In-Office
Imaging Services Threatened Rep.
Anthony Weiner (D-NY) is set to introduce the Weiner imaging
amendment today in the House Energy Commerce Committee which
would eliminate the ability of physicians to provide MR, CT
and PET imaging services in their offices beginning in 2013.
This amendment will be introduced during the Committee’s
deliberation on H.R. 3200, “America's Affordable Health
Choices Act."
Close to 5,000 ACC members residing in a House Energy and
Commerce Committee's district were sent an action alert requesting
that they contact their member of Congress, urging them to
oppose the Weiner imaging amendment. The ACC and other medical
societies also sent a letter
to Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) opposing the amendment.
We are calling upon ACC members in these key districts to
contact their House Energy and Commerce Committee members
to oppose the Weiner imaging amendment. Click
here to see if your member of Congress is a member of
the House Energy and Commerce Committee and then tell
them to oppose the Weiner imaging amendment.
House
Committees Take Up Health Reform Bill The
House Ways and Means and Education and Labor Committees last
week approved a health care reform bill, "America’s
Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009." The Energy and
Commerce Committee is continuing its work on the legislation
this week. A few of the provisions most important to cardiovascular
specialists are:
The accumulated debt from the sustainable growth rate (SGR)
system would be wiped out. Physicians would receive a Medicare
update of roughly less than 1 percent for 2010. Starting
in 2011, payments would be divided into two separate targets
(primary care and preventive services and everything else).
Primary care and preventive services would be based on GDP
plus 2 percent and remaining services based on GDP plus
1 percent;
A
separate target would be created through a pilot program
to encourage physicians to form Accountable Care Organizations;
The
PQRI program would be extended through 2012 and include
improvements that create an appeals process and require
faster feedback;
Practice
expense for "advanced diagnostic imaging services"
would be increased to reflect a presumed utilization rate
of 75 percent instead of 50 percent.
House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that the House plans
to vote on the bill before lawmakers break for August recess.
For more information, and to comment, visit: lewinreport.acc.org.
REGULATORY
ACC
Moving Forward to Stop Medicare Payment Cuts
The ACC continues to roll out its comprehensive campaign to
stop the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’
(CMS) massive proposed cuts for cardiovascular-related services
in 2010. The agency's proposed 2010 Medicare physician payment
rule would result in cuts ranging from 10-40 percent depending
on the mix of cardiovascular services provided. The College
is working with oncology and its partner cardiology specialty
societies to mount an all-out effort to protect the ability
of practices to provide patients with the care they deserve.
ACC leadership and staff are taking this message to Capitol
Hill, CMS and the Obama Administration. In fact, the ACC presidential
team met last week with key members of Congress and CMS about
the impact of the cuts on practices.
It is critical that Congress and the administration hear first-hand
from ACC members, their support staff and patients about the
impact of these cuts. Every single member is being encouraged
to phone, email or personally visit their legislators to point
out the serious consequences of the proposed rule. Patient
materials and sample letters are available at www.acc.org/can.
Advocacy staff is on hand to help schedule appointments with
lawmakers, especially during the August recess when they are
back in their districts. Email Molly Nichelson (mnichels@acc.org)
or Justin Beland (jbeland@acc.org)
for assistance. Video and slide presentations are also being
developed and ACC leaders are strongly encouraged to use these
tools to educate others about the cuts. Now is also the time
to give to the ACC Political
Action Committee if you have not already done so. Finally,
register for the 2009 Legislative Conference, to be held Sept.
13-15 in Washington, D.C., to help educate Congress about
the important work the ACC is doing and help advocate for
fair reimbursement. Click
here to register now!
FDA
Recalls Young
You Corporation has been informed by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) that four weight loss dietary supplements it sells and
markets contain the undeclared drug ingredient sibutramine,
an FDA-approved drug used as an appetite suppressant for weight
loss. The FDA has not approved the following products as drugs;
therefore the safety and effectiveness of this product is
unknown. Sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood
pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present
a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary
artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke.
More
information is available on the FDA Web site.
Medtronic, Inc.,
recently said it has initiated a recall of specific lots of
Quick-set® infusion sets that are used with MiniMed Paradigm
insulin pumps. Medtronic recently discovered that approximately
two percent of “Lot 8” Quick-set infusion sets
may not work properly. The affected infusion sets may not
allow the insulin pump to vent air pressure properly, which
could potentially result in the device delivering too much
or too little insulin and lead to serious injury or death.
Visit the Medtronic Diabetes Web site at www.medtronicdiabetes.com/lot8
to view the labels of “Lot 8” Quick-set infusion
sets. Medtronic is providing customers with replacement Quick-set
infusion sets at no additional charge.
QUALITY
Victims
of the Physician Fee Schedule: Patients, CV Quality What
will the proposed 2010 Physician Fee Schedule mean for patients
and quality? ACC Advocacy Committee Chair Vincent Bufalino,
M.D., F.A.C.C., answers that question today on The
Lewin Report, ACC’s blog. Dr. Bufalino writes, “In
my practice, we have a group of 50 physicians covering much
of suburban Chicago. If these cuts go into place ... we would
have to stop hiring new physicians and begin to shrink our
staff base to maintain a stable fiscal base. It would ...
stop us from doing the free community work that we have become
known for in the area. As we decrease our staff, the added
extras that have become a part of our service will just go
away.” Read
more and share what the effects of the proposed rule would
be on your practice.
New
Ways to Stay in Touch with the ACC Stay
tuned in to ACC activities and important clinical and advocacy
news with “ACC in Touch,” the College’s
new social media campaign. If you’re active on the popular
networking sites Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, check out
the new online options for ACC members and others interested
in the ACC. On Twitter, where you answer the question “What
are you doing?” in 140 characters or less, the ACC has
four profiles tailored to your interests: @ACCinTouch,
ACC’s main Twitter account; @Cardiosource,
dedicated to the latest science from Cardiosource; @Cardiology,
ACC’s advocacy account; and @CardioSmart,
which features patient-centered news from CardioSmart.
Facebook
and LinkedIn are two other popular Web sites that allow people
to connect with friends or colleagues. If you’re a Facebook
or LinkedIn
member, we encourage you to become a “fan” of
the ACC or join the ACC group. Both sites will feature the
latest news from the College, including more information about
ACC's many initiatives. It's also intended as a space to connect
with others interested in cardiology. The College is looking
for more ways to use emerging social media — if you
have ideas, suggestions or want to get involved, contact Emily
Zeigenfuse (ezeigenf@acc.org).
