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HHS: Early data shows 9% drop in HACs
BALTIMORE – Incidence of hospital-acquired conditions dropped 9% in 2013, preliminary federal data show.
The new report from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality estimates that the incidence of hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) was 17% lower in 2013 than in 2010, when the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services began more closely tracking readmissions from HACs.
The improvement seems to indicate continued progress in the effort to prevent conditions such as catheter-related infections, pressure ulcers, and drug-related adverse events, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said at the CMS Healthcare Quality Conference.
“Between 2010 and 2013, we reduced hospital-acquired conditions by 1.3 million events – with much of this progress coming over the last year,” Ms. Burwell said. Her agency estimates the reduced number of adverse events and preventable conditions translates to $12 billion in savings.
Much of the reduction came in 2013 – when there were 800,000 fewer incidents and 35,000 fewer patients died in hospitals, leading to $8 billion in savings, according to HHS.
“This is historic,” Dr. Patrick Conway, CMS deputy administrator for innovation and quality and chief medical officer said at the meeting.
The incidence of hospital-acquired infections has declined from 145 per 1,000 discharges in 2010, to 132 in 2012, to 121 in the latest data.
The biggest impact has been from a decline in pressure ulcers (21% decline) and in adverse drug events (44% decline), according to the report. The 3-year drop in pressure ulcers led to an estimated $5 billion in savings, while the decline in drug events saved the health care system almost $3 billion These two conditions also accounted for the greatest number of deaths averted over the 3 years, at 20,272 and 11,540 respectively.
“HHS will work with partners across the country to continue to build on this progress,” Secretary Burwell said.
The new report updates data for 2012 that was released in May.
On Twitter @aliciaault
BALTIMORE – Incidence of hospital-acquired conditions dropped 9% in 2013, preliminary federal data show.
The new report from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality estimates that the incidence of hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) was 17% lower in 2013 than in 2010, when the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services began more closely tracking readmissions from HACs.
The improvement seems to indicate continued progress in the effort to prevent conditions such as catheter-related infections, pressure ulcers, and drug-related adverse events, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said at the CMS Healthcare Quality Conference.
“Between 2010 and 2013, we reduced hospital-acquired conditions by 1.3 million events – with much of this progress coming over the last year,” Ms. Burwell said. Her agency estimates the reduced number of adverse events and preventable conditions translates to $12 billion in savings.
Much of the reduction came in 2013 – when there were 800,000 fewer incidents and 35,000 fewer patients died in hospitals, leading to $8 billion in savings, according to HHS.
“This is historic,” Dr. Patrick Conway, CMS deputy administrator for innovation and quality and chief medical officer said at the meeting.
The incidence of hospital-acquired infections has declined from 145 per 1,000 discharges in 2010, to 132 in 2012, to 121 in the latest data.
The biggest impact has been from a decline in pressure ulcers (21% decline) and in adverse drug events (44% decline), according to the report. The 3-year drop in pressure ulcers led to an estimated $5 billion in savings, while the decline in drug events saved the health care system almost $3 billion These two conditions also accounted for the greatest number of deaths averted over the 3 years, at 20,272 and 11,540 respectively.
“HHS will work with partners across the country to continue to build on this progress,” Secretary Burwell said.
The new report updates data for 2012 that was released in May.
On Twitter @aliciaault
BALTIMORE – Incidence of hospital-acquired conditions dropped 9% in 2013, preliminary federal data show.
The new report from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality estimates that the incidence of hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) was 17% lower in 2013 than in 2010, when the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services began more closely tracking readmissions from HACs.
The improvement seems to indicate continued progress in the effort to prevent conditions such as catheter-related infections, pressure ulcers, and drug-related adverse events, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said at the CMS Healthcare Quality Conference.
“Between 2010 and 2013, we reduced hospital-acquired conditions by 1.3 million events – with much of this progress coming over the last year,” Ms. Burwell said. Her agency estimates the reduced number of adverse events and preventable conditions translates to $12 billion in savings.
Much of the reduction came in 2013 – when there were 800,000 fewer incidents and 35,000 fewer patients died in hospitals, leading to $8 billion in savings, according to HHS.
“This is historic,” Dr. Patrick Conway, CMS deputy administrator for innovation and quality and chief medical officer said at the meeting.
The incidence of hospital-acquired infections has declined from 145 per 1,000 discharges in 2010, to 132 in 2012, to 121 in the latest data.
The biggest impact has been from a decline in pressure ulcers (21% decline) and in adverse drug events (44% decline), according to the report. The 3-year drop in pressure ulcers led to an estimated $5 billion in savings, while the decline in drug events saved the health care system almost $3 billion These two conditions also accounted for the greatest number of deaths averted over the 3 years, at 20,272 and 11,540 respectively.
“HHS will work with partners across the country to continue to build on this progress,” Secretary Burwell said.
The new report updates data for 2012 that was released in May.
On Twitter @aliciaault
AT QUALITYNET 2014
FDA approves blinatumomab for Philadelphia-negative ALL
The Food and Drug Administration has approved blinatumomab (Blincyto) for Philadelphia chromosome–negative relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The approval on Dec. 3 came almost 5 months early. Blinatumomab maker Amgen applied for accelerated approval with the agency in early October, and a decision was due by May 19, 2015, according to the company.
“Recognizing the potential of this novel therapy, the FDA worked proactively with the sponsor under our breakthrough therapy designation program to facilitate the approval of this novel agent,” said Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a statement.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that 6,020 Americans will be diagnosed with ALL and 1,440 will die from the disease in 2014.
The drug is the first bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody construct approved by the FDA and is also the first single-agent immunotherapy to be approved for the treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome–negative relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL, said Amgen.
The FDA based the approval on results of Amgen’s MT103-211 trial, a phase II, multicenter, single-arm, open-label study. Of the 185 patients evaluated in the trial, 42% (77 of 185) achieved complete remission or complete remission with partial hematologic recovery within two cycles of treatment. Blinatumomab was given by continuous infusion for 4 weeks of a 6-week cycle. Up to two cycles were used for induction and three cycles for consolidation.
The response was durable (with a median of 6.7 months; range, 0.46-16.5 months).
The FDA evaluated safety in 212 patients. The most common adverse reactions were pyrexia (62%), headache (36%), peripheral edema (25%), febrile neutropenia (25%), nausea (25%), hypokalemia (23%), rash (21%), tremor (20%), and constipation (20%).
