This Week at ACC
PINNACLE
Registry Approved for PQRI, E-Prescribing Participation
The ACC’s PINNACLE
Registry™ has been approved to submit registry reports on behalf
of physicians and eligible providers for the 2010 Physician Quality Reporting
Initiative (PQRI). PINNACLE Registry will be able to submit for 14 individual
measures for both six- and 12-month reporting periods and for two measures
group (heart failure and coronary artery disease) for six- and 12-month
reporting periods. 2010 PQRI provides a 2 percent incentive to providers
who successfully participate in the program.
In addition to approval
for PQRI, the ACC was approved to report on the 2010 Electronic Prescribing
Incentive Program, creating an opportunity for an additional 2 percent
bonus for practices. This could result in a 4 percent incentive to practices
participating in the PINNACLE Registry for the same data that is routinely
collected and submitted for this quality initiative. The ACC was one of
a select number of registries to be approved for 2010 PQRI and e-Prescribing
reporting this early in the CMS process. Other registries will not receive
approval until mid year 2010.
Approved
Imaging Accreditation Organizations Announced
The
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced its approval
of three national accreditation organizations to accredit suppliers seeking
to furnish the technical component of advanced diagnostic imaging services
under the Medicare program (computerized tomography, nuclear medicine,
positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging). The three
approved accreditation organizations are the Intersocietal Accreditation
Commission, The Joint Commission and the American College of Radiology.
All cardiology practices providing advanced diagnostic imaging services
must be accredited by 2012 by one of these three organizations. Practices
should familiarize themselves with the requirements and begin steps to
seek accreditation.
CMS
Releases File of Medicare Enrollment Records
The Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid
Services (CMS) recently released a file
of all practitioners who have current enrollment records in Medicare.
This file will assist cardiovascular practices in determining which practitioners
are enrolled in Medicare and eligible to refer patients and to order tests
for them. Last fall, CMS announced that it would no longer pay for services
ordered or referred by practitioners not eligible to refer. The policy,
originally scheduled for implementation on Jan. 1, was delayed until April
5 because of the efforts of the ACC and other physician organizations.
The recent file release will allow cardiovascular practices to identify
ineligible practitioners before the patients are treated in their offices
and claims are denied.
Cardiovascular practices
whose main referral sources are not listed in this file, should remind
them to update their enrollment information with Medicare. The ACC has
drafted a sample
letter for you to use when contacting those referral sources.
Don't
Delay! Register Now for ACC.10 & i2 Summit 2010!
The ACC is leading the revolution in cardiovascular
education and ACC.10 & i2 Summit are the place to be for world-class
educational opportunities. Come to Atlanta and you will find everything
you need to stay at the forefront of your profession.
Learn how to improve
the quality of your care through science, with practical information that
strengthens clinical skills. Plus, be here to experience more hands-on
education than ever before with Mock D2B Simulations, a Hybrid Cath Lab/OR
Suite and 3D Theater, Hands-On Learning Labs, Heart Songs Learning Lab
featuring new video heart songs and much, much more!
The ACC and Atlanta have teamed up to provide you with great hotel rates
and travel deals. Click
here to register and secure a deal on a great hotel today.
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