DOs, let your voice be heard on legislative matters

If you work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or have a physician office-based lab, the AOA needs your expert opinion so staff can advocate for the osteopathic medical profession most effectively.

VA rule

The AOA supports a physician-led, team-based approach for treating our nation’s veterans, and is opposed to a proposed VA rule that would drastically expand the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses operating in the VA system.

To advocate for policy that best represents the unique relationships DOs have with their patients at the VA, the AOA needs real-world insights from DOs who have experience with the VA. Share your expertise and tell the AOA what this proposed change could mean for veterans. AOA staff may follow up with you to get more details about your experiences.

Physician office-based labs

Under new federal regulations, physician office-based labs meeting certain criteria will be required to report private payer payment rates for tests performed in them to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This includes:

• Amounts paid by both a primary and secondary payer.
• All patient co-insurance amounts.
• Associated volume for each test at each rate.
• Current Procedural Terminology codes associated with each test.

The AOA wants to know what challenges, if any, you will have in meeting these requirements. If you have a physician office-based lab, share your insights on the new requirements.