Energy & Commerce Health Opioid Legislative Hearing on Medicare & Medicaid Bills

Below, please find a summary of the April 11-12, 2018 House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing entitled, "Combating the Opioid Crisis: Improving the Ability of Medicare and Medicaid to Provide Care for Patients," to consider 34 opioid bills focused on Medicare and Medicaid.  Subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) chaired the hearing, emphasizing the need for bold and creative action to address the opioid crisis.  The hearing was attended by 14 Republicans and 10 Democrats of the 33-Member Subcommittee and 1 Democratic full Committee Member.

Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) stated the Committee will advance bipartisan opioid legislation focusing on Medicare, Medicaid, prevention and other policies before Memorial Day.  He urged stakeholders to provide input to the Committee on the legislation.  Chairman Walden and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess (R-TX) called for changes that challenge the status quo given the extent and devastating impact of the opioid crisis.  Chairman Burgess also emphasized the importance of ensuring new policies do not harm patients with chronic conditions who rely on opioids for appropriate treatment.

Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX) emphasized the need to preserve substance abuse treatment and expressed optimism the Committee will advance bipartisan legislation.  The Democratic Members questioned if the Committee can fully vet all of the legislation expected to be included in a markup.

Kimberly Brandt, Principal Deputy Administrator for Operations, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), outlined new agency initiatives to reduce overprescribing and enhance state flexibility to provide appropriate substance abuse treatment in Medicaid.

A panel of witnesses representing providers, health plans and a health system offered recommendations to create incentives for effective treatment and prevention strategies, including reimbursement changes, prescriber education and electronic prescribing.  Members, Ms. Brandt and stakeholder witnesses discussed a range of policies in Medicare Parts B and D and Medicaid to expand substance use disorder treatment access, reduce inappropriate prescribing, and modify program rules that create barriers to innovative and non-addictive treatments, as well as modernize privacy regulations for substance use disorder.

The following Members participated:  Subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess (R-TX), Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX), Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Representatives Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Joe Barton (R-TX), Fred Upton (R-MI), John Shimkus (R-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bob Latta (R-OH), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Joe Kennedy (D-MA), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Paul Tonko (D-NY).

More information on the legislation can be found by clicking here.

• Click here to read the summary.

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If you are a resident/fellow or a newly licensed physician in need of an employment agreement review, the LSMS has partnered with Kantrow Spaht Weaver & Blitzer to offer you a discounted rate for their services. A legal representative will review the proposed employment agreement with our members in person or by telephone to provide comments and helpful negotiation tactics, or to answer questions. No time constraint for a flat fee of $250. Please contact W. Scott Keaty at scott@kswb.com or 225-383-4703 for additional details or to schedule your appointment.

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Your Membership Matters!

Our 2018 billing cycle is in full swing and we appreciate those members who have renewed their annual commitment to the organization. By being a member, you not only receive exclusive information about the important issues facing the practice of medicine, you also become involved in the process to shape those issues. With your continued support, the LSMS will continue its unequaled success of protecting your profession and legacy. 
   
As a reminder, your 2018 invoice will contain only LSMS dues and new auto-payment options. We will no longer bill for the local society portion. Also, included with your invoice is a copy of our 2017 Year in Review, which highlights our top activities this year. If you have any questions or need more information, contact our office at 800-375-9508 or membership@lsms.org.  As always, thank you for your continued support.

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Per Act 76 passed in the 2017 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, all practitioners with a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) license in Louisiana are now required to complete three hours of LSBME-approved continuing medical education (CME) for the 2019 renewal year. An authorized prescriber renewing his/her license for the first time in 2019 may be excused from the CME requirement upon submission of a certification attesting that he/she has not prescribed, administered, or dispensed any CDS during the entire year covered by the prescribers' expiring license. The LSBME will verify this through the Louisiana Prescription Monitoring Program. An exempted licensee, who subsequently prescribes, administers, or dispenses a CDS shall satisfy the CME requirement as a condition to license renewal for the year immediately following that in which the CDS was prescribed, administered, or dispensed. Click here to download the exemption request form.

• Each prescriber must now complete three hours of education on drug diversion, prescribers' best practices, and addiction treatment.
• The required education must be completed before license renewal in 2019 or upon initial licensure.
• This new education requirement is included in the credit hours already required by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME), not in addition to the existing requirements.

LSMS, in partnership with LAMMICO, has developed a three-hour controlled substance course to meet the new Louisiana state requirements. The course for Louisiana providers is titled "Louisiana Act 76, Controlled Substances: Prescribing, Diversion Prevention, and Addiction Treatment." This course meets all subject requirements by Act 76 of the Louisiana Legislature and the LSBME's rules.

LSMS members can access the course FREE of charge ($225 value) by logging into the members-only section of the LSMS website.