The $1.7 trillion spending plan will impact the entire healthcare sector.
Telemedicine, paying doctors, training more doctors, and preparing for pandemics are among the healthcare provisions of the federal government’s $1.7 trillion 2023 budget.
At the end of 2022, physicians and healthcare industry leaders awaited a range of federal actions impacting healthcare. Some of them occurred when President Joe Biden signed into law his 4,155-page Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 on Dec. 29.
With summaries and responses from medical groups such as the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Hospital Association (AHA), we have published a 10-page summary of health policy and spending.
telemedicine
Lawmakers enacted telemedicine flexibility to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of them were set to expire at 151, after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Instead, the bill extends and expands telemedicine flexibility through December 31, 2024.
- Expand the originating site to include all sites where the patient is, including the patient’s home.
- Expand coverage and payments for voice-only telemedicine services.
ATA leader Kyle Zebray said in a news release, “This is the first time that telemedicine services will have the flexibility to provide care to patients in remote areas during the unprecedented global pandemic. and clearly shows that the best elected officials are at work.Zebley is ATA’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Executive Director of ATA Action.
“Today, telemedicine is proving to be a often lifesaving and widely valued option for millions of Americans, so congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle believe these services will continue to grow over the next two years. We are taking appropriate steps to ensure that it is properly maintained.Please seek permanent legislation at the state and federal levels,” Zebley said.
The federal spending plan “included several provisions to move the country closer to its goal of ensuring affordable, equitable and comprehensive care for all,” said AAFP’s Tochi Iroku- Malize Chairman, MD, MPH and FAAFP said in a statement released. “We applaud Medicare for extending telemedicine flexibility to include voice-only telemedicine through the end of 2024, which will preserve patient access to virtual care and bring predictability to physicians.” will be
doctor reimbursement
Despite such good news, cuts in reimbursement for doctors threaten the promise of health care for older adults and reduce access to timely care for many, Iroku-Malize said. Stated.
The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule included a 4.5% cut effective this year. According to the AHA, this will reduce him to 2% in 2023 and about 3% in 2024.
However, any cuts are unacceptable, Iroku-Malize said in a statement to the AAFP.
“Reduced payments, combined with inflation and rising medical costs, puts an intolerable strain on family medicine and other physician practices,” said Iroku-Malize. “This will ultimately undermine beneficiary access to timely care, hinder progress toward value-based care, and hasten the integration of healthcare. And action must be taken to support continuous primary care, keep pace with rising medical costs, and stem the annual threat of Medicare cuts.
“It is imperative that legislators take concrete action towards comprehensive Medicare payment reform so that patients can access the quality care they deserve and physicians have the resources they need,” Iroku-Malize said. and flexibility,” said Iroku-Malize.
financial impact
The AHA noted that the spending plan will extend the sequestration of the federal Pay-As-You-Go Act, known as statutory PAYGO, for two years. Without that delay, Medicare would have cut him $38 billion from this year.
The federal budget also extends incentive payments for alternative payment models for an additional year through calendar year 2025. However, the incentive payout will be 3.5% instead of 5%.
In a public statement, AHA President Rick Pollack praised Congress for recognizing the pressure on hospitals, the health care system and caregivers, but Congress’ financial situation is tight.
“This legislation provides critical support and resources so we can improve patient care and create healthier communities,” Pollack said. “Soaring costs for supplies, equipment, medicines and labor, facing staffing shortages and the ‘triple epidemic’ of COVID-19, influenza and RSV are pushing the hospital sector to its limits. “
employee update
The federal budget includes 200 Medicare-funded graduate medical education residency positions beginning in 2026. At least half of them will be devoted to psychiatric and psychiatric subspecialty residencies, and 10% will be distributed to local hospitals. With new medical schools, and universities serving areas where medical professionals are in short supply.
cyber security
Medical device manufacturers have new cybersecurity requirements, some of which will come into effect in 90 days. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs to provide additional resources for device cybersecurity, and the Government Accountability Office has given him a year to identify ways federal agencies can improve device cybersecurity. is given.
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According to the AHA, “This law takes several steps aimed at improving the government’s ability to prepare for emergencies.”
The Senate must confirm the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2025, and the CDC will create a new agency-wide strategic plan for communication, partnership, and coordination with other agencies in preparation for emergencies. increase.
In his statement on the budget, Biden noted that he has found the new Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-H) to “advance cutting-edge research on cancer and other diseases.”
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