Long COVID Initiative Updates: May 12, 2021

Members & Publications

May 12, 2021

AAPM&R will provide consistent updates on our advocacy outreach efforts, the Multi-Disciplinary PASC Collaborative and other relevant information to our Long COVID initiative.

The Academy's Long COVID Efforts Are Gaining Momentum

AAPM&R continues to advocate for a national plan to address Long COVID, most recently pushing the call to action in The Hill, a Washington, D.C. based political media outlet. Continue to stand with us and share our call to action with your colleagues and community and bring more voices into the conversation. We are stronger together. Visit our press page to see how our members are making a difference and caring for patients with Long COVID. 

We recently launched our Advocacy sign-on statement with over 60 signatures which can be viewed here. The statement is being shared with federal offices to demonstrate the vast support for the national crisis plan on Long COVID. We are continuing to encourage organizations to sign on to this important initiative.

AAPM&R submitted comments to the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) Committee's meeting yesterday. We're taking the opportunity to call attention to Long COVID as the Senate checks in on the status of COVID-19 in the U.S. Thank you to Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD, FAAPMR; Benjamin Abramoff, MD, FAAPMR; Gerald Nora, MD, FAAPMR, and Aaron Bunnell, MD, FAAPMR for meeting with their representatives on this issue on behalf of the Academy.

The PASC Quality Improvement Collaborative continues to make progress as well. The Cognitive Impairment writing group met last week to share ideas and strategies as it works to formulate initial guidance.

Legislation Introduced to Alleviate Impact of Conversion Factor Cut for 2021

Nov 09, 2020

Last month, two bills were introduced in the House proposing solutions to the estimated 10.6% Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor cut expected to go into effect January 1, 2021.  The bills offer some relief to the cut, but do not reflect a comprehensive or long-term solution.  AAPM&R has therefore chosen to remain neutral regarding these bills. 

Your Academy continues to advocate for a permanent solution to the conversion factor cut while maintaining the important payment increases to office and outpatient evaluation and management services.