In case you missed it, the Wall Street Journal this week ran a major article on the role of the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC). The article, "Physician Panel Prescribes the Fees Paid by Medicare," correctly notes that for 20 years, medical societies have provided detailed analyses of physician work to the federal government, for free. The goal of these analyses is not to increase Medicare expenditures, but rather to fairly divide Medicare payments among physicians who provide these services.
The article uses coronary stenting as the example to illustrate the RUC's responsibilities. Your ACC worked closely with the reporter in advance of the article to help her understand the reasons for the value of the coronary stent. Dr. James Blankenship, F.A.C.C., who represents the ACC on the RUC and is director of cardiology at Geisinger Medical Center, was able to provide a quote on the fairness of the current valuing, especially considering that while the time to accomplish this procedure has generally decreased in recent years, physicians are spending more time with patients with complex heart disease that until recently would have required open heart surgery. Your ACC and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions have submitted a letter-to-the-editor of the Wall Street Journal to further clarify the issue.
In other news, you might remember that a couple of months ago the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed to withdraw midodrine hydrochloride from the market. The agency then opted to delay that action after receiving letters from your ACC and other organizations, as well as opposition from the manufacturers. The College recently received a response from the FDA, saying that over the next several months the agency will "work to obtain data that verify the benefit of midodrine, while maintaining patient access � throughout the process."
"The ACC in Touch Blog" this week contains several posts of relevance, including a guest post by Dr. Allen Taylor, F.A.C.C., on the newly updated Appropriate Use Criteria for Cardiac Computed Tomography. ACC CEO Jack Lewin also writes about new medical liability data released by the American Medical Association and the idea of Medicare payment being based on comparative effectiveness.
Speaking of Medicare payment, we are still awaiting the final 2011 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Look for a special ACC Advocate with the details once it is released. Information will also be posted on CardioSource.org/Advocacy.
Questions/Comments contact ACC Advocate Editor Steve Erickson at
advocate@acc.org
.