Government Affairs and Advocacy

This Week In Washington

Congress Returns to Act on Debt, Spending Bills
Congress returns to Washington Nov. 16 for what many observers believe will be an abbreviated lame-duck session. Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) predicted shortly after the election that the session would not extend beyond the end of November. In addition to various meetings to begin organizing the 109th Congress, the House and Senate are expected to tackle three legislative tasks: extending the debt limit, completing the FY 2005 spending bills, and possibly finishing intelligence reform. More >>

CMS Announces CY 2005 Physician Fee Schedule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nov. 2 announced that the 2005 Physician Fee Schedule (CMS-1429-F) will be published in the Nov. 15 Federal Register. The "Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2005" will become effective Jan. 1, 2005. More >>

Also This Week...

• AAMC Voices Support for NIH Proposed Policy on Public Access to Research Information
• AHRQ Advisory Committee Discusses Agency Activities

Current

• Restoring Indirect Medical Education Payment Reductions
• Bioterrorism

AAMC Documents

• Legislative and Regulatory Update, September 2004 (PDF, 127KB)
• Talking Points on Teaching Hospitals and Medicaid (PDF, 38 KB)
• Talking Points on Volunteer Physicians in Non-Hospital Settings (PDF, 178KB)

Related Resources

• Senate
• House of Representatives
• Executive Branch
• Thomas
• CMS (HCFA)
• Federal Register