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Urdu• An estimated 375 adult kidney transplant recipients lose their transplant every year due to a lack of coverage of immunosuppressive medications after the prior 36-month Medicare coverage period.
• Congress passes ASN priority legislation to extend immunosuppressive drug coverage for kidney transplant patients.
• The bipartisan bill is expected to save Medicare $400,000,000 over 10 years by averting the return of transplant patients to dialysis.
Category: Policy
Congressional leaders take action on RO Model to protect access to radiation oncology care
Congress passed legislation supported by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) that will delay the start of the Radiation Oncology Advanced Payment Model (RO Model) until Jan. 1, 2022, while bipartisan U.S. representatives sent an oversight letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) this week calling for changes to the flawed RO Model. In the letter led by Representatives Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) and Mike Kelly (R-Penn.), 16 representatives urged CMS Administrator Seema Verma to protect cancer patients’ access to life-saving radiation treatments by scaling back deep reimbursement cuts for the nearly 1,000 radiation oncology providers required to participate in the model.
ACR Coalition Advocacy Reduces and Delays Anticipated Medicare Payment Cuts in Year End Legislation
As a result of advocacy by an American College of Radiology® (ACR®)-led medical coalition, representing more than a million providers, and efforts with other physician partners, the newly-passed Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Omnibus and Coronavirus Relief Bill) includes: a significant reduction in anticipated Medicare provider payment cuts due to evaluation and management (E/M) coding changes; phased-in implementation of these E/M adjustments; and a vastly improved “surprise medical billing” policy. ACR support also helped secure a one-year delay of the radiation oncology payment model in the year-end legislation.
American Chiropractic Association Convenes Diversity Forum
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) convened a leadership roundtable this month to explore issues related to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in chiropractic.
COVID-19 Vaccines: Nurses Continue to Lead
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has released a statement strongly recommending that nurses be vaccinated against COVID-19. In the statement, the organization addresses the nuanced sense of pride and anxiety felt by nurses and other healthcare professionals who have been given top priority to receive the first COVID-19 vaccines.
AAOS Encourages Congress to Improve Deal to End Surprise Medical Billing
The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) is asking Congress to improve the “No Surprises Act,” which was recently introduced as compromise legislation to end surprise medical billing. In a December 17 letter, AAOS President Joseph A. Bosco III, MD, FAAOS, acknowledged the significant progress made by Congress to address the longstanding problem and outlined several recommended improvements.
LEADING ADVOCATES FOR SENIORS’ TIMELY ACCESS TO CARE LEGISLATION APPLAUD SENATE BILL INTRODUCTION
The Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC), a group of national physician specialty organizations, announced its strong support for the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, legislation introduced today in the U.S. Senate by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and John Thune (R-SD).
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies Calls for Global Access to Effective, Affordable COVID-19 Vaccines
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), an organization comprised of the world’s leading international respiratory societies, including founding member the American Thoracic Society, calls for urgent access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines globally.
Public Forums Announced to Provide Input to the Joint Task Force to Reassess the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases
A joint statement from the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology
December 17, 2020
AACI Applauds Approval of COVID-19 Vaccine, Supports Widespread Vaccination Efforts
The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) commends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its swift action to grant Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Early Access to COVID-19 Vaccination Essential for Anesthesia Professionals, ASA Says
With the first round of COVID-19 vaccines being deployed to states across the country, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) advises that anesthesia professionals, and other frontline health care workers, be prioritized to receive early access to the COVID-19 vaccination given their high risk of exposure to the virus in operating rooms, labor and delivery suites, procedural areas, emergency rooms and critical care units.
Statement by AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine on the Wall Street Journal’s Sexist and Derogatory Op-ed
AERA condemns the opinions expressed by Joseph Epstein in a recent op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal criticizing Dr. Jill Biden’s use of the “Dr.” title. The op-ed was a shameful exercise in the denigration of women, doctoral education, community college faculty, and professionals who advance evidence-based practices and policies through education research. The Journal should have had second thoughts about publishing such an ill-informed, juvenile, and misogynistic piece.
