IDSA : View All 2011 Articles on Access Reimbursement(2)

Search More 2011

12/23/2011

IDSA Comments on CMS' Conditions of Participation for Medicare Program (PDF)

IDSA submitted comments to CMS on the proposed rule related to the Medicare & Medicaid Conditions of Participation (CoP). This letter advocated for inclusion of "Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs" as part of Infection Control requirements outlined in the CoP. As well, the letter also supported CMS' proposal to expand the use of hospital standing orders in a way that would promote immunization rates.

12/22/2011

IDSA Joins Other Specialty Societies and the AMA in Commenting on CMS' Proposed Rule Related to the Medicare Program's CoPs (PDF)

Specifically, the letter cites concerns with some of the proposed changes to the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) that affect hospital governing boards and medical staffs.

12/01/2011

IDSA Joins Other Cognitive Specialty Groups to Raise Concerns over Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Proposal (PDF)

IDSA and other groups whose physicians primarily provide "evaluation and management" services expressed concern with a proposal to address the Medicare SGR that includes a modest payment increase for primary care physicians defined to exclude cognitive specialists who primarily bill "evaluation and management services"--using the same codes and providing the same services as primary care physicians.

11/10/2011

Physician Groups Continue to Press for SGR Repeal (PDF)

IDSA joined the American Medical Association and other physician groups on another letter to continue urging the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to repeal the flawed medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula as part of their legislation to be considered by Congress by the end of the year.

10/25/2011

Physician Groups Seek Improvements in the Quality Measure Endorsement Processes of the National Quality Forum (PDF)

IDSA and other groups seek clarification from NQF regarding its testing requirements and timeframes, and specifically when NQF review will require all measures to include tested EHR specifications. We recommend that NQF institute a staged process for introducing measure specifications and testing results within its endorsement review.

10/05/2011

Draft Recommendation for SGR “Fix” Ignores Cognitive Specialties that Perform Similar Services and Face the Same Challenges as Primary Care (PDF)

Draft Recommendation for SGR “Fix” Ignores Cognitive Specialties that Perform Similar Services and Face the Same Challenges as Primary Care

09/20/2011

Physician Groups Urge SGR Repeal (PDF)

IDSA joined the American Medical Association and other physician groups to urge the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to repeal the flawed Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula as part of their legislation to be considered by Congress by the end of the year.

08/30/2011

IDSA Comments on 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (PDF)

The Society urges Medicare to work with Congress to reform the flawed physician payment formula.

08/08/2011

IDSA Comments on the Availability of Physician Performance Data for Public Reporting

A coalition of physician groups urged Medicare 1) to thoroughly assess the experience of "qualified entities" before sharing physician performance data and 2) to standardize elements used to measure and publicly report physicians' performance across payers.

07/25/2011

Physician Groups Urge Additional Changes to Medicare's eRx Incentive Program (PDF)

A coalition of physician specialty and state medical societies support Medicare's Proposed Rule to establish additional exemptions for the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program but believe more changes are needed to ensure that eligible professionals are not unfairly penalized.

07/20/2011

IDSA Opposes Debt Reduction Proposals that Would Cut Payments for Part B Drugs (PDF)

The Society strongly urges Congressional leaders to remove from debt limit negotiations proposed cuts in payments for Part B drugs that could have a devastating impact on access to outpatient infusions for patients with serious infections.

07/01/2011

IDSA Supports Medicare Proposal to Establish Additional eRx Incentive Program Exemptions (PDF)

The Society drafted comments in support of a Medicare Proposed Rule that would establish four additional Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program exemption categories so that eligible professionals (EPs) do not unfairly face eRx payment penalties in 2012.

06/29/2011

Physician Groups Express Concerns Regarding Future EHR Incentive Payment Program Requirements (PDF)

IDSA joined other physician specialty societies in expressing concerns that the proposed Stages 2 and 3 requirements for the Medicare/Medicaid EHR "meaningful use" incentive program are not achievable by many physicians. Two enclosures, a "meaningful use" spreadsheet and matrix, outline the specific concerns of the specialties.

06/27/2011

Physician Groups Urge Permanent Reform of the Medicare Physician Payment System (PDF)

IDSA and other physician groups urge the President and Congress to work together in overhauling the Medicare physician payment system as part of any final agreement to authorize an increase in the federal debt ceiling.

06/06/2011

IDSA Submits Comments in Response to Medicare's Shared Savings Program Proposed Rule (PDF)

IDSA urged Medicare to propose a more flexible approach to the Shared Savings Program that encourages the formation of innovative ACOs and demonstrates the Agency’s commitment to work with stakeholders to achieve meaningful reform.

06/06/2011

IDSA Supports Removing Legal Barriers that Prohibit Incentive Payments for ID Physicians Systems-Level Activities (PDF)

IDSA urges Medicare and the Office of Inspector General to establish waivers, safe harbors, and/or exceptions to federal anti-trust laws that would allow gainsharing payments for systems-level activities, such as infection control and antimicrobial stewardship programs, that avoid healthcare-related complications and their associated costs.

05/10/2011

IDSA Supports Physician Payment Reforms that Recognize the Value of Cognitive Speciality Care (PDF)

IDSA responds to a Congressional request for proposals to reform the physician payment system by supporting solutions that 1) correct the undervaluation of cognitive services, 2) reduce malpractice costs, and 3) allow gainsharing arrangements for cost avoidance activities that are proven not to limit necessary patient care.

03/30/2011

Coalition Follow-up Letter to MedPAC Urging Reinstatement of the Consultation Codes (PDF)

After a March 2 Meeting with MedPAC officials, IDSA and other groups submitted a follow-up letter urging the Commission to refine its patient access surveys, support new payment models that recognize the value of cognitive specialty care, and support legislation requiring CMS to reinstate and appropriately value the consultation service codes.

03/10/2011

Medical Groups Call for Bipartisan Solution to Medicare Physician Payment System (PDF)

IDSA joined joined 130 medical groups in sending a letter to both the U.S. House and Senate calling for a permanent solution this year to the broken Medicare physician payment formula.

02/25/2011

IDSA Comments on the Proposed Meaningful Use Requirements for Stages 2 & 3 of the Medicare/Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs (PDF)

A coalition of physician groups, including IDSA, submitted joint comments on the proposed set of requirements for Stages 2 and 3 of the Medicare/Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) "meaningful use" incentive programs.

02/01/2011

IDSA Provides Feedback to CMS on Physician Resource Use Reporting and Value-Based Payments (PDF)

The attached letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) responds to several questions related to Resource Use Reporting and Value-Based Payments for physician services.

01/25/2011

Physician Groups Support Medical Liability Reform Legislation (PDF)

IDSA and other groups commend Congressman Phil Gingrey for introducing the "Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2011." If enacted, this legislation would promote speedier resolution of medical liability cases and limit physicians' liability for non-economic damages.

View All 2011 Articles on Access Reimbursement

Infectious Diseases Society of America