June 8, 2022
The 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule changed billing rules for reporting split/shared visits. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, split/shared critical care visits must be reported by whichever clinician contributes more than half the total time in qualifying activities.
May 10, 2022
In the May issue of Cardiology magazine, Bailey Ann Estes, MSN, RN-BC, RNFA, CNOR, RCIS, on behalf of ACC’s CV Management Section, gives a perspective on the current nursing shortage and its impact on cardiovascular care.
April 20, 2022
Share your quality improvement successes with an abstract for ACC Quality Summit, scheduled for Sept. 14-16 in Los Angeles, CA, and virtually. Showcase how NCDR and ACC Accreditation Services data has helped you improve patient care, processes or qualitative initiatives!
April 18, 2022 | Srinath Adusumalli, MD, FACC
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States and globally, despite the widespread availability of highly evidence-based therapies intended to prevent and treat it.
April 12, 2022
CV Transforum Spring'22, hosted by MedAxiom, an ACC Company, will reunite hundreds of cardiovascular thought leaders April 21-23 in Atlanta, GA, and virtually to connect, learn and transform.
March 29, 2022 | Chittur A. Sivaram, MBBS, FACC ; Toniya Singh, MBBS, FACC
Value-based payment (VBP) models are intended to promote delivery of high-quality care and favorable outcomes with reasonable expenses. VBP, as the larger quality strategy of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is intended to move towards physician payments based on quality rather than quantity of care.
March 22, 2022
At a time when the cardiovascular community is facing significant challenges in preparing for changes in health care delivery, Joel Sauer, MBA, Executive Vice President of MedAxiom Consulting, provides an update from the recent ACC Cardiovascular Summit on five key takeaway points that should guide us.
February 1, 2022
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and its contractor, Acumen LLC, are currently field testing several episode-based cost measures, including a chronic condition-based episode for the ongoing management of heart failure (HF) patients, through Feb. 25.
February 1, 2022
Join ACC Accreditation Services for a webinar on March 2 at 4 p.m. ET on the benefits of Transcatheter Valve Certification.
January 18, 2022
Many provisions of the No Surprises Act (NSA), signed into law in late 2020, took effect Jan. 1. While the ACC and other medical societies have expressed concerns about some requirements and are optimistic there could be refinements, clinicians must also comply with those and other provisions as they exist today.
December 13, 2021
Register today for the Cardiovascular Summit, taking place Feb. 17-19, 2022, in Washington, DC, and discover how to align strong leadership with effective business strategies to improve cardiovascular care and patient outcomes.
September 20, 2021
The ACC recognizes more than 2,000 hospitals, health systems and facilities that participate in NCDR registries and ACC Accreditation Services in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" guidebook, released Sept. 14.
September 20, 2021
MedAxiom's ninth annual Cardiovascular Provider Compensation and Production Survey Report – which unveils trends across cardiology, surgery, advanced practice providers and non-clinical compensation – reveals the true impact of the coronavirus pandemic on cardiovascular programs in 2020.
June 28, 2021 | Tony S. Das, MD, FACC
Cardiology has been a field of early adopters of technology for many years and digital devices are no exception (Wassif, 2019). Cardiologists interested in exploring digital devices and wearable technology for remotely following chronic cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery disease (CAD) and vascular disease is of no surprise.
April 19, 2021
Drastic shifts in care delivery models and organizational priorities and strategies have put staffing and workforce development in the forefront. MedAxiom is addressing these issues, which the cardiovascular community has continuously ranked as leading “top of mind” concerns, to ensure programs can continue transforming care.
April 12, 2021 | Larry Sobal, MBA, MHA
Physicians are often in the job market at the start of a new year. Third-year fellows could be finalizing their employment offers and accepting their top choices; established physicians with 90 – 180-day resignation notification clauses could be working on a job change that accommodates a family move during the summer between school terms; or perhaps the COVID-19 pandemic could have you reconsidering your current employment situation and you want a change in scenery.