Neurologic toxicities – including encephalopathy, convulsions, speech disorders, disturbances in consciousness, confusion and disorientation, and coordination and balance disorders – were common, occurring in almost half of patients, and were a frequent reason for interruption of therapy.
There is a boxed warning on neurologic toxicities and cytokine-release syndrome, which was reported in 11% of the patients. The FDA also is requiring a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for blinatumomab, which consists of a communication plan to inform health care providers about the serious risks and the potential for preparation and administration errors.
On Twitter @aliciaault
The Food and Drug Administration has approved blinatumomab (Blincyto) for Philadelphia chromosome–negative relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The approval on Dec. 3 came almost 5 months early. Blinatumomab maker Amgen applied for accelerated approval with the agency in early October, and a decision was due by May 19, 2015, according to the company.
“Recognizing the potential of this novel therapy, the FDA worked proactively with the sponsor under our breakthrough therapy designation program to facilitate the approval of this novel agent,” said Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a statement.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that 6,020 Americans will be diagnosed with ALL and 1,440 will die from the disease in 2014.
The drug is the first bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody construct approved by the FDA and is also the first single-agent immunotherapy to be approved for the treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome–negative relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL, said Amgen.
The FDA based the approval on results of Amgen’s MT103-211 trial, a phase II, multicenter, single-arm, open-label study. Of the 185 patients evaluated in the trial, 42% (77 of 185) achieved complete remission or complete remission with partial hematologic recovery within two cycles of treatment. Blinatumomab was given by continuous infusion for 4 weeks of a 6-week cycle. Up to two cycles were used for induction and three cycles for consolidation.
The response was durable (with a median of 6.7 months; range, 0.46-16.5 months).
The FDA evaluated safety in 212 patients. The most common adverse reactions were pyrexia (62%), headache (36%), peripheral edema (25%), febrile neutropenia (25%), nausea (25%), hypokalemia (23%), rash (21%), tremor (20%), and constipation (20%).
Neurologic toxicities – including encephalopathy, convulsions, speech disorders, disturbances in consciousness, confusion and disorientation, and coordination and balance disorders – were common, occurring in almost half of patients, and were a frequent reason for interruption of therapy.
There is a boxed warning on neurologic toxicities and cytokine-release syndrome, which was reported in 11% of the patients. The FDA also is requiring a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for blinatumomab, which consists of a communication plan to inform health care providers about the serious risks and the potential for preparation and administration errors.
On Twitter @aliciaault
The Food and Drug Administration has approved blinatumomab (Blincyto) for Philadelphia chromosome–negative relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The approval on Dec. 3 came almost 5 months early. Blinatumomab maker Amgen applied for accelerated approval with the agency in early October, and a decision was due by May 19, 2015, according to the company.
“Recognizing the potential of this novel therapy, the FDA worked proactively with the sponsor under our breakthrough therapy designation program to facilitate the approval of this novel agent,” said Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a statement.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that 6,020 Americans will be diagnosed with ALL and 1,440 will die from the disease in 2014.
The drug is the first bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody construct approved by the FDA and is also the first single-agent immunotherapy to be approved for the treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome–negative relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL, said Amgen.
The FDA based the approval on results of Amgen’s MT103-211 trial, a phase II, multicenter, single-arm, open-label study. Of the 185 patients evaluated in the trial, 42% (77 of 185) achieved complete remission or complete remission with partial hematologic recovery within two cycles of treatment. Blinatumomab was given by continuous infusion for 4 weeks of a 6-week cycle. Up to two cycles were used for induction and three cycles for consolidation.
The response was durable (with a median of 6.7 months; range, 0.46-16.5 months).
The FDA evaluated safety in 212 patients. The most common adverse reactions were pyrexia (62%), headache (36%), peripheral edema (25%), febrile neutropenia (25%), nausea (25%), hypokalemia (23%), rash (21%), tremor (20%), and constipation (20%).
Neurologic toxicities – including encephalopathy, convulsions, speech disorders, disturbances in consciousness, confusion and disorientation, and coordination and balance disorders – were common, occurring in almost half of patients, and were a frequent reason for interruption of therapy.
There is a boxed warning on neurologic toxicities and cytokine-release syndrome, which was reported in 11% of the patients. The FDA also is requiring a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy for blinatumomab, which consists of a communication plan to inform health care providers about the serious risks and the potential for preparation and administration errors.
On Twitter @aliciaault
Spending on physician services shrunk again in 2013
WASHINGTON– Health spending in 2013 grew at the slowest rate since the federal government began keeping track in 1960, in part because of lower spending by both Medicare and private health insurance plans, especially on physician services.
The lingering effects of the 2009 recession played a role, and the Affordable Care Act had a negligible impact, adding to spending in some categories, and reducing it in others, according to economists with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Their findings were published Dec. 3 in the journal Health Affairs (doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1107).
Overall spending grew 3.6% in 2013, slower than the 4.1% it grew in 2012, Micah Hartman of the Office of the Actuary at CMS, said in a briefing with reporters. The nation’s health bill totaled $2.9 trillion in 2013, or about 17% of the gross domestic product.
Medicare spent $586 billion in 2013, accounting for 20% of the nation’s health tab. Expenditures by that program rose only 3.4%, compared with 4% in 2012, in part because of clampdowns on spending for fee for service. Medicare, along with most payers, spent less on both hospital and physician services in 2013.
The program’s physician spending was restrained by a 2% across-the-board cut mandated by sequestration, and a 0% increase in the Sustainable Growth Rate formula. Prices for physician services also had little impact, rising by just 0.1%, Mr. Hartman said.
Use and intensity of physician and hospital services across the health care system had rebounded a bit in 2012 from their recession-related lows, but shrunk again in 2013, the CMS economists reported.
But Medicaid spending on physician services grew by10% in 2013, compared with just under 3% growth in 2012. That was because of the temporary increase in Medicaid reimbursement to primary care physicians that was established by the ACA. That pay bump expires on Dec. 31.
Medicaid spending, which makes up 15% of the nation’s health bill, hit $450 billion in 2013, a 6% increase from the previous year. That continued an upward trend, as did enrollment, which grew by almost 3%, compared with just under 2% the year before. Enrollment is expected to sharply spike in 2014, when the ACA is more fully in effect, said David Lassman of the CMS Office of the Actuary.
Private insurers still account for the largest portion of America’s health budget, paying a third of the tab. They, too, spent less on physician services in 2013. Spending was also reined in by lower premiums and ACA provisions that kept a lid on rate increases.
