MINNESOTA SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS

MED · Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs

Congress is asked to contact VA leadership to urge a halt to this risky VA initiative and to support the inclusion of provisions from H.R. 3347/S.2070, the Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act, in any Veterans' legislation considered this year. Congress should use its authority to curtail the harmful behavior of insurance companies including: Holding United Health Group (UHG) and Change Healthcare (CHC) accountable for fully repairing the harm to physicians and for ensuring future protections from unexpected delays in claims processing and payment. Scrutinizing insurance companies that divert premium dollars away from patient care for the sake of corporate profits. Ensuring the enforcement of the mechanisms of the No Surprises Act requiring timely insurers' payments to prevailing parties in the IDR process. Ensuring the enforcement of the mechanisms of the No Surprises Act requiring timely insurers' payments to prevailing parties in the IDR process. Passing legislation to address insurers' prior authorization abuse.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 3347, S.2070

HCR · Health Issues

Asking Congress to cosponsor H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, which would align Medicare physician payments with other sectors of Medicare by adding a mandatory annual inflation update. To also cosponsor H.R. 6371, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, which would increase the budget-neutrality threshold, set limits on conversion factor variance, and allow CMS to enhance accountability and stability within the physician payment system. Support H.R. 5625, the Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act, which would help to address the opioid crisis by making naloxone available in school settings. Support H.R. 5420 / S. 2948, the Workplace Overdose Reversal Kits (WORK) to Save Lives Act which would require opioid overdose reversal medications to be in federal buildings and create non-mandatory guidance for private employers on how to obtain these medications; both important measures to reduce opioid overdose fatalities. Support H.R. 6161, the Supporting Access to Vital and Affordable Care for Everyone (SAVE) Act, which would make access to over-the-counter naloxone more affordable by ensuring it qualifies as a deductible medical expense.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 2474, H.R. 6371, H.R. 5625, H.R. 5420, S. 2948, H.R. 6161