Government Relations News
Please select the links below for complete articles and documents of the current year. Government Relations News Archives
03.03.08 Medicare 45 Percent Trigger Legislation Introduced in Congress
The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) included a provision requiring the president to submit to Congress a legislative proposal to reduce Medicare spending if the Medicare Trustees conclude for two consecutive years that more than 45 percent of Medicare funding will come from general revenues of the federal budget within a seven year period. Because these funding levels have been reached in each of the last two years, the President submitted his proposal to Congress on February 15. House and Senate leaders from both parties introduced this proposal (which they were required to do by statute) on February 25.
The President’s proposal contains three distinct legislative parts:
- “Value-based health care” principles relating to Medicare transparency and quality including the use of electronic health records and the release of data for quality improvement and performance measurement;
- Medical liability reform legislation mirroring the House-passed H.R. 5 from the 109th Congress; and
- Means testing under Medicare Part D. Few legislative details were included in the President’s proposal regarding the Medicare transparency and quality provisions.
The MMA statutorily requires the committees of jurisdiction to consider legislation and respond to the Medicare funding warning by June 30, 2008. However, Congress is not mandated to consider the President’s proposal as introduced. As such, legislation considered by the committees could take a different form.
AMA Position: The AMA will closely monitor all Medicare trigger legislative proposals considered by Congress. The AMA will continue to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure that physicians’ views are reflected when considering Medicare transparency and quality proposals. Additionally, the AMA will continue to advocate for enactment of meaningful medical liability reform legislation.
AMA's Advocacy Agenda Web Site
02.29.08 MedPAC Urges 1.1 Percent Physician Update in 2009
On Friday, February 29, MedPAC released its March 2008 report, which makes recommendations to Congress on 2009 Medicare payment updates for all providers. MedPAC does call for a positive update for physicians, however, due partly to the faltering economy, the update currently projected from the MedPAC formula is just 1.1 percent. The number fluctuates over the year, and is significantly lower than the 2008 increase in the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) calculated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The AMA and other physician groups are calling on Congress to provide physicians with the MEI update of 1.8 percent in 2009.
02.15.08 MAG, AMA Encourage Members to Contact Senators to Prevent Medicare Payment Cuts
Though we were successful in preventing a 10 percent cut to Medicare physician payments in January 2008, Congressional intervention only delayed the cuts for six months. The upcoming President's Day Congressional Recess - February 15-25 - is a critical opportunity to reach out to members of the United States Senate and impress on them the importance of meeting their self-imposed deadline of July 1, 2008 for preventing cuts to Medicare that will endanger the access to care of millions of beneficiaries.
To assist you in this endeavor, the AMA has developed several advocacy resources that we encourage you to use in reaching out to your U.S. Senators. Click on any link below to download:
01.30.08 MAG Praises Health Care Reform for Georgians: Physicians’ Group Influential in Shaping Legislation
The Medical Association of Georgia hailed the Governor’s health care announcement today as “a free-market solution promising affordable coverage and high-quality care to Georgia’s uninsured.”
Gov. Sonny Perdue announced in a press conference today his support of health insurance reform legislation that will be filed by Senator Judson Hill and Representative Mickey Channell . The legislation will insure more Georgia citizens by expanding the availability and affordability of High Deductible Health Plans and Health Care Savings Accounts in Georgia.
Click Here for MAG's Statement
Click Here for Press Release from Governor's Office
Click Here for the Georgia Uninsured Work Group Report
01.29.08 MAG President Commends Governor's Budget Proposal to Increase Physician Pay Rates
Read Press Release
01.29.08 President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON – President Bush briefly spoke on health care during his final State of the Union.
Read Full Address
01.24.08 AMA's Statement on the State of Health Care in the U.S.
WASHINGTON – As President Bush prepares to address the top domestic and foreign policy issues facing the nation, American voters consistently cite health care as a top domestic priority. While there is much good in the delivery of health care, there are also areas in need of great improvement, notably providing all Americans with health care coverage and reforming Medicare.
The American Medical Association, through its national health care policy agenda, has identified the priority health issues facing our nation, and calls on Congress, the Administration, and candidates for national office to support proposals that will help improve the health care system.
Read Full Release
01.22.08 MAG Spearheads National Advocacy in CON Lawsuit
The Medical Association of Georgia escalated the state’s ongoing Certificate of Need (CON) debate to the national forefront today with the filing of a motion to intervene in the Superior Court of Dougherty County. The intervention comes in response to a suit filed in December by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals which challenges the Department of Community Health Board vote to make general surgery a single specialty. In an effort to fight this troublesome development, MAG has created the Legal Defense Fund to support our involvement in this legal battle. Please read the President's letter to Members for details.
Read MAG President's Letter to Members
Read Executive Director's Message
View Full Press Release
View MAG's Motion to Intervene
View Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals' Lawsuit
01.14.08 First Day of the Session
The 2008 Session of the Georgia General Assembly begins Monday, January 14, in Atlanta.
Read more
01.11.08 Report Released on Expanding Medical Education in Georgia
In September 2007, Medical College of Georgia retained Pittsburgh-based Tripp Umbach to complete the medical education expansion study on behalf of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. This week, the Tripp Umbach Report was distributed to Georgia lawmakers. The expansion addresses a critical statewide need for more physicians. The consulting firm has analyzed medical education needs nationwide and provided recommendations to the Board of Regents for expanding medical education in Georgia.
Read MAG's 2007 Resolution on MCG
Download Full Report
Download Presentation
Go to MCG-UGA: Expanding Medical Education in Georgia Web site
*Many of the documents listed here are available in PDF format and can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader®. This free software can be downloaded from the Adobe® site, http://www.adobe.com.