The CMS economists noted that private insurers have been successful in shifting more consumers into high-deductible health plans, which may in turn be having a dampening effect on their use of health care. “Consumers enrolled in high-deductible plans tend to use services at a lower rate than those enrolled in plans with lower or no cost sharing,” they wrote.
As to the effects of the ACA, the economists said that the law helped reduce spending through productivity adjustments to Medicare fee-for-service payments, reduced Medicare Advantage payments, and increased prescription drug rebates for Medicaid. But it also raised costs through Medicaid expansion, increased Medicaid payments for primary care, and subsidized prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
“The key question is whether health spending growth will accelerate once economic conditions improve significantly,” Mr. Hartman said in a statement. “Historical evidence suggests it will.”
The report updates the economists’ spending projections for 2013, which were issued in September.
On Twitter @aliciaault
WASHINGTON– Health spending in 2013 grew at the slowest rate since the federal government began keeping track in 1960, in part because of lower spending by both Medicare and private health insurance plans, especially on physician services.
The lingering effects of the 2009 recession played a role, and the Affordable Care Act had a negligible impact, adding to spending in some categories, and reducing it in others, according to economists with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Their findings were published Dec. 3 in the journal Health Affairs (doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1107).
Overall spending grew 3.6% in 2013, slower than the 4.1% it grew in 2012, Micah Hartman of the Office of the Actuary at CMS, said in a briefing with reporters. The nation’s health bill totaled $2.9 trillion in 2013, or about 17% of the gross domestic product.
Medicare spent $586 billion in 2013, accounting for 20% of the nation’s health tab. Expenditures by that program rose only 3.4%, compared with 4% in 2012, in part because of clampdowns on spending for fee for service. Medicare, along with most payers, spent less on both hospital and physician services in 2013.
The program’s physician spending was restrained by a 2% across-the-board cut mandated by sequestration, and a 0% increase in the Sustainable Growth Rate formula. Prices for physician services also had little impact, rising by just 0.1%, Mr. Hartman said.
Use and intensity of physician and hospital services across the health care system had rebounded a bit in 2012 from their recession-related lows, but shrunk again in 2013, the CMS economists reported.
But Medicaid spending on physician services grew by10% in 2013, compared with just under 3% growth in 2012. That was because of the temporary increase in Medicaid reimbursement to primary care physicians that was established by the ACA. That pay bump expires on Dec. 31.
Medicaid spending, which makes up 15% of the nation’s health bill, hit $450 billion in 2013, a 6% increase from the previous year. That continued an upward trend, as did enrollment, which grew by almost 3%, compared with just under 2% the year before. Enrollment is expected to sharply spike in 2014, when the ACA is more fully in effect, said David Lassman of the CMS Office of the Actuary.
Private insurers still account for the largest portion of America’s health budget, paying a third of the tab. They, too, spent less on physician services in 2013. Spending was also reined in by lower premiums and ACA provisions that kept a lid on rate increases.
The CMS economists noted that private insurers have been successful in shifting more consumers into high-deductible health plans, which may in turn be having a dampening effect on their use of health care. “Consumers enrolled in high-deductible plans tend to use services at a lower rate than those enrolled in plans with lower or no cost sharing,” they wrote.
As to the effects of the ACA, the economists said that the law helped reduce spending through productivity adjustments to Medicare fee-for-service payments, reduced Medicare Advantage payments, and increased prescription drug rebates for Medicaid. But it also raised costs through Medicaid expansion, increased Medicaid payments for primary care, and subsidized prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
“The key question is whether health spending growth will accelerate once economic conditions improve significantly,” Mr. Hartman said in a statement. “Historical evidence suggests it will.”
The report updates the economists’ spending projections for 2013, which were issued in September.
On Twitter @aliciaault
WASHINGTON– Health spending in 2013 grew at the slowest rate since the federal government began keeping track in 1960, in part because of lower spending by both Medicare and private health insurance plans, especially on physician services.
The lingering effects of the 2009 recession played a role, and the Affordable Care Act had a negligible impact, adding to spending in some categories, and reducing it in others, according to economists with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Their findings were published Dec. 3 in the journal Health Affairs (doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1107).
Overall spending grew 3.6% in 2013, slower than the 4.1% it grew in 2012, Micah Hartman of the Office of the Actuary at CMS, said in a briefing with reporters. The nation’s health bill totaled $2.9 trillion in 2013, or about 17% of the gross domestic product.
Medicare spent $586 billion in 2013, accounting for 20% of the nation’s health tab. Expenditures by that program rose only 3.4%, compared with 4% in 2012, in part because of clampdowns on spending for fee for service. Medicare, along with most payers, spent less on both hospital and physician services in 2013.
The program’s physician spending was restrained by a 2% across-the-board cut mandated by sequestration, and a 0% increase in the Sustainable Growth Rate formula. Prices for physician services also had little impact, rising by just 0.1%, Mr. Hartman said.
Use and intensity of physician and hospital services across the health care system had rebounded a bit in 2012 from their recession-related lows, but shrunk again in 2013, the CMS economists reported.
But Medicaid spending on physician services grew by10% in 2013, compared with just under 3% growth in 2012. That was because of the temporary increase in Medicaid reimbursement to primary care physicians that was established by the ACA. That pay bump expires on Dec. 31.
Medicaid spending, which makes up 15% of the nation’s health bill, hit $450 billion in 2013, a 6% increase from the previous year. That continued an upward trend, as did enrollment, which grew by almost 3%, compared with just under 2% the year before. Enrollment is expected to sharply spike in 2014, when the ACA is more fully in effect, said David Lassman of the CMS Office of the Actuary.
Private insurers still account for the largest portion of America’s health budget, paying a third of the tab. They, too, spent less on physician services in 2013. Spending was also reined in by lower premiums and ACA provisions that kept a lid on rate increases.
The CMS economists noted that private insurers have been successful in shifting more consumers into high-deductible health plans, which may in turn be having a dampening effect on their use of health care. “Consumers enrolled in high-deductible plans tend to use services at a lower rate than those enrolled in plans with lower or no cost sharing,” they wrote.
As to the effects of the ACA, the economists said that the law helped reduce spending through productivity adjustments to Medicare fee-for-service payments, reduced Medicare Advantage payments, and increased prescription drug rebates for Medicaid. But it also raised costs through Medicaid expansion, increased Medicaid payments for primary care, and subsidized prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
“The key question is whether health spending growth will accelerate once economic conditions improve significantly,” Mr. Hartman said in a statement. “Historical evidence suggests it will.”
The report updates the economists’ spending projections for 2013, which were issued in September.
