Legislative News
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U.S. Senate Passes Health System Reform Reconciliation Bill
Earlier today, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 4872, the Health Care Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, a package of fixes to the new health reform law. The reconcilation bill passed the Senate by […]
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NCMS Analysis of Health System Reform Law and Reconciliation Language
The North Carolina Medical Society has evaluated the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, signed into law by President Obama earlier today – as well as the reconciliation bill that modifies this law to be debated by the Senate in the coming days.
The NCMS recognizes the positive measures of this law that expand coverage to more uninsured individuals, eliminate bans on pre-existing conditions and the primary care-based initiatives that would promote prevention and wellness. However, the positive results of these reforms will be overshadowed by disabling actions taken by this bill including:
- A failure to permanently repeal Medicare’s flawed physician payment formula.
- A failure to enact meaningful medical liability reform.
- A failure to allow physicians and patient rights to privately contract without penalties.
- The imposition of penalties for physicians who do not successfully participate in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).
- The creation of a Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).
- Ban the establishment of new physician-owned hospitals.
NCMS has addressed these concerns repeatedly throughout the process with the entire Congressional delegation. Staff as well as physician leadership have visited individually with the North Carolina Congressional delegation to ensure that your voice was heard during this debate.
For a copy of the NCMS bill comparison, click here. This document will be updated on our site as the reconciliation process continues. Please feel free to offer questions, comments, or feedback via this blog.
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President Obama Signs Health System Reform Bill
President Barack Obama signed H.R. 3590, the largest overhaul to the nation’s health care system in nearly a half-century into law this morning in a crowded ceremony in the East Room of […]
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UPDATED: U.S. House Passes Health System Reform Legislation
Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3590, the Senate’s health system reform bill, and H.R. 4872, a reconciliation bill that modifies the original Senate language. H.R. 3590 passed […]
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NCMS Representative Speaks to Midwifery Joint Committee
The legislative study bill passed by the General Assembly last year allows the North Carolina Midwifery Joint Committee (MJC) to present recommendations during the next legislative session regarding the potential licensure of Certified […]
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Wanted: Physicians to Voice Concerns over Health System Reform
The North Carolina Medical Society continues to lobby the North Carolina Congressional Delegation asking that our Representatives and Senators consider several areas of concern with national health system reform.
In a letter sent to the Delegation on March 8, 2010, the NCMS asked members of the House and Senate to consider the following priorities as they debate any bill that might go to reconciliation:
- A permanent repeal of Medicare’s flawed physician payment formula
- Meaningful liability reform
- Physicians and patients having the right to privately contract without penalties
- Increased provider reimbursement to offset Medicaid expansion
- Medicare bonus payments for primary care and the expansion of primary care residency positions
- Elimination of penalties for physicians who do not successfully participate in the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)
- Elimination of the proposed Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB)
- Safeguards on Accountable Care Organizations and payment-bundling pilot programs
- Limit barriers to new physician-owned hospitals
Please read the letter for more details. Contact your Representative and Senators and urge the need for health system reform that will provide adequate access for patients, a sustainable workforce, and support improved quality and administrative effectiveness while managing costs. Your voice is important and needed.
More information about health system reform can be found on the NCMS website, www.ncmedsoc.org/healthreform, where you can access updates and the Doctor-to-Doctor blog, which allows you to comment on issues and read what your colleagues are saying.
The NCMS is advocating these priorities on a daily basis with members of the NC Congressional Delegation. Be watching for this week’s Bulletin for more information about health system reform and other timely issues.
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Senate Passes 30-day SGR Stopgap – HR 4691
The President signed HR 4691 into law late Tuesday, March 2, which contained a one-month stopgap provision to override the 21% Medicare rate cut called for by the flawed Sustainable […]
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White House Health Care Summit Wrap-Up
After a day-long discussion at Blair House on Thursday, the White House Bipartisan Health Care Summit ended without a decisive compromise on the future of Health System Reform. Preceding the […]
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President Obama Unveils Health Care Proposal
President Obama has released a legislative proposal for discussion at a bipartisan summit on health care scheduled for Thursday, February 25. You can view the White House plan here. The proposal is […]
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Medicaid to Implement a Preferred Drug List
The North Carolina Medicaid Program has announced plans to implement a Preferred Drug List (PDL) effective March 15. The General Assembly authorized the creation of a PDL during the 2009 session as a […]
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