"Red Flag Rules" Apply to Doctors
The Federal Trade Commission issued an announcement that it will suspend enforcement of the new “Red Flags Rule” again.... this time until November 1, 2009 to give creditors subject to FTC jurisdiction additional time in which to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs. Today’s announcement included a statement by the Federal Trade Commission that they will release a free template for use by organizations who know their customers personally. Others that create relationships with persons for which they do not have personal knowledge will still need to put the full plan in place. Read More
Click here: FACTA Red Flag Rules Legislation for
Identity Theft Detection, Protection and Mitigation
The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009
On February 17th, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the economic stimulus package totaling $787 billion. This massive piece of legislation includes provisions affecting countless sectors of the economy. While details of the package crystalize, the national law firm Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, LLP, which has been closely following the fiscal crisis, today issued a summary of the bill. A House Committee on Energy and Commerce summary includes those provisions of the package affecting health care.
Two of the biggest health care provisions of the legislation are:
(1) The increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), aiding state Medicaid programs during this critical time.
The details of the FMAP increase are explained in a new Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) report on the subject. Under the stimulus package, states will not face any scheduled reduction in the FMAP through 2011; they will receive a minimum 6.2% increase in their FMAP rate for spending October 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010; and this increased FMAP will be adjusted based on increased state numbers of the unemployed. States are required, however, to ensure that their Medicaid eligibility and enrollment/renewal procedures are no more restrictive than they were on July 1, 2008 in order to receive the increased payment. In addition, states must quarterly ensure compliance with prompt payment requirements. As states must meet with these requirements to receive the increased FMAP, states now have a very strong incentive not to cut eligibility or slow physician payment. Specifics of these calculations and rough estimates of state fiscal impacts are found in the above CBPP report.
(2) The Health IT provisions, investing $19 billion in a Health IT infrastructure
The Health IT provisions are extensive, and the AAP will provide further details soon. Of note, however, the Academy was successful in seeking an amendment to the final language to lower the threshold of Medicaid patients required for pediatricians to receive electronic health record (EHR) incentive financing under the bill, from 30% of a practice to 20%. The Academy thanks the many advocates who worked on this provision of the final bill. Details of how practice levels will be measured are to be determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). More details on this component of the Health IT section and other provisions will be provided in the future as the remaining portions of the bill are analyzed.
Also important for states are additional funding streams that affect children's health care. The stimulus includes $1 billion for a Prevention and Wellness Fund, including $300 million for immunizations, $650 million for community prevention programs, and $50 million for reducing healthcare associated infections. In addition, $500 million was included for bolstering the health and public health workforce. There are also additional funds provided for the Child Care Development Block Grant ($2 billion), Head Start and Early Head Start ($2.1 billion), Indian Health Services ($415 million for Indian Health Facilities and $85 million for health information technology activities) and funding for child nutrition programs and food stamps.
The Academy will provide additional details of the legislation in the future. In the interim, if you have questions, please contact Bob Hall in the Department of Federal Affairs at 202/347-8600 ext 3309 or rhall@aap.org or me in the Division of State Government Affairs at 800/433-9016 ext 4086 or dwalter@aap.org.
New Campaign - Vaccinate Your Baby
Every Child By Two and the AAP, along with actress Amanda Peet, recently launched a new campaign, "Vaccinate Your Baby."
The purpose is to urge parents to immunize their babies against vaccine-preventable diseases and address misinformation about vaccines that causes confusion among parents and puts children at risk. AAP President Renee Jenkins, MD, FAAP, announced the campaign as part of an August 5 press conference in New York City (as seen in the image at right). This campaign includes public service announcements featuring Ms. Peet and a new Every Child By Two Web site, www.vaccinateyourbaby.org, which is a comprehensive resource for parents who want to get the facts about childhood immunization.
Kansas Chapter of AAP
9905 Woodstock Street
Lenexa, KS 66220
Voice: 913-780-5649
Fax: 913-780-5651
E-mail: kansasaap@aol.com
