A Message from the ASSH President
CONGRATULATIONS 2010 New Members!
Thank You to AFSH Donors
Hand Surgery Educational Research Grant
Final Rule on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs - From AMA
AAOS Provides In-depth Analysis of Proposed 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - From AAOS
A Message from the ASSH President
This week, I asked Andrew Gurman, MD to give us an update on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He has graciously outlined the key components of this bill for us below and listed resources for more information. I encourage everyone to read his important message.
Bob Szabo
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 – What’s in the bill?
Whether you supported or opposed the bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care act of 2010 is now law. Here is a short analysis some of the provisions, as well as a list of things left to do.
2010: Children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied insurance. Adults cannot lose their insurance just because they get sick. Dependent children can stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26. Lifetime limits on coverage are banned. Preventive services under Medicare are covered. There is a tax incentive for small companies to buy insurance. I nsurance companies must disclose administrative costs. There is a $250 rebate for seniors who spend more than $2700 on drugs.
2011: Free wellness and preventive care for Medicare. Bonuses for primary care and some general surgery. CMS innovations on efficient care. Doughnut hole Rx discounts. Refunds if insurers don’t spend 85% of premium dollars on direct care.
2012: New money for primary care. There are incentives for docs to form accountable care organizations. Hospital readmission rates will be tracked, and the highest hospitals will be penalized.
2013: Tax increase on incomes >$250,000, and increased Medicare tax from 1.45% to 2.35% in the same group. Unearned income tax is 3.8%. There will be a 2.9% tax on medical devices. Pilot project on payment bundling.
2014: No denial based on pre-existing conditions. Limited premium ratings based upon gender, disease, etc. Annual limits on coverage abolished. State-based insurance exchanges. Mandate to purchase coverage. Tax credits/subsidies for those with incomes <400% of Federal poverty limit. Medicaid expansion. Multistate private plan administered by US office of personnel management.
2015: Independent Payment Advisory Board
Things left to do: Medical liability reform. Fixing the SGR. Clearly defined scope and authority for IPAB. Creation of a cost-value index for Medicare payments. Safeguards for release of Medicare data and public reporting.
There are over 1000 places in the bill which say “The Secretary shall determine...” Our professional organizations, particularly the AMA, will be very important in helping to shape those determinations. I encourage everyone to join and stay engaged.
Here are some links for additional information:
www.hsreform.org
http://www.acponline.org/advocacy/where_we_stand/access/int_prac_guide.pdf
http://www.facs.org/hcr/index.html
http://www.aaos.org/govern/public/mlr/mlr.asp
I can be contacted through the listserv or at andrew.gurman@ama-assn.org.
Andrew W. Gurman, MD
Vice Speaker, AMA House of Delegates
CONGRATULATIONS 2010 New Members!
ALL Members should take a moment to check out the New Member Information page on the website www.assh.org. You will find the listings for the 2010 New Active, International, Candidate and Affiliate Members, along with information on your membership benefits. Have a question regarding your ASSH membership? Contact Jeanne Bloesch – Senior Membership Coordinator at jbloesch@assh.org.
Thank You to AFSH Donors
The American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand wishes to thank the following donors for their recent contributions:
George P. Bogumill, MD, PhD
W. Bruce Conolly, AM,FRCS, FRACS, FACS
Douglas A. Drake, MD
J. Ollie Edmunds, Jr., MD
Alfred V. Hess, MD
Richard F. Howard, DO
Bert F. Jones, MD
John G. Kloss, MD
Douglas R. Mason, MD
Jose J. Monsivais, MD
Alan Rosen, MD
Anthony A. Smith, MD
Andrew J. Stein, MD
Indianapolis Hand Society
Point Gammon Foundation
Learn more about the AFSH.
Hand Surgery Educational Research Grant
The American Society for Surgery of the Hand requests proposals from ASSH members interested in performing research related to documenting the current Scope of Hand Surgery. This would be an update of the work of Steyers et. al. on “A Role Delineation Study of Hand Surgery” in the Journal of Hand Surgery (15A: 681-9, 1990).
The purpose of the current research project would be to update this important study and to examine national trends in training and practice of hand surgeons in 2010 and beyond. Interested investigators should submit their application, by September 1, 2010.
Final Rule on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs - From AMA
A message from Michael D. Maves, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Medical Association:
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Meaningful Use Incentive Programs. There are 3 Stages for demonstrating meaningful use. This final rule pertains to Stage 1, which covers the first 2 years of adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR technology. Stages 2 and 3 will be defined in future rulemaking.
The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) published a separate final rule on required standards for certified EHRs. While the Administration did move on several points, the American Medical Association (AMA) believes that it will be challenging for many physicians to participate successfully in the program. This will be especially true for those physicians in solo or small group practices who have not previously utilized an EHR. This is a final rule, so the AMA does not anticipate that the Administration will make any additional changes. The AMA will work to educate physicians about how they can participate in the program. Learn more here.
AAOS Provides In-depth Analysis of Proposed 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - From AAOS
On Friday, June 25, 2010, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule for payment policies under the physician fee schedule (PFS) and other revisions to Medicare Part B for calendar year 2011. The AAOS has prepared an in-depth analysis of the PFS, as promised in the July 13 edition of Advocacy NOW, and will provide comments to CMS on this proposed rule by the Aug. 31, 2010 deadline. Read the analysis (PDF).