On Twitter @aliciaault
FROM HEALTH AFFAIRS
New Law Will Speed Sunscreen Ingredient Approval
President Obama has signed into law a bill that requires speedier review of sunscreen ingredients.
The Sunscreen Innovation Act garnered support from Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, and from manufacturers and dermatologists as well. The House and Senate reconciled their two proposals – S. 2141 and H.R. 4250 – in mid-November, and the final bill was signed by the president on Nov. 26.
The law sets strict timetables for Food and Drug Administration action. The bill was prompted by a huge backlog of ingredients that have been awaiting review at the agency.
According to the PASS Coalition, the last new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredient was approved in the 1990s. Manufacturers have sought approval for eight new ingredients since 2002, but none has been acted on, according to PASS, an advocacy group made up of manufacturers, physicians, and organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American College of Mohs Surgery, and the Melanoma International Foundation.
The approval by Congress of the new law “signals the urgent public health need to make more effective products available to consumers, as skin cancer rates continue to rise at an alarming pace,” American Academy of Dermatology President Brett M. Coldiron said in a statement issued in mid-November. “The AADA looks forward to working closely with the FDA to implement the new law, and will be providing comments on its implementation,” said Dr. Coldiron.
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), a coauthor of the original House bill, said that it had been too long since the approval of a new sunscreen ingredient. “With the president’s signature, Americans will finally be able to begin purchasing products that take advantage of improved research,” said Rep. Whitfield, in a statement.
President Obama has signed into law a bill that requires speedier review of sunscreen ingredients.
The Sunscreen Innovation Act garnered support from Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, and from manufacturers and dermatologists as well. The House and Senate reconciled their two proposals – S. 2141 and H.R. 4250 – in mid-November, and the final bill was signed by the president on Nov. 26.
The law sets strict timetables for Food and Drug Administration action. The bill was prompted by a huge backlog of ingredients that have been awaiting review at the agency.
According to the PASS Coalition, the last new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredient was approved in the 1990s. Manufacturers have sought approval for eight new ingredients since 2002, but none has been acted on, according to PASS, an advocacy group made up of manufacturers, physicians, and organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American College of Mohs Surgery, and the Melanoma International Foundation.
The approval by Congress of the new law “signals the urgent public health need to make more effective products available to consumers, as skin cancer rates continue to rise at an alarming pace,” American Academy of Dermatology President Brett M. Coldiron said in a statement issued in mid-November. “The AADA looks forward to working closely with the FDA to implement the new law, and will be providing comments on its implementation,” said Dr. Coldiron.
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), a coauthor of the original House bill, said that it had been too long since the approval of a new sunscreen ingredient. “With the president’s signature, Americans will finally be able to begin purchasing products that take advantage of improved research,” said Rep. Whitfield, in a statement.
President Obama has signed into law a bill that requires speedier review of sunscreen ingredients.
The Sunscreen Innovation Act garnered support from Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, and from manufacturers and dermatologists as well. The House and Senate reconciled their two proposals – S. 2141 and H.R. 4250 – in mid-November, and the final bill was signed by the president on Nov. 26.
The law sets strict timetables for Food and Drug Administration action. The bill was prompted by a huge backlog of ingredients that have been awaiting review at the agency.
According to the PASS Coalition, the last new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredient was approved in the 1990s. Manufacturers have sought approval for eight new ingredients since 2002, but none has been acted on, according to PASS, an advocacy group made up of manufacturers, physicians, and organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American College of Mohs Surgery, and the Melanoma International Foundation.
The approval by Congress of the new law “signals the urgent public health need to make more effective products available to consumers, as skin cancer rates continue to rise at an alarming pace,” American Academy of Dermatology President Brett M. Coldiron said in a statement issued in mid-November. “The AADA looks forward to working closely with the FDA to implement the new law, and will be providing comments on its implementation,” said Dr. Coldiron.
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), a coauthor of the original House bill, said that it had been too long since the approval of a new sunscreen ingredient. “With the president’s signature, Americans will finally be able to begin purchasing products that take advantage of improved research,” said Rep. Whitfield, in a statement.
New law will speed sunscreen ingredient approval
President Obama has signed into law a bill that requires speedier review of sunscreen ingredients.
The Sunscreen Innovation Act garnered support from Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, and from manufacturers and dermatologists as well. The House and Senate reconciled their two proposals – S. 2141 and H.R. 4250 – in mid-November, and the final bill was signed by the president on Nov. 26.
The law sets strict timetables for Food and Drug Administration action. The bill was prompted by a huge backlog of ingredients that have been awaiting review at the agency.
According to the PASS Coalition, the last new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredient was approved in the 1990s. Manufacturers have sought approval for eight new ingredients since 2002, but none has been acted on, according to PASS, an advocacy group made up of manufacturers, physicians, and organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American College of Mohs Surgery, and the Melanoma International Foundation.
The approval by Congress of the new law “signals the urgent public health need to make more effective products available to consumers, as skin cancer rates continue to rise at an alarming pace,” American Academy of Dermatology President Brett M. Coldiron said in a statement issued in mid-November. “The AADA looks forward to working closely with the FDA to implement the new law, and will be providing comments on its implementation,” said Dr. Coldiron.
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), a coauthor of the original House bill, said that it had been too long since the approval of a new sunscreen ingredient. “With the president’s signature, Americans will finally be able to begin purchasing products that take advantage of improved research,” said Rep. Whitfield, in a statement.
President Obama has signed into law a bill that requires speedier review of sunscreen ingredients.
The Sunscreen Innovation Act garnered support from Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, and from manufacturers and dermatologists as well. The House and Senate reconciled their two proposals – S. 2141 and H.R. 4250 – in mid-November, and the final bill was signed by the president on Nov. 26.
The law sets strict timetables for Food and Drug Administration action. The bill was prompted by a huge backlog of ingredients that have been awaiting review at the agency.
According to the PASS Coalition, the last new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredient was approved in the 1990s. Manufacturers have sought approval for eight new ingredients since 2002, but none has been acted on, according to PASS, an advocacy group made up of manufacturers, physicians, and organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American College of Mohs Surgery, and the Melanoma International Foundation.
The approval by Congress of the new law “signals the urgent public health need to make more effective products available to consumers, as skin cancer rates continue to rise at an alarming pace,” American Academy of Dermatology President Brett M. Coldiron said in a statement issued in mid-November. “The AADA looks forward to working closely with the FDA to implement the new law, and will be providing comments on its implementation,” said Dr. Coldiron.
