We are pleased to bring you the first AAMC Legislative Affairs Update of 2012. A reminder to tune in for President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union Address, Tuesday, January 24th, starting at 9p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
1. “Meet the iPAB”
Contrary to the occasionally-garnered nickname from the public as “Death Panels,” the intent of the newly created Independent Payment Advisory Board is not to ration out healthcare dollars to the elderly, but rather to address Medicare spending if Congress fails to act. Starting in 2013, CMS will report both a “projected” and “target” Medicare growth rate. If the projected rate exceeds the target growth rate, the IPAB makes recommendations to Congress for ways to rein in spending. If Congress does not accept the IPAB’s recommendation, either it must enact its own legislation to achieve the same savings or DHHS must implement the changes proposed by the IPAB.
http://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2012/01/13/meet-the-ipab/#more-36442
2. AAMC Urges Conference Committee Not to Cut HOPDs to Pay for SGR
In a letter to the House-Senate conference committee, the AAMC voiced concern that proposed cuts to teaching hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) “will result in reduced access to patient care and would adversely impact medical resident training in these facilities.” The letter warns that the proposed changes in H.R. 3630 are “counter-productive, as they are likely to result in the closure of some HOPDs and the reduction of services in others, greatly affecting the vulnerable populations—especially those with complex medical problems—that receive care there, and limiting the ability to train the next generation of health professionals in these outpatient settings.”
https://www.aamc.org/advocacy/washhigh/
3. Establishing Health Insurance Exchanges: An Update on State Efforts
State-based health insurance exchanges, a key component of the ACA, are expected to enable consumers to compare a selection of qualified health insurance options in order to find the plan that best meets their needs and budget. The federal government will provide subsidies to certain low- and moderate-income individuals to make such coverage more affordable. The fact sheet, published January 18, 2012, reviews states' progress to date in establishing health insurance exchanges, which are required to be fully operational by January 1, 2014.
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8213.cfm
4. 2012: The ACA, and More
Have you spaced out a little in the latest healthcare reform news? Do you recall the abbreviations ACA, ACO and SGR? This Kaiser summary brings you up to date regarding the areas where change could happen in 2012. Decisions made this year and especially this election cycle will likely have a lasting impact on how we provide, consume and finance healthcare in the foreseeable future.
http://www.kff.org/pullingittogether/2012.cfm
5. Health plans ordered to cover birth control without co-pays
The Obama administration announced that by August 1st, most healthcare plans will be required to cover birth control without a co-payment or deductible. Religiously-affiliated hospitals and universities will have until August 1st, 2013 to implement the same requirement. Some organizations have said they would rather shut their doors rather than comply with the new requirement. Abortion-rights groups applauded the decision, while some Congressional Republicans called it an assault on religious freedom.
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/205413-obama-administration-orders-health-plans-to-cover-birth-control-without-co-pays
6. This Week in Polling: More Primary Talk and the State of the Union
Results from several polls on issues ranging from who Americans trust to make decisions in regards to health care to the topics they want addressed in Obama’s remarks in the State of the Union.
http://healthreform.kff.org/scan/2012/january/this-week-in-polling-jan-16-to-jan-20.aspx
Your loyal Legislative Affairs team,
Stephen Carr - Northeast Region
Tom Selby - Central Region
Arun Iyer - Southern Region
Damian Illing - Western Region
William Teeter - National Delegate
1. “Meet the iPAB”
Contrary to the occasionally-garnered nickname from the public as “Death Panels,” the intent of the newly created Independent Payment Advisory Board is not to ration out healthcare dollars to the elderly, but rather to address Medicare spending if Congress fails to act. Starting in 2013, CMS will report both a “projected” and “target” Medicare growth rate. If the projected rate exceeds the target growth rate, the IPAB makes recommendations to Congress for ways to rein in spending. If Congress does not accept the IPAB’s recommendation, either it must enact its own legislation to achieve the same savings or DHHS must implement the changes proposed by the IPAB.
http://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2012/01/13/meet-the-ipab/#more-36442
2. AAMC Urges Conference Committee Not to Cut HOPDs to Pay for SGR
In a letter to the House-Senate conference committee, the AAMC voiced concern that proposed cuts to teaching hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) “will result in reduced access to patient care and would adversely impact medical resident training in these facilities.” The letter warns that the proposed changes in H.R. 3630 are “counter-productive, as they are likely to result in the closure of some HOPDs and the reduction of services in others, greatly affecting the vulnerable populations—especially those with complex medical problems—that receive care there, and limiting the ability to train the next generation of health professionals in these outpatient settings.”
https://www.aamc.org/advocacy/washhigh/
3. Establishing Health Insurance Exchanges: An Update on State Efforts
State-based health insurance exchanges, a key component of the ACA, are expected to enable consumers to compare a selection of qualified health insurance options in order to find the plan that best meets their needs and budget. The federal government will provide subsidies to certain low- and moderate-income individuals to make such coverage more affordable. The fact sheet, published January 18, 2012, reviews states' progress to date in establishing health insurance exchanges, which are required to be fully operational by January 1, 2014.
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8213.cfm
4. 2012: The ACA, and More
Have you spaced out a little in the latest healthcare reform news? Do you recall the abbreviations ACA, ACO and SGR? This Kaiser summary brings you up to date regarding the areas where change could happen in 2012. Decisions made this year and especially this election cycle will likely have a lasting impact on how we provide, consume and finance healthcare in the foreseeable future.
http://www.kff.org/pullingittogether/2012.cfm
5. Health plans ordered to cover birth control without co-pays
The Obama administration announced that by August 1st, most healthcare plans will be required to cover birth control without a co-payment or deductible. Religiously-affiliated hospitals and universities will have until August 1st, 2013 to implement the same requirement. Some organizations have said they would rather shut their doors rather than comply with the new requirement. Abortion-rights groups applauded the decision, while some Congressional Republicans called it an assault on religious freedom.
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/205413-obama-administration-orders-health-plans-to-cover-birth-control-without-co-pays
6. This Week in Polling: More Primary Talk and the State of the Union
Results from several polls on issues ranging from who Americans trust to make decisions in regards to health care to the topics they want addressed in Obama’s remarks in the State of the Union.
http://healthreform.kff.org/scan/2012/january/this-week-in-polling-jan-16-to-jan-20.aspx
Your loyal Legislative Affairs team,
Stephen Carr - Northeast Region
Tom Selby - Central Region
Arun Iyer - Southern Region
Damian Illing - Western Region
William Teeter - National Delegate