Legislation Aims to Address Imaging Cuts
Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) last week introduced the “Access to Medicare Imaging Act of 2006” (H.R. 5704), which would place a two-year moratorium on the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) payment cuts to office-based medical imaging services. Under the DRA, the Medicare payment for the technical component of an imaging service will be set at the hospital outpatient department rate or the physician fee schedule amount, whichever is lower, beginning Jan.1, 2007. The new legislation includes a budget neutrality provision so that Congress must make other “appropriate offsets” to cover the cost of the bill, which is estimated to be around $1.5 billion. It also authorizes the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide Congress and the Secretary of HHS with a report and recommendations by June 30, 2008 on the affect of the cuts on patient access to imaging services and the appropriateness of using hospital outpatient department rates to set reimbursement for all imaging services. ACC staff and the Advocacy Committee are currently reviewing the bill and determining ACC’s position. For more information, contact Camille Bonta at cbonta@acc.org or Jennifer Brunelle at jbrunell@acc.org.

Imaging Self-Referral Bills Moving In California
An imaging self-referral bill (S.B. 736) that would prevent cardiologists from engaging in leasing arrangements was approved by the California Assembly's Business and Professions Committee last week. The bill now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee before being sent to the Assembly floor. Defeat of S.B. 736 is ACC's highest legislative priority on the state level, and the ACC will continue to work closely with the California ACC (CA-ACC), the California Medical Association (CMA) and the California Orthopedic Association (COA) to accomplish this objective.

In a related development, a compromise measure (A.B. 2805), which outlines standards for imaging leasing procedures, has been approved by the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee and sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill is supported by the CMA, the COA, and the California Radiological Association. CA-ACC does not object to the passage of A.B. 2805 but has not taken a formal position on the bill.

CMS Sets Policy for ICD and Pacemaker Remote Monitoring
On June 9, CMS published a transmittal stating that physicians should use (and carriers should pay for) existing CPT in-office pacemaker and ICD interrogation codes (93731, 93734, 93741 and 93743) for remote monitoring of cardiac devices effective July 10, 2006. The publication of this transmittal is a positive development as it indicates CMS’ acknowledgment that the data collected during remote monitoring are identical to those collected during in-office follow up visits. The transmittal should improve coverage of—and reimbursement for—remote monitoring around the country where some regions were requiring unlisted codes or even the use of TTM codes. For more information contact Denise Garris at dgarris@acc.org.

Updated Eating Plan Aims to Help Lower High Blood Pressure
The U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has issued an updated version of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan – a step-by-step dietary and physical activity guide aimed at reducing high blood pressure. The guide recommends limiting salt, saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. It also urges people to increase their consumption of fruits, vegetables, fat-free or low-fat milk products, whole grain products, fish, poultry, and nuts. The updated guide offers new information on potassium, weight loss, and physical activity, and includes a week's worth of menus, easy-to-prepare recipes and a diary to record what you eat and your exercise. There are also tips about heart-healthy food choices and ways to be more physically active. To read the complete article, click here.

Surgeon General Releases Report on Secondhand Smoke
U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona last week issued a new report, “The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke,” which finds that even brief secondhand smoke exposure can cause immediate harm. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. "The scientific evidence is now indisputable: secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance. It is a serious health hazard that can lead to disease and premature death in children and nonsmoking adults," said Surgeon General Carmona in a press release on the report. Meanwhile, the drug Chantix (varenicline) quadruples a smoker's odds of kicking the habit, and is twice as effective as another smoking-cessation drug, Zyban (bupropion), according to three studies published in the July 5 Journal of the American Medical Association. Chantix, which won U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval May 11, also greatly decreases smokers' likelihood of relapse in the first six months after quitting. To read the complete article, click here.

Don’t Miss the ACC’s 2006 Legislative Conference
Don’t miss the ACC’s 2006 Legislative Conference taking place Sept. 17-19 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. Register now for the opportunity to educate members of Congress about Medicare physician payment, in-office medical imaging, health information technology and other key issues facing the cardiovascular community.

The three-day event will begin with a reception and dinner to celebrate the opening of the ACC’s new headquarters in Washington, D.C. Education sessions and an exciting event to benefit the ACC’s Political Action Committee (PAC) will follow. The conference will culminate with face-to-face meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Don’t miss out!

Registration is $100 for members and $50 for FITS and CCAs. To register, click here. To view the conference agenda, click here. Note: The ACC is providing 15 travel awards of up to $1,000 each to FITs. Interested participants should send an email to fitlegaward@acc.org with their address, name of training program, year of training, and congressional voting district. Awards will be announced on July 9.