Health Equity
News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues
25th Council session information coming soon.
March 11 UPDATE on Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Issue
This weekend, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new opportunity for physicians impacted by the cyberattack and resulting disruptions with Change Healthcare to request advanced Medicare payments to help with cash flow disruptions. The details of the program, terms, and the steps needed to apply can be found in the links below.
Fact Sheet - https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/change-healthcare/optum-payment-disruption-chopd-accelerated-payments-part-providers-and-advance
CMS Statement - https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-statement-continued-action-respond-cyberattack-change-healthcare
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Original post
Change Healthcare, a data analytics, technology, and clearinghouse subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), experienced a cybersecurity incident on February 21, 2024. More than a week after the attack, physician practices, hospitals, and retail pharmacies continue to experience disruptions in electronic health care transactions, including claims processing, eligibility verification, and electronic prescribing. The AMA has created a dedicated webpage on this issue, which will be regularly updated as more information becomes available.
For more from the AMA on this issue, please see:
- AMA letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) detailing the significant challenges physicians face due to the Change incident and requesting that HHS use all its available authorities to ensure that practices can continue to function and patients can continue to receive the care that they need.
- AMA statement on HHS response to Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident.
- AMA dedicated webpage on this issue, which will be regularly updated as more information becomes available.
As a reminder, you and your members can submit information about experiences stemming from the Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident to the ama.advocacy@ama-assn.org inbox. Advocacy staff will use the information in our discussions with the Biden Administration as well as UnitedHealth Group (UHG).
Sample of Health Equity Legislation MSDC Tracked
What does it say? The bill allows for the administration of medicinal marijuana in schools as well as allows students to bring sunscreen to schools and apply it without a prescription.
MSDC position: MSDC supports the language permitting sunscreen application in schools
Current status: A win for DC physicians and public health! The legislation passed the Council in February and was signed by the Mayor. Previous temporary and emergency legislation permitted students to use sunscreen at schools this school year already.
What does it say? The bill requires DC Health to establish an electronic Medical Order for Scope of Treatment registry (eMOST).
MSDC position: MSDC supports this legislation to more easily allow patients to make their treatment orders known.
Current status: A win for the physician community and our patients! The Council passed the bill in December and the Mayor signed it into law on January 16, 2020.
What does it say? The bill would implement a 1.5 cent per ounce tax on the distribution of "sugary" beverages. The money collected from the tax would establish a Healthy People, Healthy Places Open Spaces Grant Program.
MSDC position: MSDC sent a letter to Council Chair Mendelson asking for a hearing to discuss all of the issues around a beverage tax.
Current status: The bill was introduced October 8, 2019 and referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development and the Committee of the Whole.