FROM THE HILL SIRPAC resources


• Please check out our most recent webinar on the “IR Education” Youtube page (uploaded Feb. 25, 2016), hosted by me with our special guest, SIR Director of Government and Policy Affairs Doug Huynh JD.


• Also visit our webpage, sirweb.org/sirpac for more information and opportunities to contribute to SIRPAC.


Rep. Blackburn is currently the vice chair of the Energy and Commerce (E & C) committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. She also serves on the E & C Health Subcommittee.


Rep. Blackburn was able to briefly observe a kyphoplasty procedure and discussed other procedures such as uterine fibroid embolization and chronic pain management. Pain management is an especially heated topic and discussion in Congress, stemming from the recent reports by the CDC and several prominent news outlets regarding today’s heroin epidemic in the United States, which has been thought to be somewhat related to prescription opioid medication.


Regarding pain management, we discussed several procedures in IR that assist with pain management, including kyphoplasty, arthrography, facet joint injections, nerve root block, SI joint injections and several other procedures that our attending physicians choose to perform.


Her immediate reaction was very positive. Rep. Blackburn is a strong proponent of efficient, societal-improving medical practices and cost-effective procedures, with deep interests in dealing with the problems that Americans face daily. We were pleased to demonstrate the innovation and other qualities that make IR so important in high-quality patient care.


Assessing our strength Other specialties’ PACs receive far more contributions from their constituencies that SIRPAC does. A recent IR Quarterly article mentioned that disparity but I wanted to reiterate a few numbers to underscore their palpable importance.


In the United States, there are roughly 3,600 SIR member IR physicians (4,300 if you include residents). During our 2014 cycle, total contributions known as receipts were $102,583. Contributions to SIRPAC from donors of $200 or more: $60,165.


In the last cycles, however, other PACS received far more: • American College of Radiology (ACR): $2,686,031 • American College of Cardiology (ACC): $880,124 • Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS): $206,715


Although ACR and ACC admittedly have far more members than we do, we have more than SVS—and they received more than twice the contributions of SIR. As a result,


36 IR QUARTERLY | SPRING 2016


our PAC is weaker than it should be, especially given our innovative and exciting field, which is exponentially rise in popularity, cost effectiveness and patient satisfaction.


Building our strength, strengthening our voice If each member contributed the average amount ($250), we would receive a total $2,900,000. If each member contributed $50 (the price of a lunch for two), we would have $580,000, more than five times our average. Even aiming lower, if just a third of that group gave $100 annually, we would bring in. ($386,000).


Progress on the hill is defined by voice. Stronger voices become decision makers who shape our future. We need to be the stronger voice. In 2015 the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) became law. As part of that law, a merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS), which will be based on certain quality measures that define IR best practices, will begin to replace current systems starting in 2018. Our leadership, SIR past presidents Alan H. Matsumoto, MD, FSIR, and James B. Spies, MD, MPH, FSIR, have met with PCORI an CMS to discuss these “quality measures”, however, they can not act alone.


SIRPAC increases our influence with politicians, strengthens our voice on Capitol Hill when it comes to critical decisions such as implementation of the MACRA Law and MIPS. We need to be at the head of the discussion tables so we can be the ones defining our specialty. We cannot allow other specialties to formulate quality measures that define our “best practices”—that type of influence is provided to us with a stronger PAC, through our contributions and education of peers and congressmen.


It is vital for everyone, regardless of level of training and/or years of experience, to contribute to SIRPAC and reach out to members of Congress to build relationships and set up site visits. Site visits are an excellent opportunity to personally represent IR to lawmakers and educate them on how current political issues impact patient care. As a team of physicians with a common goal in the realm of IR, we need to increase our political representation on both sides of the table.


How can your practice help? Fortunately, there are steps we can all take:


• Contribute to SIRPAC often, as a practice.


• As a leader in IR, reach out to other members regarding contributions and education.


• Always consider yourself an advocate for SIR. Our future is defined by the political climate.


• Assign a representative in your practice to become familiar with SIRPAC, keep up with relevant political news and updates, and report back to the practice to further educate partners, fellows, resident and students.


• Encourage trainees to become familiar with why SIRPAC matters. Provide lectures and educate, educate, educate.


• Set up site visits using SIRPAC staff once you have in mind a particular member of Congress.


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