July 30, 2018

What You Need to Know

The U.S. House of Representatives left town last week to start their August recess. Before leaving Washington, House Democrats unveiled their version of legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA), the Aim Higher Act. While the text of the legislation has yet to be released, AACOM will be assessing any potential impact to osteopathic medical schools and students.

During congressional recess, Representatives are returning to their districts, providing constituents with a great opportunity for advocacy. AACOM’s ED to MED campaign was designed to give osteopathic medical students, the broader osteopathic medical education community, and other advocates a voice during HEA reauthorization. We urge our ED to MED advocates to take advantage of August to let their Representatives know they must consider the needs of medical students as they negotiate this important legislation. Find your legislator today and visit the ED to MED website for additional resources and ways to take action on key policy priorities, including the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Grad PLUS Loan Programs.

Pamela Murphy
Senior Vice President of Government Relations

Due to the congressional August recess, we will return with our next Washington Insider in September. See you in the fall!

On The Hill

AACOM Endorses Bipartisan Rural GME Bill

AACOM has endorsed S. 3014, the Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 2018, introduced by Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and cosponsored by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT). This bipartisan legislation would help address the growing physician workforce shortage in rural areas across the country by implementing comparable per resident payment for residents training in rural hospitals relative to those in urban communities and would eliminate rural hospital residency caps to encourage growth of rural training programs, particularly across various medical specialties. This bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee for its consideration.

House Democrats Reveal HEA Reauthorization Bill

In response to the House Republican HEA reauthorization bill released last December, the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity (PROSPER) Act, House Democrats on July 24 unveiled their plans for their own HEA reauthorization bill, the Aim Higher Act. Comprised of amendments offered by Democrats that failed during the House committee markup of the PROSPER Act as well as proposals introduced through a House Democratic legislative campaign last spring, the Aim Higher Act includes provisions pertinent to osteopathic medical students. These include the preservation of the PSLF Program, elimination of student loan origination fees, and revival of the Perkins Loan Program for undergraduate and graduate students. It is unlikely that Aim Higher will advance in the current GOP-controlled House as Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC), author of the PROSPER Act and Chair of the Education and the Workforce Committee, is still pushing her Republican-led bill for a House floor vote, which has stalled due to broader House Republican concerns. AACOM will be assessing the Aim Higher Act text and developments around this legislation.

AACOM-Endorsed EMPOWER Act Passes House

On July 23, the House unanimously passed H.R. 3728, the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Efficiency Readiness Act of 2017, which would reauthorize Title VII health professions workforce training programs under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)'s purview to include the Centers of Excellence, Primary Care Training and Enhancement Grant, and Area Health Education Centers, among others. AACOM previously joined a letter to House Energy and Commerce Chairman Michael Burgess (R-TX), alongside other national health care organizations, in support of this legislation. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

AACOM Joins Letter to Hill Supporting Title VII and VIII Programs

As a member of the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), AACOM joined with 54 national organizations in a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership to reaffirm the coalition’s request of $690 million for HRSA's Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs for fiscal year 2019. HPNEC is an alliance of more than 60 national organizations representing schools, programs, communities, health professionals, and students dedicated to ensuring the health care workforce is trained to meet the evolving health needs of the country.

Senate Confirms Wilkie as VA Secretary

On July 23, the Senate overwhelmingly confirmed Robert Wilkie to head the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by a vote of 86-9. Previously, Mr. Wilkie was Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and served as a Senate aide to Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC). During his confirmation hearing, he stated that his top priority will be to reduce patient wait times at the VA. Mr. Wilkie's appointment provides the VA its first permanent Secretary since David Shulkin's resignation in March.

CFPB Nominee Testifies to Senate Banking Committee

On June 19, Kathleen Kraninger, President Trump's nominee as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to replace acting head Mick Mulvaney, testified before the Senate Banking Committee. Ms. Kraninger currently serves as associate director for general government programs at the Office of Management and Budget, and previously served as a congressional aide and at the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security. Ms. Kraninger’s nomination has drawn heavy scrutiny from Senate Democrats regarding her involvement in implementing the Administration’s recently rescinded "zero-tolerance" immigration policy that separated migrant families at the southern border.

