The principal function of the Health Policy Committee is to serve as a resource for the staff of the ATS Government Relations Office and to advise the ATS Executive Committee and Board of Directors on issues of policy importance and priorities for ATS action. The Health Policy Committee strives to achieve health equity, and advocates for improved health and access to care for patients with critical illnesses and pulmonary and sleep-related conditions. It monitors federal healthcare legislation, policies, and regulations and provides federal agencies with expert knowledge to assist their efforts to improve the provision, funding, and coverage of services and support the prevention of respiratory disease. The Committee periodically develops position statements on proposed or existing federal healthcare policies when appropriate. Finally, the Health Care Policy Committee also reviews federal policies regarding pulmonary and critical care workforce needs and provides expert opinions in coordination with the Council of Chapter Representatives.

Benchmarks, 2026-2027:
- Apply equity, diversity, and inclusion lenses to all committee activities, advocacy recommendations and publications including member participation and impact of potential changes on health equity, including attention to populations disproportionately affected by respiratory disease and to equitable access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
- Monitor key health policy issues, establish ATS positions and priorities, and develop new programs to educate and inform members about the impact of government policy on health care; including accessible member-facing education opportunities such as webinars, and updates in relevant publications; and provide expertise to the ATS Executive Committee to support advocacy response efforts.
- Partner with ATS Publications, Web Editor and appropriate staff to inform ATS membership about health policy issues relevant to our pulmonary, critical care and sleep membership, including Annals ATS and ATS Scholar articles, periodic announcements (such as the Washington Letter), web offerings, webinars or podcasts, and symposia at the International Conference, and coordinate with relevant ATS groups to amplify opportunities for member action and engagement.
- Work with the ATS Government Relations Office to establish advocacy priorities for virtual Hill Day, District Advocacy Activities and future ATS International Conferences. Invite speakers from Congressional offices and federal agencies to attend virtual meetings of the committee to discuss matters of relevance and interest to members, and to support member understanding of the policy making process.
- Collaborate with other ATS Committees/partner organization representatives as appropriate including:
1. Research Advocacy Committee to align health policy and research advocacy priorities and coordinate opportunities for joint member education and advocacy, particularly related to federal research funding, research workforce and training, and policies affecting pulmonary, critical care, and sleep research.
2. International Health Committee (including its Healthcare Policy Working Group) to develop policy priorities regarding advocacy for global lung, sleep health and critical care services with an emphasis on preventive and treatment services in developing and under-developed healthcare settings.
3. Environmental Health Policy and Health Equity and Diversity committees to address systemic inequities such as environmental influences on health outcomes; race-based disparities of care, culturally and linguistically competent health care and the demonstrated impacts of implicit bias and microaggressions throughout health care.
- Work with the ATS Government Relations Office to pursue state advocacy opportunities through collaboration with Council of Chapter Representatives, Public Advisory Roundtable, relevant ATS committees and peer organizations to develop partnerships that can assist with monitoring state level legislative and regulatory activity and contribute expertise to support state level advocacy efforts. Identify specific issues of shared focus to use in developing state advocacy infrastructure, and encourage involvement of early career members and trainees in state-based advocacy activities where feasible.
- Collaborate across advocacy related committees to educate the membership about ATS advocacy efforts, monitor ATS advocacy metrics, and foster increased engagement in advocacy among early career ATS members, including partnering with early career professionals and students on selected health policy education and advocacy activities..
- Coordinate yearly meetings with the ATS FIRS representative to provide committee with an update on FIRS activities and identify opportunities for collaborative efforts and with the ATS representatives to the American Medical Association House of Delegates to provide the committee with an update on AMA activities and policies and identify opportunities for collaborative efforts, including potential alignment on shared federal priorities relevant to respiratory health, and incorporate content that builds health policy and advocacy skills across career stages..
- Work with International Conference Committee Program Committee and ATS staff to develop symposia workshops and other educational content to be presented at the ATS International Conference, including the Fellows Track Symposium, Center for Career Development, and the Student Scholars Program.
- Create a subcommittee to identify and recommend to the HPC a diverse slate of candidates for the ATS Respiratory Health Awards.
- This committee is responsible for utilizing, promoting, and/or contributing content on the ATS NOW platform. This committee will provide quarterly feedback on the usability, content needs, and areas for improvement.