Federal Watch
May 25th, 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 the latest bipartisan medical education and training opportunities for the next generation of health providers, PCORI's announcement to awards $120 million this year for new funding to support CER, and a reminder about a CMS Provider Call focused on inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and prospective payment requirements. 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.
Medical Education and Training Opportunities Unveiled
U.S. Representatives Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Phil Roe (R-TN) recently re-launched the Congressional Academic Medicine Caucus, dedicated to promoting excellence in medical education and ensuring abundant training opportunities for the next generation of physicians. This bipartisan Caucus provides a forum for members to engage in a constructive dialogue about the challenges and opportunities surrounding graduate medical education (GME) in the United States. The Academic Medicine Caucus stands ready to work with these institutions and providers to confront challenges facing academic medicine and the health care system as a whole. The Caucus will also explore sound policy approaches to ensuring an adequate supply of qualified physicians that is capable of meeting the health care needs of the nation. For more information, please visit here.
The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Announces Funding Applications to Support CER
PCORI will award $120 million this year for innovative projects that address the areas of focus of PCORI's National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda, which was adopted by PCORI's Board of Governors at its public meeting earlier this week. The four PCORI Funding Announcements released involve up to $96 million in funding and correspond to the first four areas of focus in PCORI's National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda:
- Assessment of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options- for projects that address critical decisions that patients, their caregivers and clinicians face with too little information.
- Improving Healthcare Systems - for projects that address critical decisions that face health care systems, the patients and caregivers who rely on them, and the clinicians who work within them.
- Communication and Dissemination - for projects that address critical elements in the communication and dissemination process among patients, their caregivers and clinicians.
- Addressing Disparities - for projects that will inform the choice of strategies to eliminate disparities.
To apply for a PCORI research project, applicants must first register using PCORI's online system, which will be open beginning June 1, 2012. A link to the online system will be available on the PCORI Funding Announcements web page at http://www.pcori.org/funding-opportunities/pfa/. All application materials can be downloaded from the Funding Opportunities section of PCORI's website.
CMS National Provider Call: Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System Coverage Requirements: Thursday, May 31; 2-3:30 pm ET
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.
What AGS Did This Week
Senators Grassley, Kohl and Blumenthal offered an amendment in the Senate to the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act that seeks to cut the misuse of antipsychotics in nursing homes. The amendment is in response to recent reports about the misuse and overuse of these drugs and is intended to empower residents and their family members about the drugs being prescribed for them. While we found out that the Amendment is not on the limited list of amendments that will be brought up and debated as part of this bill, there is a good chance that it will resurface as a proposed amendment to a different piece of legislation later in the Congressional session. That said, AGS is currently reviewing the amendment and plan to submit our input. AGS will continue to keep you apprised of our feedback and any new developments. For more information, visit the Senate Aging website.
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.
Modified On: May 30th, 2012
