Comments on CMS Interoperability and Patient Access Proposed Rule & 21st Century Cures Act: Interoperability, Information Blocking, and the ONC Health IT Certification Program and Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Dear Secretary Azar, We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the recent Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (RIN 0938-AT79/CMS-9115-P) and Office of National Coordinator (RIN […]
Chairman Alexander, Ranking Member Murray and Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee: We are writing in response to the call for feedback on the draft “Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019.” Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Title I: Ending Surprise Medical Bills We agree that patients should not […]
To: Vanila M. Singh, MD, MACM Chief Medical OfficerOffice of the Assistant Secretary for HealthU.S. Department of Health and Human Services. May 10, 2019 Thank you, Dr. Singh and Members of the Best Practices Pain Management Task Force, for your work, An opioid crisis is plaguing the U.S., and heroic measures are in place to […]
Dear TxAAPS Members and Friends: Some hospitals are improperly circumventing the good bill enacted by the Texas Legislature in 2017 (SB 1148) intended to restrict hospitals and insurers from imposing counterproductive MOC requirements on physicians. This session Sen. Dawn Buckingham has introduced SB 1882 to help ensure hospitals follow the law. The bill was just […]
April 8, 2019 Dear Secretary Azar, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule, “Removal of Safe Harbor Protection for Rebates Involving Prescription Pharmaceuticals,” RIN 0936–AA08. The Association of American Physicians & Surgeons (“AAPS”) is a national non-profit membership organization of physicians and surgeons who are mostly in small, independent practices. Founded […]
In the Oath of Hippocrates, physicians promise to work for the good of their patients, according to the best of their ability and judgment, and to do no harm. We support a return to this ethic in American medicine, and oppose policies that harm patients by subjugating care to the interest of the government and third […]
April 2, 2019 The PresidentThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) thanks you for declining to defend an unconstitutional law, the Affordable Care Act. AAPS, a national organization representing thousands of physicians in all specialties, has defended the practice of ethical, private […]
The Trump Administration is moving forward with implementation of the Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices it released last spring. Perhaps the most anticipated changes are policies that aim to curb the improper flow of kickbacks (aka rebates) to Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs). These “rebates” not only drive up prices but are used to steer patients to drugs with the […]
To: Vanila M. Singh, MD, MACM Chief Medical OfficerOffice of the Assistant Secretary for HealthU.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dear Dr. Singh and Members of the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force Thank you for undertaking the challenge of searching for solutions “to improve care for those suffering from acute and chronic […]
ACTION ALERT – Yes to HB 460 – Lower Rx Costs for Texas Patients HB 460, will allow Texas physicians the ability to dispense medications in their office. Nearly every other state permits physicians to help their patients save money and time in this way. Cost savings to the patient can be up to 95%. Here’s […]