In the last days of 111th Congress, Members struggle to conclude their business including numerous deadlines that must be addressed before Members head home for the Holidays. A rate increase to the physician’s payment formula-the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR)- being one of the looming deadlines set to expire before the end of December. The SGR, if left unaltered, would implement a 25 percent cut to provider’s reimbursements. The previous congresses over the past seven years have acted to avert the scheduled cuts, including four doc fixes for 2010 alone.

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The American Medical Association (AMA) 2010 interim House of Delegates meeting was held November 6-9, 2010 in San Diego, with ANA Government Affairs staff the only official observers from the nursing community. The AORN (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses), CGFNS (Council of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) and NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) could not attend. The 541 credentialed delegates, from state and specialty medical societies, considered over 125 resolutions and reports.

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On April 15, 2010, President Obama signed legislation temporarily stalling the scheduled 21.3 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement rates under Part B, for advanced practice registered nurses, physicians, and other Medicare providers. The “Continuing Extension Act of 2010” extends 2009 payment rates through the end of May 2010, under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and also applies retroactively to April 1.

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On December 19, President Obama signed into law H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which contains a temporary pay freeze on Medicare Part B reimbursement rates for physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and other non-physician providers.

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On November 7-10, 2009, ANA GOVA staff represented the ANA at the 2009 Interim House of Delegates Meeting of the American Medical Association in Houston, Texas. These meetings provide a window into how the AMA develops and influences health care policy, including areas of mutual interest and potential concern, and issues directly affecting the practice of nursing. Health care reform and the AMA’s position on H.R. 3962 were the number one topic of debate. The 2010 annual meeting is scheduled for June 12-16 in Chicago.

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