2021 Updates

A summary of ASDP activities in 2021. 

July 2021
In a July 1 meeting, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) shared its plans with the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) to change the Designated Diagnostic Provider Program (DDP) from a covered–vs–noncovered plan design to a tiered benefit plan. UHC also plans to delay full implementation of the program until Jan. 1, 2022.

June 2021
ASDP co-sponsored an amendment to American Medical Association (AMA) resolution 707 recommending that AMA oppose the practice of insurance companies providing financial incentives for patients to switch treatments from those recommended by their physicians as well as supporting the same legislation and opposing legislation that would make these practices legal.

ASDP co-sponsored opposition to the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ (AAPA’s) recent move to change the official title of the profession from “Physician Assistant” to “Physician Associate” through the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates. This opposition also requested that AMA actively advocate that the stand-alone title “Physician” be used only to refer to doctors of allopathic medicine (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), and not be used in ways that have the potential to mislead patients about the level of training and credentials of non-physician health care workers.

May 2021
Prior authorization burdens are frequently cited by physicians as a significant administrative burden that can have negative consequences for patient health. The Society supported the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act” (H.R. 3173) that was  reintroduced by Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Ami Bera, MD (D-CA), and Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation would protect patients from unnecessary delays in care by streamlining and standardizing prior authorization under Medicare Advantage plans, providing much-needed oversight and transparency of health insurance for America’s seniors. The AMA and other patient, physician, health care professional, and other health care stakeholder organizations are urging House members to support this legislation.

February 2021
On Dec. 1, dermatopathologists were facing an approximate 10 percent payment reduction from the drastic cuts to CMS conversion factor that would have taken effect Jan. 1, 2021, in order for CMS to meet the statutory budget neutrality rule. The ASDP joined a strong collaborative effort a broad coalition of specialties, including American Medical Association, American Academy of Dermatology and College of American Pathologists, to oppose the cuts. On Dec. 21 Congress reacted by enacting legislation that mitigates the cut. In addition to its collaborative efforts with other specialties, ASDP shared its opposition to the cuts directly with CMS on Oct. 5.

January 2021
ASDP signed-on with many other medical organizations to an AMA letter written in opposition to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Interim Final Rule, entitled “Authority of VA Professionals to Practice Health Care,” which permits virtually all VHA-employed non-physician providers (NPPs) to practice without the clinical supervision of physicians and without regard to state scope of practice law.