Orange, California Jun 22, 2018 (Issuewire.com) - The American College of Medical Scribe Specialists (ACMSS) and the American College of Clinical Documentation Outcomes (ACCDO) oppose a proposed 2019 federal budget made public this week that assumes repeal of the Affordable Care Athe ct (ACA) and calls for drastic cuts to Social Security and Medicare. The proposal was approved yesterday by the House Budget Committee, but it is not clear whether it will be presented for a House floor vote prior to the mid-term elections.
“ACMSS and ACCDO have been urging Congress to work together in a bipartisan manner to balance the budget,” said ACMSS/ACCDO Executive Director Kristin Hagen. “However, a partisan proposal that seeks to make up for recent deep tax cuts by removing the vital safety nets for our most vulnerable populations is not the answer.”
Speaking on the budget proposal, Rep. John Yarmuth (Ky.), the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, condemned the proposal. “The 2019 Republican budget scraps any sense of responsibility to the American people and any obligation to being honest,” said Yarmuth. “Its repeal of the Affordable Care Act and extreme cuts to health care, retirement security, anti-poverty programs, education, infrastructure, and other critical investments are real and will inflict serious harm on American families.”
ACMSS and ACCDO are also concerned that the proposal would scrap the “Choose Medicare Act,” proposed in April, which would create a new plan—Medicare Part E—that would be offered on all state and federal exchanges, and would provide a Medicare health plan for people not currently eligible for Medicare. People who are eligible existing ACA subsidies could use them to help pay for the plan. Additionally, employers could choose to select Medicare Part E rather than private insurance to provide “affordable and reliable health care to their employees,” according to the proponents.
“The Choose Medicare bill, if enacted, will bolster the framework of the ACA, giving Americans another affordable choice for healthcare coverage, while providing protections for pre-existing conditions and the 10 Essential Health Benefits mandated by the ACA,” said Hagen, “This will not be possible if the ACA is repealed and sharp cuts are made to Medicare. President Trump has vowed on several occasions that he will not touch Social Security or Medicare. We applaud him for that, and urge him to hold fast to those commitments.”
ACMSS and ACCDO are empowering America’s healthcare system, clinicians, and Physician/Certified Medical Scribe Specialist (CMSS) teams to pursue coordinated national goals that truly transform the system, building patient-centered care through the CMSS licensed professional. Advocating for greater access to care is part of that effort, which includes a focus on wellness, prevention, disease reversal and 21st century cures.
About ACMSS
The American College of Medical Scribe Specialists is the nation’s only nonprofit professional society representing more than 21,000 Certified Medical Scribe Specialists in over 2,100 medical institutions. The ACMSS certification program meets current and proposed Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) certification requirements toward use of electronic health records. ACMSS advances the needs of the medical scribe industry through certification, public advocacy, secure innovative systems design, individualized and customized consulting, tailored webinars, and continuing scribe education for improved care coordination and patient-centric care toward wellness. ACMSS works independently in compliance with CMS to meet national goals and initiatives of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) and its Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Certified Medical Scribe Specialists also meet the “qualified people” standard in Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT).
About ACCDO
The American College of Clinical Documentation Outcomes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving healthcare non-profit entities, non-profit organizations, accredited academic institutions, and the community at large, hosting meaningful conversations with physicians, clinicians, and patients about becoming involved, and creating meaningful connections and educational materials on improving 21st century clinical care. Activities are focused on charitable contributions, research, advocacy, events, and creating new educational material focused on evidence-based care and cures. Nutrition and holistic care are centerpieces along with the importance of reaching both clients and patients of the healthcare system.
Please contact ACMSS Executive Director Kristin Hagen directly at info@theacmss.org or 800-987-3692 if you have any questions regarding the ACMSS and ACCDO programs and/or materials.
CONTACT: Kristin Hagen, CMSS, CPHIMS
Executive Director, American College of Medical Scribe Specialists
(800) 987-3692
Media Contact
American College of Medical Scribe Specialists, a 501(c)(6) Non-Profit Organization khagen@theacmss.org (800) 987-3692 333 City Blvd. West, Suite 1700 https://TheACMSS.org
