Federal
Legislative Update
--HR
452 Medicare decisions accountability act.
AAO/HNS
strongly supports this bill. This act will repeal the IPAB
(Independent Payment Advisory Board). The IPAB is "an unelected,
unaccountable body of individuals appointed solely by the President
and charged with creating Medicare payment policy... By limiting
Congressional authority, IPAB essentially eliminates the transparency
of hearings, debate, and the meaningful opportunity of stakeholder
input. In fact, fewer than half of the IPAB members can be healthcare
providers, and none are permitted to be practicing physicians or be
otherwise employed."
--Medicare
physician payment reform -- some house leadership have been talking
with the AAO and messaging suggests leadership will not allow 30+%
cut to go into effect
--Health
care truth in advertising bill (HR 451): requires all providers to
disclose credentials and level of training in ads. This is becoming a
popular bill and getting lots of co-sponsors in the house. AAO
supports and is ramping up activities.
--Audiologist
direct access legislation, introduced in June by Representative Ross
from Arkansas (who is incidentally retiring after his current term).
AAA is pushing, AAO is opposing. Action alert has been initiated.
(115 groups and AAO opposing). Likely is a nonstarter as it hasn't
been scored by CBO and has no funding source.
--Debt
ceiling debate: AAO monitoring closely.
ENT
Pac update
- raised $120,000 thus far (up 15k from last election
cycle).
- Program updates: There is a state versus state
fundraising challenge.
- Donations should be encouraged on a peer to peer
basis with leadership from the BOG buying in.
- Winners so far:
- State with greatest percent increase in
participation: Alabama (12.6% of Otolaryngologists in state
contributing)
- State with most new members : Alabama (total of 5
new)
- State with highest average contributions: Nebraska
(avg 1k)
- State with highest total contributions: NY (16K)
New
at AAO this year: government affairs meeting and Sunday PAC member
reception, close to the president's reception. New investors briefing
and legislative update.
Web
page being revamped
State
legislative update:
--Taxing
of cosmetic procedures (Several states introduced this legislation,
however Connecticut only state that passed this bill).
--Truth
in advertising bills
Grass
roots Update
--
new links on the Academy website
--Joint
Surgical Advocacy Conference was recently held and OTO/HNS
represented 2nd largest group of surgeons (240 total)
--In
2012, there will be an AAO only Advocacy Conference close to the BOG
Spring Meeting (somewhere in the May 6-8 2012 time frame).