April 11, 2021
The ACC has changed the name of its ICD Registry to the EP Device Implant Registry, effective April 1. The EP Device Implant Registry will include data on ICD and CRT-D procedures previously captured in the ICD Registry, as well as provide flexibility to capture novel pacemaker procedures.
April 6, 2021
How to best manage rapid change, navigate health care economics and optimize the clinician experience were among the primary goals of the ACC's first-ever, all-virtual Cardiovascular Summit in February.
April 6, 2021
As cardiovascular programs continue to face operational changes, MedAxiom understands the important role of revenue cycle management in ensuring the financial health of organizations. A new interactive tool, developed by MedAxiom’s Revenue Cycle Solutions team, allows your program to estimate coding staff needs in real-time based on your specific program, job responsibilities and current coding FTEs.
March 25, 2021
As part of ongoing efforts to report meaningful outcomes and improve patient care, the ACC is launching an open comment period for the CathPCI Registry In-Hospital Risk-Standardized Mortality Model.
March 9, 2021
MedAxiom is working to create dynamic resources to help cardiac rehab/intensive cardiac rehab programs stay informed about evidence-based best practices, emerging coverage legislation, and changes in reimbursement, coding, billing and technology.
January 19, 2021
Evaluation and Management (E/M) guidelines for office and outpatient services are in effect for 2021. Join MedAxiom on Jan. 27 from 1 – 2:30 p.m. ET for a webinar designed to help you understand the new guidelines for coding and documentation.
December 21, 2020
A new MedAxiom publication examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped the future of pediatric cardiology care delivery.
December 16, 2020
Today, it is estimated that more than 70% of the currently practicing cardiologists in the U.S. are employed by hospitals or health systems. This major shift away from independent private practice of cardiology to hospital-physician vertical integration began about 15 years ago and peaked 8-10 years ago.
November 25, 2020
Join MedAxiom, an ACC Company, and prepare for 2021!
November 25, 2020
Immerse yourself in an educational experience featuring the latest cardiovascular management and leadership strategies at Cardiovascular Summit Virtual!
October 16, 2020
Cardiovascular administrators, save your spot for a webinar on the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced program, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. ET!
September 24, 2020
Balancing the needs and desires of individual physicians with those of a group is a challenging endeavor. There are many opportunities for hard feelings or damage to the group's effectiveness.
September 22, 2020
Are you attending ACC's 2020 Virtual Legislative Conference from Oct. 4 – 6? Make sure you are prepared by participating in the CV Team and CV Administrators Legislative Conference Pre-Session, taking place on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 2 – 4 p.m. ET.
September 14, 2020
For the first time in its nearly 20-year history, MedAxiom is extending the CV Transforum conference beyond its membership.
August 31, 2020
Join the ACC for a webinar, Sept. 17 at noon ET, to review best practices for vascular program planning, implementation, development and growth.
August 26, 2020
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect daily program operations, maintaining accurate coding and clinical documentation is vital for managing operating margins, revenue collection and reimbursement.
August 19, 2020
ACC's COVID-19 Hub is your resource for "Quick Tips" videos that address emerging and persistent issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 4, 2020
Year after year, access is one of the top concerns from cardiovascular programs and practices across the country. Many organizations have tried for years to improve access incrementally by modifying scheduling templates and protocols and bringing advanced practice providers on board.
June 26, 2020
The ACC and Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) announced that ACC's PVI Registry will collaborate with the SVS Vascular Quality Initiative to support and steer a single vascular registry.
June 23, 2020
Join UVA Health's Christopher M. Kramer, MD, FACC, and Todd C. Villines, MD, FACC, for a live webinar on June 25 from 1 – 2 p.m. ET, exploring the emerging diagnostic role of advanced cardiac imaging in clinical cardiology.
May 19, 2020
Alison L. Bailey, MD, FACC, has been named the next editor-in-chief of the American College of Cardiology's Extended Learning (ACCEL) editorial board.
