Federal Watch

October 5th, 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 provide you with updates on the condition of Alzheimer’s disease in America, and how various states are addressing the issue. In addition, we update you on an upcoming CMS National Provider Call to prepare physicians for ICD-10 Implementation, and share an interesting new study which suggests that Medicare may favor skilled nursing facilities over hospice. We also remind you of the CER research opportunity through the NIA whose due date is fast approaching, as well as PCORI’s new funding announcements related to comparative clinical effectiveness research.  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.

As America Ages, States Prepare for Alzheimer's Disease Crisis
One in eight older Americans—5.4 million—live with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The disease costs the health-care sector up to $200 billion annually. If those trends hold as the nation’s 65+ population ages, those costs, both personal and fiscal, could increase exponentially. The association places the tangible costs at $20 trillion over the next 40 years.  In 2009, the Alzheimer’s Association worked with lawmakers in 20 states to pass legislation that created State Government Alzheimer's Disease Strategic Plans. They create a system for coordination among state legislators, government agencies, health-care providers and patients to confront the disease through public policy. As of September 2012, 24 states have finalized a plan, and 16 others (plus the District of Columbia) have established task forces to develop one.  To read more about these specific plans and efforts, please visit here. 

October 25^th – CMS to Host National Provider Call to Prepare Physicians for ICD-10 Implementation
HHS has announced the final rule that delays the ICD-10 compliance date from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014, and now is the time to prepare. During this ICD-10 National Provider Call, Dr. Ginger Boyle, a practicing family physician who has developed a coding education program for her hospital and its family practice residency program, shares her success and some practical advice about Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System’s transition to ICD-10. CMS subject matter experts also present the latest information and updates from their areas, followed by a question and answer session. 

• When: Thursday, October 25, 2012
• Time: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern Time
• Target Audience:
• Medical coders, physicians, physician office staff, nurses and other non-physician practitioners, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, educators, system maintainers, laboratories, and all Medicare FFS providers
• Registration/More Information: To register for a National Provider Call, please visit the CMS Upcoming National Provider Calls webpage. For more information, please visit the CMS ICD-10 website. 

Study Finds Medicare May Favor Skilled-Nursing Facilities Over Hospice
According to findings published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, nearly one third of Medicare beneficiaries receiving end-of-life care use their benefits to pay for nursing home services.  The study’s researchers say the findings suggest that palliative or hospice care should be incorporated into Medicare's nursing home benefits.  AGS member, Peter Boling, MD, of Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, told Reuters Health that it would most likely require legislative or regulatory action. To read more, please visit here.

REMINDERS: 

DEADLINE: OCT. 11 - 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 

PCORI Announces New Funding Opportunities
The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) launched its second cycle of funding requests to support $96 million in comparative clinical effectiveness research that will assist patients and those who care for them with making better-informed health care decisions. These PCORI Funding Announcements (PFAs) correspond to four of the five areas of focus outlined in its National Priorities for Research and Research Agenda: (1) Assessment of Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options, (2) Improving Healthcare Systems, (3) Communication and Dissemination, and (4) Addressing Disparities.  PCORI will host three workshops in Washington, D.C. this fall to obtain input from patients, caregivers and other stakeholders on PCORI's draft process for generating and selecting specific research topics. Each workshop will be accompanied by a public, interactive webcast. Learn more on the following workshops:

• Transforming Patient-Centered Research: Building Partnerships and Promising Models
  October 27-28
  This workshop will focus on the patient's role and perspective in PCORI's work, and provide an opportunity for patients, caregivers, researchers and other stakeholders to start working together as a community to discuss potential ideas for future research. 

• What Should PCORI Study? A Call for Topics from Patients and Stakeholders
  December 4
  This workshop will solicit recommendations for specific research topics and test PCORI's draft process for determining which could be the basis of future funding announcements.

• PCORI Research Prioritization Methods Workshop 
  December 5
  Research methodologists, patients and other stakeholders will further test the process for selecting research questions and address a number of methodological issues that will help PCORI ensure that it addresses the needs of patients and caregivers.

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: October 5th, 2012