media - ASD Healthcare

Newlegislation of interestSequestrationLooming large over the appropriationsprocess is the increasingly real threatof “sequestration.” Earlier this Congress,when the Super Committee failed to reachagreement on a comprehensive deficitreduction proposal, the Budget ControlAct (BCA) triggered across-the-boardfunding cuts to nearly all federal programs– a process otherwise known assequestration. The cuts, which amountto roughly seven percent for public healthprograms and two percent for Medicarepayments to healthcare providers and tohealth insurance plans, are scheduled totake effect at the beginning of calendaryear 2013. Providers and other industryrepresentatives are deeply concernedabout how these cuts could impactreimbursement for necessary medicaltreatments and services. During thedeliberations of the Super Committee,the Average Sales Price (ASP) reimbursementsystem was under scrutiny, and it ispossible that ASP rates would be a targetfor cuts to the Medicare program.With the potential economic falloutfrom sequestration coming into focus,lawmakers are facing mounting pressurefrom constituents and patient advocacygroups to avert or mitigate sequestration.Many members of Congress are currentlyworking to blunt the impact of sequestrationon specific programs that benefittheir constituents and the areas that theyrepresent. However, President Obamahas stated that he will only considerproposals that address sequestration’simpact on the entirety of federal programs.Track and TraceCongressional staff from the House Energyand Commerce Committee and the SenateCommittee on Health, Education, Labor,and Pensions continued to meet over theAugust recess to negotiate a deal on apharmaceutical supply chain monitoringsystem commonly referred to as “trackand trace.” A deal on track and trace initiallyeluded negotiators during therecent consideration of legislation reauthorizingthe Food and Drug Administration(FDA) user fees and lawmakers are nowlooking at the reauthorizations of thePandemic and All-Hazards PreparednessAct (S. 1855/H.R. 2405) as a likely vehicleto the advance supply-chain monitoringprovisions. As negotiations continue,consumer advocates are urging membersof the House Energy and CommerceCommittee, including Ranking MemberHenry Waxman (D-Calif., 30 th Dis.),to maintain their support for strictstandards consistent with the currentregulations in California.ASD Healthcare 11