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Dear
District II
Member,
As I
write
this
report,
there
are
many
legislative
and
policy
changes
being
implemented
and/or
discussed
at the
federal
and
state
levels
that
have
the
potential
to
impact
significantly
on the
work
you
do.
Because
these
changes
are so
numerous,
it has
been
difficult
to
decide
what
to
include
in
this
report
and
what
to
defer
to the
next
one.
The
following
is a
brief
review
and
outline
of
various
initiatives
important
to the
practice
of
pediatrics
here
in New
York.
I hope
this
outline
provides
you
with
some
idea
about
the
broad
range
of
activities
the
District
is
participating
in on
your
behalf
and on
behalf
of the
children
and
families
you
serve.
Our
work
at the
state
and
federal
levels
is
focused
on
ensuring
quality
pediatric
care
into
the
21st
century.
Henry
Schaeffer,
MD,
FAAP
Chair,
AAP
District
II,
New
York
State
|
Federal Health
Care
Reform's
Impact in
NYS
At the federal
level the
passage of
federal Health
Care Reform
has several
key provisions
that will
impact on
pediatric
practice here
in New York.
The almost 2
million
children in
New York who
are covered by
Medicaid or
Child Health
Plus will
retain their
coverage and
should have
even better
access to
care. Children
covered by
private
insurance will
see their
benefits
enhanced.
Here are the
main features
of the Health
Care Reform
bill that
directly
impact on
children's
coverage and
access to
care:
- Access
to care is
improved.
The
reconciliation
bill
includes
pediatric
primary and
subspecialty
workforce
improvements.
For the
first time
ever, a new
$8.3 billion
federal
investment
will bring
Medicaid
payments for
preventive
services
codes to
parity with
Medicare for
physicians
with a
pediatric
designation.
This payment
increase
will begin
in 2013.
- Benefits
are
expanded.
All Bright
Futures
services
will now be
covered for
children
with private
and public
insurance as
an immediate
benefit with
no co-pay.
The
legislation
also
includes new
funding for
Medicaid
medical home
demonstration
projects.
- Coverage
is
maintained
at current
levels. The
new law will
support all
children in
our state
who are
currently
covered. It
also ensures
health care
coverage for
young people
up to age
26. The law
also
preserves
the
Children's
Health
Insurance
Program
(CHIP) with
funding
until the
end of
fiscal year
2016 and
includes a
renewed
federal
funding
commitment
to states
through
2019.
But, the devil
will be in the
details of
implementation.
The National
AAP and our
own AAP
District II (NYS)
will be
keeping a
close watch on
what happens
next and how
guidance will
be developed.
Our goal is to
ensure that
improved
coverage,
enhanced
access to care
and fair
payment
actually come
to pass for
children and
for
pediatricians.
|
Important NYS Initiatives
At the state
level we are
working on
several
important
initiatives:
- We
continue to
work with
the State
Department
of Health on
improving
our services
to special
needs
children
through the
development
of Learning
Collaboratives.
- District
II is
working with
the NYSDOH
on pediatric
office based
Autism
assessment
service
design.
- Discussions
are moving
forward on
Electronic
Health
Record
implementation
in the
pediatric
setting and
the
development
of a
supportive
infrastructure
for such a
huge
undertaking.
- We are
working with
the Office
of Mental
Health and
Department
of Health on
a new
initiative
to bring
supported
mental
health
services
into the
pediatric
primary care
office.
- Discussions
are
continuing
on creating
and paying
for a NY
Bright
Futures
Medical Home
project.
|
District
II Advocacy
Update
 Our
New York State
Legislative Day
on February 23rd
in Albany was
the biggest yet.
We had almost
100 attendees!
This year our
state
legislative
advocacy is
focusing on
passage of the
sugary drink tax
as an
anti-obesity
initiative, and
as a way to
mitigate huge
budget cuts to
the health care
services
delivery system.
The District is
also supporting
several bills
that have the
potential to
improve health
care coverage
and access to
care for
children across
the state.
We encourage you
to review our
positions and
speak with your
State
Assemblyperson
and Senator
about those
bills which
interest you.
You can also
print out any
materials that
you might find
helpful in your
advocacy
efforts. |
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