Advocacy With Congress
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a comprehensive health system reform law that will increase health insurance coverage substantially for the uninsured and implement long overdue reforms to the health insurance market. The new law includes many major provisions that are consistent with AMA policy and hold the potential for a stronger, better performing health care system. While the ACA represents a tremendous step forward on the path toward meaningful health system reform, it is not the last step, but rather the beginning.
The AMA is continuing to work with Congress and the Administration to refine certain provisions in the ACA.
Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB)
On February 14, 2013, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced S. 351, the "Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2013," which would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Rep. Phil Roe, MD (R-TN) introduced this bill as H.R. 351 in the House with bipartisan support on January 25. The IPAB is a panel that puts significant health care payment and policy decisions in the hands of an independent body of individuals with far too little accountability, and could adversely affect access to health care for Medicare patients. Patients and physicians are still struggling with the frequent threat of drastic cuts from the broken SGR Medicare physician payment formula. IPAB would be another arbitrary system that relies solely on payment cuts in an attempt to reduce spending in Medicare. The AMA strongly supports this legislation and looks forward to working with members of the House and Senate to achieve its enactment.
Letter to Chairman Camp, Ways and Means Committee, supporting H.R. 452, March 7, 2012
AMA letter to Energy and Commerce supporting H.R. 452, February 27, 2012
Letter to Sen. Cornyn supporting S. 668, the "Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act", July 6, 2011
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
The AMA continues to urge Congress to take action to lift the Affordable Care Act's restrictions on tax-preferred accounts, such as health savings accounts, for over-the-counter medicines.
Letter to Sen. Hatch supporting S. 1098, Senate Companion Bill to H.R. 2010
Physician-Owned Hospitals
Letter to Rep. Hastings supporting H.R. 1159, May 9, 2011
Letter to Rep. Sam Johnson supporting H.R. 1186, May 9, 2011
The AMA continues to be concerned about increasing health plan consolidation, as well as the regulatory barriers that restrict physicians' ability to work together, and has made improving the antitrust environment for physicians a top priority. The AMA is actively supporting H.R. 1409, the "Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2011," which was introduced by Representative John Conyers (D - MI). H.R. 1409 would allow health care professionals to jointly negotiate with health plans regarding terms that affect patient care, enabling physicians to advocate for quality care for their patients and reinforcing the patient-physician relationship.
The AMA has long held that the central principle of balance—between preventing controlled substance abuse, trafficking, and diversion and ensuring access to necessary pain medication—should guide policy makers as they craft solutions to address these complex problems. The AMA has strongly supported voluntary education tailored to the specific needs of prescribers as well as passage and full-funding of a program that funds state adoption of prescription drug monitoring programs. A key tool in combating diversion is ensuring that physicians have patient specific information at the point of care. While many states have now adopted prescription drug monitoring programs, very few make information available to physicians in real-time at the point of care. Passage of H.R. 866, "National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Reauthorization Act of 2011" (NASPER 2011) and full funding would establish and modernize existing state-based prescription drug monitoring programs, thereby preserving this critical balance and providing physicians with a basic tool to make treatment determinations based on patient-specific needs. The AMA also supports passage of H.R. 2939, the "Pharmaceutical Stewardship Act of 2011," which would help combat diversion of prescription drugs as well as to safeguard drinking water from pharmaceutical contaminants. If made law, H.R. 2939 would establish an infrastructure to ensure that patients and physicians have a safe means of disposing of unused prescription drugs on a regular basis and at a time and place convenient to them, which would replace the current take-back programs that only occur periodically each year.
Nearly 11 million seniors, or 26.9% of the Medicare population, have diabetes and half of all seniors over age 65 have pre-diabetes. In addition, one in every three Medicare dollars is spent on diabetes and its complications. Interventions targeted at preventing or delaying the onset of serious and debilitating illnesses like diabetes must be a national priority because diabetes is a costly and devastating disease that places people at high risk for severe complications and other chronic diseases. With access to appropriate intervention and information, diabetes can be prevented, even for those at the highest risk.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced S. 539, the "National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act," on March 12, 2013. H.R. 1074, the companion bill, was introduced in the House by Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX). The legislation would create a Commission that will focus on improving diabetes care delivery, patient outcomes and cost effectiveness. AMA supports this legislation.
