This Week at ACC

 

CMS Proposes 11% Payment Cut for Cardiology
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today released its proposed 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which includes policy proposals that would significantly reduce payments for cardiovascular-related services. CMS projects that the proposed changes would reduce total Medicare payments to cardiology by 11 percent. The projected payment cut would result from changes to the following areas: practice expense calculation; equipment utilization rates; malpractice rate calculation; and payment for consultations. In addition, CMS proposes a 21.5 percent reduction in the Medicare conversion factor due to the flawed sustainable growth rate.

In short, there could be as high as a 30 percent cut in Medicare payments for cardiology. Taken together with the payment cuts cardiology has already experienced, CMS’ proposed rule represents a grave threat to cardiology practices and the patients they serve. The ACC and our partners are prepared to wage an aggressive campaign to prevent implementation of these damaging policies. The ACC urges its members to contact their lawmakers and ask them to prevent these payment policies that will result in devastating cuts. You can reach your members using the ACC’s toll-free grassroots hotline (800-210-7193) or at www.acc.org/can. Detailed information is available on the ACC Web site, and more information will be provided over the coming weeks. For questions, please contact advocacydiv@acc.org.


ACC to the President: What about Quality?
President Barack Obama on Wednesday held an online town hall to answer questions about health care reform submitted by the American public. Questions submitted ranged in topic area — from quality to costs to access — and hundreds were submitted. The ACC questioned the President about his plans to incorporate quality into efforts to control costs, and responded to the town hall in a short video, which is available on ACC’s blog, The Lewin Report. Watch the video on the town hall on The Lewin Report, and respond with what questions you think the President missed and what you would like to see happen with health care reform.


CER Recommendations Released
The Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) recently released recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the $400 million in funds allotted for comparative effectiveness research. The report is mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Council was charged by Congress with the task of identifying key areas of CER where funding could make the greatest impact to improve health outcomes for our nation. The report includes a CER definition, criteria for determining which research projects should be a priority, and a strategic framework to identify gaps and future priorities.

The report recommends that CER focus on the needs of priority populations such as racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons with multiple chronic conditions, the elderly and children. It also recommends the research be in specific high-impact health arenas such as medical and assistive devices, surgical procedures, behavioral interventions and prevention. The report is available online.


Register Today for CCA Core Curriculum
The cardiovascular care team is more important than ever to quality CV practice. The ACCF CCA Core Curriculum program is designed for advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, cardiovascular nurses and physician assistants. The program will enhance practitioners' clinical skills as well as provide new tools to better diagnose patients with cardiovascular disease. Through case studies of evidence-based practice guidelines, this comprehensive and interactive program will address key topics in cardiology. This program will also include numerous hands-on activities such as 12-lead ECG Interpretation, heart sound recognition and chest x-ray interpretation. Plus, take advantage of opportunities to network with colleagues and expert faculty. Space is limited to 80 participants. The Core Curriculum program sold out in advance in 2008 — register today!


Managing the Challenges of ACS
Now on Cardiosource: Earn CME as you learn to navigate the challenges of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). This program will reinforce adherence to guidelines to improve patient outcomes.


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