Washington Highlights: April
6, 2007
ContentsPrior Issues  |
AAMC Comments
on Nonhospital Residency Training RuleThe AAMC March 26 submitted a comment
letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on a proposed
rule that would modify current policies regarding Medicare direct graduate medical
education (DGME) and indirect medical education (IME) reimbursement for residents
training in nonhospital sites. The Medicare statute authorizes teaching hospitals
to receive DGME and IME payments associated with residents training in nonhospital
sites, such as physicians' offices, if the hospitals incur "all or substantially
all" of the training costs. The proposal was included in the Feb. 1 long
term care hospital proposed rule [see Washington
Highlights, Feb. 9]. As described
by CMS, the goal of the proposed rule is to be responsive to "concerns expressed
by the teaching hospital community about the administrative burden" of complying
with current policies, in particular the requirement that hospitals must pay physician
supervisory costs at the nonhospital site. The AAMC letter notes that the proposed
rule is not the "solution" that the academic medical community is seeking
because it does not recognize that many physicians are willing to volunteer as
supervisors and therefore there are no supervisory costs the hospital need pay.
However, the comment letter points out that the proposed rule has the potential
to significantly reduce the administrative burden of compliance and provides significant
comments about how the rule could be further improved. Information:
Karen Fisher, Sr. Director, Health Care Affairs
AAMC Health Care Affairs
kfisher@aamc.org
(202) 862-6140
Senate Budget Resolution Includes Physician Training Fund
The FY 2008 Budget Resolution (S.
Con. Res. 21) approved by the Senate March 23 includes a fund that would allow
increased federal spending for physician training, provided the spending does
not increase the deficit in fiscal years 2007-2012 [see Washington
Highlights, March 30]. The fund was
added to the budget resolution through a unanimously approved amendment offered
by Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). Specifically,
the fund would "provide additional training for physicians and attract more
physicians in States that face a shortage of physicians in training." According
to Senator Pryor's statement, the fund "does not impose a prescriptive solution
but creates a deficit-neutral reserve fund the Finance Committee can use to find
the best way to help ensure citizens and States will have the number of physicians
they need over the long term." Information:
Lynne Davis Boyle, Assistant Vice President
AAMC Government Relations
ldavisboyle@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
Expedited Review for NIH New Investigators ExtendedThe
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review (CSR) announced
April 4 that it will extend
and expand its pilot project providing new investigators the option of submitting
a resubmission or amended R01 application for consideration in consecutive review
cycles. This pilot project has shaved four months off the normal review cycle.
An additional 46 study sections are being added to the pilot, for a total
of 108 study sections offering the expedited review option to new investigators.
By the September and October 2007 meetings, all CSR study sections reviewing new
investigator R01 applications will allow consecutive cycle resubmissions. This
pilot began in 2006 and was extended to 22 additional study sections in January
2007. During the three review cycles the pilot has been in place, approximately
13 percent of the eligible new investigators have used the option of next cycle
submission. The project was developed because new investigators by definition
do not have R01 support, and any delay in the ability to submit an amended application
could have a negative impact on their careers. Information:
Tony Mazzaschi, Senior Director
AAMC Scientific Affairs
tmazzaschi@aamc.org
(202) 828-0059
HRSA Offers Limited HCOP ExtensionsThe
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) April 5 announced it will
offer no-cost extensions through September 2007 to the Title VII Health Careers
Opportunity Programs (HCOPs) grants that were terminated in February 2007. Federal
funding for the programs was eliminated in FY 2006 and was not restored in FY
2007. Grantees with unexpended funds may request an extension by submitting
a detailed explanation of the program budget and activities to HRSA by April 20.
Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) Feb. 16 sent letters,
signed by 52 Representatives and 19 Senators, respectively, requesting a one-year
extension of the HCOP and Title VII Centers of Excellence programs to Secretary
of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt and HRSA Administrator Elizabeth
Duke, Ph.D. [see Washington Highlights,
Feb. 23]. Information:
Tannaz Rasouli, Senior Legislative Analyst
AAMC Government Relations
trasouli@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525 NIH Announces New Institute
Directors The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Elias Zerhouni,
M.D., announced April 2 the appointment of two new institute directors. Effective
April 1, Griffin P.
Rodgers, M.D., is the new director of the National Institutes of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK). He has served as Deputy Director,
as well as Acting Director and chief of NIDDK's Clinical and Molecular Hematology
Branch. Dr. Rodgers received his medical degree from Brown University and completed
his residency in internal medicine at Washington University School of Medicine
in St. Louis. Dr. Zerhouni also has announced the appointment of Barbara
Alving, M.D., as director of the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR),
effective April 1. Dr. Alving has served as Acting Director since March 2005.
She previously had been Deputy Director and Acting Director of the National Heart,
Lung and Blood Institute. Dr. Alving earned her medical degree from Georgetown
University School of Medicine and completed her residency training at the Johns
Hopkins Hospital. | 
