ACC and HRS Respond to JAMA ICD Study: By now you have surely seen the Jan. 5 JAMA paper on patient selection for ICD implantation. Using the CMS-mandated NCDR ICD registry, 111,707 patient records were evaluated for evidence-based guideline adherence in ICD implantation decisions. Researchers discovered that ICD implantations were not in accordance with practice guidelines in 22.5 percent of patients and that risk of in-hospital complications and deaths increased in the patients that did not meet the guidelines-based selection criteria. Most of the ICD placements considered inappropriate were in the setting of CHF and on closer review are likely to prove sound clinical decisions. In fact, the data that nearly four-fifths of the implants met the guidelines and only a bit over one-fifth did not is compatible with physicians both respecting the underpinnings of the guidelines but using their judgment when individual, exceptional clinical/social circumstances arise. Studies like this underscore the need for measurement and the importance of our quality tools and programs. Studies like this underscore the need for measurement and the importance of our quality tools and programs. Reviewing this type of data gives us a tremendous opportunity to improve cardiovascular care. Read the ACC/HRS joint statement in response to this important study. Comments? Share your opinion here.
EHR incentive program update: Registration for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program opened this week for hospitals, office-based physicians and other providers. Under the program, physicians that demonstrate "meaningful use" of EHR technology and performance during the reporting period of each payment year will be eligible for positive payment incentives between 2011 and 2015. Learn more about the incentive program. Additional information on EHR selection and the e-Prescribing incentive program is available at CardioSource.org/healthit. In addition, don't miss the Health IT symposium on Sunday, April 3 as part of ACC.11 in New Orleans. More information on the symposium and the ACC.11 EHR pavilion will be coming soon!
Is your lab accredited? New rules require all imaging labs to be accredited by Jan. 1, 2012. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the accreditation process can take as long as nine months. A number of webinars are taking place this month in order to ensure practices are able to comply with the new rules. Also look for a special session on this topic at ACC.11 in New Orleans.
Good news for EPs! CMS has developed a new specialty code for electrophysiology. The new designation allows CMS to distinguish an electrophysiologist (EP) from a cardiologist when billing for Medicare services. Since the establishment of the specialty code will require changes to the CMS enrollment and claims processing systems, this new designation will not be implemented until April 4, 2011. The ACC will be working in the coming months to provide more detailed information on the enrollment process.
Are you ready for ICD-10? Your ACC has developed a special online resource center to help practices prepare for the upcoming transition to ICD-10 codes. The site contains information on preparing your practice as well as links to CMS resources and updates. Learn more at CardioSource.org. In addition, CMS has posted the 2011 versions of the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS crosswalks, formally referred to as the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), on the ICD-10 website at www.cms.gov/ICD10. These updated files complete the requirements of Section 10109(c) of the Affordable Care Act of 2010.
"Red Flag" update: Right before the holidays, President Obama signed "red flag" legislation making physicians exempt from the anti-identity theft requirements and safeguards banks and other creditors must follow. Your ACC, the American Medical Association (AMA) and other medical associations have strongly opposed the inclusion of physicians as creditors and have repeatedly been able to delay the Red Flag Rule's implementation date.
PAC progress: Your ACC Political Action Committee (ACCPAC) ended the 2009-2010 election cycle on a high note by surpassing for the first time $1 million in voluntary contributions from our individual members around the nation. Reaching this milestone places ACCPAC among the elite physician specialty PACs. One-hundred percent of your personal contributions are used to support the campaigns of members of Congress who will listen to our message aimed at improving health care for patients with cardiovascular disease, facilitating the delivery of cardiovascular services by practicing physicians, and funding cardiovascular research and prevention. Thanks to everyone who contributed. For more information on the ACCPAC, go to: http://www.accpacweb.org.