{"id":40889,"date":"2022-12-02T10:13:39","date_gmt":"2022-12-02T15:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtelehealth.com\/?p=40889"},"modified":"2022-12-02T10:13:39","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T15:13:39","slug":"u-s-health-care-will-suffer-if-lawmakers-dont-act-by-end-of-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/u-s-health-care-will-suffer-if-lawmakers-dont-act-by-end-of-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. health care will suffer if lawmakers don\u2019t act by end of 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Time is running out for Congress to take action on pending legislation dealing with issues that would help primary care across the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six physician groups representing 590,000 doctors across the country sent a joint letter<\/a> again urging congressional leaders to vote<\/a> \u2013 soon \u2013 for bills relating to Medicare reimbursements, prior authorizations, children\u2019s health insurance coverage, mental health, telehealth, and aid for resident physicians in primary care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time is of the essence, said the Dec. 2 letter by the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, American Osteopathic Association, and American Psychiatric Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we approach the end of the 117th Congress, we urge Congress to act on the important items described below to ensure our patients have access to quality, affordable, and accessible health care,\u201d the letter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bill:<\/strong> House Resolution (HR) 8800, the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue:<\/strong> The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule<\/a> (MFPS)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Physicians, health care administrators, and their supporters hope to avert a 4.42% cut to\u00a0physician payments scheduled in 2023<\/a>. Medicare reimbursement involves \u201ca very complex set of budgetary rules and systemic flaws\u201d in the MFPS \u201cthat, unless addressed in a comprehensive way, will continue to plague physicians for years to come.\u201d Payment rates are not keeping up with inflation and are not sustainable for physicians to cover basic expenses such as staff salaries, rent, or new technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill:<\/strong> HR 3173, the Improving Seniors\u2019 Timely Access to Care Act<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue:<\/strong> The bill would standardize and streamline the prior authorization approval process in the Medicare Advantage program. The bill has passed in the House of Representatives and has at least 43 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate. Proponents argue the bill would improve health care for seniors by speeding up access, while removing paperwork headaches for physicians and staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue:<\/strong> Medicaid\u2019s Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medicaid and CHIP cover 42% of all births in the country. When the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency (PHE) ends, so will coverage for an estimated 5 million children, along with postpartum females. Enacting 12 months of continuous eligibility for them \u201cwill ensure that children and new mothers can rely on coverage and will save states the administrative cost associated with churn,\u201d or those who will lose insurance when the PHE ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue:<\/strong> Mental health care<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A comprehensive legislative package must address growing mental health issues and substance use disorder (SUD). Four potential solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n