Federal Watch
March 30th, 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 provide an update on MedPAC’s recent recommendations to repeal the SGR, and follow-up on our previous update around Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal that would threaten to cut programs for older Americans. We additionally remind you of upcoming grant and initiative deadlines, as well as our recent advocacy activities -- including how you can take action by contacting your legislators, and urging them to fully address and put an end to the flawed SGR formula.
MedPAC Report Recommends Repealing SGR
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recently sent its annual review of Medicare payment policies and recommendations to Congress. Among other items, the 2012 report reiterates its SGR recommendations from last October, including freezing most Medicare payments to primary care physicians for 10 years and cutting specialists’ payments by 17% over 3 years, followed by a freeze for 7 years more. The report also calls for reducing payments for evaluation and management visits in hospital outpatient departments to the rate of physicians' offices across three years, a provision that AGS strongly objects to. In addition to serving as a safety net for our most vulnerable members of society, Hospital Outpatient Departments (HOPDs) provide many services not available in physicians’ offices, including coordinated and interdisciplinary team-based care for older patients with multiple chronic conditions. More information about the Commission’s recommendations for 2013, they are listed here.
House Passes Ryan Budget Proposal that would Cut Programs for Seniors
Last week, we provided an overview of Congressman Paul Ryan’s (R-WI), chairman of the House Budget Committee, budget plan for FY2013, that would call for a reduction in domestic discretionary spending by an additional $20 billion below the cap imposed by last year’s budget agreement. The spending blueprint would adversely affect programs that help vulnerable seniors such as the Older Americans Act and senior housing. The blueprint also proposes substantial cuts in Medicare, and includes dramatic changes to the program. It would offer future seniors a choice of staying in the traditional fee-for-service plan, or opting instead for a Medicare-approved private plan. The proposal has been approved by the Budget Committee as well as the Republican-controlled House. No Democrats backed the measure. The likelihood of it reaching the Senate and being passed is slim, but this will play a major role in this year’s Presidential and Congressional campaigns. For more information, visit here for an analysis from the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities.
Reminders
AHRQ’s New Comparative Effectiveness Research Grants Program – Applications due May 2 (first round)
We previously reported that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announced a new grants program aimed at training researchers in comparative clinical effectiveness research. The program, entitled AHRQ Mentored Career Enhancement Award in Patient Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) for Mid-Career and Senior Investigators (K18), targets established mid-career and senior investigators who are interested in developing new skills in comparative effectiveness research methodology and applying these methods to patient-centered outcome research (PCOR). For additional information on the grants program, including application instructions and key dates, click here.
CMS Announces New Initiative to Strengthen Primary Care Workforce – Applications due May 21
Last week, we reported that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a call for applications for a new Affordable Care Act initiative designed to strengthen primary care in the US. Under the Graduate Nurse Education Demonstration, CMS will provide hospitals working with nursing schools to train advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with payments of up to $200 million over four years to cover the costs of APRNs’ clinical training. APRNs—whether they are nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, or nurse midwives—play a pivotal role in primary care. For more information including how to apply, visit the Graduate Nurse Education Demonstration website.
What AGS Did This Week
AGS submitted written testimony to the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee prioritizing funding for the geriatrics education and training programs under Title VII and Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act, and for research funding within the National Institute on Aging. Continued federal investments are needed to support the training of the health care workforce and to foster groundbreaking medical research so that our nation is prepared to meet the unique health care needs of the rapidly growing population of older Americans. We also sent a letter to key appropriators urging them to support increased funding for the Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development.
AGS also endorsed a letter circulated by the American Medical Association (AMA) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which lays out an array of burdensome requirements and penalties that are expected to hit physicians in the physician fee schedule proposed ruled for CY2013. It points out that the administration is effectively implementing the penalties well in advance of the actual legislative deadline and calls for reconsideration of the timelines as well as additional efforts to harmonize requirements among the various incentive programs.
We additionally signed on to a letter circulated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) to the U.S. Preventative Task Force (USPSTF) regarding coverage of vaccines as preventive services under Medicare. The letter calls for the exploration of different solutions that would allow for better access to recommended vaccinations and promote higher immunization rates within the Medicare population. The concern is that the vaccine recommendations are outside of those of USPSTFs’, thus, clinicians providing vaccinations services as part of the prevention visit would not be eligible for appropriate payment.
How You Can Help
AGS encourages you to Take Action by visiting AGS’ Health in Aging Advocacy Center. Contact your members of Congress today, and urge them to call for both the repeal of the SGR and comprehensive Medicare payment and delivery reform. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Susie Sherman, Senior Coordinator of Public Affairs & Advocacy, ssherman@americangeriatrics.org.
Modified On: March 30th, 2012
