GA HFMA Legislative Update

Senate Rejects Public Option

2009-10-01T16:21:00.000-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/health/policy/30health.html?_r=1

Baucus Releases supposed Bipartisan Proposal

2009-09-16T10:36:00.001-04:00

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/baucus-releases-bipartisan-proposal/

Text of the President's Speech to the Joint Session of Congress

2009-09-10T14:33:00.001-04:00

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-to-a-Joint-Session-of-Congress-on-Health-Care/

Blogging Hiatus

2009-09-10T11:06:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to let y'all know, the GA HFMA Legislative Blog team is back from our couple month hiatus. Based on the fact that there has been nothing but speculation for the last couple months, we have not felt the need to post things that were changing by the minute. However, with the President's address last night, it appears things will be picking up pace again. Thanks for your continued dedication and readership.

Health Co-op Model

2009-07-07T15:32:00.000-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/health/policy/07coop.html?em

New Yorker Article on the Cost Conundrum

2009-07-07T15:31:00.000-04:00

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande

Washington Post Reporting that Hospital's reached a deal with Senate Finance Committee

2009-07-07T09:23:00.001-04:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/06/AR2009070604053.html?hpid=topnews

GHA Board Meets with GA Senators on Health Reform

2009-06-24T11:56:00.001-04:00

http://www.gha.org/Publications/NewsUpdateJune23.pdf

Senator Kennedy's "Affordable Health Choices Act"

2009-06-16T10:41:00.001-04:00

http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf

Transcript from President Obama's Speech to the AMA

2009-06-16T10:38:00.001-04:00

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/house-delegates/2009-annual-meeting/speeches/president-obama-speech.shtml

AHA: Proposed cuts could cripple hospitals' ability to care for patients

2009-06-16T10:36:00.000-04:00

June 16, 2009
The AHA Monday expressed “deep disappointment” over the administration’s proposal to cut an additional $220 billion in hospital payments over the next 10 years, noting that hospitals already face as much as $38 billion in previously announced reform-related cuts and $41 billion in payment cuts under the proposed Medicare inpatient prospective payment system rule. “Additional cuts of this magnitude could severely jeopardize hospitals’ ability to care for their patients and communities,” AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock said in response to President Obama’s call Saturday for another $313 billion in health care spending cuts. The proposal includes $110 billion in across-the-board “productivity adjustments” to Medicare payment increases and $106 billion in Disproportionate Share Hospital payment cuts. Umbdenstock said the DSH cuts overlook the critical role these programs play in supporting a broad range of services for hospitals' most vulnerable patients, while “productivity adjustments” make little sense for the health care field, where the focus should be on “ensuring that patients receive the right care at the right time in the right setting." While hospitals have committed to engage in reform activities that have associated cost savings, Umbdenstock said “reform must improve care for patients without crippling hospitals’ ability to care for patients and communities.” (Post Courtesy of www.aha.org)

AMA's response to President Obama's Plan

2009-06-12T09:39:00.001-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31265789/ns/health-health_care/

AHA's June 1st letter to the White House on Cost Containment

2009-06-08T09:04:00.001-04:00

http://www.aha.org/aha/letter/2009/090601-let-health-groups-obama-cost-con.pdf

Obama's letter to Kennedy and Baucus on Heathcare Reform

2009-06-08T09:01:00.001-04:00

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Letter-from-President-Obama-to-Chairmen-Edward-M-Kennedy-and-Max-Baucus/

Obama Warns Congress Healthcare Reform must happen this year

2009-05-29T10:19:00.001-04:00

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=7699105

AHA Comments to the Senate Finance Committee on Financing Healthcare Reform

2009-05-28T16:00:00.001-04:00

http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2009/pdf/090526-comments-reform-finance.pdf

Senate Finance Committee Releases Part 3- Suggestions on How to Finance Healthcare Reform

2009-05-19T15:10:00.002-04:00

http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/051809%20Health%20Care%20Description%20of%20Policy%20Options.pdf

Article from National HFMA Website Responding to Senate Finance Committee Papers on Health Reform

2009-05-18T16:50:00.000-04:00

Monday, May 18, 2009

Senators Issue Policy Options for Financing Healthcare Reform

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and ranking member Chuck Grassley have released policy options for financing healthcare reform, recommendations that the rest of the committee will discuss on Wednesday before the Senate marks up legislation in June.

One potential funding source explored in the paper are savings achieved from within the healthcare system. The policy options look at three ways to adjust the annual inflationary increase to account for productivity in Medicare payment rate updates—reducing the inflationary update by an amount equal to all, one-half, or one-quarter of the expected productivity gains. The paper also recommends reducing geographic spending variations by cutting Medicare payments in areas where spending is above the national average. In addition, the paper suggests updating payment rates for home health services, which have the highest profit margin in Medicare, to be more reflective of actual costs of providing care; ensuring appropriate payments for durable medical equipment; adjusting payments for high-growth services such as imaging and minor procedures; and reducing market-basket updates for providers whose payments are higher than actual costs.

Another category of financing reform focuses on modifying the current tax treatment of health-related expenses to eliminate inconsistencies and discourage wasteful health spending. One of the policy options requires nonprofit hospitals to maintain a minimal level of charitable activity, limit charges to the uninsured and indigent patients, and curtail aggressive collection actions. Hospitals that do not meet these requirements would be subject to an excise tax. The paper also explores ways to make the tax exclusion for employer-provided health insurance more equitable and efficient, such as capping the exclusion based on the value of the health insurance policy or the income level of the employee. And a final source of funding are tax provisions to promote wellness, such as a tax increase on alcoholic beverages and an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

Public comments should be directed to Health_Reform@finance-dem.senate.gov by May 26.

AHA Official Comments to the Senate Finance Commitee

2009-05-18T10:09:00.000-04:00

http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2009/pdf/090515-comments-del-system-reform.pdf

House vows sweeping healthcare reform on the floor for debate by July

2009-05-13T14:13:00.001-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30722892/

Baucus's Call to Action Website for Healthcare Reform 2009

2009-05-13T13:44:00.000-04:00

Check out the website set up by Senator Baucus to track healthcare reform.

http://finance.senate.gov/healthreform2009/home.html

Senate Finance Committee Releases Part 2

2009-05-13T13:41:00.001-04:00

http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/051109%20Health%20Care%20Description%20of%20Policy%20Options.pdf

Health Groups Vow to Control Cost

2009-05-11T09:41:00.000-04:00

Washington Post Article regarding the Health Care Industry, including AHA's, effort to work with the administration on Heathcare Reform.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/10/AR2009051002222.html?hpid=topnews

Washington Post Article about Ex-CEO's battle against Health Reform

2009-05-11T09:39:00.000-04:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/10/AR2009051002243.html?hpid%3Dtopnews

Baucus Draft Proposal on Healthcare Reform

2009-05-06T16:18:00.000-04:00

Last week, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus released a draft proposal on healthcare reform. It can be accessed here: http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/042809%20Health%20Care%20Description%20of%20Policy%20Option.pdf

Washington Post Article

2009-05-05T14:39:00.000-04:00

Here is an interesting article from the Washington Post on Obama's Healthcare agenda:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/23/AR2009042302983.html

Welcome!

2009-05-05T11:03:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the new Pro-Action Blog. Please keep checking back for updates. Feel free to email us, if you come across something you think we should post.