Welcome to The ACP Advocate,
SGR repeal finally became reality this week -- and just in time.
Our first article this week is all about how the U.S. Senate joined the House of Representatives in passing legislation to repeal the SGR system late on April 14, just hours before payment rates for physicians would have crumbled. President Obama pledged to sign it into law, describing the measure as "a milestone for physicians, and for the seniors and people with disabilities who rely on Medicare for their health care needs."
Our second article examines the ideas ACP submitted on the "interoperability" of health care technology. When the federal government asked for input on its so-called "road map" toward a technology environment that would better serve doctors and patients, ACP responded with 36 pages of suggestions on how to modify plans it fears will burden doctors with unnecessary work, penalties and expense.
Today's third article considers how a MedPAC plans to suggest a series of changes to the practices and rules affecting short-term hospital stays, a move that could prove financially beneficial to patients and hospitals and ease a potential strain on doctor-patient relationships. This includes a change to the "two-midnight" regulation.
Until our next issue - which will look at some specific aspects of the latest on this week's SGR repeal - 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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Panel Seeks to Change the Rules on Short-Term Hospital Admissions
Proposal includes eliminating the 'two-midnight' rule, limiting the review period and more
A congressional advisory panel plans to suggest a series of changes to the practices and rules affecting short-term hospital stays, a move that could prove financially beneficial to patients and hospitals a... (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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Heading to ACP's Internal Medicine 2015 Meeting? Check out Health Policy courses |
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On Fri. May 1, Hot Topics in Health Policy (8:15-9:15 Rm 153). On Sat., May 2, ACA Health Coverage Expansion: One and a Half Year Progress Report, featuring representatives from CMS and DC Health Exchange (9:30-10:30 Rm 156), History of Politics in American Medicine (4:00-5:00 Rm 157). |
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Heading to ACP's Internal Medicine 2015 Meeting? Check out Practice Management courses |
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On Thur., April 30: Small Practice Strategies (7-8 Rm 157), Making Practice Patient Centered (8:15-9:15 Rm 160), Inpatient Coding (11:15-12:45 Rm 156), Advanced Coding (2:15-3:45 Rm 157). On Fri., May 1: Thriving in a Value-Based Payment World (11:15-12:45 Rm 157), ICD-10 (2:15-3:45 Rm 253). On Sat., May 2: Implementing Immunizations in Practice (7-8 Rm 153), Care Coordination Btwn Primary Care and Subspecialists (8:15-9:15 Rm 157), New Payment Models (11:15-12:45 Rm 157), Coding and Billing 101 (2:15-3:45 Rm 157). |
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Heading to ACP's Internal Medicine 2015 Meeting? Check out Health IT courses |
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On Thur., April 30: Engaging the e-Patient (11:15-12:45 Rm 153), EHR Optimization (2:15-3:45 Rm 153). Fri., May 1: There's an App for That (11:15-12:45 Rm 153), Eisele Lecture: Leveraging Health IT to Improve Safety & Quality (8:15-9:15 Rm 157), Population Management: Leveraging Your EHR (2:15-3:45 Rm 153). Sate., My 2: Hot Topics in Medical Informatics (8:15-9:15 Rm 153), Choosing Quality Measure & Clinical Decision Support (11:15-12:45 Rm 153), Meaningful Use Sate 2 (2:15-3:45 Rm 153). |
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