Members demand Medicare physician payment reform at AADA Legislative Conference

On Sept. 8, over 200 dermatologists and patient advocates gathered in Washington, D.C. to urge Congress to reform Medicare physician payment, AADA’s sole federal congressional priority. This was the largest Legislative Conference in the Academy’s history with over 190 advocates holding 217 meetings with their federal legislators.

The conference kicked off with AADA President Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, expressing the need for unity among the specialty regarding the Academy’s advocacy priorities. Participants also learned how Medicare physician payment reform must include a positive annual inflationary update and elimination of budget neutrality requirements, and how to communicate those messages to their legislators.