Welcome to The ACP Advocate,
This is our first Advocate Newsletter of 2016. I wish you good fortune in the New Year!
The coming year stands to be an extraordinary one for the reporting requirements physicians will face as the federal government pushes new programs into gear and phases out old ones. New codes are going into effect, too.
Check out today’s first article for what you need to know about regulations and deadlines for 2016. Look for details on meaningful use, PQRS, and the Value-Based Modifier Program Requirements.
In our second story today, we examine how ACP -- and patients and doctors in general -- enjoyed some major legislative victories in 2015. At the top of the good-news list for 2015 was the end of the SGR. See the article for nearly a half-dozen more wins.
Speaking of wins…Despite the ever-present rancor and intransigence in Washington, DC this past year, Congress and the president managed to enact an omnibus spending deal in the final weeks of 2015 -- an occurrence that was more than simply positive for physicians and patients.
Check out the details on how the Congressional budget agreement and the omnibus bill added funds for the CDC and NIH. Indeed, the federal spending package is seen as resulting in the best outcome for healthcare research and more in the last decade.
In our Jan. 29 issue, look for coverage of the ACP reaction to the CDC's Draft Guideline for the Use of Opioids for Chronic Pain. 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 Notes Some Legislative 'Big Wins' in the Past Year
Ending the SGR and maintaining the ACA top the 'good news' list for 2015
The American College of Physicians -- and patients and doctors in general -- enjoyed some major legislative victories in 2015.
"We had quite a winning streak -- one of the best years we've had in ... (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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| In focus |
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Open Enrollment: Physician Week of Action |
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Health care providers are on the frontlines and are trusted sources of health information for communities — including information on how to enroll in and retain quality, affordable health coverage. That’s why providers and hospitals are coming together on the week of January 18–22, 2016, to help consumers get covered and stay covered. A toolkit is provided for guidance on how to give consumers the facts that they need to get covered and stay covered, and it includes templates you can customize for your in-reach and/or outreach. |
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Summary of 2016 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule |
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ACP provides a summary of the components that make up the 2016 physician fee schedule final rule that was published by CMS in November. Final rates were effective starting on January 1, 2016 with some exceptions. |
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