Affected You?
2. Having Fun with
GAC and PAC
3. HRSA Announces
Funding Opportunity for Project to Improve Maternal Health and Safety
1. How has the Physician
Certification Requirement Affected You?
As most of you are aware, for Medicare discharges as of October 1, 2013, the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began enforcing a requirement
that all inpatient admissions be certified as medically necessary by a
physician. The agency drew a distinction between the physician
certification and an admission order, which, depending on state law and
hospital bylaws, can be signed by a CNM (note that Medicare does not yet recognize
CMs as a provider type that can independently bill Medicare).
We have heard reports of hospitals responding to this situation by requiring
that physicians certify admissions for all patients, regardless of whether they
are Medicare beneficiaries. Clearly, this creates a problem for midwives
who have been admitting patients on their own as they would be required to
obtain the physician's certification to validate their own admission order.
ACNM staff met with CMS to discuss the issue and were informed that changing
the policy would require a change to the Medicare law.
With the nurse practitioner organization ACNM met with congressional staff in
both the House and Senate to discuss the potential of a statutory change.
During those meetings, congressional staff indicated that it would be very
helpful for them to have specific stories about how this requirement had
created barriers to care.
So, I am sending a broad solicitation to all of you. If, as a result of
the physician certification requirement, you have had trouble providing care to
the women you serve I need to know about it. Please send me specific
details/stories that I can pass on to the congressional staff.
2. Having Fun with
GAC and PAC
Ok, so clearly I have been reading too much Dr. Seuss to my six year old,
but....
The Government
Affairs Committee (GAC) and the Midwives
Political Action Committee (PAC) are both currently open to new volunteer
participants.
Specifically, both Committees are seeking three student representatives for a
minimum one-year term starting at the 2014 ACNM Meeting. Attendance at
the meeting is strongly preferred as it will give you a chance to connect with
other Committee members.
Applicants (who must be ACNM members) don't need prior legislative or policy
experience. It's a great way to learn about the legislative process, work
collaboratively with other midwives and student midwives, advance
midwifery and have some fun in the process. A more detailed
description of the volunteer position is posted on ACNM's website.
If you're interested, please send a note indicating your interest, and a resume
to [email protected]
3. HRSA Announces
Funding Opportunity for Project to Improve Maternal Health and Safety
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced a
funding opportunity for the Alliance on Maternal Health: Improving
Maternal Health and Safety. The goal of the initiative is to reduce
maternal morbidity and mortality and their associated adverse pregnancy
outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight and infant mortality) through efforts
to engage provider organizations, state public health leaders, payers, hospital
associations, regulatory bodies, consumer groups and other key
organizations. The project will last over a four-year period.
The opportunity is open through June 16, 2014. Funding will be provided
in the form of a cooperative agreement as opposed to a grant. This means
that there would be substantial involvement between HRSA and the recipient
during performance of the project. Eligible applicants include any public
or private entity.
Should you have questions about federal issues, please contact Jesse Bushman,
ACNM's Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at [email protected] or 240-485-1843.
Should you have questions about state issues, please contact Cara Kinzelman,
ACNM's Manager of State Government Affairs at [email protected] or
240-485-1841.
Don't forget to register
for the ACNM 59th Annual Meeting & Exposition. Details are available
at the conference website. The deadline for the advance
registration discount is May 7.
Want to take action or
get involved? Contact ACNM's Government Affairs Committee.
Don't have the time or
energy to get involved, but still want to contribute? Support the Midwives-PAC.
