Dear Colleagues, Here is some important information that is critical to our profession. 10 Days Remain to Register for the IL-ACC 2nd Annual CCA Symposium: Don’t Wait… Register Today!   This year’s Symposium will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2009 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Lindner Conference Center located at 610 East Butterfield Rd in Lombard, Illinois. This program will provide attendees with 3.00 Continuing Education Credits (CE). The program includes topics such as: Device Therapy for Patients with Reduced EF; Advanced 12-lead EKG Interpretation; Managing Heart Failure with Concomitant Renal Disease; Mechanical Assistance for Advanced Stages of Heart Failure; The Sunshine Deficit: Vitamin D, Parathyroid Hormone, and the Heart; PFO Assessment, Diagnosis and Intervention; And more. Click here to download the program and complete the registration form today. Please feel free to distribute this to your colleagues. If you have questions, please contact Scott Franzmeier at scottf@ilacc.org. Illinois Chapter’s Advocacy in Action During the ACC Legislative Conference Back to Top A delegation of 11 Illinois members stormed Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress one-on-one to represent you and convey the devastating effects the proposed 2010 Medicare Physician Payment Rule would have on cardiology practices, cardiovascular access, and patient care. Your representatives, along with 350 ACC colleagues from across the nation, pushed Congress hard to correct flawed data contained in the AMA survey used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the proposed rule. Your members also discussed healthcare reform, tort reform, and more during their legislative visits. In addition to personal meetings with Congress, Illinois members supported the ACC Political Action Committee (PAC) through the annual Texas Hold ’Em Tournament and a special luncheon featuring famed politico and author James Carville. ACC Donors gave more than $60,000 to help further the cardiovascular message on Capitol Hill during this critical time. Have you given to the PAC yet? To learn more about the ACC PAC and how to join, visit: https://www.accpacweb.org/ssl/ A special thank you to Cathie Biga and Doctors Jerome Hines, Jay Alexander, James Dove, Kenneth Brin, Jay Kleiman, Michael Severino, Irwin Silverman, Edward Winslow, and Kim Williams for their outstanding work, efforts, and commitment to represent all of the Illinois ACC chapter members during this conference. Now is the time to get involved. Make a call, write a letter, send an e-mail to your member of Congress and let your voice be heard today. For details on the issues and resources to help you and your patients support the ACC advocacy efforts, visit www.acc.com/can or www.ilacc.org.   Message from the ACC: Weiner-Braley Imaging Amendment Pulled from the House Energy and Commerce Committee Back to Top The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is currently considering several amendments to its health reform bill (H.R. 3200) that were left pending just before the August Congressional Recess. In a big victory for imaging, the amendment by Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) to eliminate the ability of physicians to provide advanced diagnostic imaging services in their offices beginning in 2013 has been withdrawn. The ACC would like to thank its members who contacted their representatives on the House Energy and Commerce Committee asking them to oppose this amendment. Your letters and face-to-face visits were crucial to stopping this proposal from moving forward. ACC staff and leaders will continue to meet regularly with members of Congress about the benefits of appropriate use criteria and clinical guidelines to ensure that the right tests are delivered at the right time to the right patients. The ACC also supports mandatory imaging laboratory accreditation to improve the quality of imaging. ONGOING ADVOCACY EFFORTS Cardiovascular specialists are still facing many legislative and regulatory issues including health system reform and CMS's Proposed Rule. We encourage ACC members to take part in the ACC's CardioAdvocacy Network (CAN) and the ACC Political Action Committee (PAC). Both programs are great ways to stay up-to-date on legislative issues and to influence congressional leaders. You can also follow ACC Advocacy on Twitter (@Cardiology) or share your thoughts on health reform at the ACC's online forum, "The Lewin Report." Thank you for your time and your assistance in this effort. For more information, contact Molly Nichelson (800) 253-4636 x 6470. You can also visit www.acc.org/can.   The American Medical Association Invites Fellows-In-Training to Attend a Free Dinner Program! Back to Top The AMA Resident and Fellow Section cordially invites you to a special cocktail reception, dinner and interactive educational session entitled, "Finding the Perfect Practice, Signing the Right Contract, and Starting your Practice Successfully." This complimentary event promises to provide valuable and practical information to assist you as you take the steps to complete your residency and embark on your own career. Please join us: Monday, November 2, 6:30 PM Maggiano's Little Italy 516 N Clark St. Chicago, IL 60654 Please RSVP if you would like to attend this event or call 312-464-4277. Feel free to forward this invite to your resident and fellow physician colleagues. This event is being held in partnership with HCA - Hospital Corporation of America.   Save the Dates for Illinois Chapter 2010 Events MARK YOUR CALENDARS TODAY! Back to Top The Illinois ACC Chapter’s Annual Practice Management Symposium: When: May 14, 2010 Where: The University Club Chicago, Chicago, IL The Annual Illinois ACC Chapter Scientific Reception: When: March 10, 2009 Where: Intercontinental Hotel; Chicago, Illinois Featuring a Fellows-In-Training Scientific Poster Competition. The winner will receive the “2010 Illinois Chapter of the American College of Cardiology Poster of the Year” Award and a gift certificate.   Best regards, Jerome Hines, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.C. Governor, Illinois Chapter of the ACC