ensure patients get correct information about the degree, board certification and licensure of their health care providers. The AADA is currently advocating for enactment of the Health Care Truth and Transparency Act of 2010.

• View the AADA position statement on truth in advertising and professional credential disclosure.
• Read HR 451, the Health Care Truth and Transparency Act of 2011.
• The AADA sent a letter to Congress supporting HR 451.

• U.S. House of Representatives
• U.S. Senate
• THOMAS (Library of Congress legislative text tracking)
• USA.gov (Listing of U.S. government departments and agencies)
• White House