About this newsletter
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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, go to www.acponline.org/advocacy
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Happy
Holidays
from The
ACP
Advocate.
As
we've noted in every
issue of The
ACP
Advocate, 2009 is
going to feature an abundance of opportunities to reform health care.
And, in this issue we look at one of the
people who may be
influential in doing just that.
Senator Tom Daschle has been announced
as President-elect
Obama’s choice for the secretary of Health and Human
Services.
Sen. Daschle already has
discussed
some of his priorities in health care reform. And,
ACP has already communicated with him
about the pressing need to reverse the shortage of primary care physicians. In a letter requested
by President-elect Obama's transition
team, and sent this week,
ACP President Jeffrey P. Harris, MD,
FACP, urged Sen. Daschle to include funding in the new President's
stimulus plan
for a 10% increase in Medicare payments
to internists and other
physicians providing primary care. He
also recommended incentives to
help physicians in smaller
practices acquire health information systems to
become
patient-centered medical homes.
In
this issue,
we also look at programs that may enable you to increase your
reimbursement in 2009. The
Physicians’ Quality Reporting Initiative and the Medicare e-Prescribing
incentive program both offer you the opportunity to earn a bonus by
reporting
additional information to CMS.
On
behalf of the ACP leadership, membership and
staff, I
wish you all happy holidays and an abundant New
Year.
Check
out my Advocacy blog, The ACP Advocate Blog by Bob
Doherty . I hope you’ll join me in examining the
most provocative, ground-breaking and intriguing health policy
discussions I
come across in my daily work.
Please send your feedback and
suggestions on this newsletter to: TheACPAdvocate@acponline.org.
Happy Holidays,
Bob Doherty
Senior Vice
President
Governmental Affairs and
Public Policy
American College of Physicians |
In the news
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PQRI: What to Expect in 2009 |
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Lag time between reporting and feedback frustrates physicians |
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HealthDay News -- The U.S. government's Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services (CMS) is upping the ante for doctors who
participate in Medicare's Physician Quality Reporting Initiative in 2009 by adding 52 new quality measures and boosting bonus payments a half
percentage point to 2 percent.
But will it be enough to woo
doctors to a program they've found cumbersome?
"I think w...
» Click to read the full article
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Will Medicare Bonus Jump-Start Electronic
Prescribing? |
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Capital costs, workflow changes may impede
adoption |
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HealthDay
News -- Wresting old-fashioned prescription pads from the hands of the
nation's prescribers remains a formidable challenge, but U.S. Medicare
officials are hoping a new program provides the incentive -- literally --
to get more clinicians to give electronic prescribing a whirl.
In a final rule describing the initiative, the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services said it believes th... » Click to read the full article
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Daschle's Initial Health-Care Reform Philosophy:
Listen |
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Advocates praise his political savvy and knowledge
of the issue |
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HealthDay News -- There's little doubt where former Sen. Tom Daschle, Barack
Obama's choice for Health and Human Services Secretary, is going to
concentrate his energies after he's confirmed by the U.S. Senate: His
second title -- director of the White House Office of Health Reform --
points to his highest priority.
After being introduced by Obama
as Health and Human Services Secretary-design... »
Click to read the full article
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In focus
How to Participate in the Medicare e-Rx
Incentive Program
The College's Center for
Practice Improvement and Innovation has put together a website with all of the tools and resources you'll need to help you get started with the 2009 Medicare e-prescribing incentive program. Here you will find an overview of the program and advice on choosing an e-prescribing system. Also, you will find detailed instructions and examples of how to report the
e-prescribing incentive program measure that must be included on your
Medicare claims forms. |
Want to learn more about
PQRI?
In 2009, CMS will be increasing the bonus
payment for participation in PQRI to 2%. Visit ACP’s PQRI Resource page to find out how you can participate. On the website you will find tools and
resources to help you learn more about the program and how to ensure your
practice is successful in its participation. In addition, there is an area for you to communicate with ACP staff regarding questions and comments
about your PQRI experience. |
Sign up to lead a health care discussion over the holidays
Health care is a top priority for
President-elect Obama and for Senator Tom Daschle, Secretary-designate for HHS. They both are committed to health care reform that comes from the
ground up -- that's why this holiday season, we're asking you to give us
the gift of your ideas and input.
Sign up to lead a Health Care
Community Discussion in your home, community center, or even a local coffee shop, anytime until Dec. 31.
We'll provide you with a special
Moderator's Guide that will give you everything you need to get the
discussion going. |
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