Legislators,
Policymakers Address ACC Members at Legislative Conference
More than 100 ACC members came together in
Washington, D.C. last week to speak with lawmakers about the
challenges facing cardiovascular medicine. ACC members lobbied
for medical liability reform, changes to the Medicare physician
payment formula, and preservation of the federal exemption
for in-office imaging services. Reps. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga.,
Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and John Shadegg, R-Ariz., addressed the
conference attendees and provided an assessment of the current
legislative environment. A key factor shaping the legislative
environment is the 2004 elections. ACC members heard the latest
election updates as political analysts, including Frank Luntz,
Charlie Cook and Stuart Rothenberg, provided their predictions
on the presidential campaign and other hot races across the
country. In addition, representatives from the Bush and Kerry
campaigns spoke to the group about each candidate’s
health care platforms. 
FDA
Approves Over-the-Counter Sales of AEDs
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced
last week that consumers will be able to purchase automatic
external defibrillators (AED) without a prescription. Philips
Medical Systems had sought over-the-counter clearance for
its HeartSteart Home Defibrillator, which is specifically
designed for operation by lay users. The FDA granted the device
over-the-counter clearance after Philips Medical Systems demonstrated
that consumers could safely use the AED without medical supervision.
The ACC supports the use of AEDs without a prescription, but
cautions that the device should not be used as a stand-alone
treatment and recommends that patients suffering from cardiac
arrest seek professional medical care. The ACC continues to
lobby Congress for increased funding to support AED distribution
and training programs.
Employer-Based
Health Insurance Rates See Double-Digit Rise in 2004
A
study released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health
Research Educational Trust shows that the rates for employer-sponsored
health insurance rose by 11.2 percent in 2004. This cost increase
marks the fourth year of double-digit growth for employer-based
insurance programs and a 59 percent rise in the cost of premiums
since 2001. The average annual premium rose to $9,950 for
family coverage and $3,695 for individual coverage. The report
also found that due to the increased premium rates, participation
in employer-health plans has dropped over the past year. Despite
these statistics, many employers plan on raising their premiums
again in 2005.
In
related news, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program,
which covers eight million federal employees and retirees,
announced a 7.9 percent increase in premiums for the upcoming
year. The rate of increase has slowed over the past year,
but still outpaces the rate of inflation and workers’
earning growth.
Presidential
Candidates Focus on Health Care
Given the recent announcements about rising health care premiums,
both presidential candidates have emphasized their initiatives
to lower costs in campaign speeches around the country. The
campaign rhetoric has taken a negative tone as the November
elections draw closer. While campaigning in Michigan last
week, President Bush criticized Sen. Kerry’s health
care proposal to expand government-funded health care services,
citing the high cost of implementing such a plan. Bush estimated
that the Kerry plan would cost $1.5 trillion, while the Kerry-Edwards
campaign puts the estimate closer to $650 billion. In his
speech, Bush also mentioned the impact of high liability insurance
rates on the medical profession and maintained his commitment
to reforming the current system with caps on non-economic
damages.
Shortly
after Bush’s statement, Kerry defended his health care
plan during speeches in Ohio and Wisconsin. Kerry rejected
Bush’s characterization of his plan as a “government
takeover of health care,” and emphasized that his proposal
allows Americans to choose their providers and their health
plans. Kerry also accused the Bush administration of hiding
the true cost of Medicare expenditures. This admonition comes
following a recent HHS
announcement stating that Medicare Part B premiums, which
cover non-hospital costs, are scheduled to rise by 17.5 percent
next year.
House
Passes Health Appropriations Bill; Senate Bill Moves Out of
Committee
The House passed H.R. 5006, the appropriations bill that funds
the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
for the 2005 fiscal year, by an overwhelming margin. Rep.
Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced an amendment that would
have rolled back the 17 percent increase in Medicare Part
B premiums scheduled for 2005. The amendment was struck from
the final bill.
The
Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the
Labor, Health and Human Services funding bill for health services
last week. The bill increases funding for the National Institute
of Health by $1.1 billion, provides $6 million more than the
House bill in financial support for AED programs, and includes
language to block the Bush administration’s new overtime
pay regulations. It is unlikely Congress will complete action
on the appropriations bills before it adjourns in early October.
Congress would then need to pass a continuing resolution to
keep the federal government funded.
HHS
Web Site Offers New Drug Comparison Tool
In an effort to help Medicare beneficiaries find affordable
prescription drugs, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary
Tommy Thompson announced
a new drug comparison tool available at www.medicare.gov.
Seniors can enter their current prescriptions online and the
“Lower Cost Rx Comparison Tool” produces a customized
report of similar or generic versions of their drugs that
are available at a lower price. HHS encourages patients to
discuss this report with their doctors to determine if less-expensive
drugs are a viable treatment option. The comparison tool is
limited to specific classes of prescription drugs that treat
common ailments such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
and arthritis.
Advocacy
Weekly is a product of the Advocacy Division of the American
College of Cardiology. Questions or comments regarding this
publication should be directed to the Advocacy Division at
800-435-9203 or to advocacydiv@acc.org.
Copyright
© 1996-2004
American College of Cardiology
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