Legislative and Political Affairs

Federal Legislative Advocacy
AAO-HNS Federal Elections Center
State Advocacy
Legislative Grassroots Advocacy
AAO-HNS Advocacy Center
ENT Advocacy Network
The ENT Advocate
ENTPAC (Political Action Committee)
Advocacy Resources
AAO-HNS 2013 Federal Legislative Priorities
AAO-HNS 2013 State Legislative Priorities

AAO-HNS Comments on Revised SGR Repeal Proposal
The U.S. House Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Committees recently released a revised framework for legislation that would repeal the flawed SGR formula and replace it with a new payment system. On April 24, the AAO-HNS submitted a formal comment letter highlighting the proposal's possible impact on otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and offering suggestions for improving the draft framework. The AAO-HNS will continue to work closely with these key committees while this important legislation is drafted. Members interested in receiving updates should bookmark this web page or follow the Government Affairs team on Twitter @AAOHNSGovtAffrs.

View our initial comments to the House committees on February 26.

CMS Issues Guidance on Sequestration Cuts
On March 1, 2013, President Obama issued an official sequestration order due to failed negotiations to develop a broad deficit reduction plan. Under sequestration, Medicare FFS claims with dates-of-service or dates-of-discharge on or after April 1, 2013, will incur a two percent reduction. The claims payment adjustment shall be applied to all claims after determining coinsurance, any applicable deductible, and any applicable Medicare Secondary Payment adjustments. View the CMS guidance.

Register Now for the 2013 BOG Spring Meeting & OTO Advocacy Summit!
Online registration for this year's BOG Spring Meeting & OTO Advocacy Summit (May 5-7) is now available. Don't miss this opportunity to network with your AAO-HNS colleagues, attend informative committee sessions, hear from experienced policymakers, and meet with your legislators on Capitol Hill. Register TODAY!

Congress Passes Fiscal Cliff Package/Medicare Rates Frozen for One Year
Late New Year's Day, the U.S. House of Representatives passed (257-167) legislation addressing numerous year-end and fiscal cliff issues. The legislation includes a "freeze" of current Medicare payment rates for a period of one year, thereby averting the 26.5 percent cut to payments scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2013. The bill also includes a two-month delay of sequestration spending cuts, including the scheduled two percent cut to Medicare payment rates. The bill, which was previously passed (89-8) by the U.S. Senate, was signed by the President on Wednesday, January 2.

Join the ENT Advocacy Network
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The AAO-HNS Government Affairs Team has joined Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn! Follow us on these interactive forums to receive updates and discuss policies being considered on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures across the nation.

View the 112th Congressional Scorecard to see if your Federal Representatives support AAO-HNS priorities. (The 113th Congressional Scorecard is coming soon!)

AAO-HNS Advocacy Center via Surgery State Legislative Action Center:

NY State Action Alert: Expand Patient Access by Enabling Physician Practices to Dispense Hearing Aids For Profit.

NY State Action Alert: Act Now to Oppose Non-Physician Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Scope Expansion Bill!