January 24, 2025
Advocacy in Action
Unpacking ACP Advocacy Priorities for 2025: Physician Payment Reform and Access to Care Top the List
Among its priorities, ACP is focused on physician payment reform, putting patients before paperwork, and patient access to care and medication.
ACP Advocating to Expand Access to Evidence-Based Treatments for Obesity
ACP supports legislation allowing Medicare prescription drug benefits to cover medications used to treat obesity and weight loss management.
Quick Hits
Telehealth Payment Update
On December 21, 2024, Congress passed H.R.10545 - American Relief Act, 2025, which extends telehealth flexibilities through March 31, 2025. For Medicare payments, including audio only services, physicians should continue to use existing codes with modifier -95 for real-time audio/video telecommunications and -93 for audio-only. While these codes are likely consistent for private payers, they may vary. We recommend contacting payers directly to confirm any updates or changes. We are actively monitoring this issue and will provide updates as needed.
Dr. Jokela on KevinMD: Navigating the world of artificial intelligence in health care
Janet Jokela, MD, MPH, MACP, senior associate dean of engagement at Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and ACP's Treasurer, discusses the use of AI in the health insurance industry and health care in her article, “Navigating the world of artificial intelligence in health care," now available on the KevinMD website. Kevin Pho is an internal medicine physician and founder and editor of KevinMD, one of the web's most influential medical websites.
In her column, Dr. Jokela notes, “As we continue to sort through the impact, potential, and implications of AI in health care, keep your eyes on the horizon for quantum computing. If you think AI will revolutionize how we do things, stay tuned. It is possible the impact of quantum computing may be even greater.”
Advocacy News
ACP Letter to Congressional Leadership Addressing ACP Policy Priorities
ACP letter to congressional leaders at the start of the 119th Congress, requesting they prioritize efforts in several areas, including finalizing the Medicare payment fix and protecting health insurance affordability, Medicaid coverage, prior authorization reform, and telehealth extension.
Joint Letter Regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Proposed Rule
Joint letter in support of OSHA proposing a new heat injury and prevention standard to better protect workers from heat-related risks and asking that OSHA finalize and implement the standard quickly to save lives and protect communities.
ACP Comment Letter on OSHA's Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Proposed Rule
ACP letter commenting on the proposed rule, applauding OSHA for proposing a national standard for heat illness and injury prevention that would protect employees from the increasing threat of heat related injuries and illnesses and urging OSHA to finalize the rule.
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