On Sept. 13, the AAMC sent a letter to congressional leadership outlining academic medicine’s key priorities for inclusion as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Continuing Resolution (CR) and other urgent pending priorities.
The letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) provided support for the White House’s emergency supplemental funding request for the COVID-19 and monkeypox responses.
The AAMC also urged Congress to complete its work on the FY 2023 spending bills and underscored the critical role that these investments play in supporting the nation’s research and health care infrastructure, including the health care workforce. It also reiterated the harm that delays in finalizing spending decisions have on ongoing medical research, public health efforts, and all work directed and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The letter also outlined crucial issues that Congress must address before the end of the year including policies designed to promote the financial sustainability of teaching hospitals and health systems. The AAMC encouraged Congress to ameliorate the financial challenges facing providers by waiving a statutory pay-as-you-go reduction to the Medicare program and averting a 4.42% cut to Medicare physician payment proposed as part of the calendar year 2023 Physician Fee Schedule Rule.
In addition to these provisions, the letter urged Congress expand the health care workforce by increasing Medicare support for graduate medical education. The letter also emphasized the importance of extending key telehealth flexibilities and expanding access to behavioral health care. The letter also includes a recommendation to bolster the financial security of safety-net providers by addressing Section 203 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, which will unintentionally harm institutions that care for a high percentage of Medicare and Medicaid dual-eligible beneficiaries.
Congress is expected to pass a CR to fund the federal government past the end of the current fiscal year Sept. 30, as leadership continues to work on passing a full-year FY 2023 appropriations measure.
- Washington Highlights