March 25, 2020
The COVID-19 virus has rocked the health care industry, shifting the way care is delivered for years to come. The impact on practices and hospitals was immediate and action must be taken now to protect the future of cardiovascular service lines (CVSLs).
March 10, 2020
As health care delivery grew in scale and complexity, the system looked toward manufacturing processes as a template to improve efficiency while protecting quality. Six Sigma, process mapping and root cause analysis became standards in health care operations. Physicians are increasingly familiar with fish bone graphs and value stream maps. One area health care has been slower to adapt from manufacturing is standardization and decreased variation as a way to control quality. Clinical standardization was easier to embrace.
March 9, 2020
Join Cathleen Biga, MSN, RN, FACC, and Brandon Hubbs, MSN, RN, for a webinar on appropriate use criteria (AUC) mandates and incorporating them into the cardiovascular service line, taking place March 19 at noon ET. This webcast will review the rules and legislation that has been "kicked down the road" for several years, but will be implemented Jan. 1, 2021.
March 3, 2020
An area of variation noted in many cardiovascular programs is the processes in which we deliver care to our patients. This variation could include schedule management, call management, test result follow-up, patient rooming and many others.
February 27, 2020
As the cardiovascular industry continues to evolve and clinician's time is stretched thin, we are all looking for solutions to improve efficiency and outcomes. Reducing variations in care across an organization can go a long way towards achieving the Quadruple Aim of better outcomes at a lower cost and improved clinician and patient experiences, something we are all striving for.
February 26, 2020
In the newest episode of ACC's Practice Made Perfect podcast, Alison Bailey, MD, FACC; C. Michael Valentine, MD, MACC; and Cathie Biga, MSN, RN, FACC, discuss what medical liability is and tips for preparation and prevention to stay out of trouble. Listen here.
February 12, 2020
Improving access to care has steadily risen as a top priority of health care organizations. While physicians, other members of the health care team and health care organizations all strive to provide the best possible medical care, gaining access has become increasingly problematic. The term "access" and all the components associated with it have become one of the key topics in cardiovascular management, and problems with access plague many health care organizations.
January 10, 2020
Recent episodes of ACC's Practice Made Perfect podcast, covering conflict management in the CV Workplace and medical professionalism, are now available for streaming. Find out how to download, subscribe and listen to this and other ACC podcasts.
December 18, 2019
The newest episode of ACC's Practice Made Perfect podcast is now live. Evan D. Ownby, MD, FACC, hosts ACC CEO Tim Attebery, DSc, MBA, and Thomas M. Maddox, MD, MSc, FACC, to discuss population health, the impact on patient care and measurable outcomes. Listen now.
December 2, 2019
The current state of cardiology, dyad partnerships, digital transformation, data integration and advocacy were among the topics tackled by the more than 400 participants at MedAxiom's CV Transforum Fall 2019 in Dana Point, CA, last month.
November 26, 2019
The second episode in the two-part conversation, Negotiation Skills: Helping Leaders Get Ahead, is now live. Practice Made Perfect podcast host Alison L. Bailey, MD, FACC, and guests Cathleen Biga, MSN, RN, FACC, and Peter L. Duffy, MD, FACC, continue their conversation on contract negotiation at any career stage, from first job to retirement.
November 21, 2019
Let’s assess whether the employment of cardiologists has been good for hospitals and health systems.
November 14, 2019
Has the industry transformation to employed cardiologists been good or bad for patients?
November 6, 2019
Only 15 years ago, the landscape of cardiology practices was much different. Back then, aside from a few notable exceptions such as the Minneapolis Heart Institute and academic programs, almost all cardiologists were part of independent practices. Fast forward to 2019 and the landscape is dramatically different.
October 28, 2019
There are a lot of big ways to get involved with the College – being on a Section Leadership Council, participating on a taskforce or committee, or serving as faculty for a live course, to name a few. However, we know that not everyone has the time for some of these larger-scale commitments. That's why the ACC is excited to announce the launch of our Microvolunteering Platform.
October 22, 2019
Applications are now being accepted for the ACC Leadership Academy Cohort IV, which will launch at ACC.20/World Congress of Cardiology in Chicago, IL.
