Spring, 2010
From Your Chapter President
As I enter my last six months as NYACC President, I feel that the organization is at a crossroads and we really need to define our mission as a state chapter, including specific goals. At the latest Board of Governor's meeting, advocacy was the dominant topic, understandably. I am fortunate that people like to let me know of their opinion but, in this case, the opinions I've heard are wildly different and the views are always very strong.
Many tell me that our voices were not heard in Washington because we didn't support the ACC PAC with enough vigor and enough cash, like other professional societies. I have had people ask me if there's any way to stop being solicited for donations to the PAC because they view the PAC as ineffective and/or not representative of their views. Some view the ACC as a society dedicated solely to the interests of the members (a member-oriented organization), and others view its mission more as an educational and network building within the state (a disease management and public health oriented organization).
As I prepare to hand the presidency over to Downstate Governor, Andy VanTosh, I ask for your views on what you feel the NYACC should be and should do. As, perhaps, the only state chapter willing to take moment to reflect and rethink our course, we will position ourselves to lead the nation is defining what state chapters should do, and for delivering a truly useful service to our members. This is particularly important if we are to remain relevant during this time of change in health care delivery. You deserve your money's worth for your dues.
Please take five minutes and 44 cents and mail (to me at the address below), fax (to Nancy Weiner at 212.684.4741) or email to nweiner@nycms.org your BRIEF (one paragraph, preferably anonymous) comments. I'm not looking for a business plan or an editorial piece, but just a focused message on how we can tailor the society to meet your needs and define our role in the future. We will review these comments, and discuss them at our next Council Meeting.
Thank you,
John
Bisognano, MD, PhD, FACC
John
Bisognano, President
New
York State Chapter, American College of Cardiology
12 East 41st Street,
15th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Third
Annual
Cardiac Care Associate
Symposium
June 11, 2010
The Third Annual Cardiac Care Associate Symposium 2010, presented by The New York Cardiological Society and the New York State Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, will be held on Friday, June 11, 2010 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. This unique academic event is designed to enhance current knowledge about the etiology, prevention, intervention and management of cardiovascular disease. Presentations will provide Cardiac Care Associates with evidence-based approaches to the treatment and care of the cardiac patient as well as provide information regarding current and new cutting edge technologies. The target audience includes nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and technologists as well as physicians and all members of the cardiac care team.
The full day meeting will include lectures
Click on the following link to view the full Program Brochure .
Please encourage your colleagues and all members of the cardiac care team to attend.
For further information, please contact the New York State Chapter at 212.686.0228 or email nweiner@nycms.org.
Membership Approves 2010 Slate
of Candidates
The membership of the New York State Chapter has unanimously voted to approve the 2010 Slate of Candidates as presented by the Committee on Nominations. The following is a list of the newly elected and re-elected councilors:
District 1
-
Bronx, Kings, New
York, Queens and Richmond counties
Ozgen Dogan,
MD, FACC, Brooklyn (second
term)
Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, Manhattan
District 2
-
Nassau and Suffolk
counties
Peter Angelopoulos, MD, FACC, Garden City
District 3
-
Dutchess, Orange,
Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester
counties
Ellis Lader, MD, FACC, Kingston
District 4
-
Albany, Clinton,
Columbia, Delaware, Essex, Franklin,
Fulton, Greene,
Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga,
Schenectady,
Schoharie, Warren and Washington
counties
John Layden, MD, FACC, Queensbury
District 5
-
Broome, Cayuga,
Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis,
Madison Oneida,
Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence and Tompkins
counties
Michael Kelberman, MD, FACC, Utica
District
6 -
Chemung, Livingston,
Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben,
Tioga,Wayne and Yates
counties
Jeffrey Alexis, MD, FACC, Rochester (second term)
District 7
-
Allegany,
Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans
and Wyoming
counties
William Boden, MD, FACC, Buffalo (second term)
Congratulations to all!
Mark Your
Calendar 2010 Annual Meeting
The 82nd Annual Scientific
Session of The New York Cardiological Society and the 20th Annual Meeting of the New York
State Chapter,
American College of Cardiology,
THE BEST OF THE
EMPIRE STATE, will be held on Saturday The summer edition of
The Cardiologist will include a complete program schedule in
addition to a registration form. A program brochure will be mailed to all
members during the summer. For further information, please contact the
New York State Chapter office at 212.686.0228.
