New Orleans — David M. Siegel, MD, JD, FACEP, of Tampa, Florida, has been awarded the Colin C. Rorrie Health Policy Award by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) during its annual meeting in New Orleans. The award goes to a member of the organization who has made an outstanding contribution in monitoring and influencing health policy in emergency medicine.
As a former president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of ACEP, Dr. Siegel successfully spearheaded legislative proposals to expand access to emergency care and increase Medicaid reimbursement for emergency services. Under his leadership in Florida, the Florida Chapter convinced legislators in 2003 to enact significant medical liability reforms for the state’s emergency physicians.
“Dr. Siegel’s influence goes well beyond the emergency department and the medical school classroom,” said Dr. Brian Keaton, President of ACEP. “His dedication and expertise has strengthened the practice of emergency medicine first in Pennsylvania, then Florida, and indeed across the country.”
As chairman of ACEP’s Federal Government Affairs Committee, Dr. Siegel led effort to introduce the federal prudent layperson standard for emergency care in Congress and create ACEP’s grassroots 911 Network, giving emergency physicians a mechanism to contact their legislators; and dramatically increased contributions to the National Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee to $400,000. In addition, Dr. Siegel contributed to the introduction of the Access to Emergency Medical Care Act in Congress.
Dr. Siegel received his medical degree and law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of South Florida and serves as a consultant for FMQAI Inc., the Quality Improvement Organization for the State of Florida.