AMA opposes Graham-Cassidy repeal proposal
The AMA sent a letter (PDF) to Senate leadership on Sept. 19 expressing opposition to the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Amendment to H.R. 1628, better known as the "American Health Care Act of 2017," which passed the House back in early May. The bill runs contrary to health reform principles put forth by the AMA early in the debate, and would result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance coverage, while destabilizing health insurance markets and decreasing access to affordable coverage and care. The AMA remains concerned that this proposal would convert the Medicaid program into a system that limits federal support for needy patients through a predetermined formula based on per-capita caps, and that this block-grant program to states would be inadequately funded.
The Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that the 2017 budget reconciliation instructions expire on Sept. 30, 2017, meaning the Senate must act by that date in order to take advantage of rules that would allow the proposal to pass with only a majority (which could include Vice President Mike Pence's tie-breaking vote). The current Graham-Cassidy effort remains partisan with zero Senate Democrats supporting it, so attaining 50 votes is still in question. The AMA urges Congress to pursue short-term measures that would stabilize the individual health insurance market by funding cost-sharing reduction payments, and to seek longer-term bipartisan solutions that would increase the number of Americans with quality, affordable health insurance.
Visit PatientsBeforePolitics.org to urge your Senators to oppose this bill.
Read more at AMA Wire.
Physician community expresses concern over future of point-of-care testing
New payment policies for clinical laboratory testing services could result in the loss of access to point-of-care testing. That was the message the AMA, along with 13 physician specialty societies and 45 state medical associations, delivered in a Sept. 8 letter (PDF) to CMS Administrator Seema Verma. A new market-based payment system for clinical laboratory tests paid under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) is slated to go into effect Jan. 1, 2018. The AMA expects significant cuts to reimbursement for point-of-care testing services offered in physician offices under the new system. There is widespread concern across the physician community that reductions in reimbursement will result in a loss of access to these critical testing services.
The physician and laboratory community will get its first look at the potential impact of the new system when CMS releases its proposed CLFS rates for calendar year 2018 sometime in September. More information regarding the new CLFS payment system is available on the CMS website.
