May 1, 2009
2009
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May 1, 2009
Health Policy Committee Advances ATS Health Reform Priorities on Capitol Hill
On April 28, members of the ATS Health Policy Committee traveled to Washington, D.C., to advance the Society's priorities for healthcare reform. The committee's fourth annual "Advocacy Day" was particularly eventful, given that Sen. Specter announced that he was switching political parties that morning.
Escorted by ATS Washington Office staff, Health Policy Committee members met with staff to more than 16 House representatives and senators, and visited personally with Michigan's new congressman Mark Schauer (D-MI) and New Mexico senator Mark Udall (D-NM).
Among the issues the committee emphasized was the need to:
- Secure Universal health insurance for all Americans;
- Develop a Healthcare system focused on prevention and chronic disease management;
- Reform Medicare physician payment;
- Pass legislation that allows the FDA to regulate tobacco;
- Support funding for a COPD program at the CDC; and
- Develop legislation to address the shortage of critical care intensivists.
Among those that participated in the committee's fourth annual "Advocacy Day" were chair Lee Brown, M.D., and members Ann Halbower, M.D., Theodore Marcy, M.D., Dona Upson, M.D., Jeremy Kahn, M.D., Dana Kissner, M.D., and Ivor Douglas, M.D.
Health Reform: Sen. Baucus Releases Health System Delivery Paper
This week, the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Baucus (D-MT), released a health reform policy paper on “Transforming the Health Care Delivery System: Proposals to Improve Patient Care and Reduce Health Care Costs.”
The document outlines proposals for reforming the healthcare delivery system and addressing key physician policy issues, such as Medicare physician payment, care coordination, the Physician Quality Improvement Program, and the physician workforce shortage.
The ATS Health Policy Committee is now reviewing the Baucus paper and will provide comments to the Senate Finance Committee on behalf of the ATS.
To read the Baucus proposal in full, and to learn more about additional papers that will be released in the coming weeks, visit http://www.finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/042809%20Health%20Care%20Description%20of%20Policy%20Option.pdf
Clinical Practice: Free Coding and Billing Consultation
Do you have questions about U.S. billing and coding? Need guidance on how to code and document an unusual encounter? Want expert advice on how to use new pulmonary procedure codes? Have other practice management questions from non-U.S. attendees? ATS Coding and Billing Consultant Diane Krier-Morrow can help answer these and other coding, billing and documentation questions you have. Mrs. Krier-Morrow will be available for free personal consultations appointments at the ATS International Conference in San Diego on Sunday, May 17 and Monday, May 18 until Noon. To request an appointment, please send an email to codingquestions@thoracic.org.Points of Contact
| Gary Ewart | Senior Director, Government Relations |
| Nuala Moore | Senior Legislative Representative |
| Joe Kirby | DC Office Administrator |
