October 11, 2005

HEADLINE

Congress Passes a Continuous Resolution until November
On September 30, Congress passed a continuous resolution (CR) that will fund the government through November 18 for programs whose appropriations bills have not yet been approved. The CR now goes to President Bush for his signature. The new fiscal year begins October 1, and only two of eleven FY06 spending bills have been signed into law.

The CR states that most programs, including all discretionary health programs will be funded by either the FY06 House-passed funding level, the FY06 Senate Appropriations Committee-passed funding level, or FY2005 (FY05) funding level, whichever is lowest.

The CR will result in temporary flat funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the VA research program will be cut, at least temporarily, because of the cut passed by the House of Representatives.

The ATS Washington office will keep you informed of the progress of the FY06 Appropriation bills.

PHYSICIAN PRACTICE

ATS Petitions Congress to Fix Medicare SGR
The American Thoracic Society joined over 100 national and state medical organizations in a letter sponsored by the American Medical Association (AMA) urging congressional action on the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

The letter notes that without Congressional intervention, Medicare physician reimbursement will be cut by 4.3 percent in 2006.The letter points out that the SGR issue is not new. Congress knows what steps it must take to avert a cut in Medicare physician reimbursement. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – which administers the Medicare program – knows what administrative actions it must take to address the problem. By delaying action on this important issue both Congress and CMS are jeopardizing the integrity of the Medicare program.

In a recent AMA survey, when asked how they would respond to the impending Medicare cuts, 38 percent of surveyed physicians indicated they plan to decrease the number of new Medicare patients they accept; 54 percent will defer the purchase of office information technology, and 24 percent of physicians will close satellite offices.

CLEAN AIR

Congress Moves to Waive Clean Air Regulations
In response to the impact hurricanes Katrina and Rita have had on energy production facilities, Congress is considering legislation that would waive significant parts of the Clean Air Act. Supporters of the various legislative proposals to waive portions of the Clean Air Act say the waivers are needed to help the industry recover from the storm damage and to encourage expansion of production facilities. However many advocates from the environmental community have opposed the waivers and claim that industry is using the hurricanes as a convenient excuse to gut environmental protections.

PATIENT ISSUES

Pulmonary Fibrosis Resolution Passed in the House
On September 29, the House of Representatives passed a resolution offered by Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and supporting the goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week. A similar resolution has been introduced by, but not yet passed in the Senate.

Last year, Representative Norwood underwent a single-lung transplant. He was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 1998.

Points of Contact