Federal Watch
August 31st, 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 two important final rules released by CMS – the ICD-10 billing codes, and the Stage 2 Electronic Health Record Incentive programs. We also remind you about a CER-related funding opportunity through the NIA. Finally, we share our latest efforts of the week, 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.
ICD-10 Final Rule Locks in One Year Delay
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published a final rule on ICD-10. The final rule makes it official that the new ICD-10 billing codes will be delayed a year, from Oct. 1, 2013, to Oct. 1, 2014, in the compliance date for use of the ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes. The delay was first announced in a proposed rule in April. The AMA has pressed hard for CMS to reconsider its plans to replace the current ICD-9 code set with ICD-10, which is far more complex and costly. The Administration adopted a one year delay in response to AMA Advocacy and received much criticism from other stakeholder groups for this decision. CMS has now finalized the rule to reflect the October 1, 2014 compliance deadline. Enclosed is the link to the ICD-10 final rule. http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2012-21238_PI.pdf
CMS Releases Final Rule for Stage 2 EHR Incentive Programs
CMS has just published the Final Rule for Stage 2 of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. HHS has pared down how much providers will depend on patients to meet the second-stage requirements of the multi-billion program to encourage the use of electronic health records. The Final Rule also addresses a number of concerns that had been raised since the agency put out the proposed rule in May, which AGS commented on. It also finalized an accommodation to hospitals and doctors who said it would have been hard to gear up for an expanded set of reporting requirements in 2014. Enclosed is a link to information that CMS has posted on the rule: http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp. AGS is also in the process of reviewing the final rule in detail to determine how CMS addressed our comments. Check back next week for additional information.
REMINDERS:
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
The AGS signed onto a letter to CMS, spearheaded by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), requesting that bipolar disorder be added as an exclusion from the two CMS quality measures on antipsychotic use. LeadingAGE, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), the American Medical Directors Associations (AMDA) and the American Association for Geriatrics Psychiatry (AAGP) also signed-on to the letter. Together, we expressed our concerns that not excluding bipolar disorder from the measure will harm patients with this diagnosis who have been stabilized on these medications. We believe that CMS is potentially creating barriers to appropriate treatment and that the unintended outcome will be a limitation on access to this treatment for nursing home residents with this diagnosis. Click here to read the full letter.
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: September 1st, 2012
