On March 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized provisions to streamline the enrollment process and maintain continuity of health coverage for children, people with disabilities and older individuals who qualify for Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Basic Health Program (BHP). This rule clarified the application process for eligible enrollees … Read More
DO Day on Capitol Hill is a pivotal event where osteopathic physicians and medical students advocate for critical healthcare policies directly with lawmakers. DO Day advocates focused on three critical legislative initiatives that directly impact the osteopathic profession and the broader healthcare landscape: Protecting patient access to care and physician practices by advocating for positive … Read More
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is now accepting applications for the Training in Policy Studies (TIPS) program. The TIPS program is a policy-based program, generously funded by the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF), that provides residents an understanding of current health care policy issues while also facilitating leadership opportunities. Sessions have focused on physician payment, drug … Read More
On May 6, the AOA responded to a Request For Information (RFI) from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the impact of health care consolidation. The letter states that while large, integrated health systems can enhance care efficiency and access to innovative technologies, … Read More
In a recent statement to the Senate Finance Committee, the AOA voiced its support for reforms that enhance Medicare payments and promote access to high-quality care, particularly for patients with chronic conditions. The AOA highlighted the pressing need for stable, sustainable physician payment structures to address the escalating demand for medical services among America’s aging … Read More
On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 to finalize a rule banning non-compete clauses in employment contracts. The proposed rule issued in Jan. 2023 received over 26,000 comments from stakeholders with an overwhelming majority supporting the change. The AOA submitted comments to the FTC along with 45 osteopathic affiliates expressing support for limiting … Read More
The AOA is seeking feedback from members to better understand the extent to which the Change Healthcare cyberattack, which occurred on Feb. 21, continues to impact physicians and patients. The attack on Change Healthcare, a clearinghouse subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, resulted in system outages that caused disruptions to electronic transactions across the health care ecosystem. … Read More
On March 28, the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Labor and Department of Treasury released their final rule preventing short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) plans from being marketed as standard coverage. In this rule, the Departments finalized provisions to limit the length of coverage under STLDI plans from up to 36 months … Read More
On April 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule. The rule makes several changes to improve access to timely care supported by the AOA, including: Adding network adequacy evaluation standards for an “Outpatient Behavioral Health” new facility-specialty provider category; Requiring MA utilization management … Read More