December 3, 2010

Congress Passes and President Signs 1-Month SGR Relief

This week, President Obama signed legislation that provides relief for one month from the sustainable growth rate (SGR)-driven cuts in Medicare reimbursement for physician services. The legislation continues the current payment rate for the rest of December 2010.

However, Congress still has not enacted legislation to address the looming 24.9 percent cuts in Medicare physician reimbursement that will start January 1, 2011. The physician community will continue to demand that Congress address the SGR crisis during the current lame duck session and pass at least a one-year temporary fix to the SGR problem.

If you haven't already sent a message to your member of Congress, please do so. ATS members can send an email to their members of Congress on the ATS website at:

http://www.thoracic.org/advocacy/take-action-now.php

CLEAN AIR

EPA Turns 40

This week, marks the 40th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency. On December 2, 1970 President Nixon issued an executive order creating the agency. To mark EPA’s 40th birthday, the Aspen Institute released a report summarizing the top 10 achievements of the EPA, including:

1) Banning the Widespread Use of DDT
2) Removing the Acid from Rain
3) Rethinking Was as Materials
4) Removing Lead from Gasoline - and from the Air
5) Clearing Secondhand Smoke
6) Vehicle Efficiency and Emissions Controls
7) Cleaner Environment for All
8) Controlling Toxic Substances
9) Cleaner Water
10) Public Information and Community Right to Know

More details about the EPA's achievements can be found in the full report developed by the Aspen Institute http://www.aspeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/content/docs/events/EPA_40_final.pdf

While the EPA celebrates its achievements in many areas, the ATS notes EPA's program in improving respiratory health through the Clean Air Act. From 1970 to 1990, the health-based standards of the Clean Air Act are estimated to have prevented:

• 205,000 premature deaths
• 672,000 cases of chronic bronchitis
• 21,000 cases of heart disease
• 843,000 asthma attacks
• 189,000 cardiovascular hospitalizations
• 10.4 million lost I.Q. points in children - from lead reductions
• 18 million child respiratory illnesses

We continue to reap benefits from the health-based standards of the Clean Air Act. From 1990 to 2010, the particulate matter and ozone standards are estimated to have prevented over 160,000 premature deaths-mostly from cardiopulmonary causes.

Less recognized by the public, but very important to the ATS community, is the scientific contribution the EPA has made to our understanding of the health effects of air pollution through its research program. For 40 years, the EPA has sponsored research studies on the health effects of air pollution that have expanded our understanding of the nature and mechanisms of the health effects of air pollution.

BUDGET

Congress Passes Short-term Continuing Resolution

This week, the House and Senate passed a short-term measure to extend the current continuing resolution (CR) funding government operations until December 18. The CR maintains funding for government programs, including the NIH and CDC, at FY2010 levels. Passage of this CR gives the Congress more time to resolve FY2011 appropriations through the option of either another continuing resolution that would expire in February or March, when the new 112th Congress begins, or passage of an omnibus package of all 12 FY2011 appropriations bills. Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Inouye (D-HI) is working on an omnibus package that includes the Labor-Health and Human Services bill, which provides a 3.2 percent funding increase for the NIH. In order for an omnibus to be passed, however, Sen. Inouye must have some support from Senate Republicans, and it is unclear that he can get these votes. If the Congress passed a long-term CR extending into 2011, there is a strong possibility of program cuts, as some incoming Republican leaders have pledged to cut final FY2011 spending levels for most government programs back to FY2008 levels.

The Washington Letter is written by the American Thoracic Society government relations office and emailed to all ATS members living in the United States. The letter keeps clinicians, scientists, and patients abreast of legislative, judicial, and regulatory issues in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Each week's edition is archived on the ATS Web site, www.thoracic.org. If you have any questions or one more information about becoming involved in advocacy, please contact the ATS Washington office at 202-296-9770.