October 18, 2019
The ACC is excited to announce that it is now possible for a single individual to pay membership dues for one or more members without needing to know each member's username and password. All that's required is a single, free ACC.org login.
October 18, 2019
Join Troy Leo, MD, FACC, and Ginger Biesbrock, PA-C, AACC, for webinar, Nov. 14 at noon ET, on using APPs and physicians in a collaborative and financially viable model.
October 11, 2019
Join your colleagues for ACC's Cardiovascular Summit, taking place Feb. 6 – 8, 2020 in Washington, DC, for an educational experience featuring the latest cardiovascular management and leadership strategies.
October 4, 2019
Join world-renowned cardiologist and course director Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, at ACC's New York Cardiovascular Symposium, taking place Dec. 6 – 8.
September 20, 2019
The ACC's Cardiovascular Team Section Advocacy Committee, in collaboration with the ACC CV Administrators Work Group, is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Health Policy Poster Session – to be held during the 2019 ACC Legislative Conference in Washington DC, November 3-5, 2019.
September 20, 2019
Nominations for available positions on ACC Committees, including NCDR and Accreditation Services committees, are now being accepted until Friday, Oct. 4. Interested applicants or nominators are encouraged to review the open positions and may self-nominate or nominate a colleague using the Committee Nominations Portal.
September 20, 2019
ACC's 2019 Legislative Conference is quickly approaching! Register today to make your voice heard on Capitol Hill and advocate on behalf of CV professionals and patients.
September 20, 2019
The webinar, Cardiovascular Service Lines 101, is available for on-demand viewing on ACC.org.
August 29, 2019
ACC and MedAxiom CEO Tim Attebery, DSc, MBA, FACHE, and MedAxiom President Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, FACC, provide a "six-month check-up" on the ways ACC and MedAxiom continue to align their strategic visions and goals with a long-term plan of action.
August 22, 2019
ACC's Cardiovascular Team Section Advocacy Committee, in collaboration with the ACC CV Administrators Work Group, is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Health Policy Poster Session, taking place at the 2019 ACC Legislative Conference, Nov. 3 – 5 in Washington, DC.
August 13, 2019
MedAxiom's CV Transforum Fall'19 conference is the perfect opportunity to attend presentations from the nation's top thought leaders and transformational programs to help you learn how to stay ahead in today's rapidly changing health care environment.
August 13, 2019
Join Geoffrey Rose, MD, FACC, and Michael Montgomery, MS, for a webinar, Sept. 12 at noon ET, on cardiovascular service lines.
July 23, 2019
Cardiology is the ACC's flagship member magazine — your member magazine — providing cardiovascular professionals with a comprehensive source for clinical and professional news. Find links to all of the July issue's articles and share on social media!
July 22, 2019
Are you attending ACC's 2019 Legislative Conference? Then join the CV Team and CV Administrators Legislative Conference Pre-Session, taking place Sunday, Nov. 3 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Regency Ballroom C.
July 3, 2019
The work that cardiovascular service line administrators and practice managers do every day serves as a springboard for efforts to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health. The ACC is recognizing the important role these valued professionals play throughout the month of July with a special discount for new members.
June 19, 2019 | Jesse E. Adams, III, MD, FACC
The pattern of cardiology employment has certainly been evolving over the last decade or so, with an increasing percentage of cardiologists being employed by health care organizations rather than private practice.
June 13, 2019
The ACC has made a select number of travel awards available to cover expenses for members to travel to ACC's 2019 Legislative Conference, Nov. 3 – 5, in Washington, DC.
May 30, 2019 | Jesse E. Adams, III, MD, FACC
"Leadership" can mean many things, but it includes skills that physicians and other members of the cardiovascular team need to successfully provide direction for their organizations.
May 24, 2019
With Cohort 2 of BPCI Advanced, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service is introducing a new Alternate Quality Measure Set that includes registry-based measures.
