Federal Watch
May 18th, 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 several important initiatives such as the final release of HHS's national plan to eliminate Alzheimer's disease, the endorsement of the National Quality Forum's Multiple Chronic Conditions Measurement Framework, and two upcoming CMS National Provider Calls of relevance. We additionally provide a final reminder that applications are due on May 21st for CMS's initiative to strengthen the primary care workforce. Finally, we share further news on AGS's most recent activities, and encourage you to take action by contacting your legislators, and urging them to fully address and put an end to the flawed SGR formula.
HHS Releases Plan to Combat Alzheimer's Disease
This week, the Administration announced the final version of a national plan to combat Alzheimer's disease by 2025, which President Obama has identified as a national priority. The draft plan, announced in February, outlined a partnership between federal agencies such as the FDA and NIH and sought to speed up public and private research. AGS submitted comments on this Draft National Plan. As part of the national plan, HHS announced funding for two clinical trials at NIH: one that will put $7.9 million toward testing Alzheimer’s medication, and another that will put $16 million toward a prevention trial for people at high risk for the disease. The Administration also announced $2 million to train medical professionals on how to identify and manage Alzheimer’s and a public education campaign including a new website.
National Quality Forum Endorses Multiple Chronic Conditions Measurement Framework
On May 3, the National Quality Forum (NQF) released its endorsement of a measurement framework for individuals with Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCCs). This framework, developed with support from HHS, addresses the complex circumstances of these individuals and serves as a guide for future measure development and NQF-endorsement decisions pertaining to measures that apply to individuals with MCCs. In addition, the framework will help guide measure selection for public reporting and payment; suggest a roadmap for new care delivery models; and inform related research.
The MCC project has been guided by a Steering Committee chaired by AGS member, and Chair of the AGS Quality and Performance Measurement Committee, Caroline Blaum, MD, MS, Professor of Medicine, Associate Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine, and a research scientist at the University of Michigan Health System. Additionally, Johns Hopkins University is writing an NQF-commissioned paper to contribute to the MCC framework. AGS member Cynthia Boyd, MD, MPH, Associate Professor at the JHU School of Medicine, spearheads this research team. For more information, click here.
Upcoming CMS National Provider Calls:
What: Physician Quality Reporting System & Electronic Prescribing (eRx)
When: Tuesday, May 22; 1:30-3pm ET
Details: CMS subject matter experts will provide an overview of the 2013 Electronic Prescribing Payment Adjustment and an overview of the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System Medicare EHR Incentive Pilot. Registration Information: In order to receive call-in information, you must register for the call on the CMS Upcoming National Provider Calls webpage. Presentation: The presentation for this call will be posted at least one day in advance on the FFS National Provider Calls webpage.
What: Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System Coverage Requirements
When: Thursday, May 31; 2-3:30 pm ET
Details: Beginning January 1, 2010, all Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) claims were required to meet new coverage requirements for payment under the IRF prospective payment system (PPS). During this National Provider Call, CMS subject matter experts will provide an overview of the requirements and address questions that providers continue to have as they apply these requirements. Don't miss this opportunity to participate in updated training on the IRF PPS coverage requirements. Registration Information: In order to receive call-in information, you must register for the call on the CMS Upcoming National Provider Calls webpage. Presentation: The presentation for this call will be posted at least one day in advance on the FFS National Provider Calls webpage.
Reminder
APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 21 - CMS Initiative to Strengthen Primary Care Workforce
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 a letter to Congresswoman Schwartz and Congressman Heck in response to their recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would eliminate the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and prevent a 30% cut in provider payments scheduled to take effect January 1, 2013. We applaud their efforts to permanently repeal the SGR formula, and replace it with a fairer, sustainable payment system that better recognizes quality of care for older Americans. In our letter, we took the opportunity to offer some additional comments on several provisions within the legislation.
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: May 18th, 2012