Bipartisan House and Senate Majorities and Health Care Providers Urge Action to Stop Medicare Provider Cuts
Medicare cuts to a million health care providers, many reeling from the economic impact of COVID-19, may cause practice closings, service reductions, job losses and decreased access to care. With the cuts to start Jan. 1, nearly 400 medical organizations and 329 members of Congress are calling to #StopTheCuts
NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit Emphasizes Treating Every Cancer Patient as an Individual
Virtual NCCN Policy Summit from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network explores how health policymakers can respond to the needs and wishes of people with cancer across all ages.
American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Offer Guidance on Surgery for Post-COVID-19 Infected Patients
A new surgical patient demographic has emerged during COVID-19; patients who have recovered from the virus. To help hospitals, surgeons, anesthesiologists and proceduralists evaluate and schedule essential and elective surgeries for these patients, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) offer the following guidance as hospitals need to perform surgery even as the country continues to grapple with the pandemic.
Rheumatologists Applaud Long-Awaited Updates to Cognitive Care Reimbursement in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
The final rule provides much-needed increases in Medicare reimbursement for the evaluation and management (E/M) services provided by rheumatologists and other cognitive care specialties to Medicare beneficiaries. Healthcare services billed under E/M codes include examinations, disease diagnosis, risk assessments and care coordination.
Most Favored Nation Drug Pricing Rule Will Harm Patient Access and Jeopardize Practice Stability, Rheumatology Leaders Warn
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today warned that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) interim final rule establishing a “most favored nation” (MFN) payment model for Medicare Part B drugs will dramatically disrupt patient access to critical therapies needed to manage rheumatic diseases and conditions.
Dr. Pierre Kory, president of the FLCCC Alliance testifies before Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs looking into early outpatient COVID-19 treatment
“It will all be needless death from here on out, given that there is a readily available scientific solution to the pandemic,” Kory says.
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Backs Medicare Rule Expanding Seniors’ Access to Diagnostic Testing
The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) backs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) decision to permanently allow Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to supervise diagnostic tests—a decision that will ensure patients’ access to safe, high-quality care.
ASTRO applauds nomination of Xavier Becerra as HHS secretary
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) today expressed its support for President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s nomination of Xavier Becerra as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
AANA Commends CDC on Prioritizing COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution to Healthcare Personnel
The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) commends the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) team of advisors on prioritizing frontline healthcare personnel and residents of long-term facilities for the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Proposed Medicare Cuts Threaten Anesthesiology Practices Already Struggling Amid Pandemic
Medicare has finalized a regulation mandating drastic cuts to its payment rates for important health care services, threatening the practices of physician anesthesiologists who have been on the front lines of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) opposes these detrimental payment reductions, and urges Congress to take immediate action to override the cuts and ensure physician anesthesiologists can continue to care for their patients while being fairly compensated for their work.
FLCCC Alliance Calls on National Health Authorities to Immediately Review Medical Evidence Showing the Efficacy of Ivermectin for the Prevention of COVID-19 and as an Early Outpatient Treatment
“Following the swi. review— and subsequent guidance— by the NIH and theCDC of Ivermectin, we expect that Ivermectin’s widespread, immediate use willallow for a rapid and safe re-opening of businesses and schools across the nation—and quickly reduce the strain on overwhelmed ICUs.” —FLCCC Alliance
New updates to federal guidelines revamp asthma management
The National Institutes of Health today announced 19 recommendations in six key areas of asthma diagnosis, management and treatment.
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Urges HHS to Permanently Remove Barriers to CRNA Practice
As COVID-19 cases surge across the country, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make a waiver that suspends physician supervision requirements of nurse anesthetists permanent.
IPC Statement On SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines And Psoriasis
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to have a considerable impact on the provision of appropriate care to people with psoriasis.
