• Vascular Specialist Newspaper
• Volume 5 - 2009
• Number 9 online
• Number 8
• Number 7 online
• Number 6
• Number 5 Online
• Number 4 online
• Number 3
• Number 2
• Number 12 online
• Number 1
• Volume 4 - 2008
• Number 6
• Number 5
• Number 4
• Number 3
• Number 2
• Number 1
• Volume 3 - 2007
• Number 6
• Number 5
• Number 4
• Number 3
• Number 2
• Number 1
• Volume 2 - 2006
• Number 6
• Number 5
• Number 4
• Number 3
• Number 2
• Number 1
• Volume 1 - 2005
• Number 2
• Number 1

The SVS Political Action Committee (PAC) needs additional contributions for health care reform advocacy. One of the major initiatives of SVS is to ensure that the practice of vascular surgery and the care rendered to patients are not diluted by the political process. Along with this, vascular surgeons must be appropriately compensated for services provided to patients.

At a time when a concerted effort is taking place in Washington to reshape the health care system, the voice of vascular surgery must be heard in the debate. The future of the specialty depends upon the ability to reach U. S. Senators and Representatives who are making major decisions about physician practices. Gaining access to these Congressional members is best accomplished by donating to the SVS PAC. By making contributions to and attending fundraising events, SVS representatives have the unique opportunity for one-on-one dialogue with Senators and Representatives who serve on health/finance committees in Congress on critical health care issues.

While vascular surgeons are small in number, advocacy efforts over the past four years have resulted in a great deal of credibility and trust for SVS. Now is the time to add to past successes by committing to a spirited and focused "full court press" to have vascular surgeons/patients' issues heard.

There will never be a more important opportunity to have an impact upon the future of vascular surgery. After decisions are made by Congress, the door to change will be difficult to re-open. The drubbing vascular surgery took by not being part of the Resourced-Based Relative Value Scale debate years ago has taken an entire professional generation to rectify. SVS does not want a repeat of that scenario.

In an effort to make donations as painless as possible, the SVS PAC Committee has created a new method of giving to SVS PAC. In addition to the lump-sum annual contribution by check or credit card, the PAC accepts contributions for as little as $25 per month for a maximum of 24 months from either a credit card or bank debit card. Or put another way, if all SVS members would donate the reimbursement amount for just one procedure to the PAC, such as a $300 aortogram, a $500 toe amputation or a $1,000 carotid endarterectomy, SVS PAC would become one of the largest and most influential physician PACs.

The following SVS members serve on the SVS PAC Committee: Carlo Dall'Olmo, MD, Chair; Cliff Buckley, MD, Richard Lynn, MD, and Bob Zwolak, MD. The SVS PAC Mission is reflected in the health care reform issues SVS is supporting this year:

• Promote health care decisions that support patients with vascular disease and the vascular surgeons/specialists who care for them.
• Educate health care decision makers for the benefit of patients with vascular disease and vascular surgeons/specialists.
• Advocate for issues which contribute to the improved vascular health of our patients.

The SVS PAC Committee urges SVS members to contribute to the PAC today - it is "Your Voice for Your Future." Please use the contribution form.