May 23, 2019
Join Cathie Biga, MSN, RN, FACC, and Warren S. Levy, MD, FACC, June 12 at noon ET, for a webinar reviewing the basic constructs of a successful and sustainable compensation models.
May 1, 2019 | Ginger K. Biesbrock, PA-C, FACC
Two large, integrated delivery systems recently quoted $10 million to $30 million dollar losses on their advanced practice provider (APP) programs.
April 24, 2019 | Alison Bailey, MD, FACC ; Jesse E. Adams, III, MD, FACC ; Charles L. Campbell, MD, FACC ; Larry Sobal, MBA, MHA
In our prior article, we provided a basic overview of Fair Market Value (FMV) assessments and how these have become a key aspect in compensation contracts for cardiologists.
March 7, 2019
Don't miss out on an interactive ACC.19 session, Evaluating Disruptive Technology in a Value-Based World, taking place Saturday, March 16 at 12:15 p.m. CT, room 352.
February 21, 2019
The ACC Foundation has acquired MedAxiom, a cardiovascular membership, services and consulting firm, adding the company's recognized leadership in cardiovascular operations, performance improvement and business acumen to ACC's world-class science, education, registry, quality improvement and advocacy work.
February 21, 2019
Join Dipti Itchhiporia, MD, FACC, and Thomas Draper, MBA, March 7 at noon ET, for a webinar discussing how physicians can leverage the role of administrators to execute on all facets of the quadruple aim: patient experience, population health, costs and provider well-being.
January 24, 2019
Join us at the ACC.19 All-Section Reception, March 17, from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Grand Ballroom A.
January 21, 2019
Join us at ACC.19 for the CV Management Section Meeting and Networking Reception, taking place Saturday, March 16, from 5:15 – 6:30 p.m. CT.
January 8, 2019
Join Cathie Biga MSN, RN, and Edward Fry, MD, FACC, Jan. 10 at noon ET, for a webinar overviewing final rules, as well as major changes from the Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient Fee Schedule.
December 18, 2018
Take advantage of free, online certified educational activities to fulfill your 2018 CME requirements and earn MOC credit at the same time!
December 17, 2018
A 2018 report from the Office of the Inspector General noted that payments reviewed for recalled cardiac medical devices did not comply with Medicare requirements for reporting manufacturer credits.
December 4, 2018
In the latest issues of Cardiology, deep-dive into the emerging risk factors of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
December 4, 2018
There are currently unprecedented challenges associated with cardiologist compensation. Cardiologists and their organizations – whether private practice, hospital affiliated or academic institutions – uniformly face a rapidly evolving landscape.
November 16, 2018
The deadline to submit abstracts for ACC's Cardiovascular Summit has been extended to Monday, Nov. 26.
November 16, 2018
In this deep-dive video discussion, Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC; Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC; Anne B. Curtis, MD, FACC; Peter Libby, MD, FACC; and Marc Ruel, MD, MPH, share their perspectives on the most significant science released during AHA.18.
November 1, 2018
Join the ACC in recognizing National Hospice and Palliative Care Month this November to raise awareness about how important hospice and palliative care is to all ages.
November 1, 2018 | Jesse E. Adams, III, MD, FACC ; Alison Bailey, MD, FACC ; Charles L. Campbell, MD, FACC ; Larry Sobal, MBA, MHA
Fair Market Value (FMV) assessments have become a key aspect (and sometimes stumbling block) for cardiologist compensation contracts. In 2008, 90 percent of U.S. cardiologists were in private practice. The current ratios are nearly reversed and cardiologists must now learn to navigate employment.
October 24, 2018
As we all strive to achieve the Quadruple Aim in delivering high-value patient care, it is imperative for health systems to integrate physicians into the leadership of services, programs and disease-state centers in an impactful way. This integration will help improve the health of the population, patient and family experience, and life of health care providers and staff as we work in parallel to reduce health care's per capita cost. The integration of physicians into the co-management of departments and programs has evolved from the traditional model of having physician medical directors – selected from both independent practice and employed groups – contracted to provide the hospital with clinical leadership in a vertically siloed departmental model for managing operations and governance.
