Indiana-ACC News
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September 2012
In This Issue
President-Elect's Message
Contact Congress
16th Annual Meeting
President-Elect's Message
Edward T.A. Fry, MD, FACC
Dear Colleague, Dr. Edward T.A. Fry

 

On Sept. 10 and 11, fifteen representatives from the Indiana Chapter-ACC gathered in Washington, DC, to attend the 2012 ACC Legislative Conference.  They were joined by more than 400 of their colleagues from across the country.  Attendees learned about the legislative issues challenging cardiology patients and providers as well as the health care profession in general.  They heard presentations on the state of health care reform, pending health care legislation, the impact of the recent Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, the key the issues legislators would be considering in the time before the election and during the impending "lame duck" session, and about effective strategies to present the College's message to Representatives, Senators, and their legislative aides.  

Indiana-ACC Delegation

Indiana's delegation was one the largest at the conference and likely the largest per capita.  The contingent was a well balanced representation of cardiac care professionals from across Indiana, comprised of Fellows-in-Training (Evan Ownby, Saumyadip Dasgupta, and Brian Veerkamp); Cardiac Care Associates (Cynthia Cartee, Bryce Heugel, Krista Hutchinson, Debra Lanning, Kristen Mennen, Karolyn Scheneman, Sheree Schroeder, and Mike Schroyer), as well as physicians (Raymond Dusman, Ed Fry, Chris Powers, and John Strobel).  Here are photos from the ACC Legislative Conference.

Issues Discussed with Congress

Members of the Indiana Chapter met with both Indiana U.S .Senators and all nine Congressional Representatives as well as their legislative aides.  Lawmakers were very interested in the issues confronting patients and health care professional regarding access to care, EMR's, reigning in rising costs, and improving quality of care.  Chapter members presented the College's message of ensuring sustainability of access by addressing the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), improving care and cost-effectiveness through clinical application of "tools" developed by the College, such as the NCDR and PINNACLE databases, the FOCUS tool, and the Appropriate Use Criteria, and delivered the commitment from the College to work with lawmakers as a resource in improving care delivery, quality, and value.

All Politics Are Local

The conference was energizing to all the attendees.  However, it was clear that advocacy must be an everyday, ongoing and local process.  All chapter members can have a significant impact on policy and legislation through local efforts such as meeting with Senators, Representatives, and their staff when they are back in Indiana, and with their State government counterparts, as well as participating in the IN-ACC State Legislative Day in Indianapolis each February.

 

Sincerely,

 

Edward T.A. Fry, MD, FACC

President-Elect

Contact Congress: Ask Them to Oppose Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction Expansion

 

The recently released Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Fiscal Year 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule includes an expansion of multiple procedure payment reduction (MPPR) policy that would negatively impact payment for numerous cardiology codes. Specifically, the proposal imposes a 25-percent payment reduction on the technical component (TC) for the less expensive service.

 
In recent years, CMS has attempted to lower Medicare costs by identifying potentially duplicative services and deploying appropriate payment reductions that reflect these efficiencies. Such policies can achieve savings when correctly devised and applied. However, after reviewing the expanded MPPR policy, we believe this analysis and proposed implementation is based on the flawed assumption that redundancies exist within certain clinical labor activities and that a payment reduction is not the appropriate course of action. Congress needs to know that additional arbitrary cuts to imaging services has a negative impact on Medicare beneficiaries' access to high-quality health care and makes it increasingly difficult for physicians to maintain a comprehensive private practice.
 
ACTION REQUESTED
House Energy and Commerce Committee Members Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and John Barrow (D-GA) are circulating a letter to CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner opposing the proposed expansion of MPPR. Please call your Representative and urge her/him to sign on to the Blackburn/Barrow letter today. If you would like to send your Representative a letter, please click here.
 
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to advocating for the profession and for the patients who rely on you.

16th Annual Meeting of the Indiana-ACC
Save the Date - Saturday, October 27
Indiana-ACC 16th Annual Meeting
Make plans to attend the 16th Annual Meeting of the Indiana-ACC!

When: Saturday, October 27, 2012

Where: Indianapolis Marriott Downtown


Topics include: new health care delivery models, treatment options for heart failure patients to minimize re-admissions, CMS core measures, cardiovascular quality indicators, radial access catheterization, new antithrombotic agents for AF, and implications of health care legislation.

 

Special Session for Fellows-in-Training!

Special Session for Practice Administrators!


Quick Hits
You're Invited!
Indiana-ACC Annual Meeting
Saturday, October 27.

Meaningful Use Series.

Article No. 1

Article No. 2

Article No. 3

Article No. 4

Article No. 5

 

 Find out about the new Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) serving Indiana

Read more.

 

ACC's 2012 Practice Census Shows Continued Changes in Practice Landscape.

Read more.

 

AFib Awareness Month

Read more.

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