NEWSLETTER

Larry A. new M.D., Is Appointed To AHCPR Advisory Council

Larry A. fresh M.D., professor and Woodward-Chisholm Chair of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver is common of seven new appointees to the National Advisory Council for Health Care Policy, Research and Evaluation, not long ago announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E Shalala. Dr verdant joins Nancy Dickey, M.D., as the other family physician onward the 17-member panel. The council members include representatives from academia, health service researchers, health care professionals, consumer and those familiar with the business, law and ethical aspects of health care. The committee advises the secretary and the administrator of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) in succession how to best enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care services and have charge of their costs. Dr. Green was also newly chosen to head the recently made known Policy Center of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) in Washington, DC (see AFP Newsletter November 1)

Lawsuit Filed to Challenge HCFA Practice charge Plan

The practice cost portion of each Medicare payment to a family physician is about 50 percent Studies during the 1980 showed that the practice charges of hospital procedures were overcompensated on Medicare and office visits were undercompensated. As a eventuate in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 Congres approved a recent method of computing practice outlays called "resource-based practice expenses" and mandated its replete implementation in 2002. The novel method increases payments for office visits. The Medicare income of a typical family physician is awaited to increase 9 percent in 2002 from one side of to the other 1997 levels.

The years 1999 to 2001 are transition years. A form into groups of 11 subspecialist organizations filed suit forward November 4 to challenge the Health Care Financing Administration's (HCFA) plan for using 1998 as base year. They insist that a strict reading of the law requires that 1991 be used. If the "Base Year Coalition" suit is lucky the rate of change during the transition years will be greatly slowed. It is flat possible that the start of implementation will be delayed. centurys of millions of dollars that should have been redirected to office visits will be not to be found As a result, the AAFP, the American corporation of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical assign places tos plan to file an amicus brief in support of HCFA's transition plan, based upon the view that a strict reading of the statute creates an illogical flow that is contrary to healthy public policy and the intent of Congress

JCAHO and NCQA Call for the Protection of Patient Privacy

The Joint Commission forward Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) have issued a report warning that patients who do not believe that their medical and personal health information is sufficiently harbored may limit sharing medical information with health care professionals, and this may increase the risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The NCQA and JCAHO report, "Protecting Personal Health Information: A Framework for Meeting the Challenges in a Managed Care Environment," includes recommendations regarding the demands for personal, sensitive health information now being made through managed care organizations, health care professionals, employer quality oversight organizations, regulators and researchers. The brace groups want the health care community and policymakers to render certain accountability, obtain consent to use a person's health information, educate patients, use technology as a solution, provide legislative support and monitor research. Copies of the report may be obtained from JCAHO at 630-792-5800 or NCQA at 202-955-5697 The report also is available upon the JCAHO Web site at http://www.jcaho.org or the NCQA Web site at http://www.ncqa.org.

The patient privacy issue will be an important common in Congress next year since the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1997 requires congressional enactment of a national medical records privacy and confidentiality law at next August. The JCAHO and NCQA commended standards go further in protecting patient privacy than many of the provisions in acts generally pending in Congress

AHCPR Announces modern Studies for Evidence-based Practice Centers

The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) has announced the nearest topics to be investigated by means of the AHCPR's evidence-based practice center The fresh topics include use of erythropoietin in hematology and oncology management of acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, treatment of acne, management of cancer pain, criteria for determining disability in patients with end-stage renal disease, management of pre-term labor, anesthesia management during cataract surgery management of chronic hypertension during pregnancy and management of unstable angina. The practice center will deportment comprehensive reviews of the relevant scientific literature in succession these topics, including meta-analyses and price analyses, if appropriate. Their findings will be published as evidence reports or technology assessments. The AHCPR Web site address is http://www.ahcpr.gov.