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AACVPR REIMBURSEMENT UPDATE S. 329 and HR 552 This has become the mantra of the AACVPR Board of Directors, the Health Policy & Reimbursement Committee, and I hope it is yours as well. As was reported in the December 20, 2007 AACVPR Reimbursement Update, our bill language was not included in the shaved-down version of a Medicare bill that passed in December. That bill addressed only short-term provisions for a looming physician pay cut and a few other time-sensitive Medicare issues. The good news is that AACVPR’s bill language may be included in that physician “fee-fix” Medicare bill which is being discussed right now on the Hill for passage possibly as early as this spring. To make this happen one critical political lever is the need for a true majority of both the House and the Senate to sign on as co-sponsors for both HR 552 and S. 329. In the House of Representatives, we have 146 co-sponsors which means we currently lack the support of 289 members. If only an additional 72 of those members agree to co-sponsor HR 552, the majority of House members (218) will be co-sponsors. That would greatly increase the chance of getting HR 552 included in the larger Medicare vehicle. It is particularly important to increase the number of House co-sponsors in the next few months as that bill is taking shape. On the Senate side, currently there are 62 senators who have not lent their support to S.329. Only 13 more co-sponsors would achieve the 51 needed for a majority in the Senate. AACVPR has recently launched a new Web page to make the process of sending this important message to any of your DC Legislators as simple as a couple of mouse clicks. It is designed to be user friendly for all, including patients, physicians, administrators and other interested groups. You don’t need to be a member of AACVPR to send a message to your Representative and Senators. The new AACVPR “click and send” tool makes it quick and easy for you to identify YOUR representative and to email a letter or make a phone call to your elected officials. This feature will give you editable text. Please make sure to edit the text to fit your needs and inform those you ask to send an email to do the same. The AACVPR Web page has also posted the number of Representatives and Senators in your state that are needed and the current Representative and Senate co-sponsors of our bills. We are too close to miss the opportunity for successful passage of The Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act of 2008. To ensure the future viability of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Programs, be part of the reason HR 552 and S. 329 is signed into law. If our bill is to pass this year, each member and program needs to take action NOW. ANNOUNCING - AACVPR DAY on the HILL 2008 Plan now to attend the AACVPR Day on the Hill. This yearly AACVPR event has made a significant difference in garnering support for S.329 and HR 552. Nothing is more effective than a face-to-face meeting with your Representative, Senators and DC congressional office health staff personnel, especially in an election year. If you are new to this process, AACVPR will provide you with the education and tools for a successful Hill experience. You will receive background information, talking points, a preparatory teleconference the preceding week, as well as an experienced colleague to accompany you to your Hill appointments, if requested. Please register with AACVPR to attend this event. There is no cost for you to participate, other than transportation to and lodging in Washington, DC. Please consider educating your hospital administrators on the importance of this issue to seek funding for your participation. A number of Day on the Hill participants have successfully done so in the past. SCHEDULE:
The hotel cut-off date for this discounted rate is 1-28-08 and space is limited-please book early. Call Karen Lui at (239)768-6412 if room sharing is desired. If you are planning to attend, now is the time to begin making appointments with your legislators. See the DOTH information on the AACVPR Web site for information on how to make an appointment. 75/25 RULE FIX PASSES The Medicare bill that did pass in the final days of December, 2007 provided good news for the small segment of cardiac and pulmonary rehab practitioners who work in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). Included in the bill was a permanent fix to the 75% rule that limits the percentage of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation admissions in relation to other diagnoses treated in IRFs. The bill caps the rule at 60%, which, while still restrictive, will allow these facilities to continue to serve a significant segment of the elderly and physically disabled cardiopulmonary population. MEDICARE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTOR (MAC) AWARDS DELAYED The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was due to announce which contractors were selected for MAC jurisdictions 2, 7, and 13 by the end of 2007. That process was put on hold until “sometime in 2008” according to CMS sources. The awards to MAC jurisdictions 1 and 12 (to Palmetto and Highmark, respectively) are currently being contested by other bidders for those Medicare contracts. The transition to a MAC continues for jurisdictions 4 and 5. MAC jurisdictions and specific information on each are on the AACVPR MAC Web page. As soon as AACVPR hears more about the resumption of the MAC transition, you will be informed. As always, the leadership of AACVPR is working hard to provide members with the best and most current information available. Karen Lui, R.N., M.S. |
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