This Week at ACC
On Cardiosource: Diets on Trial
Now on Cardiosource: A summary of the "Weight Loss With a Low-Carb, Mediterranean or Low-Fat Diet" trial is available here. The trial answers the question: What is the effect of various weight loss diets on weight and metabolic parameters in middle-aged men and women requiring dietary intervention?
CMS Announces PQRI Bonus Payment Awards
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 15 announced that it will make more than $36 million in bonus payments to the more than 56,700 physicians participating in the 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) in August. The average bonus payment to an individual physician is $600 and the average bonus payment to a group practice is more than $4,700. The largest incentive payment to a group practice is $205,700. In addition, physicians can begin accessing confidential feedback reports that aggregate the data they submitted and show how they compare with other participants. To access the reports, physicians and organizations must register for CMS' IACS system. To do so, click here. Click here to access the PQRI Portal and here for general information on PQRI. To view more advocacy-related news, click here.
Participation in Physician Practice Survey Critical
The ACC, the American Medical Association and more than 70 other organizations are conducting a comprehensive multi-specialty survey of America’s physician practices, the results of which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has indicated will be used to help determine physician payment. At this time, cardiology has one of the lowest responses of any specialty and it is crucial that anyone chosen to participate in the survey do so.
The survey firm, dmrkynetec, has been retained to contact randomly selected physicians and practice managers to collect responses. All responses will remain confidential. Please alert your staff regarding your willingness to participate in this survey and the importance of accepting incoming calls, faxes or emails from dmrkynetec. A postcard was mailed to the entire physician sample on June 11. If you have been selected to participate in this important effort and have any questions about the survey, call toll-free at (877) 816-8940 and ask to speak with one of dmrkynetec’s executive interviewers about the 2008 Physician Practice Information Survey. To see whether you have been selected to participate in the survey, go to: https://doanemrwebsc.com/onlinesurveys/amas/.
ACC Hosts Industry Forum
The ACC hosted a very successful Industry Forum last week at Heart House, bringing together leaders from industry, Congress and the medical community. Attendees heard from lawmakers including Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), as well as representatives from PhRMA, IFPMA and AdvaMed. The common themes that emerged were the need for transparency, the need for consensus on a code of ethics for relationships with industry, and the pressing need to communicate more effectively to the media and the public about those relationships. The ACC will work with other specialty societies to develop a new, common code of ethics, as well as improved communication strategies.
For more, catch CVN's coverage of the Industry Forum, and watch ACC CEO Jack Lewin interview Greg Demske from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General on the July edition of the Lewin Report on CVN by clicking here.
Register Now: ACC’s 2008 Legislative Conference
Registration is now open for the ACC’s 2008 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. This year’s conference will take place Sept. 14 – 16 at the Fairmont Hotel. Don't miss this unique opportunity to help advocate for fair and sound policies that ensure cardiovascular specialists can practice medicine in a manner that provides the greatest value for patients. Participants will learn about key issues facing the cardiovascular community and be able to educate their respective lawmakers about the need for the cardiovascular community to be at the table when it comes to improving patient access, reforming Medicare and ensuring any new health care system moves beyond process to focus on outcomes. For more information, click here. Registration closes August 8.
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