“My first election was a crowded primary. If I didn’t have the support from my colleagues and their medical PACs, I would not have had the gas in the tank to make it across the finish line,” said Rep. Burgess. “[SIRPAC was] there with me and helping me every step of the way. Your support matters.”
Building a relationship By supporting IR-friendly candidates, SIRPAC contributions open the door to new partnerships.
“These contributions help build relationships with key policymakers and ensure that the issues important to IR are brought to the forefront in legislative discussions,” said Roger T. Tomihama, MD, SIRPAC vice-chair. “By strategically supporting candidates and initiatives that align with our goals, SIRPAC plays a crucial role in shaping the legislative landscape in which we operate.”
This means that when IR-relevant issues, such as diabetes, peripheral arterial disease or even trauma, are discussed by legislators, SIR can use these established relationships to make sure that the IR voice is heard.
“The policymakers voting on a variety of bills—to stabilize Medicaid or Medicare funding; adjust reimbursements rates for specific procedures; or adjust the context of hospital-based payments, office-based labs, and ambulatory surgical center and payments—are the same representatives that SIRPAC nurtures relationships with,” said Dr. Shah.
The IR benefit Advocacy is one of SIR’s many member benefits, but simply joining SIR isn’t enough to fully support IR advocacy, according to Drs. Shah and Tomihama.
“SIR gives us education, infrastructure and resources to be the best IRs in our areas. By joining SIR, you have access to a huge brain trust, networking, conferences and seminars,” said Dr. Shah. “But I think sometimes people forget about advocacy. Behind every procedure is an entire billing infrastructure, and how much you get paid is determined by a long, upstream sequences of events.”
Jay Shah, MD SIRPAC chair
about healthcare and my communities, I have to care about policy as well.”
This realization motivated Dr. Shah to take a leave of absence from medical school to work as a Congressional aide— and is also why he views advocacy as a patient access issue.
“You’re not necessarily advocating or donating for yourself. You’re doing it for your patients. Because if you don’t exist, your patients can’t benefit from your care,” Dr. Shah said.
Roger T. Tomihama, MD SIRPAC vice-chair
By donating to SIRPAC, however, members are investing in their ability to practice, Dr. Shah said.
“You can be the best IR in your area, country or the whole world. But if you’re not getting properly reimbursed, you’re not going to be able to practice in a setting of your choice, like an OBL. You won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of your training.”
Nothing about SIRPAC is quid pro quo. IR advocates cannot simply host or attend a fundraiser and expect that IR reimbursement increases will follow, Dr. Shah said. But by creating good relationships, SIRPAC contributions allow IR advocates to provide policymakers with all the information needed to understand why IR is so crucial to patient care.
The patient benefit To Dr. Shah, everything boils down to quality healthcare and patient access.
Physicians pursue healthcare careers because they care about communities and patients and want to make a difference in patients’ lives, he said. “To me, if I care
He cited his own state, Georgia, as an example—while Atlanta and its suburbs are home to many IRs, patients who live in rural counties close by don’t always have access to the same breadth of services. As a result, patients who need an IR either go without or must be transferred to the city, resulting in delayed care, additional costs and patient burdens.
“Involvement in SIRPAC is an investment not only in our profession but also in the future of patient care,” said Dr. Tomihama. “IR has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of many conditions, and it’s essential that we have a strong voice in shaping the policies that will determine how our specialty evolves.”
Dr. Tomihama encourages every SIR member to consider how they can contribute to SIRPAC’s efforts, whether through donations, advocacy or simply by staying informed about the issues that affect the field.
“If you care about your patients and you care about access for your patients, that means you have to care about the future of IR and ensure that IR is supported and expanded,” said Dr. Shah. “That in and of itself is enough of a reason to support SIRPAC.”
Creating a culture of contributing According to Dr. Shah, his goal as SIRPAC chair is to make sure that the PAC is in a strong financial position— which can only be accomplished by helping members understand the benefits it creates for them.
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