Some of our members are working so hard -- heads down -- diligently taking care of their patients -- that they are genuinely curious and seemingly not yet fully aware about what’s going on (threats and opportunities) here in the Capitol these days. ACC officers and I are frequently asked when we are out in the Chapters "why is ACC so engaged in the health system reform issues?"  It’s amazing to us. But it’s also hard to get the message out effectively to the grass roots about how fast things could possibly (or possibly NOT) move in these reform discussions this year. But, to give you an idea — here are just a few of the things cooking here this coming week alone:

• Discussions of the federal budget and health reform are likely to dominate the week, with various meetings and discussions in Congress and CBO (this will have implications for us folks).
• President Obama has convened a Fiscal Responsibility Summit today at the White House, followed by a presidential address to Congress on Tuesday night that will focus in large part on what to do about the looming Medicare projected shortfalls (5 times larger than the Social Security deficits);
• The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will release of a budget framework on Thursday – including all of CMS’ new projections on the nation’s health spending Monday (again, these will be critical for medicine!).
• Meanwhile, both the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) again turn their attention to health reform with hearings next week (believe me, we need to monitor and react immediately to this stuff for all of you out there!). The topics are--
  • Senate HELP Hearing (2/24) – The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee holds a hearing to examine the issue of the underinsured in the context of health reform.         
  • Senate Finance Hearing (2/25) – The Finance Committee holds a hearing with CBO Director Elmendorf to examine scoring issues and budget options for health reform, including physician payment and SGR reform.
• Healthy People 2020 – The HHS Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion today meets to discuss efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent disease, with a particular focus on CV disease. 
• The CMS will hold Open Door Forums on rural issues on Tuesday and on hospital and hospital quality issues on Wednesday.

This doesn’t include what the private sector activities are. IOM is having meetings this week on various quality related topics as well. Busy week!

But all of you need to plan to set up a meeting with your own members of Congress later this spring. Start scheduling the meetings now for April or May in your district offices. There will be plenty to talk about!!!! And, we’ll help you with talking points on key issues. Of course, plenty’s happening in all your state legislatures as well at the same time. Whew!

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