Federal Watch

December 7th, 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 ask for your assistance by urging your legislators to oppose eliminating the Medicaid bonus payment for primary care providers. We also provide updates on the latest news out of Capitol Hill regarding the impending “Fiscal Cliff” deal. As a reminder, CMS has re-opened its Quality Reporting Communication Support page through January 31, 2013. Lastly, we ask that you contact your legislators, urging them to support several important pieces of legislation that are critical to geriatrics health providers and their patients, such as the repeal of the SGR and comprehensive Medicare payment and delivery reform and the across-the-board cuts, or “sequester” scheduled for January 1. Please visit our Health in Aging Advocacy Center to learn more about these issues and to contact your members of Congress directly. 

Urge Your Members of Congress to Oppose Eliminating the Medicaid Bonus Payment for Primary Care Providers
AGS is seeking your assistance today in light of a recent proposal from House Republicans that would eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid pay increase for primary care providers. The payment, which is scheduled to take effect January 1, ensures that Medicaid payments for eligible physician services throughout the country are at parity with Medicare. Such potential cuts to Medicaid payments would seriously undermine the quality of care delivered to our nation’s most vulnerable seniors. Through our Health in Aging Advocacy Center, you can take action today and urge your members to oppose elimination of the Medicaid primary care payment increase.  

Medicare Emerging As Prime Target in "Fiscal Cliff" Talks
Various news outlets are reporting that with less than a month to the “fiscal cliff” deadline, several ideas are circulating among policymakers about how to control the exploding costs of entitlement programs including Medicare. With 52 million beneficiaries in mind, the proposal most commonly discussed would boost higher costs for wealthier retirees, and raise the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67. Other proposals on the table would reduce payments for hospitals, nursing homes, drug makers, insurers and physicians. Raising the age of eligibility could save $148 billion in Medicare spending over the next 10 years, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. But critics say the change would only shift costs onto employers and beneficiaries, some of whom might have to forego coverage. To read more, please click here to see what other news outlets are reporting. 

A Guide to Understanding the “Fiscal Cliff” and its Effect on Healthcare
Do you want to gain a better understanding of what the impending “Fiscal Cliff” will mean for you, as a healthcare provider? Kaiser Health News has outlined the key details through a series of questions and answers. Click here to learn more. 

REMINDER:

Quality Reporting Communication Support Page Officially Re-Opened through January 31, 2013for Medicare 2013 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Payment Adjustment Hardship Exemption Requests
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has re-opened the Quality Reporting Communication Support Page to allow individual eligible professionals and CMS-selected group practices the opportunity to request a significant hardship exemption for the 2013 eRx payment adjustment. Significant hardship request should be submitted via the Quality Reporting Communication Support Page on or between now and January 31, 2013.  CMS will review these requests on a case-by-case basis.  All decisions on significant hardship exemption requests will be final.  Important -- Please note that this is for the 2013 eRx payment adjustment only.  Hardship exemption requests for the 2014 payment adjustment will be accepted during a separate timeframe later in calendar year 2013.  For more information on how to navigate theCommunication Support Page, please reference the following documents: 

• Quality Reporting Communication Support Page User Guide
• Tips for Using the Quality Reporting Communication Support Page 

For additional information and resources, please visit http://www.CMS.gov/ERxIncentive.  

How You Can Help 

In addition to opposing elimination of the Medicaid bonus payment for primary care providers, AGS is seeking your assistance to increase support for the following important initiatives: 

• Across-the-board cuts, or “sequester” scheduled for January 1 as mandated by the Budget Control Act (BCA).  Please take action on this important campaign and let your legislators know how these cuts to discretionary funding would affect services for older adults and the supply of qualified professionals available to care for them.

• Repeal of the SGR and comprehensive Medicare payment and delivery reform.  AGS also encourages you to contact your members of Congress 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: December 7th, 2012