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On Aug. 1, 2024, Senators Boozman, Welch, Tillis, King, Marshall and Shaheen introduced the bipartisan Physician Fee Stabilization Act (S. 4935) before they left for August Recess. This bill raises the budget neutrality threshold from $20 million to $53 million, with scheduled increases every five years to align with the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). Unfortunately, … Read More
On Aug. 1, 2024, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a markup of its FY25 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies funding. The bill and accompanying report include language encouraging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand the use and coverage of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). The AOA is grateful … Read More
On July 11, the AOA responded to Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Bill Cassidy’s request for information on value-based payment reforms. The letter emphasized many key points about value-based reforms including that new payment models should be optional, tailored to various specialties, and avoid reducing overall payments. The letter also highlighted the need to recognize the … Read More
The AOA recently released a guide outlining challenges with prior authorizations (PA) and the problems it can cause to patient access to care. The AOA has been an advocate for PA reform to address the burdensome and often harmful PA requirements imposed by health plans. These requirements have increased significantly over the past decade, affecting … Read More
The AOA recently hosted its annual House of Delegates (HOD) meeting, a cornerstone event that features our commitment to physician-led governance and the development of sound policies for the osteopathic profession. The HOD serves as the AOA’s primary policy-making body, bringing together delegates from across the country to deliberate and vote on key issues affecting … Read More
On July 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the CY2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule which includes updates to physician payment policies, the Quality Payment Program (QPP) and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Key takeaways include the following: CMS has proposed a 2.8% reduction in physician payment, which results … Read More
Many seniors experience delays in receiving essential medical care due to the prior authorization requirements imposed by Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. These requirements not only delay care but also create a significant administrative burden for physicians, diverting valuable time from patient care to paperwork. Thanks to our dedicated advocacy efforts, Congress has recently introduced the … Read More
On June 24, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized its rule establishing disincentives for providers who are identified by the HHS Office of the Inspector General as having engaged in information blocking. Information blocking entails practices by health care providers that are unreasonable and “likely to interfere with access, exchange or … Read More
The AOA is dedicated to advancing recognition and practice rights for osteopathic physicians abroad, and recently achieved a major win in Ontario. Following years of advocacy by the AOA, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners and the Canadian Osteopathic Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) voted to amend its bylaws … Read More