September 21, 2018
The September 2018 issue of Cardiology, YOUR member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!
September 12, 2018
ACC.19 registration is NOW OPEN exclusively for ACC members. Nonmember registration will open Wednesday, Sept. 26. Register early for the lowest rates and best selection of hotel rooms!
August 22, 2018 | Cathleen Biga, MSN, RN, FACC
There is nothing that strikes fear in an administrator’s heart more than their dyad partner saying, "Let’s add a compensation model review for our next group meeting!" Whether you work in a hospital-employed setting, academia, or private practice, an equitable and sustainable compensation plan is paramount to a successful work environment.
August 16, 2018
The August 2018 issue of Cardiology, YOUR member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!
August 7, 2018
ACC’s Patient Navigator Program: Focus MI quality campaign is approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a high-weight Improvement Activity under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Under MIPS, clinicians must complete up to four Improvement Activities for a minimum of 90 days. CMS has assigned high or medium “weights” to Improvement Activities, allowing clinicians the option of completing two high-weight, four medium-weight, or a combo of one high-weight and two medium-weight activities to receive MIPS credit. READ MORE...
July 13, 2018
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the deadline for submitting signed participation agreements and selecting clinical episodes for the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced model has been extended to Aug. 8. Additionally, CMS announced that the agency will allow BPCI Advanced participants to retroactively withdraw all or some episode initiators and clinical episodes from the model in March 2019.
July 10, 2018
Drive nearly any major highway in America and you are bound to see multiple health care-related billboards. Many of these billboards will have a theme told through the lens of a patient and tout the organization's personalized, patient centric approach. A health care provider who delivers care in a tailored and personal manner is seen as such a strategic differentiator that it becomes worthy of a billboard. In a way, these ads are an unfortunate indictment on the way care is more commonly provided across our country, which tends to be fractured and disconnected, with efficiency focused on the providers and not on the patient.
July 10, 2018
The U.S. is first among all industrialized nations by to have one of the most high-tech and advanced care repertoire for cardiovascular disease in the world. A significant amount of money has been and continues to be invested in research and development for advances in cardiovascular care. As a result, the U.S. has experienced a considerable degree of success in reducing the mortality rates for coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure and arrhythmia disorders.
June 14, 2018
Marvin A. Konstam, MD, FACC, has been selected to receive the Heart Failure Society of America’s (HFSA) 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award, which acknowledges a lifetime body of work by an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of heart failure. Konstam will be presented the award at HFSA’s Annual Scientific Meeting this September.
June 12, 2018
The ACC will hold a third free webinar on Wednesday, June 20, at 12 p.m. ET, to discuss success stories and strategies learned during the initial Patient Navigator Program, leading to the second phase of the program, Patient Navigator Program: Focus MI.
May 17, 2018
As payment models shift, it is imperative that physician compensation models evolve.
May 17, 2018
Health care in the U.S. has dominated the social, political and financial arena in the past decade, and the overall health of the population lags far behind other countries that spend much less. In this expert analysis, Anita Arnold, DO, FACC; Cathleen Biga, MSN, RN; and Debra Mariani, discuss why providers need to understand how their data are reported and coded and where they can look to see gaps in documentation.
May 17, 2018
Considerable amount of discussion focusing on the problem of physician burnout has been taking place nationally. The high prevalence and intensity of reported burnout in health professionals are of major concern to leaders in the health care field.
April 26, 2018 | Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, MACC
Over the last decade, health care has seen a shift in the way providing care is addressed. Changes in regulations, patient access to information and technological advances have led to an increased focus on patient experience.
April 5, 2018
We currently face a rapidly evolving environment that poses unique challenges to the provision of cardiovascular care. Resilience in this time of rapid change is necessary and requires a full spectrum of clinical, business, quality, operational and leadership knowledge, along with the requisite skills to achieve organizational excellence. The ACC Cardiovascular Summit – Contemporary Strategies for Quality Improvement, Operational Excellence, Finance and Leadership was held in Las Vegas, Feb. 22 – 24, 2018.
