Workforce Advocacy

ACEP is committed to leading the charge that calls on all of us within emergency medicine to work together to evolve our profession so we can provide the best possible care for our patients.

• ACEP partnered with EMRA to submit a statement for the record for a Senate HELP Committee hearing on workforce shortages. The statement highlights how ongoing workforce shortages affect emergency care - including the importance of maintaining the physician-led team-based emergency care, persistent issues in providing emergency care in rural and underserved areas, issues regarding nurse staffing firm practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these workforce shortages contribute to ED boarding.

• After more than 6 years of advocacy by ACEP, Congress passed a provision as part of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act to allow  rural hospitals to voluntary convert to the newly established Rural Emergency Hospital starting in 2023. An REH will not provide inpatient services, but only emergency and other outpatient services—and it will receive higher Medicare (facility) reimbursement rates for these services.
• ACEP provided input on a CMS Request for Information to help shape the future of this new Rural Emergency Hospital designation. 
• ACEP leaders have met with CMS staff to problem-solve rural hospital closings and will continue to explore ways to ensure access to quality emergency care, led by emergency physicians, no matter a patient’s ZIP code.