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July 25, 2008
Lifetime Insurance Caps – TAKE ACTION NOW!
The House and the Senate introduced the Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act (H.R. 6528 and S. 2706) which will phase in an increase in minimum lifetime caps in private insurance plans to $10 million with an annual inflationary index thereafter. This legislation will allow people with high cost chronic conditions who have private insurance to maintain their coverage and not have to seek public assistance such as Medicaid or state high-risk pools. Please click here to see the Action Alert! for more information and how you can encourage your Congress Member to co-sponsor the bill.
Medicare Passes including Pulmonary Rehab!
On July 15, The Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 was enacted into law. This legislation was important to Alpha-1 for a number of reasons including that the bill included a new benefit to make Pulmonary Rehab a nationally covered benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill paves the way for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue regulations in order to implement the law. Secondly the law delays for 18 months the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. It requires that all DME providers register by October 2008 before the Competitive Bidding process begins again. Many believe that this will allow more providers to be eligible for Competitive Bidding. Third, the law will rescind the transfer of ownership of home oxygen equipment to individual beneficiaries. And finally the bill addressed the cut of 10.6% for physicians treating Medicare beneficiaries which was slated to take place July 1, 2008. Special thanks to you, the Alpha-1 Community, for contacting your representatives and encouraging them to vote yes on this important legislation.
More information on physician pay issues is available at:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PhysicianFeeSched/
More information on therapy caps is available at:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/TherapyServices/
More information on DME is available at:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/
Discontinuation of CFC Administered Inhalers
As of December 31, 2008, pharmacies will no longer dispense CFC administered inhalers such as albuterol inhalers as the US switches to HFA administration. Please be aware of the need to educate yourselves, your support group and perhaps family members on this significant change in medication administration. Patients will need new prescriptions for non-CFC bronchodilators and instructions for using their new inhalers – inhalation technique, cleaning, priming and when to use it. For more information please visit:
http://www.breatherville.org/pharmacy/ph_mdi_transition.htm
SAVE THE DATE - 2009 National Conference
Only in San Francisco can you find the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz and it’s also where you will find the largest gathering of Alphas in Summer 2009! The 18th Annual National Education Conference will be held in San Francisco, CA on June 5-7, 2009. More details of the Conference will be forthcoming!
Upcoming Education Days
| August 16 |
Lebanon, NH (click here for invitation) |
| September 20 |
Raleigh, NC (click here for invitation) |
| September 27 |
Las Vegas, NV |
| October 4 |
Boise, ID |
If you would like to register or obtain more information please contact Genevieve Paul at 800-521-3025 ext.14 or via email at gpaul@alpha1.org.
For more information on Alpha-1 Association programs or services or how you can be involved, visit our website or call us. If you would like to make in donation in memory or in honor of a loved one, please click here: http://www.alpha1.org/about/donate.php
This E-News is a publication of the Alpha-1 Association
The mission of the Alpha-1 Association is to identify individuals affected by Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1) and to improve the quality of their lives through support, education, advocacy and to encourage participation in research.
Patient Information Hotline : (800) 245-6809
Genetic Counseling Center - 800-785-3177
Request a Peer Guide - (800) 245-6809
This E-News is a publication of the Alpha-1 Association
Website: www.alpha1.org
PATIENT INFORMATION HOTLINE: (800) 245-6809
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