The Government Relations program represents AdvaMed members' interests on legislation affecting patient access to medical technology.

Click here to read AdvaMed's Innovation Agenda for Medical Technology.

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AdvaMed holds medical technology briefing

ON JUNE 22, a day following its transition from HIMA, AdvaMed held the latest in its series of Medical Technology Breakfast Forums on Capitol Hill. The session focused on the topic of medical errors, and featured Rep. Karen Thurman (D-FL), who is co-sponsoring H.R. 4395, legislation to ensure Medicare patients' access to new technology. She discussed the need to reduce the human suffering caused by errors made in the delivery of medical care in the U.S. Also attending were representatives of three member companies and physicians who discussed the ways that medical errors could be reduced by using medical technology in anesthesia, diagnostic testing and in training of medical personnel.

In the left photo above, Rep. Karen Thurman (D-FL), speaks about the need to address medical errors in the nation's health care system at AdvaMed's Medical Technology Breakfast Forum. At right, Rep. Thurman is greeted by (L-R) James Benson, AdvaMed's Executive Vice President, Technology and Regulatory Affairs, and Blair Childs, Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning and Implementation.

HIMA directors go to Capitol Hill

HIMA'S BOARD of Directors met in Washington, D.C. June 7-9. One major part of their visit was a Capitol Hill "Fly-In," where they met with members of Congress and discussed leading issues affecting the medical technology industry. In addition, HIMA members attended two receptions: one that attracted congressional leaders and another featuring the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Click here for more details and photos of the events.

Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-MN, receives a plaque from HIMA Chairman John P. Wareham, of Beckman Coulter Inc., and Pamela Bailey, HIMA's President, after remarks to HIMA members. Ramstad has sponsored legislation to speed access to technology for Medicare patients.

Agencies form group to study cancer imaging

THE NATIONAL Cancer Institute (NCI), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) are forming an Interagency Council on Biomedical Imaging in Oncology. The Council is designed to serve as a sounding board for investigators and manufacturers attempting to take emerging medical imaging technology to market. The council is expected to meet July 20, and the deadline for its first call for industry communications is June 8. For more information, go to the Council's Web site.

Members urged to contact Congress on Medicare bill

HIMA MEMBERS are being encouraged to help build support for legislation that would speed Medicare's coverage, coding and payment decisions. In a May 19 action alert, HIMA has urged its members to contact their Members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4395, the Medicare Patient Access to Technology Act of 2000. Members click here to read HIMA's grass roots alert.

HIMA urges Japan to revise its payment policies

HIMA CALLED on Japan to ensure that patients have access to innovative technology by improving its insurance coverage and reimbursement policy for these products. At a May 17 briefing of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus, several industry officials, including HIMA President Pamela Bailey, called for Japan to fully integrate use of technology into its health care system. The Association also expressed concern that Japan has not lived up to earlier agreements and may fail to renew a key framework for further progress. To read HIMA's press release, click here.

HIMA holds May 10 briefing on Medicare access bill

HIMA SPEARHEADED a May 10 news briefing on Capitol Hill to support recently introduced legislation that would ease Medicare patients' access to breakthrough technologies. The briefing focused on H.R. 4395, the Medicare Patient Access to Technology Act, sponsored by Reps. Jim Ramstad, R-MN, and Karen Thurman, D-FL, who attended and discussed the need for their bill. They were joined by patients who benefited from new medical technologies as well as medical professionals. For HIMA's press release, click here. For related materials, click here.

HIMA launches 1st Innovation Council in San Diego

HIMA HAS launched the first of 10 Innovation Councils in San Diego, CA. The April 18 event featured an appearance by Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA), the area's representative in Congress, and was hosted at a BD San Diego facility. For more information on this event and on the Innovation Council program, members click here.

Members of Congress support open Japan market

SEVEN MEMBERS of the House Ways & Means Committee, including Chairman William Archer, R- TX, have signed a letter to five Clinton Administration officials, encouraging them to support improved market access for U.S. medical technologies to Japan. The letter also offers several specific corrective actions that administration officials could suggest to Japanese officials in upcoming trade talks. To read the Ways & Means letter, click here. To read a letter from HIMA to the Clinton Administration addressing the same issue, members click here.

Issue paper about outpatient PPS prepared by HIMA

HIMA HAS developed an issue paper on the Health Care Financing Administration's (HCFA) recent announcement concerning its reimbursement for certain new technologies under Medicare's new hospital outpatient prospective payment system (PPS). The agency's March 10 notice listed medical devices, drugs and biologics that are eligible for higher reimbursement under transitional, cost-based payments mandated by the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999. HIMA members, click here to access this issue paper.

Members, click here to read an earlier HIMA memo and additional information concerning HCFA's announcement. Click here to access the agency's announcement on its Web site.