Reminder: Legislative Call Agenda, Today January 22nd, 3:00PM EST

Please note the PCPCC's new address, phone number and email address; located at the bottom of this agenda

Legislative Committee Conference Call

3:00 pm EST, Thursday, January 22nd

Call in number: 712-432-3900
Passcode: 471334#
Moderator Code: 406354
Please press *6 on your phone to mute and *7 to unmute.

I. Upcoming Meeting(s)

•  February 6th, 2:00PM EST, Dr. Ken Thorpe, Executive Director, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Dial-In Number: 712-432-3900, Passcode: 471334#.

II. Economic Stimulus Package

• To include Health IT - We want preferences for grant money for Primary Care Physicians that implement PCMH.
• To include SCHIP - We are interested in transition grants for states to implement PCMH programs in Medicaid and SCHIP.

III. Senate Panel Hearing on Health IT Investment

On Thursday, January 15th at 10:00AM EST, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on “Investing in Health IT (information technology): A Stimulus for a Healthier America,” in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.  For more information, including downloading a replay of the hearing, please click here.

IV. Additional Legislative Goals to Promote Primary Care

• Broaden the Medicare Medical Home Demo so that it is national in scope.  Subsequently, it should become permanent feature of the Medicare program.
• Increase funding for National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs
• Expand primary care health professions programs in Sec. 747 of Title VII of the Public Health Service Act
• Provide additional pathways for scholarships and loan forgiveness programs to create incentives for new physicians to choose careers in primary care
• Increase Medicare payments for primary care services
• Develop and include some language about engaging consumers/patients as part of the target for stimulus dollars and health reform

V. Recent Hill Meetings

• January 16th, 1:00PM EST, Elizabeth Engel and Dora Hughes, Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, 451 6th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20001
• January 16th, 10:00AM EST, Gretchen Alkema, PhD, John Heinz/ Health and Aging Policy Fellow, Senator Blanche Lincoln's staff, 355 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.  20510
• On Tuesday, January 13th, at 5:00PM EST, the Collaborative met with Senator Grassley's (R-IA) staff.
• On Monday January 12th, at 1:30PM EST, the Collaborative met with the staff of Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) to discuss inclusion of SCHIP/Medicaid Transformation Grants for medical homes in SCHIP reauthorization.  The meeting was held in room 2335 of the Rayburn Building.  According to Heath Foster, staffperson for Rep. DeGette, the House is very unlikely to accept new provision for SCHIP reauthorization at this time.  Fortunately, the PCMH is on the radar of the Energy and Commerce Committee.  Foster also recommended targeting health care reform as a method of bring the PCMH movement to the forefront.
• On Friday, January 9th, at 11:00 AM EST, the Collaborative met with Mayra Alvarez in Senator Durbin's office, at 309 Hart, to discuss having language included in the SCHIP reauthorization that would provide grant money to states that utilize the Patient Centered Medical Home model.  Participation is limited to only six people, so if you are interested in attending, please contact Edwina Rogers, at erogers@pcpcc.net or 202-724-3331.
• On Friday, January 9th, at 9:30 AM EST, the Collaborative met with Kelly Whitener and David Schwartz of the Senate Finance Committee.
• On Friday, January 9th, at 9:30 AM EST, the Collaborative met with Katy Barr of Senate HELP to discuss HIT issues.

Meetings needed

• Committee on Ways & Means
• Committee on Energy and Commerce

VI. Multi-CEO Letter to Congress in Support of President Obama's High Tech Stimulus Initiatives

VII.  ACP Recommendations to Fund Increased Payment for Primary Care

• Attached, at the bottom of the agenda, is a press release and a letter from the  ACP to President-Elect Barack Obama's transition team recommending that the stimulus package provide for increased payment to primary care doctors and incentives for practices to get the HIT systems needed to become PCMHs. We encourage others to send in similar letters.

VIII.  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) releases a formal “White Paper” covering issues such as:

Ensuring Health Care Coverage for All Americans;

Improving Health Care Quality and Value;

Achieving Greater Efficiency and Sustainable Financing; and

Strengthening the Role of Primary Care

Senator Baucus' plan is similar to that of Senator Edward Kennedy.  Due to the comparative relevance, there is credence being lent to the view that a "one-bill" strategy may avoid the traditional health care reform scrum between the two committees. To read Senator Baucus' plan, please click here.  Note: Patient Centered Medical Homes are discussed on pages 39-40.

IX.  Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) on health care reform 

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) is set to make a major move on health care reform in the near future.  Senator Kennedy is working on making health care coverage more affordable for all Americans.  John McDonough, Senior Advisor to Senator Kennedy recently spoke on the key areas of the Kennedy Reform Plan.  These areas included the following: (i) primary care, which include medical homes and improving medical education; (ii) chronic disease management; (iii) health information technology; (iv) comparative effectiveness research; (v) transparency in the national process; (vi) systemic payment reform addressing quality and efficiency; (vii) prevention and wellness addressed on multiple levels with employers and communities; (vii) focusing on racial minorities and improving their access to medical care. 

The Collaborative staff met with HELP Committee Staff on Friday, December 19th at 10:00AM. (Taryn Morrissey).  They are very interested in PCMH.  They have no plans for incremental reform.  They are working with the Senate Finance Committee and have three working groups: (1) Prevention - Janelle Christian (2) Coverage - John McDonough (3) Delivery Systems and Quality.  There are additional hearings planned.  One large bill is expected.

X. Miscellaneous

• Press Summary, Committee on Appropriations, "Summary: American Recovery and Reinvestment".  The press summary is available for download at the bottom of the agenda.
• Health Care Reform Plans being developed by Congressional Representatives.

The Healty Americans Act, sponsored by Senator Rob Wyden (D-Oregon) and Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) is the first bipartisan health reform proposal in more than a decade to gaurentee affordable, healthcare quality for all.  To view a draft of The Healthy Americans Act, please click here.

H.R. 5348: American Health Benefits Program Act of 2008, sponsored by Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) and co-sponsored by Rep. Christopher Shay (R-CT) amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish under a new title XXII (American Health Benefits Program) a program to provide comprehensive health insurance coverage to all Americans who are: (1) not covered under certain federal health insurance programs; and (2) not eligible for employer-provided insurance coverage.  To view the bill as it was introduced in the House, please click here.

Edwina Rogers
Executive Director
and
Relja Ugrinic
Director of Operations and External Affairs

Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative
The Homer Building
601 Thirteenth Street, NW, Suite 400 North
Washington, DC 20005
Edwina Direct:  (202) 724-3331
Edwina Cell: (202) 674-7800
Relja Direct:  (202) 724-3332
Relja Cell: (703) 585-9165
Fax: (202) 393-6148

erogers@pcpcc.net

rugrinic@pcpcc.net