About this newsletter
The ACP Advocate is an e-newsletter, edited by the College's Washington, DC governmental affairs division, created to provide you, our members, with succinct news about public policy issues affecting internal medicine and patient care. To learn more about ACP's Advocacy and to access the ACP Advocate archives, go to www.acponline.org/advocacy. |
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Welcome to The ACP Advocate
Today’s first story details problems we’ve been hearing about with applications doctors have been submitting for hardship exemptions to Medicare’s eRx program. Take a look at the article to learn a little more about the problem. And, if you have been experiencing a problem in your practice, I encourage you to contact CMS (the contact information is at the bottom of the article) and to also let us know about your situation. In the column to the right of this Welcome you’ll find a link to a form on the ACP website that you can use to file a complaint with us.
Our second story this week looks at the proposed budget that President Obama released a couple of weeks ago. We’re happy that the budget includes increased funding to expand the health care workforce, and we’re glad that the President mentions that the SGR formula needs to be repealed to end the cycle of Medicare payment cuts. However, the budget does not include a mention of how they would manage this repeal. While the budget is unlikely to be enacted exactly as proposed, we are encouraged that the SGR is being acknowledged as the issue it is. We’ll keep you up-to-date over the course of the year as Congress and the President continue talking about the budget and the SGR.
Finally, our last story looks at a provision of the health care reform law that is set to come into effect this fall. Starting on Sept. 23, health plans must offer consumers concise fact sheets that summarize what their plan offers. While the regulations may still need some tweaking, we believe this new, easily digestible information, will be helpful to you and your patients.
For more coverage of what's happening in Washington, take a look at my award-winning blog, The ACP Advocate Blog by Bob Doherty. You can also follow me on Twitter @BobDohertyACP.
And, as always, please send your feedback and suggestions on this newsletter to: TheACPAdvocate@acponline.org.
Yours truly,
Bob Doherty
Senior Vice President
Governmental Affairs and Public Policy
American College of Physicians
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In focus
Are you having problems with eRx?
Have you been subject to a Medicare eRx payment penalty despite a pending application for a hardship exemption? If you have been unable to resolve the situation with CMS, please take a moment to fill out the form at the above link to let us know about your situation. |
AIMn Now on Twitter
Get the latest information about the College’s advocacy efforts and the Advocates for Internal Medicine network (AIMn) through a new Twitter feed, Advocates for IM. There you will find the latest information about the activities of the College’s government affairs office and the hot topics in Washington. |
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