Federal Watch

October 12th, 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 two relevant studies conducted by Health Affairs – one of which focuses on the current pace of comparative effectiveness research, and the other, regarding older adults’ spending habits and Medicare Part D. In addition, we remind you of the upcoming CMS National Provider Call to prepare physicians for ICD-10 Implementation, 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.

PCORI Urged to Pick up Pace on Research
According to a recent article published in the October 2012 issue of Health Affairs, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is “lacking the sense of urgency to tackle specific, high-impact clinical questions fast, which is what it needs to do if it is to survive past 2019.” The institute’s national priorities and research agenda, which AGS submitted feedback on, were adopted last May. The agenda includes broad research areas, but no specific questions. The article raises questions about how the research might be applied to decision making across the health care system and the ways it could affect how pharmaceutical companies communicate to both health professionals and the public about competing treatments and options in the future. To read more, please visit here.

Study Results Show Seniors Overspend On Medicare Part D
According to a new Health Affairs study, Kaiser Health News reports indicate that older adults are overspending on Medicare Part D. Specifically, the report states that seniors spent an average of $368 more than they needed to on drug coverage through Medicare Part D plans in 2009 — their decisions complicated by the sheer volume of plans available and difficulties involved in determining what makes a plan a good choice. There are 1,736 plans available to Medicare beneficiaries for purchasing prescription drugs through Medicare’s Part D program, and, based on 2009 data, that’s about 50 plans per region. For more information, please visit here.

REMINDERS:

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.

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. ThesePCORI Funding Announcements (PFAs) correspond to four of the five areas of focus outlined in itsNational 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 12th, 2012