AMPAC FAQs
What is a “PAC”?
A political action committee (PAC) is created by a corporation or membership organization to collect voluntary contributions from members in support of candidates for political office.
The Federal Election Commission regulates federal PACs. To participate, organizations are required to create PACs that raise and contribute personal contributions from their members.
Why should I support AMPAC?
AMPAC strives to help elect physician-friendly candidates to Congress who will help address the most pressing issues in medicine. Your contribution to AMPAC, combined with others’ contributions, represents the support of thousands of physicians for the betterment of medicine.
Where does my AMPAC contribution go?
100% of personal contributions to AMPAC are used to directly affect the election of pro-medicine candidates for office. No contribution is ever used to cover administrative or other staff expenses.
Who does AMPAC support?
AMPAC supports physician-friendly candidates for Congress who have demonstrated an understanding and willingness to fight for the issues most important to physicians, including, but not limited to: Medicare payment reform, prior authorization reform, telehealth, physician workforce issues, defending physicians' scope of practice, improving public health, and access to affordable health care for all Americans. The AMPAC Board of Directors makes all final decisions on AMPAC’s contributions and policies.
How does AMPAC choose candidates to support?
When deciding whether to support a candidate, the AMPAC Board of Directors evaluates candidates on a range of factors, including:
- a candidate's viability and their positions or actions on key health care issues of concern to the AMA and AMPAC,
- the competitiveness of the race and need for financial assistance,
- position on key legislative committees,
- demonstrated leadership, potential or current leadership roles held in Congress,
- relationships with local physicians and the opinion and recommendations of their state medical society PAC.
AMPAC's process is to begin actively contributing to federal candidates in the late spring/early summer of the off-year. During this early period, the AMPAC Board has traditionally prioritized incumbents who are strong allies of medicine, members of their parties' leadership or key legislative committees, or otherwise serve an important role to advance medicine-friendly policies in Congress.
Early in the election year, the AMPAC Board of Directors will conduct a more in-depth and comprehensive review of every congressional race on the ballot in the current election year. The AMPAC Board will review the aforementioned information for each race and candidate, including any redistricting impacts as well as feedback and recommendations provided by state medical society PACs to determine a preliminary contribution budget for the election cycle.
How does AMPAC work with the AMA?
The AMA has an aggressive legislative advocacy effort on Capitol Hill, but no amount of advocacy or lobbying can be effective without legislators who understand and fight for the most pressing issues in medicine. AMPAC helps elect candidates that the AMA can work with to shape federal legislation for the betterment of medicine. AMA members are encouraged to join and contribute to AMPAC, but it is not required.
The importance of AMPAC’s contribution to the AMA’s federal advocacy efforts cannot be overstated. Participation from every physician, resident physician, fellow, and medical student matters. Together we are stronger.