Washington Reports
This page contains the ASA Washington Reports from the ASA NEWSLETTER.
2010
September: Engage 2010: Your Active Participation Will Make a Difference
July: The Ease (or 'Es') of Advocacy
May: Understanding Reconciliation - Taking a Page From the Pros
March: The Future of Medical Spending in America - A Call to Action
January: Happy New Year! Happy New Medicare Payment Rule!
2009
November: Celebrating Advocacy - Taking a Page From the Pros
September: Health Care reform at the Crossroads
July: ASA Members Take Our Message to Capitol Hill
May: The First 100 Days - Clues to Major Health Issues and the Obama Presidency
March: A New President, a New Congress - New Opportunities for ASA Member Involvement
January: Change for the Best
2008
November: Change! Now What? A Necessary Look Back and Ahead
October: On the Power of Involvement
September: 2008 Congressional Agenda Wrapping Up - VA Pain Bills Moving Forward
August: ASA Members Step Up to the Plate in Washington - And See a Home Run for Their Efforts!
July: Reflections on My Own Work-Life Balance
June: Setting the Record Straight - ASA's Strong Case for Medicare Anesthesiology Teaching Rule Reform
May: A Key Contact Speaks
April: Medicare Funding Alert: President Bush Sends Required Legislation to Congress; Financial Peril of Program Becomes More Pronounced
March: Need for 18-Month SGR Fix Takes Center Stage - Urge Congress to Act
February: Congress and President Bush Agree to Small Medicare Increase for Half of 2008, Averting Huge Cuts - the Battle for SGR and Other Reforms Continues
January: Happy New Year: ASA's Hard Work Pays Off - Medicare's 2008 Anesthesia Conversion Factor Takes Huge Step Toward Parity
2007
December: Congressional Focus on Pain
November: Rockefeller Introduces Senate Teaching Rule Reform Bill, Congress Continues Work on Broader Medicare Package
October: GAO Confirms Huge Medicare Conversion Factor Disparity for Anesthesiology
September: The Tortured Path of Legislation
August: Urgent Call for Comment Letters to CMS (Medicare): Significant Anesthesia Conversion Factor Increase Hangs in Balance
July: All Hands on Deck
June: A Call for Support
May: On Political Involvement
April: Huge Additional Medicare Payment Cuts Looming for 2008: The Time to Lobby Is Now!
March: On Staying Focused
February: Turning Anger into Action
January: HHS Secretary Delivers Harsh Message to Physicians
2006
December: Year in Review: ASA Advocacy and Practice Management - Providing Valuable Benefits and Representation to Our Members
November: Lame Duck Promises
October: Making Our Voices Heard
September: Medicare Payment Issues Again Take Center Stage - Your Urgent Action Is Needed!
August: A Call for Truth and Transparency
July: ASA Launches Legislative Effort to Save Anesthesiology Residency Programs, Ensure Future of Specialty
June: Senate "Health Week" Brings Focus to Medical Issues
May: Medicare Math: Understanding the Budget Climate
April: Spotlight on Medicare Payment Policy Reform
March: Congress Returns to Key Votes
February: On Good Government
January: A New Year, a New Resolve?
2005
December: Medicare - It's All About the Money
November: Medicare Pay for Performance - An Emerging Voluntary Program? And, What About SGR Reform?
October: The Medicare Teaching Rule - The Battle Has Been Joined
September: ASA Hails Passage of Patient Safety Bill, Joins President Bush at White House Signing
August: Medicare Pay for Performance - Moving Closer to Reality
July: Congressional Leaders and Administration Officials Featured at: ASA Legislative Conference
June: Medicare Payment Fix by No Means a Certainty - Urgent Action Still Needed!
May: Congress and the Administration Turning Up the Heat - Important Issues Starting to Simmer
April: "Day in Washington" - Prelude to ASA Legislative Conference
March: No Time Like the Present for Tackling Some Hard Issues
February: Together We Really Are Stronger
January: 2005 Offers New Opportunities, Old Challenges for Incoming Director
2004
December: CMS Issues: Physician Payment Rule, Defers Action on Teaching Reimbursement
November: House Passes Drug Monitoring Bill, Authorizes Grants for State Programs
October: ASA Submits Comments to CMS Urging Revision in Teaching Rules
September: Court Denies State Law Claims Against HMOs, Passage of Patients' Bill of Rights Again Sought
August: Court Denies State Law Claims Against HMOs, Passage of Patients' Bill of Rights Again Sought
July: Congress Urges CMS to Alter Inputs to Medicare SGR Update Calculations
June: Annual ASA Legislative Conference Features Talks by Administration, Congressional Leaders
May: Early Nomination Win by Kerry Guarantees Politics to Dominate Balance of 2nd Session
April: MedPAC Finds Medicare Physician Payments Adequate to Assure Access for Beneficiaries
March: Second Congressional Session Begins, Bush Pushes Senate in Liability Reform
February: Professional Liability Reform Legislation Remains on Life Support in 2nd Session
January: Passage of Medicare Prescription Drug Bill Caps Otherwise Modest First Session of 108th Congress