Welcome to the ACP Advocate,
Today's first article is an update for you about what has happened with the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) since our last issue. As I'm sure you know the Senate failed to get the votes they needed to advance their latest attempt. While that particular bill has been squashed, it is an issue that is sure to come up again. Know that we are prepared to continue fighting to make sure that the protections provided to your patients by the ACA are continued.
Our second article looks at the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2018. As always, there are some things we like; some of the changes would reduce burdens on physicians. And, there are some things we don't like; we'd like to see some changes to chronic care codes. Read the article for more detail about the concerns we shared with CMS, and look for the final Fee Schedule later this fall.
Finally, our last article looks at the funding status for several health programs that expired at the end of the government fiscal year in September. These long-standing programs are critical to the continued health of all of our communities. They include things like care for children and medically-underserved areas. I urge you to reach out to your members of Congress to let them know that the programs must be funded.
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
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| In the news |
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As ACA Repeal Fails, ACP Vows to Keep the Pressure On
College pledges to continue speaking up for patients and physicians
Oct. 6, 2017 (ACP) -- Health care advocates breathed a collective sigh of relief in late September when Congress again failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. But the American College of Physici... (read more)
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Medicare's New Physician Fee Schedule May Be Less Burdensome to Physicians
ACP sees positive changes in proposed document, but also suggests some revisions
Oct. 6, 2017 (ACP) -- Proposed updates to the federal government's reimbursement procedures for the treatment of Medicare patients have been met with a mixed review from the American College of Physicians.read more)
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Congress Drops the Ball on Funding for Health Care Programs
Programs in limbo include those that address primary care shortage and children's insurance
Oct. 6, 2017 (ACP) -- The fate of several health care programs remains up in the air after Congress failed to reauthorize funding that expired at the end of September.
Programs affected, all of whic... (read more)
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| 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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