News from ACOI

A tax and spend, or budget reconciliation, bill that passed the House and is now under consideration in the Senate includes provisions that would limit access to medical school loans and loan forgiveness programs — threatening the future of our physician workforce at a time of growing need.

ACOI endorses legislation to improve transparency of COMLEX acceptance and more updates from the Hill.

As ACOI strives to keep its members apprised in a timely manner of critical policy activities, we want to alert you of developments this week on proposed Medicare and Medicaid policy changes that would impact you and your patients.

ACOI Endorses New Prior Authorization Bill: ACOI has put its support behind a newly introduced bipartisan bill that would reform the practice of prior authorization within Medicare and among Medicare Advantage (MA) and prescription drug plans.

The ACOI has updated its Advocacy Agenda, which will guide all advocacy legislative and regulatory efforts over the next two years. The new agenda will reflect the results of an ACOI member survey conducted earlier this year, as well as the input of the ACOI Government Affairs Committee.

ACOI Asks Administration to Rescind NIH Policy; Congress Passes CR without Physician Pay Cut Relief; MIPS Data Submission Deadline Extended and New Hardship Exception; Telehealth Flexibilities Extended

ACOI Issues Call to Action to Halt Physician Pay Cut; Administration Orders NIH Grant Funding Cuts; Congress Faces Government Funding Deadline

The ACOI has joined the American Cancer Society, American Medical Association and 30 other patient organizations and medical societies in filing an

ACOI is Monitoring Trump Administration Funding Freeze; ACOI Responds to Draft GME Legislation; Bill to Halt Physician Pay Cut Introduced.

The ACOI reported on Nov. 6, 2024 publication of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule that finalized a 2025 conversation factor of $32.35, a decrease of 2.83 percent from CY2024. That cut took effect on Jan. 1, 2025. The final rule includes several other Medicare policy changes that were the subject of ACOI comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. ACOI is providing its members with a resource that summarizes key provisions.

Short-term extension for telehealth flexibilities; PBM reform lands on chopping block; Update: Baxter’s Manufacturing Recovery in North Carolina.

Last week, the 118th Congress adjourned without addressing a 2.83 percent cut to Medicare physician payment that will take effect on January 1. Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services projects the Medicare Economic Index will rise to 3.5 percent next year, further widening the gap between physician payment and the cost of delivering care to America’s seniors.