Success in Advocacy: The Georgia ASMBS Story

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Medical Advocacy
• Surgical Care

Background:

• Physician advocacy is crucial for patient impact beyond clinical settings.
• The Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS) faced a significant challenge when bariatric surgery coverage was removed from the state health benefit plan (SHBP) in 2013.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the advocacy journey undertaken by the Georgia Chapter of ASMBS to reinstate bariatric surgery coverage.
• To share lessons learned from this decade-long advocacy effort to serve as a framework for other physician organizations.

Main Methods:

• Organizing and rebuilding the state chapter of ASMBS.
• Sustained advocacy efforts targeting the reinstatement of bariatric surgery coverage for state employees.
• Forming partnerships to expand the chapter's scope.

Main Results:

• Bariatric surgery coverage was successfully reinstated in the 2022 SHBP after nearly ten years.
• The Georgia Chapter of ASMBS expanded its membership and core pillars to include advocacy, research, and quality improvement.
• Statewide collaborative initiatives across multiple hospital systems were established.

Conclusions:

• Physician-led advocacy can achieve substantial policy changes and improve patient access to care.
• The Georgia Chapter's experience highlights the potential for advocacy to foster organizational growth and collaborative initiatives.
• Lessons learned can guide and inspire other medical professional organizations in their advocacy endeavors.