PlastyPAC Launches New PlastyPAC Speakers Series
In April, PlastyPAC launched its new Speakers Series as an addition to the Member Benefits Program. It provides an opportunity for PlastyPAC members to virtually meet with members of Congress during the COVID-19 pandemic. With stay-at-home-orders still in effect across the country, PlastyPAC recognized the urgent need to transition over to a digital platform to ensure that the specialty's voice was heard during the 2020 presidential election cycle.
The PlastyPAC Speakers Series has been a forum for PlastyPAC members to hear directly from Washington's top leaders, in real time, about the federal government's response to COVID-19. PAC members who have supported and contributed at $1,000 or more to the PAC in the last year* can access the benefit, and all PAC members - regardless of their membership level - are invited to attend a virtual meeting with members of Congress from their state. The PlastyPAC Speakers Series brings members of Congress directly to ASPS members and has been a great opportunity for ASPS members, who normally have a hard time attending in-person meetings due to clinical schedules.
Recent congressional speakers have included House Chief Deputy Whip, Dan Kildee (D-MI-05); House Ways and Means Committee member, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02); House Energy and Commerce Vice Chair, Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09); Problem Solvers Caucus Chair, Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY-23); House Energy and Commerce Committee member, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL-14); and GOP Doctors Caucus Chair, Andy Harris, MD (R-MD-01). During each meeting, members of Congress have provided insider knowledge about the latest federal actions on the pandemic and participated in a Q&A session where they fielded questions from PAC members.
These virtual meetings – catching the Zoom wave and producing face-to-face time between ASPS physicians and members of Congress – have been instrumental in highlighting the specialty's priority issues, such as increased PPP funding, hazard pay for frontline physicians, increased PPE procurement and out-of-network billing. The PlastyPAC Board of Governors plans to continue to host these virtual meetings until it is safe for PAC members to once again attend in-person PAC meetings.
For more information on PlastyPAC, visit www.plastypac.net and follow us on Instagram @PlastyPAC.
*As of March 15, 2020, PlastyPAC ceased all fundraising requests. Benefits going back to March 1, 2019 are considered active until ASPS begins soliciting again this summer.