ATS Advocacy: Affordable Care Act Replacement

This week, the House of Representatives will vote on legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The ATS is concerned that the House will consider this bill without estimates of its costs or of the number of people who may be adversely impacted by it. Congress should not be legislating in the dark. While details are elusive, early indications are that the replacement plan under consideration will mean less coverage and more costs for lower- and middle-income families. That means less access to care. The ATS is concerned that Americans, including our patient population of people with respiratory illnesses such as COPD and asthma, are not well served by the process or the policy that Congress is considering. Follow our hashtag on Twitter for updates on this and other health policy issues: #ATSadvocacy.

Statement in Response to Latest Trump Administration Immigration Ban 

This week U.S. President Donald J. Trump issued a new executive order imposing a ban on immigrants and refugees from select, Muslim dominated countries. The ATS opposed the initial ban and remains very concerned about the potential impact this new measure will have on the scientists, researchers, and clinicians wishing to visit the United States. The ATS has always welcomed people of all nationalities and religious beliefs, as members, contributors to its journals, to its International Conference and in joint collaborations. It is critical that this open exchange of ideas and knowledge continues, for the mutual benefit of our colleagues in the pulmonary, critical care and sleep fields of medicine and, most importantly, for the patients we all serve.

Assembly Journal Club Webinars

Tune in to these Journal Clubs, presented by the Assemblies on Clinical Problems, Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, and Section on Genetics and Genomics:

• March 15: “The Diagnosis and Management of Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency in the Adult.” View details and register. (CP, RCMB, SGG)
• March 16: “Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies diverse roles of epithelial cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.” View details and register. (RCMB, SGG)

Thoracic Society Chapters Meetings

Connect with your nearest chapter for medical education, offered locally. Metro D.C., Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Rhode Island Thoracic Society Chapters have upcoming events that may be of interest. Download and share the latest chapter meetings flier!

Recognizing Patients With LAM

Now through March 11, it’s Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Week at ATS. LAM is a rare, neoplastic disorder. While LAM can affect many organs in the body, it most often causes a progressive and irreversible lung disease due to loss of lung function from the appearance of multiple cysts in the lung. Visit our website for more information and a variety of LAM resources.