ASHP State Affiliate Health Reform Update Joseph Hill ASHP Government Affairs August 31, 2009.
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Transcript of ASHP State Affiliate Health Reform Update Joseph Hill ASHP Government Affairs August 31, 2009.
ASHP State Affiliate Health ASHP State Affiliate Health Reform UpdateReform Update
Joseph Hill
ASHP Government Affairs
August 31, 2009
Health Care Reform
What is the Status?What is our Progress?
What Now?
Health Care Reform
Our efforts began last year
We started with broad principles: Access Cost Quality
Worked within the above framework to include our priorities: Provider Status/Payment for services, Funding for Residency Programs, Workforce
Health Care Reform
ASHP is also a member of the profession-wide Pharmacy Stakeholders for Health Reform Coalition—This includes all practice settings
The group developed broad based principles on pharmacists involvement in health reform
This group has held meetings on the Hill and with the Obama transition team—a very powerful message when all of pharmacy is involved!!!
Health Care ReformSuccess to Date
House of Representatives-H.R. 3200 Medication Therapy Management Grants, Med home Loan Forgiveness for Pharmacists and others outside NHSC Possible amendments by Energy and Commerce Committee
MTM grant program utilizes the consensus definition of MTM as developed by all pharm orgs This would attempt to measure the value of MTM services Not specific to any single practice setting Grant programs are larger than demos/pilots—this is a big step in
the right direction!
Health Care ReformSuccess to Date
HR 3200: along with MTM grant, medication services must be included in the medical home model This is critical, not just because of the patient care element, but
also represents the pharmacist as a member of the care team
Loan forgiveness It is not the National Health Service Corps, but all Title VII Health
Professions ineligible for NHSC can participate Removes the barrier of health professions competing against one
another
Pharmacists were not left out of this debate!
Health Care ReformSuccess to Date
Senate Legislation (Similar to the House) Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee
Medication Therapy Management Grants
MTM requires service in medical home model
Both House and Senate bills have workforce provisions, no loan forgiveness in Senate bill
Both create health care workforce commissions to study workforce challenges, pharmacists are listed in both
Finance Committee
Proposal Expected Mid-September
This is where PGY2 funding would be restored
Federal Legislative ActivitiesHealth Care Reform
House – will likely vote on HR 3200 in September
Senate – HELP and Finance Committee versions will be combined, floor vote to follow
If both houses pass it, conference committee will work out the differences
Final stop is the President’s desk
Health Care Reform
Still need (our legislative requests): Restoration of PGY2 Residency Funding (may be in the
Finance Committee Proposal?) Recognition of Pharmacists as Providers Similar to Other
Non-Physicians (Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants) Loan Forgiveness Provision in Senate version
Health Care Reform
What has ASHP done so far: Submitted testimony in both House and Senate Submitted comments to the Senate Finance Committee policy
options Submitted letters from ASHP to individual members of
Congress Meetings with Hill offices, White House, Congressional Budget
Office (CBO) Engaged other stakeholders inside and outside of pharmacy Grassroots initiatives
Grassroots and GrassTopsActivities
Several grassroots action alerts were sent out to ASHP members—about 700 letters so far Just engaged the student members on PGY2
700 letters will not be enough
Promoted in NewsLink
Promoted in Advocacy NewsLink
Promoted in Facebook
All avenues of communication must be open
Grassroots and GrassTopsActivities, continued
ASHP has created a health care reform bloghttp://ashpblog.squarespace.com/
Promoted meetings during the August recess Phone calls are also simple and effective!
ASHP direct advocacy on the Hill—August is quiet, meetings are easier—even for the lobbyists!
Grassroots and GrassTopsActivities, continued
Used by State Affiliates
Targeted Grasstops Contacts to Senate and House members
Site Visits (Kevin Colgan, et.al. Hinsdale Hospital)
Town Hall Meetings
Build Up to Legislative Day
Leg Day Messages
Support MTM, med home, loan forgiveness provisions within the bill, want to keep
Include PGY2 funding in the bill, want to add
Congressional leave-behinds will also include a description of the National Quality Forum (NQF) recommendation that pharmacists be providers
References
Link to health reform page of web site http://www.ashp.org/health_reform?WT.ac=cp_20090815_Health_Care
Link to Grassroots action center http://vocusgr.vocus.com/vocusgr/WebPublish/controller.aspx
?SiteName=ASHP&Definition=Home&XSL=Home&SV_Section=Home
QUESTIONS?