Despite its proven value in producing better health outcomes at lower costs, the integrated model of health care delivery in the independent setting faces threats. President Obama’s 2016 budget proposes abolishing in-office ancillary services protection for advanced diagnostic imaging, anatomic pathology, physical therapy, and radiation therapy services. Also, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued […]
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Advocacy
Protecting the Integrated Model of Care
High-quality, integrated care delivered in the independent medical practice setting is worthy of protection as an alternative to care that is often more costly when furnished in the hospital setting. Read more...
Saving the In Office Ancillary Service Exception (IOASE)
Integrated models of care allow for better coordination across specialties, translating into higher quality, lower cost and more accessible care for patients. Read more...
Pathology Services Utilization
Recent data, including 2009-2013 Medicare data relating to the cost and utilization of anatomic pathology (AP) services, demonstrates that the GAO report fails to tell the full story about cost and utilization. Read more...
Recent Advocacy
GOP Doctors Caucus to House Leadership: Hands Off In-Office Ancillary Services Exemption
While the integrated model of health care delivery in the independent medical practice setting has been proven to produce better health outcomes at lower costs, President Obama’s 2016 budget would make it illegal for integrated physician practices to provide ancillary services such as advanced imaging, radiation therapy, anatomic pathology and physical therapy. The GOP Doctors […]
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Medicare Anatomic Pathology Utilization: 2009 through 2013
Recent data, including 2009-2013 Medicare data relating to the cost and utilization of anatomic pathology (AP) services, demonstrates that the GAO report fails to tell the full story about cost and utilization: Colonoscopy utilization—and related anatomic pathology—increased in recent years as the standard of care demanded more frequent screening to detect colon cancer, including the […]
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DHPA Supports Brown-Wicker Legislation to Remove Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening
March 9, 2015, Washington, D.C. – The Digestive Health Physicians Association (DHPA®) today applauded U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) for introducing legislation that would remove barriers to life-saving colorectal cancer screenings and treatment. “On behalf of our 1,200 physician members who last year treated more than […]
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Medicare Anatomic Pathology Utilization: 2009 Through 2013
In June 2013, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report, “Medicare Action Needed to Address Higher Use of Anatomic Pathology Services by Providers Who Self-Refer” (GAO Report), which discussed the utilization of anatomic pathology (AP) services in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare program. The GAO Report focused on the growth of AP services between calendar years 2004 […]
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