Federal Watch
July 27th, 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 share the exciting news on how the Affordable Care Act has saved $3.9 billion for older adults on medications since its enactment, and share the latest appropriations updates on Capitol Hill. We additionally remind you of two upcoming National Provider Calls and a CER-related funding opportunity through the NIA. Finally, we share our latest efforts, 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.
Doughnut Hole Provision in Health Law Has Saved Older Adults $4B
The Medicare agency released figures showing that millions of older adults and people with disabilities have saved $3.9 billion on medications since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. The data also showed that since the beginning of the year, more than 1 million Medicare beneficiaries have saved an average of $629 on prescriptions in the "doughnut hole" coverage gap. For more information, please visit here.
Update - Summary of Draft FY 2013 House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill The draft bill, which was approved by the subcommittee last week, includes $150 billion in discretionary funding, which is a cut of $6.3 billion below last year’s level and $8.8 billion below the President’s budget request. Of interest to AGS, the bill also provides $623 million in total funding for health professions training, however, it is not clear how much of that will go to fund Title VII and VIII Geriatrics Training Programs. The bill also includes $30.6 billion for the NIH, which is equal to both last year’s level and the President’s request. The National Institute on Aging would receive $1.1 billion of that. For additional details, click here.
REMINDER
National Provider Call Medicare Shared Savings Program and Advance Payment Model Application Process — Tuesday, July 31 1:30-3 pm ET
On Tuesday, July 31, 2012, CMS will host a National Provider Call, where subject matter experts will provide an overview and updates to the Shared Savings Program application and Advance Payment Model application processes for the January 1, 2013 Shared Savings Program start date. A question and answer session will follow the presentations. The Shared Savings Program Application and the Advance Payment Model web pages have important information, dates, and materials on the application process. Call participants are encouraged to review the applications and materials prior to the call.
National Provider Call: New Medicare Preventive Services — Registration Now Open - Wednesday, August 15; 2-3:30 pm ET
This call is intended to inform healthcare providers on the five new preventive services that are now covered by Medicare. CMS experts will provide an overview of these new services, when to perform them, who can perform each service, who is eligible, and how to code and bill for each service, followed by a question and answer session.
- Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse – Effective 10/14/11
- Screening for Depression in Adults – Effective 10/14/11
- Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease – Effective 11/8/11
- Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and High-Intensity Behavioral Counseling (HIBC) to Prevent STIs – Effective 11/8/11
- Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Obesity– Effective 11/29/11
In order to receive call-in information, you must register for the call on the CMS Upcoming National Provider Calls registration website. Registration will close at 12pm on the day of the call or when available space has been filled.
The National Institute on Aging Invites Applicants to Help Continue CER Research
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has announced a new grant opportunity titled “Secondary Analyses of Comparative Effectiveness, Health Outcomes and Costs in Persons with Multiple Chronic Conditions (R21”). This federal grant is the next step in NIA’s continued work to advance the research agenda for multiple chronic conditions. For information on the new grant, you may visit: grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-13-003.html. The application deadline is October 11, 2013. Any questions can go to:
Marcel Salive, MD, MPH
Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology
Phone: 301-496-6761
Email: marcel.salive@nih.gov
What AGS Did This Week
- AGS endorsed Senator Franken’s (D- MN) Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act. Under the proposed bill, the Program – as designed, tested, and certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – would be a covered benefit for people with Medicare. People with Medicare would have the opportunity to be assessed for diabetes risk during their normal annual checkup or at another time as determined by their physician. Their physician could then refer them to a certified Diabetes Prevention Program in their community, offer the Diabetes Prevention program within their own practice, or contract with an organization to provide the program. We have attached the draft bill language and a one-pager with more information. More information: http://www.franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=431
- AGS signed on to a letter spearheaded by the Leaders Engaged on Alzheimer’s Disease (LEAD) Coalition. The letter, addressed to Chairman Joe Pitts of the House subcommittee on Health Committee on Energy and Commerce, encourages him to hold a Congressional oversight hearing to examine progress in implementing the National Alzheimer's Plan. AGS supported this letter, which can be viewed here.
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: July 27th, 2012
