2.2 Percent SGR Fix..until November 2010

On June 24, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3962, the "Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010." This legislation includes provisions to replace the 21 percent Medicare physician payment cut that took effect at the beginning of June with a 2.2 percent payment update that will extend through November 2010.

House passes 19-month SGR relief

The House passed an amended version of the “American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010,” which includes a provision to suspend Medicare physician payment cuts produced by the SGR formula for 19 months. The Act will prevent the 21% cut originally scheduled for 2010, with the House proposing a 2.2% payment update for the remainder of this year, and a 1% update for 2011. Under the House’s proposal the SGR challenges will resume in 2012, with an estimated 33% payment cut for that year. The Senate will not resume until June 7 to consider the legislation.

Congress needs to hear from you! Contact your representative and senators today using the AMA’s toll-free grassroots hotline at (800) 833-6354 or send them an email. A long-term solution to the SGR is needed today!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has notified physicians it will delay processing claims for two weeks. CMS told its contractors to hold claims for Medicare reimbursement for 10 business days “to avoid disruption in the delivery of health care services to beneficiaries and payment of claims for physicians.”

FTC delays enforcement of Red Flags Rule again

On May 28, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that, for the fifth time, it will again delay enforcement date of the Red Flags Rule—this time through December 31, 2010. The AANEM along with many other physician organization oppose the FTC’s view that any physician who does not require payment at the time patients receive medical services is bound to comply with the Red Flags Rule, which requires creditors to develop and implement written identify theft programs. Interim guidance is available at: http://www.ftc.gov/redflagsrule

AMA Morning Rounds: FDA approves Genzyme's Lumizyme to treat patients with Pompe disease

The AP (5/26) reports that the Food and Drug Administration "approved Genzyme's drug to treat a muscle development disease." The drug, called Lumizyme (alglucosidase alfa), has just been approved to treat patients with Pompe disease in the United States and is currently manufactured in Belgium, where it is known as Myozyme.

The Boston Globe (5/26, Weisman) reports, "The decision represents the most important US drug approval for the Cambridge biotechnology company since 2003, when regulators signed off on Fabrazyme [agalsidase beta], a treatment for Fabry disease. Genzyme hopes Lumizyme will become a blockbuster, with worldwide sales of at least $1 billion annually."

The Boston Herald (5/26, McConville) reports, "The Cambridge biotechnology company said the drug will be sold in a box that warns users of potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions, severe allergic reactions and immune-mediated reactions." According to the company, it "will only give the drug to patients who are eight or older and enrolled in a risk mitigation program."

Potential ALS Drug Fails in Study

The AP (5/18) reports, "Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. said Monday its potential Lou Gehrig's disease treatment," talampanel, "failed to meet a key goal in a midstage study." The drug failed to meet its effectiveness goal in a study of 559 patients, although it did meet its safety goals.

Your voice needed in SGR survey

Please take a short survey designed by the AMA to determine how threatened cuts to Medicare physician payments and instability in the Medicare program are affecting physician practices. The survey will be open through close of business May 21, and results will be used in advocacy efforts to reform Medicare's current physician payment formula.

AMA Morning Rounds: Physicians using novel procedures for pain management.

Laura Landro writes in the Wall Street Journal (5/11) The Informed Patient column that peripheral-nerve stimulation, a procedure which allows a physician to implant a tiny, battery-operated generator, is one of a growing number of treatments for people who endure chronic pain, and who have been unable to find relief from drugs, physical therapy, or even acupuncture. The procedures typically cost between $15,000 and $50,000. Data show that about 76 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Notably, the CDC has said that over eight million Americans use pain management drugs.

AMA Morning Rounds: Several medical groups say new financial regulations aimed at Wall Street are too broad

The Hill (5/3, Brush) "On the Money" blog reported that several "of the nation's largest healthcare associations," including the American Medical Association, "are warning Congress that they would fall under sweeping new financial regulations aimed at Wall Street." The association, in a letter, "said the scope and reach of a new consumer financial protection office are too broad and that they would face new regulations designed for banks and other financial companies."