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Extra
Number
2006-14 -- Week of
Monday, May 29, 2006
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Senate Version of ASA-Backed Teaching Rules Legislation Introduced
A Senate
companion measure has been
introduced with the backing of the ASA to change the Medicare
reimbursement
teaching rules to favor anesthesiologists working with medical
residents.
The bill, S
2990, was introduced by Sen.
David Vitter (R-LA) and ten cosponsors May 23, 2006. Though the
text of
the measure has not been posted online by the United States Senate, it
is
believed to be identical to measures previously introduced in the House
to
change the Medicare anesthesia payment teaching rules in a way
favorable to
anesthesiology medical residents. The House bills, HR 5246 and HR
5348,
introduced by Reps. Clay Shaw (R-FL) and Fortney Pete Stark (D-CA)
respectively, would provide additional Medicare payment incentives
solely to
teach anesthesiology residents.
Unlike
current Medicare teaching rules,
which treat teaching and student nurse anesthetists and
anesthesiologists
similarly, enactment of HR 5246, HR 5348 or S 2990 would effectively
double
current Medicare payment for those instances when a teaching
anesthesiologist
is involved in two simultaneous cases involving medical
residents. If
enacted, the bills would increase incentives to teach anesthesiologists
and
discourage nurse anesthesia education, by providing anesthesiologists
twice the
reimbursement for cases involving medical residents than for cases
involving
student nurse anesthetists. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) rejected the ASA proposal addressed in these bills in
2003, 2004
and 2005.
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Sincerely,
AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF NURSE
ANESTHETISTS
DIVISION OF
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS