Federal Watch
February 16th, 2012
AGS is tracking developments of interest to geriatrics health professionals in order to provide weekly updates for our readers via our List Serv, americangeriatrics.org, our Facebook page, and our Twitter feed. This week, we update you on Washington’s most talked about happenings: Congress’s agreement on a short-term SGR patch, and the release of the President’s FY 2013 federal budget. We additionally share an HHS report about increased access to preventive benefits under the Affordable Care Act, and remind you of two funding and comment opportunities of interest. Lastly, we recap important initiatives and sign-on letters that we supported this week.
House-Senate Conferees Reach Agreement on Short-Term SGR Patch
Early Thursday morning, House-Senate conferees officially announced that they reached a bipartisan deal to extend tax cuts and jobless benefits affecting millions of Americans. Most relevant to AGS, the plan includes a temporary fix for Medicare’s payment plan, intended to prevent a 27 percent drop in fees paid to physicians who treat frail, older patients, which was scheduled to take effect on March 1. A payment freeze will be effective through the end of 2012. The cost of this short-term patch was reportedly offset through reductions in a number of health care programs, including Medicaid disproportionate share payments to hospitals, Medicare bad debt payments to hospitals, federal Medicaid payments to Louisiana, and the prevention fund created by the Affordable Care Act. This reported agreement is expected to be voted on by both the House and Senate by Friday. AGS will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
Geriatrics Training Programs and NIA Research Take Small Cut in President’s FY 2013 Budget; Funding for VA Research Receives Slight Increase: Earlier this week, the President released his proposed budget for FY 2013, which begins October 1 and serves as a blueprint for Congress as they begin to work on its appropriations bills. The budget proposes $228 million for Title VII health professions, a $40 million (15%) cut below FY 2012, and $251 million for Title VIII nursing workforce development programs, a $20 million (8%) increase over FY 2012. The geriatrics training programs (GECs, GACAs, fellowships) under Title VII would receive $30.6 million (of the $228 million total) – a one percent decrease from FY 2012 but an almost 8% decrease from what was appropriated in FY 2011. The Title VIII geriatric nursing program would receive $4.48 million (of the $251 million total) – also a one percent decrease from FY 2012. Also in the President’s budget, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) would receive $1.1 billion – a $3 million decrease from FY 2012. The Veterans Affairs Medical and Prosthetic Research Program would receive $582 million – a $1 million plus increase over FY 2012. These programs are vital to the health and well-being of all older Americans. AGS will continue to advocate Congress to invest in these programs, which are needed to support the training of the healthcare workforce and to foster groundbreaking medical research so that our nation is prepared to meet the unique healthcare needs of the rapidly growing population of seniors.
HHS Highlights Progress of Affordable Care Act
This week, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report titled, “The Affordable Care Act: Strengthening Medicare in 2011.” The report details the state of progress of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2011, and reports that millions of seniors and people with disabilities enjoyed lower costs and improved benefits thanks to the ACA. The report announced that an estimated 32.5 million people with Medicare received at least one free preventive benefit in 2011, including the new Annual Wellness Visit, since the health reform law was enacted. The report also breaks down the ways in which seniors are benefiting as the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented:
- By 2020, the “donut hole” coverage gap will be closed;
- Part B premiums have remained low for seniors and people with disabilities;
- Medicare will have stronger tools to fight fraud;
- Those enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans continue to enjoy stable premiums and improved plan quality;
- Quality improvements will help prevent medical errors and promote coordination of care across Medicare and the health care system.
REMINDER: NIA 2012 Summer Institute Now Accepting Applications for Introduction to Aging Research
The NIA 2012 Summer Institute, now in its 26th year, is soliciting applications for an intensive introduction to aging research. This workshop for investigators new to aging research is focused on current issues, research methodologies, and funding opportunities. The Summer Institute on Aging Research is one of the premier short-term training opportunities for new investigators. This is an invaluable introduction to the diverse fields of research in all fields of aging and geriatrics and affords students unparalleled access to NIA and NIH staff in an informal setting. The 2012 Summer Institute will be held July 7 – 13 in Maryland. Support is available for travel and living expenses. Applications are due March 9, 2012. Please view more information on the NIA web site: 2012 NIA Summer Institute. A link to the online application is also provided on this web page.
REMINDER: Voice Your Support for Fair Wages for Home Care Workers during the Public Comment Period
U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Solis would like to hear from AGS members about the Obama administration’s proposed regulations to revise the “companionship exemption.” We are asking that you please take this opportunity to voice your opinion, during the comment period which ends on February 27. Home care workers deserve the same basic federal minimum wage and overtime protections that are afforded to most workers in the nation. Our nation’s over 2 million home care workers are professionals, and provide essential long-term services and supports that help frail older adults and people living with disabilities to live independently in their homes. For more information on the companionship exemption, talking points, and easy instructions on how to comment, visit the PHI Campaign for Fair Pay website.
What AGS Did This Week
AGS lent our support to The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), by signing on to a letter to congressional leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee to address the serious and growing problems of antimicrobial resistance and the dry pipeline for antibiotic research and development (R&D) in upcoming Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fee legislation. This letter is of importance to AGS, as seniors are most likely to be colonized with resistant organisms, particularly for nursing home residents. To read more about the IDSA’s efforts regarding this initiative, please visit here.
Modified On: February 16th, 2012