Advocacy

SVP of GR Engages Osteopathic Medical Student Leaders

AACOM SVP of GR Pamela Murphy, MSW, with Harris Ahmed, MPH, OMS-III, National Parliamentarian,
SOMA National Board of Trustees, at the National Osteopathic Student Caucus

During the American Osteopathic Association’s 2018 Annual Business Meeting, AACOM’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Pamela Murphy, MSW, provided osteopathic medical students at the National Osteopathic Student Caucus, including AACOM’s Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents, with an overview of the ED to MED campaign and resources to help them become more engaged and informed advocates as AACOM’s COM Day and Virtual Hill Day approach this fall.

8 Common PSLF Mistakes

If you plan to rely on the PSLF Program to give back to your community through a career in the health professions, make sure you receive the loan forgiveness you deserve by avoiding these eight common PSLF mistakes.

Summer Reading: AACOM GR Staff Recommend ED to MED Blog Posts

With summer officially in full swing, now is a great time to relax and catch up on your summer reading. AACOM’s Office of Government Relations staff suggest adding ED to MED blog posts to your reading list this summer. Explore the staff picks today.

Administration and Federal Agencies

AACOM Statement on Administration’s Rescission of Admissions Diversity Guidance

AACOM President and CEO, Stephen C. Shannon, DO, MPH, released a statement regarding the Administration’s decision to rescind guidance that encouraged institutions to take a student’s race into account to promote diversity in admissions. The seven revoked federal guidance documents on affirmative action are among the 24 rescinded by the Administration. AACOM will continue to provide updates on this issue and support holistic admissions processes that enable each medical school to educate future physicians capable of providing culturally competent care.

USDE Releases Proposed Rule on Borrower Defense to Repayment

On July 25, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) published its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to rewrite borrower defense to repayment regulations and establish a federal standard and a process for adjudicating claims submitted by federal student loan borrowers who may be eligible for loan forgiveness if their school violated certain laws. AACOM has submitted comments to the USDE on this issue. The NPRM follows the work of a negotiated rulemaking committee that concluded earlier this year without resolution, leaving the USDE to draft its own proposal. AACOM is reviewing the NPRM and will submit comments to the USDE to help ensure that osteopathic medical schools and students are well-served by these regulations.

Reminder: Application Deadline for 2018 NIH Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program

Applications for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 2018 Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program are due on August 31 by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. This program supports research activities during the early stage careers of independent clinical researchers. Offering a unique bridge between the NIH intramural and extramural research communities, Lasker Scholars may receive NIH funding for clinical research for up to 10 years. Learn more.

VA Establishes Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization

The VA has created the Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization (OEHRM) to manage its new electronic health care record system and its health information technology tools. Genevieve Morris, currently the Principal Deputy National Coordinator at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will lead the OEHRM. Among other improvements, the VA’s new system will allow patient information to be shared more seamlessly between the VA and the U.S. Department of Defense.

CMMI Director Appointed to Oversee Value-Based Care Initiatives

HHS Secretary Alex Azar recently announced the appointment of Adam Boehler as the Senior Advisor for Value-Based Transformation and Innovation. Mr. Boehler will also continue to serve in his current role as the Director and Deputy Administrator for Innovation and Quality of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. Mr. Boehler is the former CEO and founder of Landmark Health, which works to deliver medical services to chronically ill patients. The appointment of Mr. Boehler advances Secretary Azar’s plan to address the Department’s four key priorities of combating the opioid crisis, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, addressing the cost and availability of health insurance, and transforming the health care system to a value-based system.

Featured Federal Resources and COM Engagement 

NHSC Launches New Website: The National Health Service Corps has launched a new website that features an enhanced design, streamlined navigation and content, and searchable member story videos. Learn more.

PCSFN Relaunches Health Promotion Model: The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition recently relaunched “I Can Do It,” a free, customizable model that assists schools and organizations in establishing health promotion programs focused on youth and adults with a disability. Learn more.

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AACOM’s President and CEO to Step Down

Stephen C. Shannon, DO, MPH, has informed the Board of Deans on July 19 that he will be retiring on June 30, 2019, from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of AACOM. He has served the Association admirably for the last 12 and a half years. Learn more in the latest issue of Inside OME.