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), a coauthor of the original House bill, said that it had been too long since the approval of a new sunscreen ingredient. “With the president’s signature, Americans will finally be able to begin purchasing products that take advantage of improved research,” said Rep. Whitfield, in a statement.
President Obama has signed into law a bill that requires speedier review of sunscreen ingredients.
The Sunscreen Innovation Act garnered support from Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, and from manufacturers and dermatologists as well. The House and Senate reconciled their two proposals – S. 2141 and H.R. 4250 – in mid-November, and the final bill was signed by the president on Nov. 26.
The law sets strict timetables for Food and Drug Administration action. The bill was prompted by a huge backlog of ingredients that have been awaiting review at the agency.
According to the PASS Coalition, the last new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredient was approved in the 1990s. Manufacturers have sought approval for eight new ingredients since 2002, but none has been acted on, according to PASS, an advocacy group made up of manufacturers, physicians, and organizations including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American College of Mohs Surgery, and the Melanoma International Foundation.
The approval by Congress of the new law “signals the urgent public health need to make more effective products available to consumers, as skin cancer rates continue to rise at an alarming pace,” American Academy of Dermatology President Brett M. Coldiron said in a statement issued in mid-November. “The AADA looks forward to working closely with the FDA to implement the new law, and will be providing comments on its implementation,” said Dr. Coldiron.
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), a coauthor of the original House bill, said that it had been too long since the approval of a new sunscreen ingredient. “With the president’s signature, Americans will finally be able to begin purchasing products that take advantage of improved research,” said Rep. Whitfield, in a statement.
CMS proposes new network, formulary standards for 2016 ACA plans
The Obama administration is proposing to widen provider networks and increase access to prescription drugs in health plans that participate in marketplace plans in 2016.
“It is one of our many goals to strengthen the integrity of programs that fall under the Affordable Care Act to ensure the delivery of quality care with affordable options,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, in a statement. “CMS is working to improve the consumer experience and promote accountability, uniformity and transparency in private health insurance.”
According to the proposal, issued on Nov. 21, the administration “continues to take great interest in ensuring strong network access.” The CMS is proposing that only hospitals and physicians that are in-network can be considered part of the network. Out-of-network providers cannot be included to demonstrate adequacy.
For now, insurers will have to follow standards issued by the agency in March, but changes could come by the time the 2016 proposal is made final.
The agency says it is waiting to see the final results of a model law on network adequacy that’s being developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. A draft of that proposal was recently released and comments are due by Jan. 12.
The CMS also is proposing that new enrollees be given 30 days to transition from current physicians or hospitals to the new plan’s network.
Health plans also will be required to publish an up-to-date, accurate, and complete provider directory, including information on which providers are accepting new patients, the provider’s location, contact information, specialty, medical group, and any institutional affiliations. The guide has to be easily accessible – without having to create an account or use a policy number – to plan enrollees, prospective enrollees, states, and marketplace plans. It should be updated at least once a month, said the CMS.
The agency also is proposing changes to how marketplace plans cover prescription drugs. Currently, plans are required to cover at least one drug in each class.
But plans have had trouble meeting that requirement, and there were other problems, including that the criteria did not exactly encourage newly approved drugs to be included, according to the agency.
Instead, it is proposing that plans use pharmacy and therapeutics committees – following specific standards set out by the CMS – to review and approve drugs, and that it be an adequate amount in each class.
Drug formularies also should be easily accessible to the general public, without having to create and account or give a policy number, and it should be up to date, according to the proposal.
The proposal is open for comment until Dec. 21.
On Twitter @aliciaault
The Obama administration is proposing to widen provider networks and increase access to prescription drugs in health plans that participate in marketplace plans in 2016.
“It is one of our many goals to strengthen the integrity of programs that fall under the Affordable Care Act to ensure the delivery of quality care with affordable options,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, in a statement. “CMS is working to improve the consumer experience and promote accountability, uniformity and transparency in private health insurance.”
According to the proposal, issued on Nov. 21, the administration “continues to take great interest in ensuring strong network access.” The CMS is proposing that only hospitals and physicians that are in-network can be considered part of the network. Out-of-network providers cannot be included to demonstrate adequacy.
For now, insurers will have to follow standards issued by the agency in March, but changes could come by the time the 2016 proposal is made final.
The agency says it is waiting to see the final results of a model law on network adequacy that’s being developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. A draft of that proposal was recently released and comments are due by Jan. 12.
The CMS also is proposing that new enrollees be given 30 days to transition from current physicians or hospitals to the new plan’s network.
Health plans also will be required to publish an up-to-date, accurate, and complete provider directory, including information on which providers are accepting new patients, the provider’s location, contact information, specialty, medical group, and any institutional affiliations. The guide has to be easily accessible – without having to create an account or use a policy number – to plan enrollees, prospective enrollees, states, and marketplace plans. It should be updated at least once a month, said the CMS.
The agency also is proposing changes to how marketplace plans cover prescription drugs. Currently, plans are required to cover at least one drug in each class.
But plans have had trouble meeting that requirement, and there were other problems, including that the criteria did not exactly encourage newly approved drugs to be included, according to the agency.
Instead, it is proposing that plans use pharmacy and therapeutics committees – following specific standards set out by the CMS – to review and approve drugs, and that it be an adequate amount in each class.
Drug formularies also should be easily accessible to the general public, without having to create and account or give a policy number, and it should be up to date, according to the proposal.
The proposal is open for comment until Dec. 21.
On Twitter @aliciaault
The Obama administration is proposing to widen provider networks and increase access to prescription drugs in health plans that participate in marketplace plans in 2016.
“It is one of our many goals to strengthen the integrity of programs that fall under the Affordable Care Act to ensure the delivery of quality care with affordable options,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, in a statement. “CMS is working to improve the consumer experience and promote accountability, uniformity and transparency in private health insurance.”
According to the proposal, issued on Nov. 21, the administration “continues to take great interest in ensuring strong network access.” The CMS is proposing that only hospitals and physicians that are in-network can be considered part of the network. Out-of-network providers cannot be included to demonstrate adequacy.
For now, insurers will have to follow standards issued by the agency in March, but changes could come by the time the 2016 proposal is made final.
The agency says it is waiting to see the final results of a model law on network adequacy that’s being developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. A draft of that proposal was recently released and comments are due by Jan. 12.
The CMS also is proposing that new enrollees be given 30 days to transition from current physicians or hospitals to the new plan’s network.
