View from Washington — Implementing healthcare reform, part 3

In this issue’s View From Washington, Dr. Robert Betz looks at recent developments regarding the implementation of key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). We’ll continue the article in a series of blogs on Blog.JHConline.com. The following looks at Committees, Boards and Commissions.

Committees, Boards, Commissions, Etc.

On June 18, 2010 President Obama sent a memorandum to the heads of all executive departments and agencies directing them not to make any new appointments or reappointments of federally registered lobbyists to advisory committees, boards, or commissions.  Within 90 days of this memorandum, the White House Office of Management and Budget will issue proposed guidance to implement this prohibition.  As you may recall, the Affordable Care Act created dozens of advisory boards and committees; this memorandum effectively prohibits registered lobbyists from serving on these boards.

Provision:  Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Advisory Board.
Impacted Entities:  Qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers, individuals wishing to serve on the CO-OP Advisory Board.
Summary:  On June 18, 2010 HHS established the CO-OP Advisory Board, as required by the Affordable Care Act.  The CO-OP Advisory Board will advise HHS on the agency’s strategy to foster the creation of qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers and the awarding of grants and loans relating to this program.  The CO-OP Advisory Board will be comprised of 15 members appointed by the Government Accountability Office.

Provision:  National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council (the “Council”); Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health (the “Advisory Group”).
Impacted Entities:  Community health centers, individuals and entities with an interest in public health, worksite health promotion, chronic disease, education, rehabilitation medicine, and preventive medicine.
Summary:  On June 10, 2010 the President established the Council, which will coordinate at the federal level, and among all federal agencies, prevention, wellness, and health promotion practices, the public health system, and integrative health care in the U.S.  The Council must develop a national prevention, health promotion, and public health strategy by March 23, 2011.  The Advisory Group will develop policy and program recommendations and advise the Council on lifestyle-based chronic disease prevention and management, integrative health care practices, and health promotion.  The Advisory Group will be composed of 25 members appointed by the President, and must include health professionals with expertise in worksite health promotion, community services and health centers, preventive medicine, health coaching, public health education, geriatrics, and rehabilitation medicine.

Provision:  Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Board of Governors.
Impacted Entities:  Private payers, physicians, hospitals, pharmaceutical, and device manufacturers.
Summary:  Nominations to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (“PCORI”) Board of Governors were to be submitted to the Government Accountability Office by Wednesday, June 30, 2010.