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What We've Been Working On.... 

Press Coverage of the National Physicians Alliance

Advocacy Work:

• the NPA joined the Campaign for Children’s Health and has fought for the reauthorization and expansion of S-CHIP funding
• the NPA has endorsed the Health Partnership Act which authorizes grants to states to increase health care coverage, enhance quality, improve efficiency of health care spending, and advance use of information technology
• the NPA has launched a campaign to protect physician prescribing privacy and is working with closely with Community Catalyst to educate physicians about anti-data mining legislation in several states; these initiatives aim to ban the sale of individual physicians’ prescribing data for commercial purposes and to reduce the overwhelming marketing pressures of pharmaceutical companies.  This campaign has involved:

• the placement of multiple op-eds and letters-to-editors on this issue 
• NPA members have testified on the issue at the city, state, and federal level
• Development of new website resources, including links to industry-free CME
• Education of our members on the nature and scope of pharmaceutical marketing strategies
• an on-line petition and letter-writing campaign in support of a ban on the sale of prescriber records for commercial purposes
• multiple presentations by NPA members to colleagues and to the public

• a bill drafted by the NPA on safety-focused malpractice reform has received favorable interest from a senior member of Congress
• the NPA has joined a coalition to address the global health care worker shortage and is working to help pass the African Health Capacity Investment Act of 2007 which supports nations of Sub-Saharan Africa to train and retain health providers and to build a sustainable health care system
• the NPA has joined a Patient and Consumer Coalition of organizations representing patients, scientists, and public health officials calling for the FDA to create a dedicated Center for Postmarket Evaluation and Research for Drugs, Biologics, and Medical Devices
• the NPA issued a press release calling on HHS secretary Michael Leavitt to rescind the appointment of Eric Keroack to the post of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (Keroack has since stepped down)
• the NPA issued a press release expressing deep concern over the nomination of Dr. James Holsinger, Jr. for U.S. Surgeon General
• the NPA has endorsed 08.STOP.AIDS : A Plan to Stop Global AIDS
• the NPA has joined the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity
• the NPA testified before the Washington DC City Council Committee on Health regarding new legislation requiring annual disclosure of marketing expenditures by pharmaceutical companies
• the NPA submitted written testimony to the Senate Special Committee on Aging regarding relationships between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry
• the NPA issued a report card of 2008 presidential candidates’ health reform proposals, rating how each responds to the principles set forth by the Institute of Medicine
• the NPA is supporting S. 301 , the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, as an active member of the National Coalition for Appropriate Prescribing
• the NPA is supporting the Africa Health Capacity Act and working in coalition to expand health-care capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa
• the NPA is supporting "Our Vision for A Healthier America," drafted by the Trust for America's Health
• the NPA has joined the coalition Health Care for America Now and endorsed HR. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act

Organizational Development:

• three successful national conferences
• quarterly leadership planning meetings held around the country
• the seating of a full board of directors, an advisory board, and an advisory council of consumers
• the hiring of a full time executive director, half-time project coordinator, and one intern
• fully staffing seven working committees, each of which holds monthly or biweekly conference calls
• developing local action groups in many metropolitan areas
• launched a "healthy foods" listserve to develop nutrition policy
• maintaining a close and mutually supportive relationship with AMSA and CIR
• launching a blog and developing our current website
• expansion of member benefits
• launch of a niche job board
• outreach to other organizations and advocacy groups (e.g., Center for Science in the Public Interest; the AIDS Institute; Human Rights Campaign; Community Catalyst, & more)
• successful inaugural regional conference
• launch of the NPA FOUNDATION
• launch of three major advocacy campaigns: the Unbranded Doctor, Secure Health Care for All, and Rx: Vote

 

Press Coverage of the National Physicians Alliance