House Judiciary Committee Passes H.R. 1254
The House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 1254, the "Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011" which would bolster the FDA's efforts to add synthetic stimulants found in "bath salts" and "energy drinks" to the Schedule I list. The bill thus controls and restricts the use of synthetic stimulants. |
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House Passes H.R. 2074 by Voice Vote
The House passed H.R. 2074, the "Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act" by voice vote which would require the VA to keep records of assaults, report their adjudication and ameliorate assaults at VA medical facilities. The APA has supported this legislation in its last two statements to the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
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IOM Report Paves Way for Essential Health Benefits Package Design- APA Responds
This week the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its report titled "Essential Health Benefits Balancing Coverage and Cost." This report does not provide a list of "essential health benefits" to be sold in the health insurance exchanges. Rather, it offers a process that will help HHS 1) define the benefits that should be offered in the health insurance exchanges, and 2) update the benefits to take into account advances in science, gaps in access, and the impact of any benefit changes on cost. The IOM was asked by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to propose a set of criteria and methods that HHS can utilize in crafting the Essential Health Benefits Packages which are to be sold in the state health insurance exchanges, beginning in 2014. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) tasks HHS with creating an essential benefits package, commonly referred to as a set of essential health benefits (EHB), which is a minimum set of benefits each state health insurance exchange must offer as part of any health plan it sells. An EHB package should resemble the health care benefits offered in a typical small group employer's health plan. The Affordable Care Act identifies ten categories of health services that must be offered in any essential benefits package. Among the categories to be covered are mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment. The IOM's report can be accessed via this link: http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Essential-Health-Benefits-Balancing-Coverage-and-Cost.aspx. The HHS has yet to issue a rule that details the specifics of the health benefits to be offered in the state health insurance exchanges. A rule on the Essential Health Benefits package is expected sometime between November and early 2012. The APA has convened a group of members, taken from the Council on Advocacy and Government Relations and the Council on Healthcare Systems and Financing, to provide recommendations for what should comprise a state health insurance exchange essential health benefits "mental health and substance use benefits" package and respond to the Administration's eventual Essential Health Benefits Package proposed rule |
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Have You Contacted Your Legislators About the Importance of Fixing the SGR?
Events have been set into motion on Capitol Hill that will have an enormous impact on the future of physician reimbursement from both public and private payers. As you know, Congress has created the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (known as 'the supercommittee') that is charged with reducing federal spending by at least $1.2 trillion before the end of the year. The APA and allied medical and physician specialty organizations feel that the supercommittee presents the best opportunity for a permanent and meaningful fix to the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate formula (SGR). If you have not already participating in an APA Action Alert by calling your Representative and Senators please consider visiting the link below.
Click here to access our Action Alert with comprehensive background from the APA and AMA, instructions for contacting your federal legislators, and a suggested message.
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