Physician Resources
Curated public policy issues for AMITA Health's physician partners.
Workers' Compensation Claim Payment
Physicians and health care providers across the state have been dealing with a growing crisis where insurance companies are not paying workers’ compensation medical bills. Proposed legislation would address this issue.
MACRA
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) contained many provisions, but most importantly it created a new Medicare approach to paying clinicians for the value and quality of care they provide. MACRA repeals the sustainable growth rate — a series of Congressional fixes responsible for adjusting Medicare expenditures and provider reimbursement — and authorizes HHS to implement value-based initiatives aimed at improving care access for Medicare and CHIP beneficiaries. Get the latest on policy implementation here.
Affordable Care Act Update
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often shortened to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and nicknamed “Obamacare” was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. Due to the ACA, the uninsured rate in the United States is the lowest is has been in over 50 years. Congress and the Trump Administration continue to try to dismantle the ACA. Learn more about the various proposals and discussion about affordable healthcare in the United States.
Opioid Crisis
The United States is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2000 to 2016, more than 600,000 people died from drug overdoses. Opioids killed more than 42,000 people in 2016, more than any year on record. On average, 115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.
Tobacco 21
Tobacco 21 is a proposed state law that would prevent tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and alternative nicotine products from being sold to and possessed by anyone under 21 years of age.