Presidential candidate proposals; keeping the gov't open

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October 21, 2016

Welcome to The ACP Advocate,

Today’s first article presents a close look at each of the major presidential candidate's health care plans along with perspective from other independent reports and experts. Be sure, too, to check ACP's Presidential Election 2016 section, which includes a rundown of ACP's stance on issues of importance in the current campaign.

The other article in this issue looks at the appropriations bill passed by Congress to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1. It allowed funding to continue for many ACP health care priorities -- but only for the short term.  More work needs to be done to make sure that key health care initiatives get funded at ample levels through fiscal year 2017.

The next ACP Advocate newsletter will be distributed on Nov. 4. All three articles of the issue are scheduled to examine the MACRA Final Rule that came out just a week ago. The ACP staff will contribute their in-depth analysis of the 2,200 page document. 

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
» Election Preview: Where the Candidates Stand on Health Care

Independent analysts examine Clinton and Trump proposals

Health care issues may not have made many headlines of late in the presidential campaign, but plans put forth by the two major party candidates could alter the landscape for physicians and patients alike, and... (read more)

» ACP Members Urged to Press Congress on Health Care Funding

Stopgap measure keeps programs going only until early December

The appropriations bill passed by Congress to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1 allowed funding to continue for many health care priorities of the American College of Physicians -- but only for the short ... (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 this issue
» Election Preview: Where the Candidates Stand on Health Care
» ACP Members Urged to Press Congress on Health Care Funding

In focus
» ACP open enrollment resources
ACP has developed materials to help your patients shop for and enroll in marketplace-based health insurance during the 2017 open enrollment season. 13.8 million individuals are expected to sign up for coverage through the Marketplaces during the Nov. 1, 2016 through Jan. 31, 2017 Open Enrollment period, HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said this week. ACP's patient assistance resources are available online, and patients can visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 for enrollment assistance.
» CMS Updates -- PQRS and QRURs
CMS recently released the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Feedback Reports and Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) for calendar year 2015. These reports show 2015 program results for PQRS and Value Modifier programs and are now available for review to determine whether physicians are subject to the 2017 PQRS negative payment adjustment and the 2017 Value Modifier payment adjustment. Solo physicians and physician groups have through Nov. 30, 2016, to submit an informal review if they believe they were assessed incorrectly.
» Confused about MACRA? You're not alone.
Confused about MACRA? A new video proves you aren't the only one. Those regulatory terms and acronyms make an alphabet soup. ACP has resources that can help you prepare for MACRA both now and after the final rule is issued.




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