Health plans also will be required to publish an up-to-date, accurate, and complete provider directory, including information on which providers are accepting new patients, the provider’s location, contact information, specialty, medical group, and any institutional affiliations. The guide has to be easily accessible – without having to create an account or use a policy number – to plan enrollees, prospective enrollees, states, and marketplace plans. It should be updated at least once a month, said the CMS.
The agency also is proposing changes to how marketplace plans cover prescription drugs. Currently, plans are required to cover at least one drug in each class.
But plans have had trouble meeting that requirement, and there were other problems, including that the criteria did not exactly encourage newly approved drugs to be included, according to the agency.
Instead, it is proposing that plans use pharmacy and therapeutics committees – following specific standards set out by the CMS – to review and approve drugs, and that it be an adequate amount in each class.
Drug formularies also should be easily accessible to the general public, without having to create and account or give a policy number, and it should be up to date, according to the proposal.
The proposal is open for comment until Dec. 21.
On Twitter @aliciaault
FDA issues final rules requiring calorie tally in restaurants
A wide range of restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and even vending machines would have to post calorie counts on food and beverage choices under two proposed rules issued Nov. 25 by the Food and Drug Administration.
Both the restaurant menu rule and the vending machine rule are carrying out requirements by the Affordable Care Act that certain chain restaurants and similar establishments with 20 or more locations disclose certain nutrition information for standard menu items.
“We are responding to legislation, as well as a compelling public health need,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said during an FDA press briefing. “Obesity is a huge problem, and we need to develop better strategies to address that,” she said, adding, “a huge contributor is caloric intake.”
Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home, Dr. Hamburg added. “Making calorie information available on chain restaurant menus and vending machines is an important step for public health that will help consumers make informed choices for themselves and their families.”
The establishments covered by the restaurant rule will be required to clearly and conspicuously display calorie information for standard items on menus and menu boards, next to the name or price; such displays must be in place by Dec. 1, 2015. Menus and menu boards also must note that “2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice, but calorie needs vary.”
Among those covered by the rule: sit-down and fast-food restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops; restaurant-type foods in certain grocery and convenience stores; take-out and delivery foods such as pizza; foods that you serve yourself from a salad or hot-food bar; foods at amusement parks and movie theaters; and alcoholic drinks when they appear on a menu. Drinks ordered from a bartender, and bottles of liquor at a bar or restaurant are not covered.
In vending machines, calories would be listed on the front of the product for sale or on a sign or sticker near the food or selection button. The rules apply only to operators who control more than 20 vending machines and operators have until Dec. 1, 2016, to comply.
Several physicians praised the intent, but doubted the efficacy of the proposed rules.
“Having the information available doesn’t guarantee attention is paid to it but for those who would otherwise seek the information, the rules make it easier to find, ” said Dr. Joseph Domachowske, professor of pediatrics and professor of microbiology and immunology at the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse. But, he added, “I am skeptical that the posted information will have much influence of the dietary decisions of those confronted with it.”
Dr. Lillian Beard applauded the FDA rules, but said, “I do not think it will make a meaningful difference for the population who could most benefit.” Calorie counters will take to the information readily, but “for those who do not want to be bothered, it will become more stuff for their eyes to encounter as they order what they want anyway,” said Dr. Beard, a pediatrician at George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said it supports the rules.
“Between one-fourth and one-third of all cancers are caused by poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and excess weight,” Chris Hansen, president of ASC CAN, said in a statement.
He said the group was especially pleased that the rules covered a wide variety of establishments that serve food, and that they applied to certain alcoholic beverages, “considering that alcohol is the fifth leading source of calories in American adult diets.”
The FDA has estimated that the potential benefits of the two rules will far outweigh the costs. The agency first proposed the calorie listing requirements more than 3 years ago, in April 2011. It took that long to analyze and consider the more than 1,100 comments the FDA received, Dr. Hamburg said.
She said the FDA has no plans to use any information generated from the rules to gauge their impact on eating habits. But she predicted that the rules would create “a great deal of interest” at public health agencies, and from consumer groups and the academic community.
The two proposed rules are open for comment for 30 days after their publication in the Federal Register.
On Twitter @aliciaault
A wide range of restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and even vending machines would have to post calorie counts on food and beverage choices under two proposed rules issued Nov. 25 by the Food and Drug Administration.
Both the restaurant menu rule and the vending machine rule are carrying out requirements by the Affordable Care Act that certain chain restaurants and similar establishments with 20 or more locations disclose certain nutrition information for standard menu items.
“We are responding to legislation, as well as a compelling public health need,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said during an FDA press briefing. “Obesity is a huge problem, and we need to develop better strategies to address that,” she said, adding, “a huge contributor is caloric intake.”
Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home, Dr. Hamburg added. “Making calorie information available on chain restaurant menus and vending machines is an important step for public health that will help consumers make informed choices for themselves and their families.”
The establishments covered by the restaurant rule will be required to clearly and conspicuously display calorie information for standard items on menus and menu boards, next to the name or price; such displays must be in place by Dec. 1, 2015. Menus and menu boards also must note that “2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice, but calorie needs vary.”
Among those covered by the rule: sit-down and fast-food restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops; restaurant-type foods in certain grocery and convenience stores; take-out and delivery foods such as pizza; foods that you serve yourself from a salad or hot-food bar; foods at amusement parks and movie theaters; and alcoholic drinks when they appear on a menu. Drinks ordered from a bartender, and bottles of liquor at a bar or restaurant are not covered.
In vending machines, calories would be listed on the front of the product for sale or on a sign or sticker near the food or selection button. The rules apply only to operators who control more than 20 vending machines and operators have until Dec. 1, 2016, to comply.
Several physicians praised the intent, but doubted the efficacy of the proposed rules.
“Having the information available doesn’t guarantee attention is paid to it but for those who would otherwise seek the information, the rules make it easier to find, ” said Dr. Joseph Domachowske, professor of pediatrics and professor of microbiology and immunology at the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse. But, he added, “I am skeptical that the posted information will have much influence of the dietary decisions of those confronted with it.”
Dr. Lillian Beard applauded the FDA rules, but said, “I do not think it will make a meaningful difference for the population who could most benefit.” Calorie counters will take to the information readily, but “for those who do not want to be bothered, it will become more stuff for their eyes to encounter as they order what they want anyway,” said Dr. Beard, a pediatrician at George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said it supports the rules.
“Between one-fourth and one-third of all cancers are caused by poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and excess weight,” Chris Hansen, president of ASC CAN, said in a statement.
