FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doctors for America
PO Box: 21161
2300 18th St NW Lbby
Washington, DC 20009-9996
October 17, 2024
Doctors for America Applauds the White House Amidst Signing of Gun Violence Prevention Executive Orders
Washington, D.C.: Doctors for America commends the work of President Biden and Vice-President Harris for their continued leadership in recognizing and addressing the prevalence of gun violence in our country. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we saw the largest single year decline in the homicide rate in 2023 offering hope that further action will help decrease the number of gun-related deaths.
Within the Administration’s new executive orders, all federal departments and agencies will be announcing a range of additional actions to reduce gun violence—from promoting safe gun storage and red flag laws to improving the federal gun background check system. Notably, by the end of October, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will clarify that state Medicaid systems may choose to reimburse physicians for counseling patients on firearm safety, injury prevention, and violence intervention programs. Similarly, the $85 million investment into Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) will support hospital-based violence intervention. Finally, a focus on addressing trauma resulting from gun violence will provide guidance for how we can support these impacted individuals.
These executive orders are a huge step in the right direction toward ending the firearm violence public health crisis. Doctors for America thanks the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention for its dedicated work over the past year. We urge all healthcare professionals to sign on to our commitment to discussing firearm safety with our patients.
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About Doctors for America:
Doctors for America (DFA) mobilizes doctors and medical students to be leaders in putting patients over politics to improve the health of our patients, communities, and nation. DFA is an organization of over 27,000 physician and medical student advocates in all 50 states, representing all areas of specialization. DFA teaches physicians and medical students advocacy skills and does advocacy at a state and federal level. Our impact areas focus on access to affordable care, community health and prevention, and health justice and equity. DFA focuses solely on what is best for our patients, not on the business side of medicine. DFA does not accept any funding from pharmaceutical or medical device companies, which uniquely positions DFA as the organization that puts patients over politics and patients over profits. Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and on X @drsforamerica.