Welcome to The ACP Advocate,
It's been a contentious week in Congress that ended in a House sit-in and early recess -- yet progress is being made on several issues of importance to ACP, even as there is still work to be done! Our first article looks at the status of issues that remain on the congressional agenda in the nation's capital for the remainder of the year. You'll see that while much progress has been made on ACP-supported legislation to address the opioids epidemic and improve access to mental health, neither are yet over the finish line. Legislation to provide the funds needed to prevent a Zika public health emergency remains stalled, meaning the earliest Congress would able to reach an agreement would be after July 5; even as the risk that more people will be infected grows with each day that Congress fails to act. And, despite the horrific mass shooting in Orlando, Congress has also failed to act on ACP-supported bills to reduce gun violence.
Our second article notes that physicians have notched a victory in getting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend a key policy related to Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). After advocacy efforts by ACP and other medical organizations, CMS agreed to change the benchmarks for practices that embrace the ACO payment model.
Our final article tells how Dr. Tammy Lin, a San Diego internist, turned a casual conversation with legislative staffers on Capitol Hill during Leadership Day in Washington last month into something much more meaningful. ACP's annual advocacy event allows members to bring issues of concern directly to U.S. lawmakers, but Dr. Lin took it a step further. She adapted her presentation from the Internal Medicine Meeting 2016 and shared it with legislative aides to help them stave off professional burnout.
Our next ACP Advocate will be distributed on July 15 and will feature articles on ACP's reaction to the proposed MACRA Rule, more about Dr. Damle's recent testimony to a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on drug prices, and more about our continued advocacy on gun violence.
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.
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 |
|
| In the news |
| » |
Key Health Issues Still Await Congressional Action
ACP notes progress but hopes for resolution on its legislative priorities
With summer in full gear and an election on the horizon, members of Congress may be heading out of Washington, D.C., but much unfinished business remains.
Though progress has been made, Congress still ... (read more)
|
|
| » |
Medicare Adjusts ACO Policies as Advocated by ACP
Physicians, patients, taxpayers all stand to benefit from changes
Physicians have notched a victory in getting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend a key policy related to Accountable Care Organizations.
After advocacy efforts by the American Colle... (read more)
|
|
| » |
Building Bridges Between Physicians and Legislators
ACP member helps Capitol Hill staffers tackle wellness issues
Dr. Tammy Lin, a San Diego internist, turned a casual conversation with legislative staffers on Capitol Hill during Leadership Day in Washington, D.C., last month into something much more meaningful.
read more)
|
|
|
| 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. |
|
| In focus |
| » |
ACP President Testifies on Prescription Drug Prices |
|
Dr. Nitin S. Damle, ACP President, testified on the escalating cost of prescription drugs, the impact of the costs on internal medicine physicians and their patients, and support for the intent of the bipartisan Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act of 2016 to reduce anti-competitive practices. Dr. Damle provided his testimony to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. We'll cover more of Dr. Damle's testimony and the hearing in our next Advocate Newsletter. |
| » |
Hardship Exemptions for Meaningful Use |
|
Given the insufficient time provided for EPs to attest to MU in 2015, and as a result of PAMPA legislation, CMS has posted the streamlined MU hardship exception applications as well as guidance for eligible professionals on how to apply. The deadline for applying for a hardship exception for the 2015 MU reporting period and 2017 payment adjustments is July 1, 2016. |
|
|