The Year-End Push for a Medicare Payment Fix

If the email below is not displayed correctly on your smartphone or email viewer, click here.
To ensure that you always receive our newsletter, please add the e-mail address "ACPAdvocate@healthbanks.com" to your address book.

November 08, 2013
In this issue
» ACP Grassroots Campaign Pushes for Congressional Action on SGR and Sequestration Cuts

» Despite Website Glitches, ACA Rollout Chugs Ahead

» New Insurance CO-OPs Struggle to Stay Afloat



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.

Welcome to The ACP Advocate

We start today with an update for you on the situation with SGR payments and sequestration cuts in Congress.  ACP is asking that Congress work to resolve both of these looming cuts before the end of the year.  Read the article for more on what we’re asking and how ACP members can help with our push.  Also, look for a mention of the new legislative framework released last week that would permanently repeal the SGR.  We’ll have a full analysis of that for you in our next issue.

Today’s second story is another update for you on the Affordable Care Act rollout.  Problems continue with the website for the health insurance marketplaces and there has been a new story covered in the media about consumers who are receiving notices that their private market insurance plans will not be renewed.  Check out the story for more about what is happening and what is ACP’s take on the situation.

Finally, our third story lets you know a little bit about health care co-ops.  A co-op is an alternative type of non-profit health insurance that was called for in the Affordable Care Act.  Take a look at our story for more details about why co-ops were created, what they’re meant to do and the challenges that they face as they get going.


Until our next issue, 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
» ACP Grassroots Campaign Pushes for Congressional Action on SGR and Sequestration Cuts
  Leaders buoyed by movement on legislation to replace Medicare payment system
 

The American College of Physicians is in the midst of a grassroots campaign urging Congress to act before year's end on two pressing issues: the continuing threat posed by the Medicare Sustainable Growth Ra... » Click to read the full article


» Despite Website Glitches, ACA Rollout Chugs Ahead
  ACP executive cites jump in Medicaid enrollments as bright spot among the confusion
 

The health insurance Marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act continue to be plagued by software glitches, but an executive with the American College of Physicians believes the problems will not halt... » Click to read the full article


» New Insurance CO-OPs Struggle to Stay Afloat
  Problems with health care website have complicated the launch of nonprofit option
 

The very public struggle to successfully roll out health insurance Marketplaces in all 50 states has overshadowed another reform of the Affordable Care Act that is facing difficulties of its own.

» Click to read the full article

In focus
2012 PQRS Feedback Reports Available
Reports are now available for physicians who participated in the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). Access instructions and information on locating and interpreting the feedback report data can be found in the 2012 PQRS Feedback Report User Guide, linked to above. More information about PQRS and how to participate can be found on the ACP website.

Become an Advocate for Internal Medicine
Join ACP’s Advocates for Internal Medicine Network (AIMn). You’ll find updates about the latest legislation affecting internists and be able to help contribute to ACP’s continued success on Capitol Hill. In addition, the program will provide you with legislative alerts designed to help you easily email or call your members of Congress to let them hear about the issues important to you and other internal medicine physicians.


If you don't want to receive this newsletter anymore, unsubscribe here.

© Copyright 2013 American College of Physicians. All rights reserved.
Washington Office | 25 Massachusetts Ave., NW | Washington, DC 20001-7401 | Phone: (800) 338-2746

Featuring articles produced by HealthDay's Custom Content Division


Delivered by HEALTHBANKS, INC. • 15 New England Executive Park • Burlington, MA 01803