Federal Watch
August 10th, 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 how the Affordable Care Act has steadied premiums for Medicare prescription drugs and additionally provide information on an upcoming webinar hosted by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute. We also remind you about an upcoming National Provider Call and a CER-related funding opportunity through the NIA. Finally, we encourage you to take action by contacting your legislators, and urging them to fully address and put an end to the flawed SGR formula.
Medicare Prescription Drug Premiums to Remain Steady for Third Straight Year
Average basic premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans are projected to remain constant in 2013, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced earlier this week. The average 2013 monthly premium for basic prescription drug coverage is expected to be $30. Average premiums for 2012 were projected to be $30 and ultimately averaged $29.67. At the same time, since the law was enacted, older adults have saved $3.9 billion on prescription drugs as the law began closing the “donut hole” coverage gap.
In addition, the Affordable Care Act has enabled out-of-pocket savings on medications for people with Medicare to continue to grow. Last month, CMS announced that more than 5.2 million people with Medicare have saved over $3.9 billion on prescription drugs in the Medicare Part D donut hole since the law was enacted. In the first half of 2012, over 1 million people with Medicare saved a total of $687 million on prescription drugs, averaging $629 per person this year.
Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Hosts Webinar on August 14
On Tuesday, August 14, from 1:00−2:00 p.m. ET, the PCORI will provide patients, caregivers and the broader health care community an in-depth discovery of the contents of the draft Methodology Report, and the proposed standards for how patients should be engaged throughout the research process. The AGS plans to submit comments on this Draft Methodology Report this fall. You may register for this webinar here. Speakers include:
- Ethan Basch, MD, MSc, Member, PCORI Methodology Committee, Associate Attending Physician and Outcomes Scientist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- David O. Meltzer MD, PhD, Section Chief of Hospital Medicine, Director of the Center for Health and the Social Sciences, and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Department of Economics and the Harris School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago
- Gail Hunt, Member, PCORI Board of Governors, President and CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving
- Lori Frank, PhD, Director of Engagement Research, PCORI
REMINDERS:
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
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: August 10th, 2012
