Welcome to The ACP Advocate,
Our first article this issue reviews the 2015 Physician Fee Schedule recently proposed by CMS. Details are provided on ACP's plans to seek changes to the agency's proposal to begin Medicare payment for chronic care management codes starting in 2015. While the proposal potentially represents a major step forward in ACP's longstanding efforts to get Medicare to recognize the value of chronic care management services (CCM) provided by internal medicine specialists and other physicians, the College plans to urge CMS to make changes in the coding, payment amounts, and required electronic health record capabilities that would be associated with the proposed new CCM payment policy.
Also, look at the article for ACP reactions to changes that CMS proposes to make to the Sunshine Act, the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and the Medicare Value-Based Payment program.
Our other article provides insight into the recent IOM report recommending major reforms in Medicare funding for Graduate Medical Education (GME). ACP President David Fleming, in a statement issued upon release of the report, said that the ACP "applauds the IOM for its emphasis on innovation, transformation and accountability" while noting that the College has concerns about the IOM's finding that there is no "credible evidence" of shortage of primary care physicians. Dr. Fleming also expressed concern that the IOM's recommendations could be damaging to many established residency programs, by siphoning off GME dollars to support a new GME "transformation" fund. The IOM's recommendations are advisory to Congress, so legislation would be needed to implement them.
Until our next issue and 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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ACP Scrutinizes Details in New Physician Fee Schedule
College plans to press CMS for changes to chronic care management codes, among other aspects of agency's proposal
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services continue in their proposed 2015 Medicare physician fee schedule to move forward with implementation of new payment codes for chronic care management, something... (read more)
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| In focus |
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Review 2012 Supplemental Quality Resource Use Reports (QRURs) |
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CMS made available confidential 2012 Supplemental Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) to group practices with 100 or more EPs that received group 2012 QRURs in the fall of 2013.
These PY 2012 Supplemental QRURs provide medical group practices with summary level and detailed drill down information on payment-standardized, risk-adjusted clinical episodes of care that are attributed to the medical group, including information about Medicare providers who care for the patient during the episode both inside and outside the medical group.
The 2012 Supplemental QRURs are for informational purposes and complement the quality and per capita cost information provided in the 2012 QRURs.
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Accepting Applications: ACP Health Policy Internship Program |
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The American College of Physicians is pleased to offer the Health Policy Internship for Residents/Fellows and Medical Student Members. This internship represents a unique opportunity to develop legislative knowledge and advocacy skills by working directly with ACP's Washington, D.C., staff and participating in ACP’s annual Leadership Day.
The ACP Health Policy Internship provides a multifaceted opportunity to learn about the legislative process, health policy, and advocacy in organized medicine.
The deadline for applications is October 20, 2014. |
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Become an Advocate for Internal Medicine |
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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. |
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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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