On March 5, 2013, Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) introduced the “Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act of 2013” (S. 452/H.R. 962), a bipartisan bill which would provide coverage for the National Diabetes Prevention Program under the Medicare program. The National Diabetes Prevention Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a public-private partnership that provides low-cost, evidence-based community programs to prevent diabetes. Providing Medicare coverage for the National Diabetes Prevention Program will help seniors avoid diabetes and other chronic illnesses. The AMA joined the American Diabetes Association and others from the medical community in expressing its support for this legislation.
AMA letter to Sen. Shaheen supporting S. 539, the "National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act"
H.R. 1074 co-sponsorship list
S. 539 co-sponsorship list
H.R. 962 Co-sponsorship list
S. 452 Co-sponsorship list
On February 14, 2013, Senator Barbara Boxer introduced S. 330, the "HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act." This bipartisan legislation would serve to establish safeguards and standards of quality for research and transplantation of HIV-infected organs to HIV-positive recipients. It would also make important, common-sense reforms to current organ transplant law by repealing the current ban on organ donations from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients.
On March 14, Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) introduced H.R. 1179, the "Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2013." This legislation would require the time period of outpatient "observation" care in a hospital to be counted toward satisfying the three-day inpatient hospital requirements for coverage of skilled nursing facility services under Medicare. The AMA strongly supports this legislation.
In a January 17, 2012, letter to the Congressional Leadership, AMA called on Congress to stop the required implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) originally scheduled for October 1, 2013. In response to AMA advocacy, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a one year delay of ICD-10 implementation – now scheduled for October 1, 2014. AMA had recommended that ICD-10 implementation be delayed by a minimum two years.
The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 will create substantial administrative and financial burdens for physician practices, with no direct benefit to patient care, by increasing the number of diagnosis codes from 13,000 to 68,000. This transition will also compete with other costly physician practice transitions underway today associated with quality and health IT programs. The ICD-10 transition costs will range from $83,290 to $2.7 million depending on the size of the medical practice.
As Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) covered entities, physicians must comply with the ICD-10 mandate and will bear the entire costs of the transition. Additionally, under ICD-10 if physicians submit the wrong seven digit diagnosis code they risk non-payment altogether.
On April 24, 2013, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced H.R. 1701, the "Cutting Costly Codes Act of 2013," which would prohibit the Secretary of HHS from replacing the current ICD-9 with ICD-10 diagnostic code set. The bill would also require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on ways to mitigate the disruption of health care providers resulting from the replacement of ICD-9 with new coding standards required by HIPAA.
The AMA strongly supports comprehensive medical liability reform (MLR), including reasonable limits on non-economic damages similar to successful reforms in California and Texas.
The "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (ACA) included multiple provisions concerning the establishment and implementation of national care and practice standards and guidelines for health care providers, with potential for new causes of legal action against physicians. The AMA believes physicians should not have to worry about potential new causes of action or liability exposure in their attempts to develop new ways to improve the quality and efficiencies of care.
On April 10, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), who has long been a proponent for MLR, introduced H.R. 1473, the "Standard of Care Protection Act of 2013." This bill would clarify that the care standards and guidelines specified in the ACA cannot be used to create new causes of legal action against physicians providing care to patients. In addition, it would preserve state medical liability laws. AMA supports H.R. 1473.
