| APAPAC Events
3/23 - 8:30 a.m. - Candidate Ted Deutch (D-FL) Meet & Greet event
3/24 - 7:00 p.m. - Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA)
3/25 - 8:30 a.m. - Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) |
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DGR Telephone:
703-907-7800 |
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Follow APA Advocacy on Twitter!
The APA Department of Government Relations is now on Twitter! Now you can find out about APA Advocacy activities, Congressional hearings, mark-ups, and floor votes in real time.
Please click on the following link to start following APA Advocacy Twitter:
http://twitter.com/apa_
advocacy
Questions about the Twitter page or how to set up an account? Please contact Kate McAllister or Jason Pray at advocacy@psych.org. | |
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APA Letter of Support for Health Reform
On March 20, APA President Alan Schatzberg, M.D., sent a letter of support for passage of health reform to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and President Obama. This followed a similar letter sent on March 10.
To read the latest letter, please use the following link:
APA was also among more than 300 organizations listed by Speaker Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer as supporting health care reform. To read the complete list, please use the following link:
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Another Medicare Payment Cut Postponement in the Works
Congress is again working to pass legislation to extend the postponement of the 21 percent "SGR" Medicare payment cut that was to have gone into effect on January 1, 2010. The payment reduction has already been postponed twice by congressional action, but Congress must approve another postponement before April 1. The House has already passed a short-term extension until May 1, which is now pending Senate action. Although it is clear that the overwhelming majority of Senators support another postponement, there are reports that a filibuster may be in the works. Again. Stay tuned. |
Senate Debates Reconciliation Bill
On March 23, the Senate started debate on the House Reconciliation bill, H.R. 4872, which makes changes to the Senate-passed health reform law (H.R. 3590). Under reconciliation rules the Senate has 20 hours of debate on the bill, which should last until Thursday and then amendments will be considered. It is not clear how many amendments Republicans will offer but there could be as many as 100. Democratic leadership is discouraging their members from offering amendments. Any changes to H.R. 4872 will result in the bill being sent back to the House for a another vote. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is pushing for a final vote March 27. Throughout the process the GOP will be asking the parliamentarian to rule certain provisions out of order. The parliamentarian ruled in favor of Democrats on the GOP's first objection. |
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APA Comments on Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Proposed Requirements
On March 15, DGR filed APA's comments on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rules on the requirements for the electronic health record incentive program. APA joined AMA and many other medical specialty groups in expressing our serious concerns about the definition of "meaningful use" and the difficulties that physicians will have in meeting the requirements in the rule. In particular, APA stated that the use of threshold measurements in each of the 25 objective measures was extremely problematic and that there were serious issues with many of the measures. We believe that the proposed rule intrudes into the practice of medicine and does not meet the intent of the legislation. APA will continue to follow up with CMS and other offices in the Department of Health and Human Services to effect changes in the regulations. CMS has indicated that they will issue a final rule later this year. You can read APA's full comments through the link below.
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| Farewell to Jason Pray
We want to let you know that Jason Pray, DGR's long-time Deputy Director for Political Affairs and Grassroots, will be leaving APA effective at the end of this week. Jason will be joining the lobbying team for Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, where he will be their lead lobbyist for the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
As much as we all will miss Jason, we are absolutely delighted for him, as this is a great opportunity to use his many talents in a new venue with different responsibilities and challenges. He has been an outstanding DGR team member and a real asset for all of APA and its members. We wish him the very best. | |
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