March 22, 2018
The continued shift toward a value-focused health system is driving more clinicians toward participation in alternative payment models (APMs), but knowing how and when to participate in an APM can pose significant challenges. ACC's newly launched APM Framework is the College's answer for members navigating the APM landscape.
March 22, 2018
Join the ACC for a webinar, April 18 at 12 p.m. ET, to discuss the latest thoughts from national experts related to incorporating peripheral artery disease, vein centers, wound centers and vascular labs in a multidisciplinary team.
January 31, 2018
You have probably heard the phrase “volume to value” a few hundred (if not a thousand) times. It has become such a common part of health care language that it is a wonder if we even stop to think about what it means anymore.
November 22, 2017
In the latest ACC Cardiology Hour, Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, MACC, is joined by Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC; Rachel J. Lampert, MD, FACC; Prediman K. Shah, MD, MACC; and Chadwick W. Stouffer, MD, in a roundtable discussion of the hottest trials from AHA 2017 in Anaheim, CA. Among the trials discussed are DACAB, CANVAS, EXSCEL, POISE-2 and more.
September 12, 2017
In conjunction with the ACC Committee Nominations cycle, the College’s Membership Committee is now accepting applications through Sept. 22. The Membership Committee was established as part of the 2015 College’s governance transformation and serves as standing committee of the College, reporting directly to the Board of Trustees.
August 21, 2017
The August 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!
July 20, 2017
The July 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!
July 20, 2017
The ACC is seeking qualified candidates to serve as vice chair of the Annual Scientific Session for a two-year term of office for ACC.19 and ACC.20, moving on to assume another two-year term as chair of ACC.21 and ACC.22.
June 27, 2017
The June 2017 issue of Cardiology, ACC’s flagship member magazine, is now live! Cardiology provides cardiovascular professionals with comprehensive clinical, professional and health policy news; feature-length articles on the top trends and innovations in cardiovascular medicine; expert commentary from leaders in the cardiovascular field; quick-read summaries of the latest research from the JACC Journals and other major cardiovascular journals; profiles of ACC members, like you; and so much more!
March 14, 2017
Attending ACC.17? Join us for the All-Section Meeting & Reception at ACC.17! The event happening THIS Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis will give you a chance to learn more about what ACC's 19+ Member Sections are working to accomplish and to connect with members in your specialty or interest areas.
March 9, 2017
ACC's 66th Annual Scientific Session (ACC.17) in Washington, DC, is only two weeks away! Plan your meeting with the online Program Planner or download the ACC.17 App to your phone or tablet. Don't miss the session, "How to Redesign a Care Delivery Team in Preparation for MACRA and MIPS," on March 17 from 12:15 – 1:45 p.m.
March 9, 2017
ACC's 2017 Cardiovascular Summit brought together cardiovascular professionals, business practices and leadership from across the U.S. to discuss how best to achieve operational excellence, ensure cost efficiency and improve patient outcomes during a time of rapid and continual change in the health care system. Two recent Perspectives on ACC.org highlight the most important points from the meeting, including the ins and outs of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) and how to use data for quality reporting.
February 14, 2017
Save the Date for the All-Section Meeting & Reception at ACC.17! Happening on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis, this event will give you a chance to learn more about what ACC’s 19+ Member Sections. Submit your RSVP to attend.
December 20, 2016
Join the experts in the field of cardiology, business practices and leadership as they provide you with an educational experience that leads to operational excellence, cost efficiency and leadership training at the Cardiovascular Summit & Leadership Forum, January 26 – 28, 2017.
December 20, 2016
Join Cathie Biga, RN, MSN, and Dipti Ichhaporia, MD, FACC, for a webinar on Jan. 12, 2017, at noon ET on the “state of the state” for Quality Payment Programs (QPP), aka MACRA.