H2H Initiative
The
New York State Chapter has signed on to participate in the Hospital to
Home (H2H) initiative organized by the American College of Cardiology and
the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Hospital to Home (H2H) is a
national quality improvement initiative designed to serve as a national
rallying point for efforts to improve care transitions and reduce
unnecessary readmissions.
H2H brings together what is known from experts, the literature and best practices and serves as a clearinghouse for information, tools and practical strategies that caregivers can use to improve reliability of care and improve transitions. H2H leverages an array of national initiatives that are already contributing to reducing readmissions and catalyzing action to improve the care of patients transitioning from hospital to home.
An
email was sent to all members which further explains the initiative,
including related slides, and how they can assist in getting their
hospitals involved. For additional information contact Nancy C. Weiner at
212.686.0228 or nweiner@nycms.org.
Congress Adjourns without a Medicare Fee
Fix:
Claims to be Held for 10 Days
The following information has been provided by James A. McNally, reimbursement consultant to the New York State Chapter.
Although technically the 21.2 percent cut in Medicare fees is in effect as of April 1, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has instructed its contractors to hold claims for the first 10 business days of April (April 14). This hold will only affect claims with dates of service of April 1, 2010 and forward. The hold should have minimum impact upon cash flow since, under the current law, clean electronic claims are not paid any sooner than 14 calendar days (29 for paper claims) after the date of receipt.
Congress adjourned for its
two-week spring recess without taking action to stop the reductions. The
Senate plans to hold a cloture vote after the recess which, if supported
by 60 Senators, will allow a vote to occur on the legislation. The vote
could occur as early as April 12.
There may, however, be consequences for those physicians who are non-participants with Medicare and accept assignment on Medicare claims on a case by case basis. If Congress takes action on April 12, 2010 there should be no problem for non-participating physicians who have been charging patients based upon the January/March 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Limiting Charge on non-assigned claims. If Congress does not take action, refunds may have to be issued to patients for charges billed beyond the negative 21.2 per cent fee reduction effective April 1, 2010.
Thus, non-participating physicians have three options: (1) refrain from billing Medicare patients beginning April 1, 2010 until Congress takes action or until April 14, 2010, whichever comes first (2) bill Medicare patients using the January/March 2010 Fee Schedule, with the knowledge that if Congress does not take any action patients may be entitled to refunds or (3) accept assignment beginning April 1, 2010 until a Congressional action is taken or until April 14, 2010, whichever comes first.
Non-participating physicians
may also consider Opting Out of the Medicare Program and making
private-pay arrangements with Medicare patients. Any physician who Opts
Out will be out of the Medicare Program for a two-year period during such
time no claims for the physician’s services are to be submitted to
Medicare by either the physician or his/her patients. The only exception
would be for services that are for urgent or emergent (i.e. life or limb
threatening) care.
Major
Funding for New York State IT Initiatives
Announced Health
and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced funding of
more than $26 million in New York grants to support the movement of
physicians into electronic office management. The award will enable
physicians to be in compliance with the 2014 requirements for electronic
submissions.
Upcoming Meetings REIMBURSMENT & CODING
SEMINARS Tuesday, April 13, 2010 and Wednesday, April 14,
2010 LaGuardia Airport Crowne Plaza Hotel East Elmhurst, New
York VALVES IN THE HEART OF THE BIG APPLE VI
(co-sponsor) Thursday, April 15, 2010 – -Saturday, April 17,
2010 Marriott Marquis Hotel New York City CARDIOLOGY AT MOHONK Saturday, April 17, 2010 Mohonk Mountain House New Paltz, New York American Society of Hypertension,
Inc. 25th Annual Scientific
Meeting HYPERTENSION HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, May 1, 2010 – Tuesday, May 4,
2010 Hilton New York New York City 18th Annual
(co-sponsor) DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF CARDIAC
ARRHYTHMIAS
Saturday, May 8, 2010 The Princeton/Columbia Club of New
York New York City THIRD ANNUAL CARDIAC CARE ASSOCIATE SYMPOSIUM
2010 Friday, June 11, 2010 New York Athletic Club New York City 82nd
Annual Scientific Session The New York Cardiological
Society 20th Annual Meeting New York State Chapter,
ACC THE BEST OF THE EMPIRE
STATE Saturday, October 16, 2010 Desmond Hotel Albany, New York Up-to-date meeting information appears on the
New York State Chapter website www.ny-acc.org