Legislative Updates (Spring 2009)
Click picture below for Spring 2009 Legislative Update that was presented by Debi Nelson at the Spring Conference.
ND HIT Bill Update (5/04/09)
Legislature Passes $47.7 Million to Rebase Physician Medicaid Payments; Also Approves Funding for New Bismarck Center for Family Medicine Facility, HIT Funding, Health Department Budget, and Measure 3 CDC-Based Tobacco Program prior to adjourning around midnight, both the House and Senate today approved HB 1012, which includes a major rebase of physician and hospital Medicaid payments. This rebasing, which stems from legislation pursued by NDMA and NDHA in the 2007 ND Legislative Assembly, provides $47.7 million in additional state/federal funds for rebasing physician payments to 89% of cost and over $22 million in additional state/federal funding for hospital payment increases that rebase to 100% of cost. A special thanks to our Legislative Assembly which saw fit to address an NDMA priority issue of major concern to physicians!
Both chambers also approved today the budget for the University System in SB 2003, which includes $5.4 million in funds from the permanent oil tax trust fund for a new facility including land and equipment for the Bismarck Center for Family Medicine, in addition to new "campus equity funding" for institutions, including UNDSMHS. Both chambers also passed SB 2332, which provides the potential for substantial state and federal funding for health information technology exchange and infrastructure initiatives. This includes $13 million from the profits and earnings of the Bank of ND that could potentially leverage an additional $80 million in federal stimulus dollars under the HITECH Act.
The Health Department budget in SB 2004, which includes many important public health and other programs (such as the physician loan repayment program, Women’s Way, newborn hearing screening, colorectal cancer screenings, stroke registry and prevention and others) moved forward without Measure 3 (CDC-based tobacco prevention and control program) funding. Funding for the Measure 3 was included in HB 1015, the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) budget bill, late this evening as a Senate floor amendment by Sen. Bob Stenehjem. The House concurred in the Senate amendments and passed the bill. The amount appropriated is within the CDC-recommended amount ($12,882,000).
In the coming days, NDMA will provide additional information on this and other legislative outcomes. In the meantime, see the NDMA website at Legislative News and Bill Categories for legislative information.
This was truly a successful session – ND physicians were instrumental in defeating several bills such as the medical liability damage cap repeal and psychologist prescribing of psychotropic drugs, while maintaining a very active presence every day of a lengthy session to achieve a good result on policy and financial issues. We didn’t get our way on every issue but come away with major initiatives that will truly impact your practice in a positive way. We worked with many other organizations, including the ND Healthcare Association and hospitals, our many physician specialty societies, Governor’s office, state agencies and other organizations and individuals to achieve the best result possible.
Thanks to everyone who participated in any way you could, by talking to legislators, testifying to committees, providing advice to NDMA staff, and being our NDMA Doctor of the Day.
-Bruce
Bruce T. Levi, Executive Director
North Dakota Medical Association
PO Box 1198
Bismarck, ND 58502-1198
(701) 223-9475
AHIMA's 2008 Hill Day Draws Record Attendance
On April 8, AHIMA held its annual Hill Day and members from across the country visited Washington, DC, to meet their senators and congressmen. This year set a new attendance record with 170 Hill Day participants representing 36 states and the District of Columbia. Hill Day attendees met with over 213 House and Senate offices to discuss critical AHIMA advocacy issues such as:
support for HR 4105, the "Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Moratorium Act"
implementation of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS by October 1, 2011
work force and the need for the Senate to pass HR 1467, the "10,000 Trained by 2010 Act"
additional issues as health information technology, standards, classifications and terminologies, and the need to pass genetic information nondiscrimination legislation
AHIMA's Hill Day events launched on April 7 with an in-depth policy briefing on the association's key advocacy issues. Hill Day officially began on April 8 with a breakfast briefing to address any final questions. Look for additional follow up on 2008 Hill Day in the June issue of AHIMA Advantage.
Community Education
NDHIMA is happy to announce that Karla Baxter, RHIA has completed AHIMA's Community Education Coordinator training. This will enable Karla to train other NDHIMA members about the personal health record. For additional information in regards to the Community Education Campaign (Personal Health Record), please contact Karla at kbaxter@uttc.edu or by phone at 701-255-3285, ext. 1245.