On Oct. 19, the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on examining Medicare proposals to improve patient access to care and minimize red tape for physicians. During the hearing, Representative Michael Burgess recognized the AOA by submitting its statement for the record which addresses many issues that impact the … Read More
CMS announces reopening the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) portal for new single and bundled (but not batched) claims. The Texas Medical Association (TMA) and additional plaintiffs have brought four Administrative Procedure Act (APA) challenges to the rules and guidance implementing the No Surprises Act (NSA) (termed TMA I, II, III and IV). Following the TMA III and TMA IV decisions, the IDR portal … Read More
In a proposed rule issued on Sept. 29, FDA seeks to strengthen its oversight of laboratory developed tests (LDTs) to improve safety, effectiveness and accuracy of such tests. LDTs are in vitro diagnostic products that the FDA has described as intended for clinical use and designed, manufactured and used within a single clinical laboratory which … Read More
On May 10, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that it would extend flexibilities created during the COVID-19 public health emergency allowing physicians to prescribe controlled substances pursuant to a telemedicine encounter without first having an in-person evaluation of a patient. This rule was issued as DEA and HHS continue to consider revisions to the … Read More
The AOA is currently looking for seasoned osteopathic physician and student advocates to speak and present at DO Day on Capitol Hill 2024! If you have a topic that you would like to present at DO Day, let us know by applying today! DO Day attendees will have the option to participate in person or … Read More
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently hosted listening sessions which allowed the AOA and other external stakeholders the opportunity to provide input on national standards of practice for 50 health professions across VA facilities, known as the Supremacy Project. The AOA sent a letter to the VA Secretary, Denis Richard McDonough, which called … Read More
Last week, the AOA submitted its comments on the CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The comments state that the AOA is encouraged by many proposals in the rule, particularly proposals that seek to promote comprehensive, coordinated primary care; address social determinants of … Read More
The following op-ed originally appeared on STAT News. AOA President Ira P. Monka joins other health care leaders in an address to Congress. The pressures of the last three and a half years have affected every corner of the health care landscape, but nowhere is the effect more evident than the country’s physician workforce. Burnout, … Read More
This week, AOA President Ira P. Monka, DO, launched a grassroots campaign encouraging his colleagues to help facilitate change on Capitol Hill by writing their federal lawmakers to ask them to reauthorize the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program (THCGME) and prevent a government shutdown. Dr. Monka’s message states that a looming government shutdown … Read More