In the 113th Congress, the "Medicare Patient Empowerment Act" has been introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (S.236), and by Representative Tom Price (H.R. 1310). This legislation would establish a Medicare payment option for patients and physicians (and practitioners) to freely contract, without penalty, for Medicare fee-for-service physician and practitioner services, while allowing patients to use their Medicare benefits and physicians to bill the patient for all amounts not covered by Medicare. The AMA strongly supports this legislation. More information on this issue as well as a petition that physicians are encouraged to sign can be found at www.mymedicare-mychoice.org
AMA Letter of Support for S. 236
S. 236 co-sponsorship list
AMA Letter of Support for H.R. 1310
H.R. 1310 co-sponsorship list
As the leading force in Washington for Medicare reform, the AMA continues to advocate for replacement of the flawed Medicare physician payment formula. In this effort, the AMA is aggressively working with Congress and federal agencies to improve the Medicare program by repealing the sustainable growth rate (SGR), enacting stable, adequate annual Medicare physician payment updates, and ensuring beneficiaries’ continued access to care. The AMA has recommended to Congress a three-pronged approach to reforming the physician payment system:
- repeal the SGR;
- implement a five-year period of stable Medicare physician payments; and
- transition to an array of new payment models designed to enhance care coordination, quality, appropriateness and costs.
Recent Congressional testimony and correspondence
AMA comments on E&C and W&M majority "Overview of SGR Repeal and Reform proposal: Second Iteration," April 16, 2013
Senate Sequestration sign-on letter, December 21, 2012
House Sequestration sign-on letter, December 21, 2012
Senate SGR Sequestration sign-on letter, September 12, 2012
House SGR Sequestration sign-on letter, September 12, 2012
Sign-on letter to Conferees re: SGR Repeal, January 23, 2012
Letter to Physician Members of the Doctors Caucus urging SGR Repeal, November 17, 2011
Sign-on letter to Deficit Reduction Committee urging repeal of the SGR, November 10, 2011
Beneficiary-Provider letter to Congress, October 20, 2011
Sign-on Letter to MedPAC on SGR, October 3, 2011
W&M Testimony, "Expiring Medicare Provider Payment Policies," September 21, 2011
Sign-on letter to Sen. Murray, Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, September 20, 2011
Sign-on letter to Rep. Hensarling, Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, September 20, 2011
Sign-on letter to President Obama to repeal the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate, June 27, 2011
E&C Testimony, "The Need to Move Beyond the SGR," May 5, 2011
Letter to the Senate urging elimination of the SGR, March 10, 2011
Letter to the House urging elimination of the SGR, March 10, 2011
The AMA continues with efforts to address physician workforce shortages, including strongly supporting stable, adequate funding for graduate medical education (GME) training positions.
Letter to Sen. Conrad supporting S. 1979, the "Conrad State 30 Improvement Act," January 3, 2012
AAMC sign-on letter to Super Committee regarding potential GME cuts, October 3, 2011
Letter to Senate HELP Committee re: S. 958, Senate Companion Bill to H. R. 1852, July 27, 2011
Initiatives to fight health care fraud, or to identify areas of waste, have a tangible impact on physician practices. To comply with anti-fraud rules and regulations, physicians proactively conduct internal audits and adopt compliance programs at their own cost. Broad-brush regulations that impose burdens on all providers, rather than focusing on those providers who have demonstrated a propensity to commit fraud or abuse, inequitably affect physicians who are good actors, and result in unnecessary costs to the health care system.
On June 29, 2012, the AMA responded to a request from the Senate Committee on Finance for input on waste, fraud, and abuse (or "program integrity") reforms. The AMA submitted a white paper that outlined the recommendations of the AMA for greater value and efficiency in program integrity efforts.
On February 25, 2013, Rep. Tom Price re-introduced H.R. 805, the "Quality Improvement Organization Program Restoration Act." This bill would restore and maintain local physician involvement in Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) and keep the program state-based. The bill would also support local physician involvement in peer review.
The AMA strongly supports H.R. 1427, the "Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2013." This legislation was introduced by Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Rep. David Scott (D-GA) on April 9, 2013, and would help patients make informed decisions about their health care by ensuring that they have accurate information regarding the education, training, and qualifications of individuals providing their health care services. In addition, H.R. 1427 would require disclosure of health care providers' licensure in advertisements for health care services, and provide vital resources to address patient confusion in the health care marketplace.
