ACC Advocates for E-Prescribing Legislation in Medicare Bill; Challenges CBO Analysis In a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and ranking member Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the ACC last week advocated for the inclusion of legislation encouraging the adoption of e-prescribing in the Medicare reform package currently under consideration. The letter offered seven recommendations to lawmakers on what should be included in e-prescribing legislation. For example, the College supports e-prescribing legislation that creates a reasonable date-certain, to be no later than Dec. 31, 2011, to require physician e-prescribing, allowing for the finalization of standards and transition for physician compliance. In addition, the letter states the ACC's opposition to punitive measures for nonuse of the technology. To view a copy of the letter, click here.
In related news, a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report found the adoption of health information technology (HIT) alone will not result in significant financial savings, unless accompanied by other system reforms. Previous estimates of cost savings from HIT have assumed that it would be accompanied by significant reforms, according to the CBO. The ACC issued a statement challenging the CBO analysis as too narrowly focused to provide a comprehensive picture of savings. “The specific details can be debated, but a transition to electronic medical records with clinical decision support systems that promote evidence-based care and guideline adherence, as well as e-prescribing, will no doubt allow physicians to provide a higher quality of care for our patients and save lives. These innovations require an upfront investment but will ultimately improve the effectiveness and efficiency of health care,” said ACC CEO Jack Lewin. To view the statement, go to http://qualityfirst.acc.org.
Four Weeks Remain To Pass Medicare Reform Bill: Contact Your Senators To Take Action With the conclusion of Memorial Day recess, only four weeks remain to pass a Medicare reform bill that would include updates in physician payments. The White House has given lawmakers until June 16 to pass legislation to prevent administrative and payment difficulties for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Members are urged to contact their senators and ask them to support 18 months of positive Medicare physician payments, and ask them not to use cuts to medical imaging payments to offset new costs. To support the efforts of your colleagues in preventing physician payment cuts, contact your senators with the ACC's toll-free Grassroots Hotline at (800) 210-7193. Interested in sending an op-ed or LTE on this issue? Contact ezeigenf@acc.org.
Senate Passes Language Limiting Physician-Owned Specialty Hospitals The Senate has passed language as part of an Iraq war spending bill that would ban self-referral by physicians to new hospitals in which they have an ownership interest. The language would significantly prohibit the existence and growth in physician-owned specialty hospitals. The bill must be considered by the House after next's week recess. Even if the House approves the language, President Bush has threatened to veto the bill.
The ACC opposes language to prohibit the existence and growth in physician-owned specialty hospitals and has signed a letter led by the American Medical Association asking the House and Senate not to include the language. The College urges members to call their Representatives to urge them to keep specialty hospital language from any legislation. To contact your lawmakers directly, call the ACC toll-free grassroots hotline at 1-800-210-7193.
REGULATORY
AND PAYER
CMS To Accept Only NPIs for Medicare Beginning May 23 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on May 23 began automatically rejecting all Medicare claims with a legacy provider number in any field, including the referring and rendering provider sections. Practices are instructed to use only National Provider Identifiers (NPI) for identifying providers on claim forms. The NPI will replace the following legacy numbers: OSCAR/Certification Number, Provider Identification Number (PIN), Unique Physician Identification Number (UPIN) and National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) Number. Please let the ACC know if you are experiencing NPI problems as a result of the change by completing the ACC Payer Hassle Form at http://www.acc.org/advocacy/pmr/payer_interaction/pheform.htm.
QUALITY
Comment Period Now Open: Cardiovascular Recognition Program The ACC has opened a 30-day all-member comment period on its Cardiovascular Recognition Program (CVRP), a practice-level recognition program designed to identify quality in cardiovascular practice. To ensure that the program accurately reflects the views of our members, the ACC is soliciting comments about the draft program through June 15. To view the draft and submit comments, click here. For an overview of the program, as featured in a CVN interview with ACC CEO Jack Lewin and ACC Vice President of Science and Quality Janet Wright, click here. For slides from the ACC's May 14 Webinar on the CVRP, click here.
Still Time to Register for First CBCCT Exam The regular deadline for registering for the Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (CBCCT)'s first examination for certification in CCT closed on May 23. However, the late application deadline is open until July 25, at a cost of $1,095.00. The exam, which will be held on Sept. 22, is offered in Prometric testing centers across the country and will consist of up to 200 multiple-choice questions, lasting four and one half hours. Each question will include four choices, only one of which is the correct or best answer, and some questions involve the interpretation of images and figures. The questions are based on a fall 2007 analysis of the practice of CCT, which was intended to define the responsibilities, tasks and knowledge necessary for physicians to practice in the CCT field. A tutorial that includes sample questions is available online here. The Candidate Bulletins and application forms are available at the CBCCT Web site here. Qualifying ACC members are encouraged to register for the certification examination by the May 23 deadline.
