AANA Federal Government Affairs
HOTLINE
Number 2005-21, Week of Monday, September 5, 2005


In This Issue:

* NGA Releases Official Recommendations for Medicaid
* HHS Releases Website and Toll Free Number for Deployment by HealthCare Professionals
* Amendments




>> NGA Releases Official Recommendations for Medicaid


On Tuesday (August 29th), the National Governors Association (NGA) detailed its recommendations for changes to Medicaid, proposals that were initially presented in June during congressional testimony. Medicaid funding is important to CRNAs, especially those working in obstetrical and childbirth settings, since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates a third of US childbirths are paid-for by the federal-state joint funded program. In some areas, Medicaid pays a far larger share of childbirths. The proposals come as the Senate Finance Committee is working to provide by September 16th a list of areas, including Medicaid, in which spending could be reduced by $10 billion over five years. NGA said the proposals reflect "common-sense, enforceable cost-sharing," which the governors said would "increase responsibility" of Medicaid beneficiaries and "encourage cost-effective care" (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 8/31). Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R), chair of NGA, said, "These latest recommendations are part of our ongoing process to find ways to reform Medicaid." Governor Huckabee added, "They are driven by good public policy and are designed to make Medicaid more efficient and effective, not to generate any particular budget saving number." House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Joe Barton (R-TX) said the NGA recommendations will receive "serious consideration," adding that the latest proposals were the "most specific advice to date" (CQ HealthBeat, 8/30).

Read more, http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0508MEDICAIDREFORM.PDF




>> HHS Releases Website and Toll Free Number for Deployment by HealthCare Professionals


The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has established a website and toll-free number to help identify healthcare professionals and relief personnel to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.  HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said, "The desire of America's healthcare professionals to use their skills to help Hurricane Katrina's victims has been inspiring. This website and toll free number are important tools to become part of this network of goodness that is taking place."

These workers will be non-paid temporary Federal employees, and will therefore be eligible for coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) for liability coverage and Workman's Compensation when functioning as HHS employees. Although there will not be any salary, travel and per diem will be paid.

Visit the website, https://volunteer.hhs.gov

Toll-free number, 866-KAT-MEDI




>> Amendments


* The House and Senate will be in session this week. The House will be taking up the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005 (HR 250), while the Senate will be focusing on the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2005 (S 147), and presidential nominations. Congress can be anticipated to be focusing heavily on Hurricane Katrina relief, with the Senate also addressing the two vacancies on the U.S. Supreme Court.

* CMS Talks About Katrina and the Open Door Forums. "We at CMS express our deepest sympathies to those coping with Hurricane Katrina. We truly appreciate the support from the healthcare community during this very difficult time." For more information visit, http://www.cms.gov.

* CMS' 2006 Part B update proposed rule that includes a 4.3% reimbursement cut for 2006 and a request for information on the Medicare rules for teaching anesthesiologists is open for public comment until September 29th. See the proposed CMS rule at http://frwebgate2.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=043556500211+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve and a summary of the proposal at http://www.aana.com. Click on the AANA Member Alert - The Hotline Special Edition.

* The CRNA-PAC Committee says thanks to all the CRNAs who helped make the PAC's Presidential Club honor dinner and the International Spy Museum reception and tour such a huge success at the AANA Annual Meeting in Washington!

* For up-to-date Congressional floor & committee schedule information, see http://thomas.loc.gov/.




>> For More Information


The AANA Federal Government Affairs Hotline is published for the nurse anesthetist members of AANA each week Congress is in session by the AANA Office of Federal Government Affairs, Washington DC, 202-484-8400, info@aanadc.com, Frank Purcell, Senior Director. C 2005 American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.