AAMC WASHINGTON HEADLINES

[CAL/AAEM News Service]

AAMC WASHINGTON HEADLINES
Legislative and Regulatory News

Source: Association of American Medical Colleges
Date: November 12, 2004


***********************************************

 CMS Announces CY 2005 Physician Fee Schedule

 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nov. 2 announced
 that the 2005 Physician Fee Schedule (CMS-1429-F) will be published in
 the Nov. 15 Federal Register.  The "Medicare Program; Revisions to
 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year
 2005" will become effective Jan. 1, 2005.  The Physician Fee Schedule
 sets rates for how Medicare pays more than 875,000 physicians and other
 health care professionals.  CMS projects that in 2005 aggregate spending
 under the fee schedule will increase 4 percent to $55.3 billion, up from
 $53.1 billion in 2004.   

 Information: Denise Dodero <ddodero at aamc.org, AAMC Division of Health
 Care Affairs, 202-828-0493.

 The complete story is at:
 http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/library/washhigh/2004/111204/start.htm#2


 ***********************************************

 Congress Returns to Act on Debt, Spending Bills

 Congress returns to Washington Nov. 16 for what many observers believe
 will be an abbreviated lame-duck session.  Senate Majority Whip Mitch
 McConnell (R-Ky.) predicted shortly after the election that the session
 would not extend beyond the end of November.  In addition to various
 meetings to begin organizing the 109th Congress, the House and Senate
 are expected to tackle three legislative tasks: extending the debt
 limit, completing the FY 2005 spending bills, and possibly finishing
 intelligence reform. 

 Information: Dave Moore <dbmoore at aamc.org, AAMC Office of Governmental
 Relations, 202-828-0525.

 The complete story is at:
 http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/library/washhigh/2004/111204/start.htm#1




=====
Cyrus Shahpar & Brian Potts 
Managing Editors, CAL/AAEM News Service 
UC-Irvine



		
__________________________________ 
Do you Yahoo!? 
The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do?
http://my.yahoo.com