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APA Welcomes Addition of Benzodiazephines to Part D Drug Definition
CMS has proposed to add benzodiazepines to the Part D drug definition for the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit program. The APA lobbied for coverage of benzodiazepines by Medicare in legislation passed in 2007. This final step to amend the definition of "Part D drug" to include benzodiazepines has been anticipated since. You can access the APA's comments by following this link. |
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APA's Response to Final Rule on 2012 Physician Fee Schedules
The APA has prepared a synopsis to the final rule for the 2012 Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule. This synopsis explains CMS's response to the concerns the APA addressed when responding to the proposed rule in August 2011. The APA has 60 days to submit comments to CMS regarding questionable valuations CMS attributed to a couple of psychiatry codes. The APA continues to advocate for a permanent legislative fix to the sustainable growth rate formula. To see the APA's synopsis of the final 2012 Physician Fee Schedule rule, please click here.
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| Have you Asked your Representative to Sign the Burgess/Green SGR Letter?
Almost 60 members of Congress have joined Representatives Mike Burgess (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX) on a letter urging Congress to reject the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) proposal to eliminate the Sustainable Growth Rate by cutting specialty care reimbursement 5.9% a year for three years and freezing payment for seven years afterward. The opportunity for your Representative to add his or her name to this letter will end early next week, and there is still time to ask them to join if they are not already on. DGR would like to thank those APA members who have already made their voices heard.
To see if your Representative has already signed on, view the current list here. To access our Action Alert and ask your Representative to sign the Burgess/Green letter, click here. To view the dear colleague letter, here. To view a recent AMA/specialty sign on letter in response to the MedPAC proposal, click here.
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Status of Federal Funding Fiscal Year 2012
The House and Senate have agreed to vote on appropriations bills in clusters or "mini-buses" rather than waiting until December for an all-or-nothing omnibus bill. Last week, the measure containing funds for the Food and Drug Administration went forward with additional monies to improve inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturing sites. Congressional staff have indicated that the appropriations measure for Labor, Health and Human Services (which contains, NIH, SAMHSA, AHRQ and HRSA) will be yoked to the Department of Defense measure and be the last "mini-bus" Congress considers prior to December adjournment. The APA co-authored a letter signed by 105 organizations urging Congress to adhere to the Senate's suggested appropriation for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). To read this letter please click here.
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