Blogs

This month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a new mandatory episode-based alternative payment arrangement called the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM).

It's the August recess and lawmakers are back home in their districts campaigning and meeting with their constituents, providing a prime opportunity for STS members to support STS’s advocacy priorities.

The STS oversees numerous workforces and councils with various focuses ranging from cardiothoracic clinical practice to databases to education to surgeon wellness.

Despite the rapidly evolving presidential political scene, Washington remains uncharacteristically busy this election year. 

On June 28, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference doctrine, which for 40 years has required judges to defer to agencies' reasonable interpretations of "ambiguous" federal laws falling within the agencies’ field of expertise.

During this year's STS Advocacy Leadership Summit held May 21-22 in Washington, DC, 14 STS leaders supported issues critical to the cardiothoracic specialty. The key areas the group focused on included: 

As physicians, we spend the first half of our adult lives being told to always say yes. The goal is to build that CV so you can make it to the next step. Set a foundation to show you have potential and you’ll get accepted to medical school. Show academic, research, and leadership promise to land that coveted residency spot.

As physicians we are committed to caring for our patients, guiding them through physical and emotional traumas. Our training, especially as cardiothoracic surgeons, has taught us to be disciplined, self-sufficient, and strong. As cardiothoracic surgeons we deal with significant adversity and are resilient.

As Congress enters an election year, legislative activities typically slow down. Yet lawmakers already are beginning to lay the important groundwork for fiscal year 2025 appropriations. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons continues to advocate for our most critical federal programs, including one increasing funding for lung cancer research.

April is National Minority Health Month, a time and opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities and reducing health disparities. While our patient population in the US is rapidly diversifying, our specialty of cardiothoracic surgery remains one of the least diverse specialties in terms of gender and race.