Letter to Reps. Bucshon and Scott supporting H.R. 1427, May 1, 2013
Form 1099 Information Reporting
After House and Senate passage, H.R. 4 was signed into law April 14, 2011. The law repealed an IRS 1099 reporting requirement for businesses that was included in the Affordable Care Act. The provision required businesses, including physician offices, to file a 1099 form with the IRS if the total amount of payments made to another business in exchange for goods and services was $600 or more in a year. The AMA strongly advocated for the repeal of this requirement since the stricter requirements in the provision would have created an expensive reporting burden which would have negatively impacted the operation of businesses, including physician practices.
Comment letter to IRS Commissioner Shulman regarding 1099 Reporting, September 29, 2010
Appropriations
On April 20, 2011, AMA sent a letter to Chairman Rehberg of the House Approps. Subcommittee on Labor-HHS, Education and Related Agencies sharing its views on funding priorities for various health programs under the subcommittee's jurisdiction, including those that are crucial to ensuring an adequate supply and distribution of physicians.
Letter to Labor-HHS Approps. Subcommittee, April 20, 2011
PDUFA/Drug Shortages/Generic Antibiotic Incentives
On June 20, the House passed S. 3187, the "Food & Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act," by voice vote. The Senate adopted the measure on June 26 by a vote of 92-4, and the President is expected to sign it into law shortly.
The final version of S. 3187, which is the result of a bipartisan compromise between the House and the Senate, would reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act and the Medical Device User Fee Act, and newly authorize user fees for generic drugs and biosimilars. It includes several provisions that the AMA supports and worked to improve throughout the legislative process. These provisions would address the drug shortage crisis, incentivize the development of new antibiotics, place various chemical substances known as "bath salts" in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, and require the Comptroller General to prepare a report on issues posed by rogue online pharmacies. Additionally, the bill omits a provision that was of significant concern to the AMA, which would have reclassified combination products containing hydrocodone from Schedule III to Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act. While the AMA supports efforts to prevent the abuse of such products, this approach could have unintentionally limited patient access to legitimately needed pain treatment. The final bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to hold a public meeting to solicit recommendations regarding drugs containing hydrocodone.
AMA comments to PDUFA Reauthorization Conferees, June 7, 2012
Drug Shortages letter to E & C Chair and Ranking Member, April 6, 2012
Drug Shortages ASHP-generated sign-on letter to E&C and Senate HELP, March 16, 2012
Physician Licensure
The AMA believes that conditioning physician licensure on participation in any public or private insurance plans unduly restricts a physician's freedom to practice. The AMA is actively supporting H.R. 969, the "Medical Practice Freedom Act of 2011," introduced by Representative Tom Price (R - GA), which would ensure that physicians are not required to participate in any health plan as a condition of licensure in any state.
Letter to Rep. Price supporting H.R. 969, the "Medical Practice Freedom Act of 2011," March 14, 2011
3% Withhold
The AMA is a strong opponent of section 511 of the Tax Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA). Under this provision, federal, state and local government entities are required to withhold 3 percent of all payments made for services or property after December 31, 2011, including payments under the Medicare program. The AMA strongly opposes section 511 and we support repeal of this provision.
On October 27, 2011, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 674, AMA-supported legislation that prevents a planned 3% tax-withhold for many Medicare payments, by a vote of 405-16. The Senate passed this legislation on November 10 by a vote of 95 to 0.
The legislation was signed into law by President Obama on November 21, 2011 and completely repeals this provision of law and eliminates the planned withholding. The cost of this repeal was offset by a change in the definition of Medicare Adjusted Gross Income for the calculation of eligibility for Medicaid or insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. This modification was supported by a majority in Congress and the White House.
This represents a significant victory for physicians and a step forward in stabilizing the Medicare system. The additional burden of a 3% tax-withhold would have been untenable in the current Medicare payment environment.
Letter to Ways and Means Chairman Camp in support of H.R. 674, October 12, 2011
Government Withholding Relief Coalition Letter to the U.S. Senate, June 9, 2011
