ACP Policy News
ACP Updates Guidance to Promote Health Equity for LGBTQ+ Patients
In an update to its 2015 position paper, ACP calls for health benefit plans to include gender-affirming care and for additional research on the topic.
ACP and the AMA
ACP, AMA Renew Vow to Champion Medicare Payment Reform
At most recent meeting, House of Delegates urged AMA to increase awareness of Medicare payment reform and voted against specialty switching among NPs and Pas.
In Case You Missed It
How ACP is working for you and with you: ACP's Annual Report 2023-2024
Just released - Read the ACP Annual Report of the CEO & Executive Vice President 2023-2024. This comprehensive report summarizes how ACP has achieved significant milestones, generated visibility about the value and impact of internal medicine physicians, developed new and innovative member-exclusive resources, and worked to support you, our members, over the past year.
Action Alert: Urge Congress to Pass Prior Authorization Legislation
ACP is calling on you to contact your members of Congress to support and pass the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act. This act would streamline the prior authorization approval processes in Medicare Advantage (MA), providing greater transparency within the MA program and consequently protecting patients from unnecessary delays in care and easing administrative burden on physicians. The Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act is a bipartisan solution and would mandate that all MA plans adopt electronic prior authorization capabilities, protect beneficiaries from any disruptions in care due to prior authorization requirements and standardize the process and procedures for reporting electronic prior authorization criteria to MA plans.
Visit ACP's Legislative Action Center to learn more and take action. A sample email message is provided for you that includes space for you to personalize the letter. Join the Advocates for Internal Medicine network to receive ACP's action alerts directly and advocate for the interests of internal medicine in Washington.
Upcoming ACP Webinar on New ACO Primary Care Flex Model
ACP, AAFP, and the AMA are hosting a joint webinar on July 17 from 7 to 8pm, Eastern, with CMS for primary care physicians interested in participating in CMS's new Accountable Care Organization Primary Care Flex Model ("ACO PC Flex").
ACO PC Flex is a voluntary five-year model that will provide more predictable payments by testing primary care capitation within operate within the Medicare Shared Savings Program. ACOs defined as "Low-revenue" are eligible to apply. ACOs must first apply to the MSSP then submit a supplemental ACO PC Flex questionnaire by August 1. All participating primary care practice TINs with an ACO must participate.
Learn more and register online.
ACP Encourages Participation in Physician Practice Survey to Inform Accurate Payment
The American Medical Association (AMA) is leading a national survey of physician practices in order to gather accurate data on practice costs and the hours of patient care that physicians provide. This Physician Practice Input (PPI) survey will be fielded through July 2024, and ACP encourages members to participate in this important effort. It has been over 15 years since this data was collected, and it is essential to have precise data to determine physician payment in the future.
This survey has been endorsed by ACP, along with over 170 medical societies and associations. Information shared in this survey will be kept private, reported in aggregate, and used only for informing the national estimates of practice expense per patient care hour. The survey should be completed by the person at the clinician practice who can best answer questions about finances and expenses.
If members have any questions or if you would like to speak to someone about this survey, please contact Mathematica at PPISURVEY@MATHEMATICA-MPR.COM or via phone at 1-833-770-1032.
Advocacy News from ACP
Coalition Letter to Congressional Leaders Concerning Policies to Improve Physician Payment
Letter to congressional leaders concerning physician payment reform, offering recommendations to avoid annual stop-gap measures that create uncertainty for physicians.
ACP Statement to the House Energy & Commerce Committee on Markup of Telehealth and Data Privacy Bills
Statement in support of extending telehealth flexibilities and reinforcing patient data privacy, while offering policy recommendations to improve the health and privacy of all Americans.
ACP Statement to Ways and Means Health Subcommittee's Hearing on Improving Value-Based Care for Patients and Providers
Response to House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing offering recommendations to improve Medicare by aligning physician payment with the value of care provided.
Joint Letter on Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure in Response to Change Healthcare Cyberattack
Joint letter about mitigating the impact of cyberattacks in the future through increased resiliency, transparency, and after-incident support.
Joint Letter to the Office of Civil Rights Regarding Breach Reporting Responsibilities
Joint letter to OCR concerning the Change Healthcare cyber incident and breach reporting responsibilities associated with the unprecedented attack.
ACP Letter of Support for the American Right to Privacy Act
Letter in support of the American Right to Privacy Act, which would establish the nation's first comprehensive federal consumer data privacy framework.
ACP Advocate is copyrighted ©2024 by the American College of Physicians.