October 17, 2016
CV Management and CV Team Section members are invited to attend the Cardiovascular Summit & Leadership Forum, held Jan. 26 – 28, 2017, in Orlando, FL. The Summit will bring together an array of experts in the field of cardiology...
July 5, 2016
The Spring issue of Cardiology magazine takes a look at the highlights of the 2016 CV Summit, where members of the cardiovascular management team had the opportunity to learn about upcoming changes to the payment landscape and more. “Clinicians are continuously working to provide high-quality, patient-centered, cost-efficient care to their patients...
April 28, 2016
Join the Cardiovascular Administrator Workgroup in a webinar on "MIPS and Physician Value Programs" on May 12 from 1 – 2 p.m. ET. The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), will affect clinician payments starting in 2019, but reporting requirements will begin as early as 2017.
February 29, 2016
Take advantage of all that ACC's 65th Annual Scientific Session has to offer Cardiovascular Administrators, including the Practice Management track. Learn more about "Piecing Together the MACRA Puzzle," new payment models, and the move from volume to value across cardiovascular care.
December 10, 2015
Find the answers you need to build effective leadership for your service line at the Cardiovascular Summit, February 18 – 20, 2016 in Las Vegas. You will receive the strategies and skills you need to achieve operational excellence and financial success while improving high-quality, patient centered, cost efficient care.
December 3, 2015
As cardiovascular practitioners are diagnosing and treating patients, developing research projects and educating budding professionals, cardiovascular service line administrators are hard at work behind the scenes, improving their facility and ensuring the best possible patient care across the organization. Rich Lundy, MBA, and Kay Stewart-Huey, both members of the CV Management Section’s Leadership Council, share what goes into to making a health care facility run.
August 17, 2015
Earlier this month the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule and the proposed 2016 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) rule. Since then, ACC Advocacy staff members have carefully reviewed both rules and have developed detailed summaries highlighting those provisions that will have the greatest impact on cardiology practices.
August 17, 2015
As we embark on value-based payment models, population health and disease management programs, team-based care will be an important shift in our delivery model. Team-based care requires a challenging transformation from the traditional doctor-with-helpers model to a new model in which all team members share responsibility to care for the team's patient population.
June 30, 2015
The ACC has made a select number of travel awards available to cover expenses for CV Administrator members to travel to the 2015 Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. The award provides funding for airfare, lodging and other expenses to and from the Conference held October 18-20, 2015.
June 30, 2015
Did you know there are 20 Clinical Topic Collections on ACC.org, with editorial boards creating content every week? In each Clinical Topic Collection, you can find the latest news, guidelines, JACC articles, education, expert commentary, and more. For example, the latest updates in the Cardiac Surgery Clinical Topic Collection include expert analyses on the present and future of heart transplantation, describing the team approach to treating these patients, and transcatheter closure of an aortic pseudoaneurysm, which gives insight into how this rare complication was treated in a patient.
May 26, 2015
The cover story in a recent issue of Cardiology magazine provides an in-depth look at big data and its implications on the future of medicine. It also features an article about the CardioEncounters program, a new approach to patient-clinician interactions, and includes an exclusive interview with the new U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco Robert Califf, MD, MACC.
February 12, 2015
An article published recently in U.S. News and World Report asked the question, “Are Doctors Exposing Heart Patients to Unnecessary Cardiac Procedures?” The article strongly implies that many doctors who are preforming unnecessary procedures are doing so in order to “reap the benefits in Medicare payments.”
November 28, 2014
A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the American Journal of Public Health evaluated the impact of health insurance on the survival of infants with congenital heart defects (CHDs). A major finding was that, compared to privately-insured babies, uninsured or underinsured newborns with CHDs experienced a two to three fold increase in mortality in the first 28 days of life.
November 28, 2014
A recent ACC webinar provided a closer look at the potential payment impacts associated with the proposed 2015 Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient rules. Of note, the Fee Schedule calls for an across-the-board cut of 20.9 percent starting in April 2015 as a result of the legally mandated Sustainable Growth Rate. Hospitals will receive a 2.1 percent increase in payment for outpatient services.
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