OFFICERS
Governor
Jerome L. Hines, MD, FACC
Immediate Past Governor
Diane E. Wallis, MD, FACC
Past Governors
David J. Hale, MD, FACC
Alan S. Brown, MD, FACC
James T. Dove, MD, FACC
Joseph V. Messer, MD, FACC
Morton F. Arnsdorf, MD, MACC
Secretary Treasurer
David L. Fishman, MD, FACC

COUNCILORS
CHICAGO DISTRICT
Vera H. Rigolin, MD, FACC
Clifford Kavinsky, MD, FACC
Bradley Knight, MD, FACC
Issam Mikati, MD, FACC
Alternates
James E. Calvin, MD, FACC
Lloyd W. Klein, MD, FACC
Payman Sattar, MD, FACC
Matthew J. Sorrentino, MD, FACC
NORTH SUBURBAN DISTRICT
John T. Barron, MD, FACC
Robert C. Hendel, MD, FACC
Thomas J. McKiernan, MD, FACC
Alternates
Jay H. Kleiman, MD, FACC
Parag V. Patel, DO, FACC
SOUTH SUBURBAN DISTRICT
Paul A. Freier, MD, FACC
Robert C. Lichtenberg, MD, FACC
Marc A. Silver , MD, FACC
Alternates
Thomas E Bump, MD, FACC
Peter W. Kakavas, MD, FACC
Paul R. Silverman, MD, FACC
NORTHWEST DISTRICT
Darrel C. Gumm, MD, FACC
Alternates
Peter P. Toth, MD, FACC
CENTRAL DISTRICT
Marc E. Shelton, MD, FACC
SOUTHERN DISTRICT
Cesar E. Coello, MD, FACC
Alternates
Naeem A. Khan, MD, FACC
CCA Representative
Julie Benson, MSN, APRN
FIT Representative
Priya Kansal
Practice Management Representative
Cathie Biga

Executive Director
Bill Monn
Assistant Executive Director
Andy Shelp

ACC Chapter Relations
Kristin Try

Dear colleagues,

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has recently announced the acceleration of assignments of existing Medicare regions to the new Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) who will combine Part A and Part B administration.  Illinois, in Jurisdiction 6 (J6), has been reassigned from Wisconsin Physicians Services (WPS), J6’s Medicare contractor for many years, and given to Noridian Administrative Services which handles several other states and territories.  Currently, information indicates that the claims process for Noridian will be handled outside of Illinois. There will be no Noridian offices in the state to assist with issues, challenges, and troubleshooting issues your practice may require. Additionally, Noridian has not created Carrier Advisory Committees (CAC) within states it administers.  Not having an Illinois CAC would terminate the long-standing and beneficial relationship with the local Medicare Medical Director, Dr. Stephen Boren, and places important decisions concerning Illinois Medicare coverage outside the state. This change is unnecessary due to the fact that WPS has a track record unequaled among many Medicare contractors. It has the lowest cost in the U.S., the highest rating for quality service, and one of the lowest numbers of “CERT” citations.  Also, changing contractors will cause considerable cost to Illinois providers in reprogramming their electronic claim submission software to Noridian specifications.  Finally, this change would create significant job losses for Marion, Illinois, where WPS maintains its claims processing center and employs approximately 300 residents.

The Illinois ACC is asking for your help to appeal this contractor decision. Sign and email or mail this letter to your Federal Congressional Representatives and Senators at their Washington, D.C., offices.  Find your elected representatives’ contact information,

Need help finding your Senators or Representative? Click here to go to the Illinois State Board of Elections to search for your district. 

PLEASE ACT NOW! The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must issue decisions on the protest in May 2009, no later than 100 days after they receive the filings.

Thank you for your support and urgent action on this matter.  For additional information, you can go to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or your IL-ACC CAC representative, Dr. Joseph Messer, M.D., M.A.C.C. through the chapter office e-mail: ilacc@ilacc.org. 

Sincerely,
Dr. Jerome Hines
Governor, IL-ACC