He said the group was especially pleased that the rules covered a wide variety of establishments that serve food, and that they applied to certain alcoholic beverages, “considering that alcohol is the fifth leading source of calories in American adult diets.”
The FDA has estimated that the potential benefits of the two rules will far outweigh the costs. The agency first proposed the calorie listing requirements more than 3 years ago, in April 2011. It took that long to analyze and consider the more than 1,100 comments the FDA received, Dr. Hamburg said.
She said the FDA has no plans to use any information generated from the rules to gauge their impact on eating habits. But she predicted that the rules would create “a great deal of interest” at public health agencies, and from consumer groups and the academic community.
The two proposed rules are open for comment for 30 days after their publication in the Federal Register.
On Twitter @aliciaault
A wide range of restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and even vending machines would have to post calorie counts on food and beverage choices under two proposed rules issued Nov. 25 by the Food and Drug Administration.
Both the restaurant menu rule and the vending machine rule are carrying out requirements by the Affordable Care Act that certain chain restaurants and similar establishments with 20 or more locations disclose certain nutrition information for standard menu items.
“We are responding to legislation, as well as a compelling public health need,” FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said during an FDA press briefing. “Obesity is a huge problem, and we need to develop better strategies to address that,” she said, adding, “a huge contributor is caloric intake.”
Americans eat and drink about one-third of their calories away from home, Dr. Hamburg added. “Making calorie information available on chain restaurant menus and vending machines is an important step for public health that will help consumers make informed choices for themselves and their families.”
The establishments covered by the restaurant rule will be required to clearly and conspicuously display calorie information for standard items on menus and menu boards, next to the name or price; such displays must be in place by Dec. 1, 2015. Menus and menu boards also must note that “2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice, but calorie needs vary.”
Among those covered by the rule: sit-down and fast-food restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops; restaurant-type foods in certain grocery and convenience stores; take-out and delivery foods such as pizza; foods that you serve yourself from a salad or hot-food bar; foods at amusement parks and movie theaters; and alcoholic drinks when they appear on a menu. Drinks ordered from a bartender, and bottles of liquor at a bar or restaurant are not covered.
In vending machines, calories would be listed on the front of the product for sale or on a sign or sticker near the food or selection button. The rules apply only to operators who control more than 20 vending machines and operators have until Dec. 1, 2016, to comply.
Several physicians praised the intent, but doubted the efficacy of the proposed rules.
“Having the information available doesn’t guarantee attention is paid to it but for those who would otherwise seek the information, the rules make it easier to find, ” said Dr. Joseph Domachowske, professor of pediatrics and professor of microbiology and immunology at the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse. But, he added, “I am skeptical that the posted information will have much influence of the dietary decisions of those confronted with it.”
Dr. Lillian Beard applauded the FDA rules, but said, “I do not think it will make a meaningful difference for the population who could most benefit.” Calorie counters will take to the information readily, but “for those who do not want to be bothered, it will become more stuff for their eyes to encounter as they order what they want anyway,” said Dr. Beard, a pediatrician at George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said it supports the rules.
“Between one-fourth and one-third of all cancers are caused by poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and excess weight,” Chris Hansen, president of ASC CAN, said in a statement.
He said the group was especially pleased that the rules covered a wide variety of establishments that serve food, and that they applied to certain alcoholic beverages, “considering that alcohol is the fifth leading source of calories in American adult diets.”
The FDA has estimated that the potential benefits of the two rules will far outweigh the costs. The agency first proposed the calorie listing requirements more than 3 years ago, in April 2011. It took that long to analyze and consider the more than 1,100 comments the FDA received, Dr. Hamburg said.
She said the FDA has no plans to use any information generated from the rules to gauge their impact on eating habits. But she predicted that the rules would create “a great deal of interest” at public health agencies, and from consumer groups and the academic community.
The two proposed rules are open for comment for 30 days after their publication in the Federal Register.
On Twitter @aliciaault
VIDEO: AMA president talks meaningful use, ICD-10, and Ebola
WASHINGTON – The recent deadline extensions for meaningful use attestation are encouraging, but not enough. The process must be more user-friendly and clinically meaningful.
That’s according to Dr. Robert Wah, president of the American Medical Association. Dr. Wah discussed the AMA’s concerns about meaningful use and health information technology in a video interview – including whether there is enough of a focus on interoperability of electronic health records.
He also touched on the transition to the ICD-10 code set, again questioning whether the move is clinically useful and ultimately helps improve patient care.
Recently, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, was given an additional appointment as the acting assistant secretary for health to help with the effort to combat the Ebola epidemic. That caused concern among physicians that there could be a leadership vacuum at the Office of the National Coordinator at a time when so much is happening in health IT. Although it was later clarified that she would remain in charge of the effort, there are still some worries, Dr. Wah said.
The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel
On Twitter @aliciaault
WASHINGTON – The recent deadline extensions for meaningful use attestation are encouraging, but not enough. The process must be more user-friendly and clinically meaningful.
That’s according to Dr. Robert Wah, president of the American Medical Association. Dr. Wah discussed the AMA’s concerns about meaningful use and health information technology in a video interview – including whether there is enough of a focus on interoperability of electronic health records.
He also touched on the transition to the ICD-10 code set, again questioning whether the move is clinically useful and ultimately helps improve patient care.
Recently, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, was given an additional appointment as the acting assistant secretary for health to help with the effort to combat the Ebola epidemic. That caused concern among physicians that there could be a leadership vacuum at the Office of the National Coordinator at a time when so much is happening in health IT. Although it was later clarified that she would remain in charge of the effort, there are still some worries, Dr. Wah said.
The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel
On Twitter @aliciaault
WASHINGTON – The recent deadline extensions for meaningful use attestation are encouraging, but not enough. The process must be more user-friendly and clinically meaningful.
That’s according to Dr. Robert Wah, president of the American Medical Association. Dr. Wah discussed the AMA’s concerns about meaningful use and health information technology in a video interview – including whether there is enough of a focus on interoperability of electronic health records.
He also touched on the transition to the ICD-10 code set, again questioning whether the move is clinically useful and ultimately helps improve patient care.
Recently, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, was given an additional appointment as the acting assistant secretary for health to help with the effort to combat the Ebola epidemic. That caused concern among physicians that there could be a leadership vacuum at the Office of the National Coordinator at a time when so much is happening in health IT. Although it was later clarified that she would remain in charge of the effort, there are still some worries, Dr. Wah said.
The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel
On Twitter @aliciaault
VIDEO: AMA President on the ACA, narrow networks, and Medicaid expansion
WASHINGTON– With enrollment now open for the second year of Affordable Care Act coverage, what kinds of concerns do physicians have?
