Federal Legislative Advocacy

The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) is committed to the enactment of legislation that will strengthen the delivery of, and access to, quality healthcare in the United States.  To that end, the AAO-HNS urges Members of Congress to support the Academy’s legislative priorities and proactively oppose legislation that will negatively impact the evolving practice of medicine.

The AAO-HNS legislative priorities for the 112th Congress include:

• Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB)
  The IPAB, an unelected, unaccountable body of individuals appointed solely by the President and charged with creating Medicare payment policy, usurps the rightful authority of our elected officials to create and shape Medicare policy. By limiting Congressional authority, IPAB essentially eliminates the transparency of hearings, debate, and the meaningful opportunity of stakeholder input. In fact, fewer than half of the IPAB members can be healthcare providers, and none are permitted to be practicing physicians or be otherwise employed. The AAO-HNS supports efforts to repeal IPAB, including H.R. 452, the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act.
  
• Permanent Repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Formula
  The volatility and instability of the Medicare payment system is threatening Medicare beneficiaries’ access to healthcare. Continued payment cuts, rising practice costs, and a lack of certainty going forward, make it difficult, if not impossible, for already financially-challenged physician practices to continue to treat Medicare patients. Over the past decade, the AAO-HNS and others in the physician community have repeatedly advocated for the reform and redesign of the unstable and unsustainable Medicare physician payment formula.  However, Congress’ failure to enact permanent reform has created an instability and uncertainty that undermines the ability of physicians to plan for the future, to provide for their employees, and to make investments to help improve the quality and efficiency of the care they provide. The AAO-HNS supports permanent repeal of the SGR and the development of a new Medicare physician payment system.
  
• Enactment of Comprehensive Medical Liability Reforms
  The nation’s current medical liability system places patients in jeopardy of losing their access to vital healthcare services. With affordable and adequate medical liability insurance becoming difficult to find, physicians are retiring early, limiting their practices, or moving to states with less costly premiums. This disturbing trend is leaving entire communities without access to critical healthcare services. As a specialty, in an effort to reduce and learn from instances of medical error, we have committed substantial resources to and engaged our members in proactive quality improvement initiatives. However, further statutory changes are necessary to address flaws in our current tort system and enact proven reforms to reduce frivolous lawsuits, including reasonable caps on non-economic damages. The AAO-HNS supports H.R. 5/S. 1099, the HEALTH Act, and other reasonable, proven reforms.
  
  Patient Information Sheet
  
• Clarity and Transparency in Healthcare Advertisements
  Currently, there is little “transparency” associated with the most fundamental and important component of healthcare delivery – the many health professionals who interact with patients every day. Recent studies confirm America’s patients prefer a physician-led approach to healthcare and are often confused about the level of training and education of their healthcare providers - including physicians, technicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied providers. Because of this uncertainty, patient autonomy and decision-making have been compromised. America’s patients deserve to be fully informed and able to easily identify in healthcare advertisements their providers’ credentials, licenses, and training when seeking treatment. The AAO-HNS supports H.R. 451, the Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act.
  
  Patient Information Sheet
  
• Patient Safety Protections for Hearing Impaired Seniors
  The AAO-HNS strongly believes a physician-led hearing healthcare team with coordination of services is the best approach for providing the highest quality care to patients. In past years, the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) has pursued unlimited direct access to Medicare patients without a physician referral, and the AAO-HNS has repeatedly opposed such legislative efforts due to significant patient safety concerns.  While audiologists play a critical role in providing quality hearing healthcare, their desire to independently diagnose hearing disorders transcends their level of training and expertise. The AAO-HNS opposes H.R. 2140 and any legislative proposal that would directly and/or indirectly grant audiologists unlimited direct access to Medicare patients without a physician referral.  

Click here to print a copy of the 2012 AAO-HNS Legislative Priorities

112th Congressional "Scorecard"

AAO-HNS Communications to Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Super Committee)

• AAO-HNS Letter Urging Inclusion of Certain Health-related Provisions
• Joint Letter Urging Super Committee to Repeal Flawed SGR Formula
• Coalition Letter Urging Repeal of IPAB
• Joint Letter Urging Inclusion of Meaningful Medical Liability Reform
• HCLA Letter Urging Inclusion of Meaningful Medical Liability Reform
• Joint Letter Encouraging Super Committee to Retain GME Funding
• Sign-on Letter Encouraging Repeal of Flawed SGR Formula

Summary of Budget Control Act – Prepared by Health Policy Alternatives

Physician organizations join to support deficit reduction plan that includes repeal of the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

Miscellaneous AAO-HNS Supported Legislation

H.R. 969, the “Medical Practice Freedom Act of 2011”
A bill to ensure physicians are not required to participate in any particular health plan as a condition of their licensure. Click here to view the AAO-HNS support letter.

H.R. 1700/S. 1042, the “Medicare Patient Empowerment Act”
A bill designed to help preserve the patient-physician relationship by allowing seniors to continue to use their Medicare benefit, even with physicians who do not participate in Medicare. Click here to view a coalition support letter.

H.R. 531, the “Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2011”
A bill that would offer loan repayment to healthcare providers who agree to practice in designated provider shortage areas. Click here to view a joint support letter.

How to Get Involved?

Join the ENT Advocacy Network. By joining the ENT Advocacy Network, AAO-HNS members can take an active role in educating Members of Congress and state legislators on how proposed bills and regulations affect the practice of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Often, elected officials look towards healthcare associations for expertise when trying to develop or change federal health policy. Click here to learn more and/or join the ENT Advocacy Network.

To learn more about AAO-HNS Federal legislative priorities and/or activities, contact the Government Affairs team at legfederal@entnet.org.