Category: Advocacy
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Pres. Trump’s Executive Order Creates Confusion
Earlier this week, President Trump signed an executive order that could be a first step in dismantling the Affordable Care Act. About 20 health organizations have so far spoken out against the executive order arguing the action could weaken patient protections and destabilize the individual market. President Trump’s executive order signed on Thursday, Oct. 12,…
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What Have You Done for Me Lately?
“What have the Medical Association and ALAPAC done for me lately?” It’s a question posed to me often, in various forms, by physicians whom I’m asking to join the Medical Association and contribute to ALAPAC. It’s a tough one to reply to – not for a shortage of answers – but for the difficulty, even…
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What If No One Was On Call…2017 Legislative Review
In times of illness, injury and emergency, patients depend on their physicians. But what if no one was on call? Public health would be in jeopardy. However, the same holds true during a legislative session. What would happen if the Medical Association was not on call, advocating for you and your patients at the Alabama…
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Association Voices Concern with MOC in Letter to ABMS
Earlier this year, the Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution formally opposing additional Maintenance of Certification requirements as dictated by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Osteopathic Association. While it was agreed that the need for continuing medical education to improve the quality of care, the expense and clinically irrelevant process…
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Mylan Finalizes Settlement Agreement on Medicaid Rebate Classification for EpiPen® Auto-Injector
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced an agreement with Mylan regarding the classification of EpiPen in which Mylan will reclassify EpiPen as a brand name drug consistent with the Medicaid statute and regulations. In addition, Mylan has agreed to use the correct reference price of the 3rd quarter of 1990 for the purpose…
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Medical Association Joins 132 Medical Groups to Oppose H.R. 2276
The inclusion of audiologists in Medicare’s definition of “physician” will create confusion. In May, legislation (H.R. 2276) was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would inappropriately provide audiologists with unlimited direct access to Medicare patients without a physician referral and amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include audiologists in the…
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The Medical Association Supports Replacement of ACA with Workable Health Care System
The Medical Association released its 2017 Legislative Agendas earlier this year, which were developed with guidance from the House of Delegates and great contribution from our physician members who participated in the 2017 Legislative Agenda Survey. The Medical Association has continued to express support for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and its replacement…
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Congress Squares Off Over Drug Pricing and a Controversial Drug Discount Program
House Democrats are calling foul on Republican assertions that cuts to a little-known discount drug program will eventually reduce skyrocketing drug prices. At a hearing Tuesday, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said high drug prices should be investigated separately from the focus on oversight of the drug discount program, known as 340B. “I think we need…
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U.S. House Passes Legislation to Repair Medical Liability System
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive medical liability reform bill, H.R. 1215, the Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017 (PACA), by a vote of 218 to 210, which includes significant reforms to help repair our nation’s broken medical liability system, reduce the growth of health care costs, and preserve patients’ access to…
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UPDATE: No Vote on Senate Health Care Bill Before July 4
REVISED June 28, 2017: Although Senate Republicans had initially promised a vote on its “Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017,” now it appears that will not be the case prior to the July 4 recess. With the release of the Congressional Budget Office report on the act, it did not appear there would be enough support…