American Medical Association President Robert M. Wah discusses in this video interview the latest round of enrollment, and potential pluses and minuses for physicians, including the 90-day grace period. That aspect of the law gives patients who enroll in health plans through ACA marketplaces up to 90 days to pay premiums. Although insurers are liable for services rendered in the first month, physicians might be left without reimbursement for care given in the ensuing 60 days.
Another looming question as enrollment gets underway: Will patients be able to determine that their physicians are participating in a given network? The AMA and others have been pressuring the federal government and insurers to do a better job of updating network information. At its interim policy-making meeting in November, the AMA adopted a new policy urging any and all changes to be made before enrollment begins. The organization’s delegates also said that state regulators should be the primary enforcers of ensuring network adequacy.
Dr. Wah also discussed the AMA’s approach to ensuring that more Americans get health coverage through Medicaid, building on another policy passed by the delegates at the interim meeting.
The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel
On Twitter @aliciaault
WASHINGTON– With enrollment now open for the second year of Affordable Care Act coverage, what kinds of concerns do physicians have?
American Medical Association President Robert M. Wah discusses in this video interview the latest round of enrollment, and potential pluses and minuses for physicians, including the 90-day grace period. That aspect of the law gives patients who enroll in health plans through ACA marketplaces up to 90 days to pay premiums. Although insurers are liable for services rendered in the first month, physicians might be left without reimbursement for care given in the ensuing 60 days.
Another looming question as enrollment gets underway: Will patients be able to determine that their physicians are participating in a given network? The AMA and others have been pressuring the federal government and insurers to do a better job of updating network information. At its interim policy-making meeting in November, the AMA adopted a new policy urging any and all changes to be made before enrollment begins. The organization’s delegates also said that state regulators should be the primary enforcers of ensuring network adequacy.
Dr. Wah also discussed the AMA’s approach to ensuring that more Americans get health coverage through Medicaid, building on another policy passed by the delegates at the interim meeting.
The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel
On Twitter @aliciaault
WASHINGTON– With enrollment now open for the second year of Affordable Care Act coverage, what kinds of concerns do physicians have?
American Medical Association President Robert M. Wah discusses in this video interview the latest round of enrollment, and potential pluses and minuses for physicians, including the 90-day grace period. That aspect of the law gives patients who enroll in health plans through ACA marketplaces up to 90 days to pay premiums. Although insurers are liable for services rendered in the first month, physicians might be left without reimbursement for care given in the ensuing 60 days.
Another looming question as enrollment gets underway: Will patients be able to determine that their physicians are participating in a given network? The AMA and others have been pressuring the federal government and insurers to do a better job of updating network information. At its interim policy-making meeting in November, the AMA adopted a new policy urging any and all changes to be made before enrollment begins. The organization’s delegates also said that state regulators should be the primary enforcers of ensuring network adequacy.
Dr. Wah also discussed the AMA’s approach to ensuring that more Americans get health coverage through Medicaid, building on another policy passed by the delegates at the interim meeting.
The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel
On Twitter @aliciaault
VIDEO: AMA President Wah talks SGR, Medicaid parity, and IPAB
WASHINGTON – The American Medical Association is hoping – along with many other medical societies and their physician members – to convince Congress that it should repeal Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate formula before the end of the year.
The cost to do so is a relative bargain, and physicians have grown tired of trying to plan around a process that is predictable, yet unpredictable, according to AMA President Robert M. Wah. Why not move now, he wondered, given that there was so much progress in this Congress, including a bill that was passed by the House?
In an exclusive video interview, Dr. Wah talked about the pressing need for the SGR replacement, along with what Republican majorities in both the House and Senate in the incoming Congress might mean to physicians.
Some Republicans have said that they will press for a partial or total repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Wah touched on whether the AMA supports any part of that notion, including getting rid of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, known as the IPAB.
Dr. Wah also discussed another urgent topic: What to do about the expiring element of the ACA that gave primary care physicians who treat Medicaid patients the same rate of pay as those who serve Medicare beneficiaries. The AMA recently reiterated its position that the so-called pay bump – which ends Dec. 31 – should be extended, and that it also should include obstetricians and gynecologists, who were left out of the initial policy.
On Twitter @aliciaault
The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel
WASHINGTON – The American Medical Association is hoping – along with many other medical societies and their physician members – to convince Congress that it should repeal Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate formula before the end of the year.
The cost to do so is a relative bargain, and physicians have grown tired of trying to plan around a process that is predictable, yet unpredictable, according to AMA President Robert M. Wah. Why not move now, he wondered, given that there was so much progress in this Congress, including a bill that was passed by the House?
In an exclusive video interview, Dr. Wah talked about the pressing need for the SGR replacement, along with what Republican majorities in both the House and Senate in the incoming Congress might mean to physicians.
Some Republicans have said that they will press for a partial or total repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Wah touched on whether the AMA supports any part of that notion, including getting rid of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, known as the IPAB.
Dr. Wah also discussed another urgent topic: What to do about the expiring element of the ACA that gave primary care physicians who treat Medicaid patients the same rate of pay as those who serve Medicare beneficiaries. The AMA recently reiterated its position that the so-called pay bump – which ends Dec. 31 – should be extended, and that it also should include obstetricians and gynecologists, who were left out of the initial policy.
On Twitter @aliciaault
The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel
WASHINGTON – The American Medical Association is hoping – along with many other medical societies and their physician members – to convince Congress that it should repeal Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate formula before the end of the year.
The cost to do so is a relative bargain, and physicians have grown tired of trying to plan around a process that is predictable, yet unpredictable, according to AMA President Robert M. Wah. Why not move now, he wondered, given that there was so much progress in this Congress, including a bill that was passed by the House?
In an exclusive video interview, Dr. Wah talked about the pressing need for the SGR replacement, along with what Republican majorities in both the House and Senate in the incoming Congress might mean to physicians.
Some Republicans have said that they will press for a partial or total repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Wah touched on whether the AMA supports any part of that notion, including getting rid of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, known as the IPAB.
Dr. Wah also discussed another urgent topic: What to do about the expiring element of the ACA that gave primary care physicians who treat Medicaid patients the same rate of pay as those who serve Medicare beneficiaries. The AMA recently reiterated its position that the so-called pay bump – which ends Dec. 31 – should be extended, and that it also should include obstetricians and gynecologists, who were left out of the initial policy.
On Twitter @aliciaault
The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel
