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Washington Update

Monthly, SHM will provide a summary of all advocacy initiatives and relevant healthcare legislation currently making its way through Congress.For more information on SHM's public policy efforts, click on any of the Updates provided below.

August 2010 Washington Update

Main points discussed in this report include: 

• Obama Administration Cites Medicare Savings from Affordable Care Act
• CMS Announces FY 2011 Policy and Payment Changes for Hospitals
• CMS Publishes Rules for Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program
• CMS Schedules Listening Session on Physician Value-Based Purchasing
• Is There an ACO in Your Future? CMS Begins Early Stages of ACO Rulemaking Process
• House and Senate Appropriations Committees Approve Funding Bills
• AHRQ State Snapshots Expanded to Include New Data on Health Insurance Coverage

View the August Washington Update

July 2010 Washington Update

Main points discussed in this report include: 

• President Signs Law Reversing SGR Cuts for Six Months and Providing a 2.2% Update
• CMS to Begin Processing Claims with 2.2% Increase
• CMS Issues Proposed Rule for 2011 Changes to Medicare Physician Payment Policies
• HHS Secretary Announces New $250 Million Investment to Strengthen Primary Care Workforce
• AHRQ Announces Medical Liability Reform and Patient Safety Grants
• Message from CMS:  It's Not Too Late to Participate in the PQRI
• CMS to Review PECOS Enrollment Process
• Free AHRQ Software is Now Available for Building a Hospital Quality Website

View the July Washington Update

May 2010 Washington Update

Main points discussed in this report include: 

• Health Care Groups, Including SHM, Call for More Flexibility in Meaningful Use Proposal
• CMS Issues Rule Implementing Provisions of Health Care Reform Bill
• CMS Releases Proposed Rule on FY 2011 Medicare Payment Rates for Hospitals
• Congress Averts Medicare Physician Pay Cuts Again But New Deadline Looms
• Health Reform Bill Amends Filing Requirements for Medicare Fee-For-Service Claims
• Secretary Sebelius Releases Statement on New Health Care Quality, Disparity Reports
• New "Open Government" Plan Reveals Medicare Spending for Inpatient Conditions

View the May Washington Update

April 2010 Washington Update

Main points discussed in this report include: 

• Obama Signs Final Piece of Health Care Reform Legislation Into Law
• Congress Fails to Block 21.3% Pay Cut Before Adjourning for Spring Break
• SHM Supports President's Funding Request for AHRQ
• Federal Government to Expand Use of Recovery Audits
• HHS Announces Additional $162 Million in Recovery Act Investments to Advance Widespread Meaningful Use of Health IT
• National Quality Forum Publishes First Annual Report to Congress

View the April Washington Update

February 2010 Washington Update

Main points discussed in this report include: 

• White House Releases Health Reform Proposal in Advance of Summit
• Obama Calls on Congress to Move Forward on Health Care Reform in Weekly Address
• Tell Your Senators to Repeal the SGR
• SHM Testifies at PQRI Listening Session
• President Obama Establishes Deficit Reduction Panel
• HHS, Department of Labor Announce HIT Grants
• Report Finds Hospital Preparedness Lacking in Case of Catastrophe

View the February Washington Update

January 2010 Washington Update

Main points discussed in this report include:

• Health Reform in Doubt After Massachusetts Senate Race
• SHM Urges Hospitalists to Contact Their Senators in Support of SGR Repeal
• CMS Launches Medicare Provider Satisfaction Survey Health Care
• CMS Issues Annual Report on National Health Spending

View the January Washington Update

View Past Washington Updates for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.