American College of Cardiology

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) on March 18 held a special Open Door Forum for cardiovascular professionals interested in participating or who currently participate in PQRI. The call provided a detailed overview of the PQRI measures that can be reported by cardiologists in 2009.

The forum also provided perspectives from prominent cardiologists who participated in the program in 2007 and 2008 about the successes and failures they experienced as a PQRI participant. CMS experts were available to answer technical questions about participation and reporting. Forum participants had the opportunity to ask questions of both CMS and the participating cardiologists to make informed decisions about PQRI participation.

A transcript of the forum and an audio recording is available online. More information about PQRI can be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI.

Presentations:

• John Schaeffer, M.D., F.A.C.C.
  "Cardiology and PQRI"
• Sylvia Publ, M.B.A., R.H.I.A.
  "2009 PQRI and the E-Prescribing Incentive Program"