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Inspiring Quality: Highest Standards, Better Outcomes 
Uniting Efforts to Improve the Quality of Surgical Care in New York
The ACS New York Chapter is actively working to add the surgeon voice to the major legislative debates on issues including access to care, single payer health care, tobacco purchase, recreational marijuana in addition to many other bills. Visit the SurgeonsVoice Action Center to see a list of all of the active issues.
With your support, the Chapter is positioned to promote and represent the viewpoints of the surgeon community before State and Federal legislative, regulatory and executive agencies. The Chapter sends alerts and online tools to help you respond quickly to elected officials and educate them on the impact of their policies. Moreover, Chapter staff can assist you in developing personal relationships with elected officials as well as provide forums with Chapter leadership to uncover prevailing issues and address concerns.
2024 Priorities
- Support Reductions in Administrative and Regulatory Burdens
- Seek Utilization Management Reforms
- Support Efforts to Increase Interoperability in Electronic Health Systems
- Promote Efforts to Appropriately Link Surgical Quality with Alternative Payment Models
- Support Comprehensive Medical Liability Reform
- Oppose Inappropriate Scope Expansions
- Further investigate the impact of universal coverage and a single payer system in NY
Current Calls to Action
Use our online grassroots advocacy center to directly email your elected representatives. A sample message is provided for you to send or modify. It should take you less than one minute to email each message.
Wrongful Death Damages Expansion S8485B/A9232B | Take Action
The New York Chapter of the American College of Surgeons opposes Senate bill 8485B and Assembly bill 9232B passed by the state legislature to tackle the challenges associated with the current methods of evaluating the values of a deceased family member when a wrongful death action is brought. The legislature failed to find a balance protecting patient rights with growing concerns about healthcare affordability and access.
NY Support Quality Assurance Protection S1015/A5316 | Take Action
The New York chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) is supporting Senate bill 1015 and Assembly bill 5316 introduced to preserve the confidentiality of hospital peer review and quality assurance (QA) programs.
Address Utilization Review Criteria S3400/A7268 | Take Action
The New York chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) is supporting Senate bill 3400 and Assembly bill 7268 introduced to require health insurers to use recognized, evidence-based and peer-reviewed criteria when considering the needs of typical patient populations during utilization review, as well as quicker responses for utilization review requests. The legislation is intended to streamline the utilization review and prior authorization process and allow physicians more time for patient care and less on paperwor
NY Bleeding Control Kits in Schools S7875/A3868 | Take Action
The New York chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) is supporting Senate bill 7875 and Assembly bill 3868 introduced to amend the current education law to require the development of a bleeding control program and the installation of bleeding control kits in schools. Accidental injury is a leading cause of death in New York and remains the leading cause of death for people under the age of 44. Up to 56 percent of deaths occur before the patient arrives at the hospital. Uncontrolled hemorrhage is a leading cause of those preventable traumatic deaths.
Increase in Age to Use UV Devices S3341/A1141 | Take Action
The New York chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) is supporting Senate bill 3341 and Assembly bill 1141 introduced to amend the public health law to increase the age requirement for the use of ultraviolet radiation (UV) devices, specifically tanning beds, from under18 to under 21 years of age. Raising the age of tanning bed use and curbing access during formative years, long-term health risks can be mitigated and potentially reduced future incidence rates.
Past Memorandums
Statements and Testimony
Statement on e-Cigarettes, Cannabis and Tobacco Use
Testimony in Opposition to Single Payer
2024 Chapter Advocacy Session Recap:The New York Chapter and the governmental affairs team at the ACS tracked and monitored 82 legislative proposals impacting the access, quality, and delivery of surgical care in NY. https://www.quorum.us/spreadsheet/external/QGjJBFIfORzJNAtlNvfp/
The Chapter worked with key policymakers to advocate for the inclusion of trauma funding support during this year’s State budget process, and while it was not included, has been invited to resubmit for the coming year. Chapter leaders also met with the sponsor of legislation that would inappropriately define the scope of practice for certified nurse anesthetists and educated him on the negative impacts the current version would have on patients and the delivery of surgical care in multiple settings.
The Chapter hosted an in-person Advocacy Day on May 7, 2024 in which 13 surgeons attended including two staff members from ACS. They participated in over 25 different meetings on 6 different priority issues. The NY State Senate recognized the Chapter during its proceedings when it adopted the Governor’s Proclamation to Acknowledge May as Stop the Bleed Month: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcMKU30Q3is (starting at at 1:22:11).
The New York Chapter continues to participate in monthly meetings with MSSNY and the state specialty associations to monitor legislative and regulatory impacts on physicians. The Chapter also participated in a monthly multi-stakeholder workgroup to advocate against the passage of the Grieving Families Act. The Board of Directors sent multiple calls for resolutions to its membership and supported the involvement and participation of Arthur Cooper, MD to represent surgery during the MSSNY House of Delegates proceedings
Working with the Lawsuit Reform Alliance, the Chapter penned and successfully submitted letters to Times Union Editor regarding its concerns with the anticipated passage of the Grieving Families Act and the legislature's approach to an unbalanced expansion of liability reform.
https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/letters-18644855.php