American Society of Anesthesiologists Urges Medicare to Keep Physician-led Anesthesia Care to Protect Older Patients and Patients with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a request for information regarding waivers declared during the COVID-19 pandemic, including one that removed physician anesthesiologists from anesthesia care and replaced them with nurses. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) urges Americans to protect older patients and those with disabilities by posting a comment to the Federal Register asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to rescind the temporary policy that lowers the standard of care and risks patients’ lives.
Congress Must Act To Fortify Health Care System And Protect Access To Care
The final 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule fails to avert the potential impact on seniors of payment cuts to more than a million health care providers already reeling from COVID-19’s financial impact. If Congress does not act now to address these changes, the results may be devastating for patients, communities and providers.
To Meet HIV World Health Goals, TB Treatment Must be Maintained During COVID-19 Response
This World AIDS Day, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), of which the ATS is a founding member, is calling on governments, health advocates and non-government organizations to strengthen their response to AIDS and tuberculosis, and to ensure that TB services are maintained throughout their response to COVID-19.
Rethink COVID-19 infection control to keep primary schools open this winter, governments urged
An urgent rethink of infection control policies to keep COVID-19 infection at bay in schools is needed if primary schools are to be kept open this winter, and the knock-on effects on their families avoided, argue children’s infectious disease specialists in a viewpoint, published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
As COVID-19 cases surge again, four major health care organizations release updated guidance on maintaining essential surgery
Four major health care organizations have released an updated collaborative document on maintaining essential surgery during the ongoing pandemic.
AACI Urges President Trump to Share Key COVID-19 Information With Biden Transition Team
In a November 20 letter, the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) called on the Trump administration to share vital information about its coronavirus response with President-elect Joe Biden and his transition team.
AANA Joins Rural Health Action Alliance
With COVID-19 infections surging in rural America, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) joined several other healthcare organizations to bring equitable access to care in rural America and bridge the rural divide. The Rural Health Action Alliance (RHAA), a coalition of healthcare providers and facilities who provide high-quality, evidence-based care to millions of Americans, will seek to advance federal policies to improve rural health outcomes.
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Applauds Boeing and FAA for Resolving 737 MAX Human Factors Design Flaws
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) applauds Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Steve Dickson’s order that returns the Boeing 737 MAX to service following the fatal Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashes last year and the aircraft’s subsequent grounding.
Living Well with COPD – Everybody, Everywhere: The Forum of International Respiratory Societies
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease that causes breathlessness, chronic sputum production and cough. There are 300 million current cases of COPD in the world. COPD is currently the third leading cause of death globally and is highly prevalent in low resource countries. Exposure to tobacco smoke and other inhaled toxic particles and gases are the main risk factors for COPD, although recent research has identified that suboptimal lung growth before and after birth can also increase the risk of COPD later in life.
Radiation oncologists urge Congress to advance bills that protect patient access to cancer care during the pandemic
Radiation oncologists across the country will meet virtually with members of Congress this week to urge lawmakers to pass legislation that will safeguard access to high-quality, value-based health care for people with cancer. The doctors will meet with Congressional leaders and staff as part of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) virtual Advocacy Day, which will take place November 19-20, 2020.
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Calls on President-Elect to Consider Nurses for Leadership Positions
Leaders of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) are encouraging the president-elect to appoint nurses to lead government agencies in an effort to move our nation forward during the COVID-19 pandemic
Amid New COVID-19 Surge, PPE Must Be Top Priority Says Critical Care Societies Collaborative
In response to the reports of COVID-19 surges around the country, the Critical Care Societies Collaborative, comprising the American Association of Critical‐Care Nurses, American College of Chest Physicians, the American Thoracic Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine, released the following statement:
Patients in South Dakota Now Have Access to Affordable, Quality Anesthesia and Pain Management Care
As the final step of the implementation of South Dakota Senate Bill 50, the South Dakota Board of Nursing this week adopted rules regarding full practice authority for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in the state.
