The first Democratic presidential debate could barely scratch the surface. All 10 candidates say they favor universal health care as a human right, but what does this mean? Follow-up questions to ask: 1. How many private health plans would you cancel? Should plans that duplicate Medicare-for-all coverage be outlawed? What about Direct Primary Care (DPC) […]
The House of Representatives has hidden inside a trillion dollar “must pass” spending bill, a provision that eliminates the prohibition on the use of federal funding to assign all Americans a unique medical identifier. Former Congressman Ron Paul, M.D., got that prohibition enacted in 1998. Update: the House passed the 667 page (not including amendments) […]
In response to the rising rate of drug overdose deaths, 49 states had a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) by 2014. By requiring physicians to report all prescriptions for controlled drugs, and to consult the database before prescribing, state agencies hoped to stop “doctor shopping,” writes John Lilly, M.B.A., D.O., in the summer issue of […]
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 […]