The long game: A progress update surrounding our DO Day asks

It may seem like it was just yesterday that hundreds of DOs and osteopathic medical students convened on Capitol Hill to advocate for our patients and profession in meetings with our respective legislative representatives. While those days in April are embraced with a huge amount of enthusiasm and energy, what comes after we all head back home is the real work.

Many of us may think of advocacy in terms of actionable moves and face-to-face conversations, but more importantly, action from advocacy often comes from the formation of long-term relationships and consistent messaging as we continue to inch toward the ultimate finish line. It is this consistency behind why you may see many “repeat appearances” when it comes to our specific DO Day asks (i.e., the REDI Act in 2023 and 2024).

With that in mind, it is also always important to take a moment to check in and celebrate the incremental and significant progress we have made (with the tireless efforts of our AOA Public Policy team in Washington, D.C., to thank) on our three asks from DO Day 2024.

The Resident Education Deferred Interest ‘REDI’ Act (H.R. 1202/S. 704)

As I’ve mentioned before, this was the second year that we brought this bill to our legislative leaders as we continue to advocate for graduating medical students and residents in training. This bill, which would allow residents to continue to hold their student loans in an interest-free deferment while completing their respective training programs, has continued to build bipartisan and bicameral support with our ongoing efforts.

As of Aug. 1, with the House in recess and the Senate expected to join them on Aug. 5, H.R. 1202 is now up to 66 bipartisan cosponsors with a near equal split—Democrats slightly ahead with 34 to the Republicans’ 32.                  

S. 704 is now up to 16 cosponsors, also bipartisan, with 10 Democrats and 6 Republicans signifying their support. Taking into account the actions during the week that we were on Capitol Hill, our efforts have brought 23 new representatives and four new senators on board in support of providing this relief to medical graduates.

Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474)

H.R. 2474 was also a featured “ask” during DO Day 2024, which demonstrates the ongoing importance and efforts the AOA places on ensuring consistent access to high-quality health care for some of the most at-risk individuals, especially those in rural and underserved areas, and areas in which DOs make up a significant proportion of the physician workforce.

This bill would protect those practices’ ability to remain financially viable community resources by ensuring that Medicare reimbursement rates remain aligned with the ongoing rise in costs associated with maintaining a private practice, or the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).

Fortunately, our advocacy engagement does seem to be gaining traction as the Senate recently introduced the Physician Fee Stabilization Act (S. 4935), which would increase the budget neutrality threshold from $20 million to $35 million, followed by updated increases every five years to keep pace with the MEI.

In addition, H.R. 2474 continues to gain cosponsors, with a total of 152 cosponsors—113 Democrats and 39 Republicans—prior to the August recess. Like the REDI Act, we have also seen interest increase in conjunction with our actions in April, with 25 new signatories since the week of our visit.

The Safety from Violence for Health Care Employees ‘SAVE’ Act (H.R. 2584/S. 2768)

The SAVE Act was a new entrant to DO Day 2024 and is meant to provide physicians and all health care workers with added protection from harm in the workplace. This bill, also bipartisan and bicameral, would elevate the acts of interfering with health care workers’ duties or acts of violence against physicians and other health care workers to the level of a felony offense punishable by up to 10 to 20 years in prison. It would also call for grant funding to be provided to hospitals and health care centers for the purpose of improving the safety and security of those working within their walls. 

Like the two bills discussed earlier, this bill also has seen continued growth since our days in Washington, D.C. As of the August recess, on the House side this bill has the support of 117 bipartisan representatives—74 Democrats and 43 Republicans, with Senate cosponsors—three Republicans, one Democrat and one Independent.

While the Senate number may seem small, it is always important to recognize that as the “deliberative chamber” of Congress, bills do move more slowly through the Senate. Sixty percent of those cosponsors came either during or after the AOA came to town as well—meaning that on the House side, we can celebrate an addition of 32 cosponsors since mid-April.

What does this all mean?

You may be looking at these numbers and wondering “So what do I do with this?” and that is a very valid response. It is important to see these numbers for what they are—progress! In a world driven by likes, retweets and follows, it can sometimes be hard to appreciate the diligent and deliberate steps taken to take a bill from initial introduction all the way to the White House. While we all like to see the fruits of our labor more quickly, it is important to also celebrate the advancements along the way. As they say—Rome wasn’t built in a day.

With the continued efforts by all of you and the AOA’s amazing policy team, we have been able to keep these three asks in the foreground of health policy discussions and have seen consistent additions to our list of cosponsors.

It also means that there is still work to do. Like I’ve said, advocacy doesn’t stop when your plane’s wheels lift off the D.C. ground en route to your home. It also means you should not be surprised if you see any of these making a return trip to the Hill with us in 2025—each step is one closer to change.

What can I do?

Keep up the great work! That means continuing to talk with your legislative leaders about these, and other topics, that are important to you or those you love. You don’t have to be in Washington, D.C., to continue the conversation with lawmakers. Follow-up emails, phone calls or even (those ancient relics) hand-written notes can go a long way toward keeping the door open between you and your congresspeople.

If you are looking to do more, August recess may mean your legislators are not on Capitol Hill, but it does mean they are back home and wanting to hear from constituents. As Congress re-enters session on Sept. 9, there may still be time to make an appointment to speak with your representatives in their home office and bring the advocacy to their backyard. And if not, keep your eyes open for other opportunities to connect with your representatives when they are in their home districts throughout the year.  

Not sure how to make the appointment? Check out the AOA’s Osteopathic Advocacy Network to find resources on how you can get assistance with scheduling a local meeting.

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