Physician Anesthesiologists, Veterans and VA Anesthesia Chiefs Urge VA to Uphold Physician-Led Anesthesia Care to Protect Veterans’ Lives
In response to a recently released rule by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) wants Americans to protect Veterans by asking VA to uphold the national standard of anesthesia care that ensures health and safety.
AANA Supports U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for Taking Important Step Toward Granting Full Practice Authority for Qualified Healthcare Providers
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued an interim final rule for comment that serves as an important and historic step in prioritizing quality healthcare for our nation’s veterans.
Diabetes USA— 34 Million Disdained Americans Left to Avoidable COVID Deaths
In the spring of 2020, just as it became clear that New York’s long-ignored diabetes epidemic was accelerating rampant COVID sickness and death, the federal government and the New York State Department of Health defunded our successful diabetes self-management program in the South Bronx.
GAO’s Anesthesia Services Report Inaccurate and Misleading, says American Society of Anesthesiologists
The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report on anesthesia services missed the mark, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Instead of a full and comprehensive review of a longstanding problem of unusually low Medicare payment rates for anesthesia services, the GAO made no effort to analyze the crux of the problem, the Medicare anesthesia payment system, which in itself is flawed.
AGS Refutes President Trump’s Claim That Physicians Are Over-Counting Covid-19 Deaths for Financial Gain, in Solidarity with the CMSS
With its more than 6,000 members continuing to care for older Americans affected by COVID-19 at the front-line of the nation’s pandemic response, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today stood in solidarity with the Council of Medical Special Societies (CMSS) in condemning President Trump’s claim that hospitals and physicians are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths for their own financial gain.
Eleven Provider and Patient Organizations Join the American College of Rheumatology to Oppose UnitedHealthcare Copay Accumulator Initiative
Eleven provider and patient organizations have joined the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) to petition UnitedHealthcare (UHC) to cancel plans to implement a proposed copay accumulator initiative that would require physicians to share details about their patients’ usage of copay assistance programs. The initiative would prevent funds from assistance programs from being applied towards patients’ annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximums. The groups warn that this would jeopardize patient access to medically necessary therapies by increasing the financial burden of care and lead to an increase in treatment abandonment.
Gov. Ducey Ignores Nearly Two Thousand Letters from Physicians and the Public Demanding He Protect Patient Safety
Gov. Doug Ducey has ignored more than 1700 letters from the medical community and the public strongly urging he protect Arizona patients by making his decision to “opt-out” of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ physician supervision requirement temporary.
Statement by AERA, APA, and NCME on Withdrawal of Lawsuit Against Public.Resource.Org
AERA, APA, and NCME withdrew a copyright lawsuit against Public.Resource.Org regarding its online publication of the 1999 edition of Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, the joint work product of the three organizations. Read more
Endocrine Society welcomes European Commission’s chemical strategy
The Endocrine Society welcomed the European Commission’s new Chemical Strategy for Sustainability and its measures to protect the public from endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The communication was released Wednesday as part of the European Green Deal.
Chancellor Drale delivers priorities for UA Little Rock in State of the University Address
Chancellor Christina Drale provided her vision and priorities for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock during the University Assembly on Oct. 9. “The state of UA Little Rock in 2020 is good and getting better. We have a clear course ahead of us, and I look forward to making that journey with you. I would submit to you that the singular lasting value that we must hold dear is the transformational value of education,” Drale said.
Labor epidurals do not cause autism; Safe for mothers and infants, say anesthesiology, obstetrics, and pediatric medical societies
The Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP),the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) aim to clearly reassure pregnant women that the article “Association Between Epidural Analgesia During Labor and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring,” a new retrospective database study published in JAMA Pediatrics on October 12th, 2020 does not provide credible scientific evidence that epidurals for pain relief cause autism.