Tag Archive for ‘sustainable growth rate’
The SGR repeal: How bad politics ruined sound policy
This article provides details on the Protecting Access to Medicare Act, which delays physician payment cuts resulting from the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula and describes the politicking that prevented the passage of alternative legislation—the SGR Repeal Act—which offered a long-term solution to the Medicare physician payment problems.
Campaign to end the SGR gains ground
This Web exclusive summarizes the College’s efforts to promote the enactment of the SGR Repeal Act, what the repeal would mean to surgeons, and provides steps for contacting legislators to voice support for the repeal.
The debate continues: ACS at the AMA House of Delegates
This report summarizes the topics addressed by the College’s delegation at the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates meeting in November 2013.
Repealing the SGR
An update on the permanent repeal of the Medicare sustainable growth rate is the focus of this month’s column, including ACS efforts in developing a single bipartisan bill.
Looking forward – July 2013
This month, Dr. Hoyt highlights the importance of the joint congressional committee proposal to address the complex challenges of Medicare’s payment system as well as the College’s Value-Based Update plan which ideally will replace the flawed sustainable growth rate formula used to calculate reimbursement.
Replacing the SGR: The latest developments in the ACS Value-Based Update proposal
Updates on the College’s Value-Based Update (VBU) proposal are outlined, including efforts to develop additional structure for the plan and obtaining additional feedback from ACS Fellows.
The 112th Congress: The year in review
Over the last year, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has remained focused on advancing its health policy agenda in Congress. This article summarizes the ACS’ steadfast efforts to lobby on the primary issues of concern to Fellows, including Medicare payment reform, medical liability, surgical workforce issues, and funding for trauma and emergency medical services systems.
Controlling state health care costs: Massachusetts forges ahead
State legislatures have grappled with reform measures, especially with respect to Medicaid, for decades. Adding fuel to efforts to reform the program are falling state revenues and a rising number of Medicaid recipients—both of which may be attributed to the recession. State governments will be closely watching Massachusetts’s efforts to control health care costs and improve quality as policymakers across the nation face the same concerns.
Why the 2012 elections matter to you—the surgeon
Voting on key health policy-related issues, particularly from the surgeon’s perspective, this election year will help ensure that patients have access to the best-quality surgical care. This article examines issues such as quality improvement and medical liability reform and why surgeons should take the time to educate both colleagues and patients on these topics.
Looking forward – August 2012
ACS Executive Director David B. Hoyt, MD, FACS
