2025 ASPS Advocacy Summit shines light on WHCRA, ELSA and more plastic surgery priorities
ASPS plastic surgeons advocate for their patients daily – whether ensuring they can secure much-needed O.R. time or painstakingly working to receive authorization from a patient's insurance company to perform a necessary reconstructive procedure. Although these activities are considered routine elements in plastic surgery practices, they remain essential to providing the necessary cosmetic and reconstructive services to patients nationwide.
Fifty-three ASPS members from 17 states expanded their role as advocates on July 7-9 when they attended the ASPS Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. The two-and-a-half-day event provided an opportunity for plastic surgeons to learn more about the state and federal legislative issues that impact plastic surgery practices and patients. This annual event essentially serves as a forum for plastic surgeons to hear directly from key political speakers and members of Congress about the most pressing current issues in healthcare. Most importantly, it's plastic surgery's chance to impact federal legislation and advance issues that will improve access and quality of care.
Star power
Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) was the event's opening speaker. Elected to the House of Representatives in 2020, Rep. Cammack has been an outspoken champion for physician reimbursement and healthcare access.
Rep. Cammack spoke to ASPS members during the Welcome Reception dinner, announcing her decision to lead ASPS legislation to update the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA). As co-chair of the GOP Women's Caucus, Rep. Cammack highlighted her unique position in advancing issues impacting women's health. The proposed legislation would update WHCRA to ensure clear in-network coverage for all types and techniques of post-breast cancer reconstruction, as well as of custom-fabricated prostheses. Her announcement was met with enthusiastic support from ASPS members, who recognized the critical importance of comprehensive, equitable care for breast cancer survivors. With Rep. Cammack's leadership, the initiative marks a significant step forward in modernizing women's health policy and reaffirming the right to full, individualized reconstruction options following breast cancer treatment.
Keynote speaker and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Beth Sanner addressed attendees the following morning. Sanner spoke of her experience as a senior leader in the CIA and as the director of the President's Daily Brief during President Trump's first term. She emphasized the importance of critical thinking, resilience and the importance of leveraging diverse perspectives for better decision-making in uncertain times.
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) also appeared at the summit. Although recently elected to the Senate, Blunt Rochester served in the U.S. House from 2017-25, proving to be a strong ally for fair physician reimbursement, congenital anomalies coverage and graduate medical education. She spoke of her recent assignment to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and of her commitment to continue her longstanding support for the specialty.
Rep. Rich McCormick, MD (R-Ga.), addressed his experience as both a physician in Congress and a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus. Serving in the House since 2023, Rep. McCormick has used his firsthand experience as a physician in emergency medicine to advocate for issues impacting the medical profession, including physician reimbursement.
The summit also heard from Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), a member elected in 2018 who is proving to be a strong physician ally. Rep. McBath spoke of her commitment to expanding access to care through initiatives such as physician reimbursement reform, prior authorization reform and congenital anomalies coverage. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Rep. McBath voiced her support for ASPS's WHCRA modernization efforts.
Joining the summit virtually, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) also spoke with attendees. Elected in 2014, Rep. Dingell has a strong record of supporting the aforementioned ASPS priorities. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee, Rep. Dingell announced her decision to co-lead ASPS's WHCRA modernization efforts alongside Rep. Cammack.
Finally, Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, addressed summit attendees. Rep. Obernolte has advocated for better access to affordable and quality healthcare since he began serving in the House in 2021. Drawing on his background in technology, Rep. Obernolte emphasized both the opportunities and challenges AI presents for physicians, patients and policymakers. He encouraged continued engagement from the physician community to help shape responsible innovation and ensure that technology enhances, rather than hinders, patient care.
Lynn Damitz, MD, ASPS/PSF Board Vice President of Health Policy & Advocacy, was joined by representatives from MaDPAC, a coalition of medical and dental political action committees, ASPS political staff and former U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, MD, for a panel titled, "The Party of Medicine." ASPS works closely with these organizations in its attempt to combat unfavorable legislation at the federal level. This team of expert panelists offered summit attendees insight into how these organizations work together to advocate for physicians across specialties and party lines – and they underscored the nonpartisan, physician issues-first nature of organized medicine. Dr. Damitz also highlighted the important role the Society's political action committee plays in its two-pronged approach to advocacy.
Former Rep. Caraveo on July 8 addressed top ASPS donors at the exclusive PlastyPAC Cocktail Hour. A pediatrician and former member of Congress, Dr. Caraveo shared her unique perspective at the intersection of medicine and policy. During the 118th Congress, she emerged as the highest-scoring freshman legislator on ASPS priority issues, making her a standout advocate for the specialty. Donors enjoyed a rare opportunity to connect with a key ASPS ally in a private, conversational setting and saw firsthand the value of their continued support for PlastyPAC.
To the Hill
Prior to meeting with members of Congress, ASPS leadership briefed attendees on the federal policy priorities selected by the ASPS Legislative Advocacy Committee to be discussed on the Hill and offered additional details on each bill's direct impact on the specialty. During this session, members were equipped with talking points on each issue in preparation for the next day's meetings. ASPS leadership also reminded summit attendees of their ability to impact change in D.C.
Summit attendees on early July 9 broke into small groups based on their home state and strategized for their day of congressional meetings. Each state met with the offices of their senators as well as every attendee's home representative. ASPS members held 66 meetings with congressional offices, including four meetings with members of Congress. During these meetings, ASPS members asked each of these offices to cosponsor the Society's priority legislation.
Following a full day on Capitol Hill, ASPS members conducted dozens of congressional meetings and hope to have cultivated further support for ASPS priority legislation. These meetings are critical, as they demonstrate the need for congressional support for issues that directly impact the specialty of plastic surgery.
Coming together
While the summit offers ASPS members an annual opportunity to learn more about the policy issues facing the specialty and meet with prominent members of Congress, it's also a forum where ASPS members who share a commitment to advocacy can join together. At the summit, plastic surgeons from academic practices and private practices, residents and retired surgeons all met to discuss the future of plastic surgery at the local and national level.
The summit also presents an excellent opportunity for local, state and regional plastic surgery leaders to gather and address local issues impacting colleagues in their states. Some members who attended the summit currently sit on their local, state or regional plastic surgery society board. These are plastic surgery's thought leaders, and the summit is the optimal forum for these individuals to meet annually. Members met during the Physician Leaders Forum held on the evening of July 7 to discuss the challenges their respective societies face in advocacy and general Society management.
During the Federal Legislative Briefing held July 8, ASPS members received an in-depth overview of the Society's top advocacy priorities on Capitol Hill. The session covered critical federal issues impacting plastic surgery – including WHCRA modernization, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act and the ongoing fight for fair physician reimbursement. The briefing equipped members with the knowledge they need to advocate effectively for their practices and patients on Capitol Hill.
The 2025 Advocacy Summit also benefited from strong representation from young plastic surgeons, residents and fellows. Ten residents and Fellows received the Future Leaders Scholarship sponsored by ASPS, which fully funded their hotel accommodation and registration fee. For many attendees, the 2025 Advocacy Summit was their first fly-in event, which provided the perfect opportunity to learn from some of the specialty's leading advocates.
The Advocacy Summit will be held again in 2027, with additional details communicated to the membership once they become available.