| APAPAC Events
7/19 - 5:00pm - Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)
7/21 - 5:30pm - Tuesday Group (Moderate Republicans)
7/21 - 5:30pm - Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)
7/22 - 12:00pm - Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK)
7/23 - 9:30am - Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) |
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DGR Telephone:
703-907-7800 | |
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 at advocacy@psych.org. |
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Final Rule on Qualifications for Billions in Health Technology Stimulus Released
Last week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology released the final rule detailing the first stage definition of a "meaningful user" of HIT, or the measures physicians and hospitals have to undertake to be eligible for an estimated $27 billion in stimulus funding. All physicians (par and nonpar) who treat outpatient Medicare beneficiaries and demonstrate that they are using a "certified" EHR in a "meaningful" way will be eligible for incentive payments totaling up to $44,000 (per physician) over 5 years, starting as early as 2011. Starting in 2015, Medicare reimbursement rates will be reduced for physicians who do not meet this requirement. Physicians who treat Medicaid patients and demonstrate that they are using an EHR will be eligible for incentive payments totaling up to $63,750 (per physician) over 6 years, starting as early as 2010.
The proposed rule issued in January was met with a chorus of concern from the physician and hospital community at the inapt and clinically prescriptive requirements to meet eligibility for funding. While CMS/ONC have taken steps to make measures for specialty physicians more flexible and to lower expected thresholds, it is likely to remain difficult for solo and small practices to participate in the program. DGR and APA's Office of Quality Improvement and Psychiatric Services will be providing members with a preparatory guide on this national initiative. DGR will also be working with CMS/ONC to ensure that there is adequate guidance and flexibility in all future stages of meaningful use to encourage HIT adoption across practice settings and for psychiatrists in general.
To view the CMS/ONC fact sheet on the final rule, click here.
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Federal Funding for Health Programs
The federal budget/appropriations process is moving very slowly this year. The House recently approved its discretionary spending cap, setting it at $7 billion below the president's budget request. Senate leaders are still working to reach an agreement on the Senate spending cap. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Daniel Inouye (D-HI) is reportedly offering his own set of proposed caps for each appropriations bill, as well as an overall discretionary cap. The FY '11 appropriations bills are starting to move in the House and Senate, nearly four months later than the usual schedule. The House Labor-HHS subcommittee marked-up its FY '11 spending bill July 15.
- NIH's funding is consistent with the President's request ($32.007 billion).
- CDC funding was increased $32 million to $6.782 billion; the president had requested a cut in FY '11.
- HRSA would receive $7.616 billion under the proposal, which is a $99 million increase but $20 million less than the president's request.
- AHRQ would receive flat funding of $411 million. The president requested $611 million.
- SAMSHA would receive $3.581 billion; $19 million more than FY '10 but $99 million less than the president's request.
All of the major agencies except NIH will receive some of the $750 million available in FY '11 through the new Prevention and Public Health Fund. Details are not yet available. Typically, the subcommittees do not release details of the spending proposals until after full committee markup. It's not clear at this point when/if Labor-HHS will go to the full committee. The Senate Labor-HHS Subcommittee has scheduled its markup for July 22. |
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Primary Care Workforce Programs
Secretary Sebelius announced that $250 million from the mandatory appropriation of $500 million for the Affordable Care Act's Prevention and Public Health Fund will be used to expand several primary care workforce programs. Title VII and Title VIII programs receiving funding from the PPHF include the primary care residency program, the PA training program, the advanced nursing education program, and the nurse assistant and home health aid program. The second $250 million will be used for prevention and public health activities. The press releases for the announcement are available at:
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Don't Ask, Don't tell Letter
APA President Carol Bernstein, M.D., sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on July 12 asking the Senate to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. APA policy states, "It is important that psychiatrists appreciate and help others to understand the emotional consequences of irrational employment discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation." The letter can be read at the link below:
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