Welcome to the ACP Advocate,
Today's first article explains ACP's reaction to the vote by the House of Representatives on May 4 to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which would repeal much of the Affordable Care Act and result in millions of patients losing coverage. ACP is staying right where it's always been -- on the side of patients and doctors. Immediately following the House vote, ACP wrote to the Senate to urge that it put aside the AHCA and instead work for bipartisan improvements that would expand coverage and access instead of reducing them as the AHCA would do.
Today's second article tells how a bipartisan bill that promises to dramatically boost chronic care in the United States has earned the support of ACP. The legislation would overhaul how Medicare pays for chronic care. First introduced in the Senate in December 2016, the bill was re-introduced last month. Though ACP believes that some provisions could be improved, its overall take is that the legislation is heading in the right direction.
Our final article today focuses on how advocacy issues continue to take center stage as the new leadership team for the ACP begins its term. The coming year brings renewed focus on curbing the opioid epidemic and improving access to health care as well as further exploration of the potential effects of immigration policy on health and medicine, according to ACP's new president and Board of Regents chair.
Look for the next issue of the Advocate to be distributed on May 19.
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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Health Care Bill Passed by House Seen as Harmful and Flawed by ACP
College objects to changes it says would hurt patients with pre-existing conditions and eliminate essential benefits
May 5, 2017 (ACP) -- The American Health Care Act -- passed May 4 by the U.S. House of Representatives as a replacement for the Affordable Care Act -- is "inherently flawed and harmful" to patients, physician... (read more)
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New ACP Leadership Aims to Keep Health Care Issues Moving Forward
Focus will stay on advocacy for physicians and patients, not on politics, new president vows
May 5, 2017 (ACP) -- Advocacy issues will continue to take center stage as the new leadership team for the American College of Physicians begins its term. The coming year will bring renewed focus on curbing t... (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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Legislation Will Stave off Possibility of a Government Shutdown |
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Last issue, the first article of the ACP Advocate began: Prospects of a federal government shutdown at the end of April remain unclear... Here's an update on what has happened.
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MIPS Participation Status Letter (sample posted on page) |
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CMS is in the process of letting practices know which clinicians need to take part in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) under the Quality Payment Program/MACRA. In late April through May, practices will get a letter from the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) that processes their claims. This letter will tell the participation status of each MIPS clinician associated with the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) in a practice. Specifically, the letter will identify whether clinicians are above the low-volume threshold and therefore should participate in MIPS to avoid a negative payment adjustment. Clinicians are above the low-volume threshold if they bill more than $30,000 in Medicare Part B allowed charges a year AND provide care for more than 100 Part B-enrolled Medicare beneficiaries a year. |
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CMS Webinar on MIPS Group Reporting 101 |
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CMS will host a webinar on group reporting in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) under the Quality Payment Program (QPP)/MACRA on Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET. Those interested in participating in the webinar may register for it by clicking on the link above.
During the webinar, CMS will provide an overview of group reporting under MIPS and highlight requirements for participation, including Individual vs. Group Reporting; Group Reporting Requirements; Performance Category Measures; Data Submission Mechanisms; and Post-Data Submission.
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