from Dr. Robert Hobbs

Ohio-ACC News

President's Message

May 2011

Dr. Robert Hobbs

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate those who were recently inducted as Fellows and Associates in the ACC during ACC.11 in New Orleans.

The FACC and AACC designation recognizes those physicians and cardiac care associates who, through advanced education, training and professional development, have dedicated themselves to providing the highest level of cardiovascular care. A special recognition goes to those AACCs who were inducted at the annual convocation, since they are the first class to receive this designation. They are all to be congratulated on this honor.

Rebecca L. Angerstein, CNS, A.A.C.C.
Anna M. Broz, NP, A.A.C.C.
Stephen R. Crumb, NP, A.A.C.C.
Delores E. Flowers, CNP, A.A.C.C.
Melanie T. Gura, RN, MSN, CNS, CCDS, A.A.C.C.
Cynthia L. Klein, NP, A.A.C.C.
Patty S. Merrick, CRNP, A.A.C.C.
Patricia D. Miller, RN, A.A.C.C.

Rami Akhrass, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Turki Albacker, M.B.B.S., F.A.C.C.
Venkat R. Battula, M.B.B.S., F.A.C.C.
Thomas D. Callahan, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Ryan D. Christofferson, M.D., F.A.C.C.
John E. Coletta, M.D., F.A.C.C.
William R. Colyer, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.C.
Brian Dolsey, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Thomas John Dresing, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Scott D. Flamm, M.D., F.A.C.C.
W. Brian Gibler, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Muhammad Taimoor Gill, M.B.B.S., F.A.C.C.
Adam W. Grasso, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Carlos Hubbard, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Osama A. Ibrahim, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Joseph Jozic, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Soo Hyun Kim, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Vipin B. Koshal, D.O., F.A.C.C.
David Majdalany, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Hemraj Makwana, M.B.B.S., F.A.C.C.
Simone Nader, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Thomas M. O'Brien, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Sahil A. Parikh, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Vanshipal Puri, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Mark E. Rea, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Jack Rubinstein, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Anurag Sahu, M.D., F.A.C.C.
John C. Stephens, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Vijai Tivakaran, D.O., F.A.C.C.
Robin H. Vandivier, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Niraj Varma, M.B., Ch.B., F.A.C.C.
William Wolf, M.D., F.A.C.C.

BCBS Settlement Deadline

Don't Miss May 31 - BlueCross BlueShield Settlement Deadline!

The American College of Cardiology and the American Medical Association are working to ensure physicians and practices know about the Thomas/Love Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement deadline. The settlement resolved a series of issues between a majority of Blue Plans and physicians concerning claims processing and physician contracts. Issues include adherence to prompt pay requirements, 90 day advance notification for material adverse contract changes and more. Physicians and practices that feel their local Blue Plan has violated settlement terms must file compliance disputes by May 31, 201,1 to ensure that you receive protections under the settlement. For more information, visit AMA's Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement Information website, and watch the Archived Webinar.

Avoid the E-Prescribing Penalty

Avoid the 2012 e-prescribing penalty! The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) authorized a new incentive program for eligible professionals who are successful electronic prescribers (e-Prescribers). Practitioners who participated in 2009 and 2010 received bonus payments of 2 percent. Those who participate in 2011 will receive a 1 percent bonus payment. The 2011 reporting period goes from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2011.

Beginning in 2012, physicians will be penalized if they do not successfully participate in the e-prescribing program. However, it is very important to note that CMS will use e-prescribing data from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2011 to determine whose payments are reduced in 2012. In short, this means that anyone not reporting by the end of June 2012 will see all of their 2012 Medicare payments reduced by 1 percent. The ACC has prepared the following resources to help you navigate the requirements and not be caught with a penalty come January 2012.
Federal E-Prescribing Incentive Program: What You Need to Know!
Avoid the Penalty: Navigating the e-Rx Incentive Program Slide Set
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting the Most Out of Medicare Incentive Programs (March 15, PINNACLE Network E-Prescribing Webinar)
Benefits of E-Prescribing
What to Look for in an E-Prescribing System
Additional E-Prescribing Resources

What's the Ohio-ACC Been up to?

The Ohio-ACC has had an active agenda during the first quarter of 2011.

Disney Institute

The Ohio-ACC cosponsored a workshop on February 15, 2011 in Cincinnati with the Disney Institute, focusing on Disney's approach to quality service for health care professionals. More than 140 attendees from several states participated in this program. The facilitators described how the Disney organization strives for guest satisfaction, employee excellence and leadership in the entertainment industry. These concepts can be applied to health care systems as well. Disney's definition of quality service is to exceed patients' expectations by paying attention to the smallest details. Ideas were given for increasing patient satisfaction scores, by understanding patients' needs, wants, and emotions, and developing quality standards in safety, courtesy, and efficiency. The participants were provided with action steps for developing quality standards in their institutions.

Dr. Robert Hobbs, Dr. Albert Waldo, Dr. Freidoon Ghazi, and Dr. Reza Mazraeshahi

Atrial Fibrillation Meeting

Dr. Albert Waldo was the guest speaker at our Ohio-ACC Dinner Meeting held in Cincinnati on March 15, 2011. He addressed 45 attendees about the management of atrial fibrillation.

Spring Summit 2011

Dr. William Bauman, Ms. Melanie Gura, Dr. Kevin Silver

The tradition continued with the 48th Annual Carl J. Wiggers Memorial Lecture and the 4th Annual Cardiac Care Associate Cardiovascular Update on April 13, in Cleveland. Topics included women and arrhythmias, anticoagulation strategies in atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and percutaneous valve interventions. Dr. John Burnett, Jr. delivered the Wiggers Lecture and spoke on Innovative Designer Natriuretic Peptides for Cardiorenal Disease. See all the photos here!

Mission:Lifeline and ACTION Registry^®-GWTG™ - An Overview

AHA - Mission: Lifeline