ACA Health Policy Fellowship 2024-2025
(applications will open on Tuesday, September 5, 2023)
Download the ACA Health Policy Fellowship Syllabus
Introduction:
As the leading organization in chiropractic medicine, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) advocates on behalf of chiropractors in today’s rapidly evolving health care environment. ACA is an active and engaged participant on several health policy fronts, including physical medicine code development and valuation, coding guidance, payer engagement, and payment reform. The purpose of the Health Policy Fellowship is to support ACA members who are interested in becoming future ACA health policy leaders through gaining a deeper understanding of these issues and providing subject matter expertise on ACA health policy initiatives.
The Health Policy Fellowship improves transparency and builds a health policy leadership pipeline that expands ACA’s repository of content experts, increases ACA’s capacity to contribute expertise and develop comments for federal rulemaking processes or public comment, and enhances ACA’s ability to ensure ACA representation in roles or positions within external health care organizations, coalitions, or initiatives pertaining to national health policy. The fellowship is critical to building ACA’s health policy infrastructure overall and to expanding its cadre of experts who may contribute to the policymaking process in a variety of contexts. Ensuring graduates become leaders in ACA health policy related committee or subcommittee roles is an important aspect of the fellowship, which furthers ACA’s health policy infrastructure goals.
Program:
ACA Health Policy Fellowship Program is a year-long course. Two candidates will be selected for the program. The program is designed to provide exposure to ACA health policy reimbursement and coding activities and develop the next generation of ACA health policy leaders, who will be expected to remain highly active and engaged in the ongoing health policy activities of the Association. The selected fellowship candidates will also receive an honorarium in the amount of $500.
ACA Health Policy Fellows will:
- Learn the process used for the creation, revision, and valuation of CPT codes through the AMA CPT and RBRVS processes.
- Develop the capacity to participate in the CPT and RBRVS processes by observing AMA CPT Editorial Panel and RUC meetings.
- Develop a high-level understanding of physical medicine coding and coding guidance, including updating ACA coding resources.
- Understand and learn to strategize on Medicare and third-party payer reimbursement and coverage issues, including the physician fee schedule, Federally Qualified Health Center, Rural Health Clinic, and hospital outpatient payment rules.
- Gain knowledge about ACA payer relations subcommittee activities and help innovate on the creation of new models.
- Serve as content expert to respond to members’ inquiries
- Provide education to delegates/state payer liaisons/representatives monthly or quarterly relative to regional payer relations issues.
Upon completion of the Health Policy Fellowship Program, candidates will take an oral examination demonstrating their competency in the various health policy issues, and specifically the CPT/RUC processes. Additionally, upon completion of the Health Policy Fellowship Program, candidates will be asked to complete an evaluation of the program.
Eligibility requirements:
• Must be an ACA member.
• Must hold an active license and serve in an active clinical role within chiropractic medicine for a minimum of 50% of their current practice.
• Must have at least 5 years of practice experience.
Selection Criteria and Qualifications:
- Involvement in ACA Health Policy Committee Subcommittees including: Code Utilization and Application Subcommittee, Medicare Subcommittee, Payer Relations Subcommittee, or Subcommittee on Quality Assurance and Accountability or involvement in ACA State Advocacy or Legislative Committees.
- Background and/or experience in physical medicine coding and/or reimbursement issues.
- Statement of interest (see instructions below)
- Honors and recognitions in the field of chiropractic
- Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, and the ability to work collaboratively.
- Ability and support to commit significant time to attend meetings and conference calls.
Key Dates and Events:
Date
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Event
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January 12, 2024
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Selected candidates will be notified.
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February 5, 2024 @ 8pm ET
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Health Policy Fellowship Program Orientation, virtual
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March 4, 11, 18 and 25 2024 @ 8pm ET
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ACA Coding and Coverage Virtual Seminar, participant
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Apr 24-27, 2024
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RUC Meeting – attendance optional*
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May 9-11, 2024
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CPT Meeting – virtual attendance required
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Sept 19-21, 2024
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CPT Meeting – virtual attendance required
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Sep 25-28, 2024
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RUC Meeting – attendance optional*
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Jan 15-18, 2025
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RUC Meeting – attendance optional*
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January 2025
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ACA Engage 2025, Washington DC
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Feb 6-8, 2025
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CPT Meeting – virtual attendance required if available from AMA
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February 28, 2025
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Final Examination – virtual
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March 10, 2025 @ 8pm ET
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Follow-up and debrief meeting
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*Participants pay for their travel expenses.
ACA Health Policy Fellowship Application Requirements:
Applicants will submit a statement of interest addressing the following (please limit to 500 words):
- Why are you interested in the fellowship?
- What makes you a strong candidate for this fellowship?
Applicants will submit their CV. Upon completion of your application, the required ACA disclosure form will be sent to all applicants and must be completed prior to October 30, 2023.
The deadline to submit is Monday, October 30th @ 11:59pm ET.
You may reach the ACA Team at education@acatoday.org with any questions.
To apply, select the green "Apply Now" button below and select "Add New" next to the green button to begin. You must be signed in to apply.