Collective Professional Advocacy

Provides support to members in obtaining state licenses to practice acupuncture in New York, facilitating professional entry and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Shares medical, scientific, and educational information among licensed acupuncturists in New York to support professional development and practice standards.

Engages in legislative lobbying and advocacy with state leaders, the Legislature, and state agencies to advance policy, budget, and regulatory priorities for care management and behavioral health services, including facilitating member engagement with elected officials.

Conducts research and data analysis initiatives to inform policy and improve care management for vulnerable populations in New York State, building on prior work related to behavioral health services.

Supports quality improvement and innovation in behavioral health care by organizing a Best Practices Poster Presentation Exhibition and reviewing proposals for the annual ACT Symposium to promote peer learning across ACT teams.

Hosts the annual ACT-In-ACTION Conference and other educational events that bring together nearly 500 behavioral health and care management professionals, featuring presentations, webinars, and networking opportunities to share best practices in care management.

Offers ongoing access to information, resources, and updates through a website and membership network serving over 2,500 individuals across New York State, including legislative updates and key issues in care management.

Provides care management services to over 180,000 high-risk, high-need adults and children through a network of 4,500 care managers across local agencies, achieving measurable reductions in healthcare utilization including 33% fewer emergency department visits and $288 per member per month in cost savings.

Engages in advocacy by monitoring state and federal legislative and regulatory developments affecting medical review and managed care, providing monthly updates to members, and advocating before regulatory bodies. Supports the development of external review processes, appeals regulations, surprise billing dispute resolution (IDR), and HUM/WCUM regulations, and facilitates member input to agencies.

Supports professional exchange and organizational development through an online collaboration portal (Basecamp), a member referral program, and an industry directory listing all members in good standing. Also governs the association through elected executive officers and an Executive Committee.

Organizes an annual conference featuring educational content, networking opportunities, and professional development for stakeholders in the independent medical review industry, including executives, medical directors, and compliance officers. Also conducts quarterly member conference calls and virtual webinars to inform members about industry developments.

Conducts and publishes research, including white papers and consumer-facing guides, on the independent medical review process and challenges facing payors. Also co-developed and disseminated educational materials such as webinar presentations on external appeals for health plans.

Administers welfare and benefit plans, including supplemental health and other benefits, for covered participants through partnerships with SEIU.

Organizes frontline doctors across multiple states to advocate for improved working conditions, safer staffing levels, and quality, affordable health care for all; also submits policy white papers and provider insights to health system leadership.

Conducts ongoing quality improvement pilot projects in hospitals and clinics, using physician input to address emergency department flow, outpatient scheduling, electronic medical record use, and patient satisfaction.

Conducted a membership survey in 2013 to identify physician priorities for union advocacy, supporting evidence-based policy and organizing efforts.

Wins and enforces collective bargaining agreements through labor-management meetings, grievances, and arbitrations on behalf of physician members.

Operates Collaboration Councils in major public health systems to identify and implement quality improvement projects in partnership with administration, including in all 22 facilities of NYC Health+Hospitals and Cook County, Illinois.