AAHPM Week in Review: April 8-12, 2019

AAHPM, along with the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care and RAND, hosted the CMS-funded MACRA Palliative Care Measures Project Technical Expert Clinical User Patient Panel (TECUPP) and Measure Specification Panel (MSP) meetings on April 10 and 11. A wide range of input was received to inform the development of two patient-reported performance measures to be used in CMS’s Quality Payment Program.

AAHPM was among the 66 stakeholders that signed an April 10 letter calling on members of Congress to pass the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 1763 / S. 348). The bill would add 15,000 Medicare-funded residency slots over five years, with at least 1,500 positions allocated for shortage specialties in each fiscal year. Review the AAMC bill summary.

Facing mounting pressure from stakeholders concerned about misapplication of the CDC Guideline – including AAHPM, which helped lead an effort to pass new AMA policy on the issue – the CDC clarified its opioid prescribing guidance, and the FDA announced labeling changes regarding safe opioid tapering. The CDC director also outlined efforts to evaluate the Guideline’s impact.

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