December 2005 What Are You Doing to Halt Cuts in 2006 Medicare Physician Payment? By now, you have received — and hopefully read — and hopefully acted upon — an all-member alert from the College regarding Medicare Physician payment cuts in 2006. You, and all practicing physicians, are faced with a 4.4 percent decease in your Medicare practice income! And the grievously flawed Medicare physician payment system remains intact. As the ACC alert states “The time to act is now to ensure that Congress stops the cut.” The Senate has approved a Budget Reconciliation bill that includes a $10.8 billion for a one percent update in 2006 Medicare physician payments. The House bill is silent on this matter. Differences must be worked out in a Conference Committee which will be appointed next week. If you have not yet acted on this crucial matter, your senators and representatives need to hear from you. Send your lawmakers an email or fax. Utilize the ACC Web site (www.ac.org/egrassroots.htm) for this purpose. Here are a few talking points to personalize your message: Emphasize that reductions in Medicare payments, standards in the face of new clinical technologies, health information technology requirements, medical liability costs, and other increasing practice costs, diminish patient care quality. Seek a fair and equitable payment system through either elimination or reconfiguration of the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) Medicare payment formula. Support a 1 percent increase in 2006 Medicare payments without reducing payments for other physician Medicare services, particularly medical imaging services. CEO Leaves ACC On November 30, 2005, Christine McEntee completed her last day as Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of the American College of Cardiology. Since Chris took over the reins as CEO in 1998, many challenges in a changing health care environment were successfully met under her guidance. A search committee will shortly be named to address the difficult task of filling the CEO vacancy. Chapter CT Angiography & DEI Program Well Received in Springfield The Saturday, November 19 Chapter Annual Meeting program on CT Angiography, coupled with the Diabetes Educational Initiative (DEI) program of the ACC Foundation on Sunday, November 20, were highly successful. Attendees received state-of-the-art information covering both topics from a knowledgeable faculty. Chapter President Dr. David Hale brought participants up to date on the Medicare Modernization Act. Sandwiched between the two programs was a reception-dinner at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. This private affair afforded glimpses of the unique museum exhibits beyond those normally available to general visitors. The James T. Dove Conference Center provided a perfect backdrop for the two day meeting. Eight exhibitors attended, marking their interest in supporting the Chapter: Pfizer, Novartis, Wyeth, AstraZeneca, Boston Scientific, Glaxo, Schering-Plough, and Bristol-Meyers-Squibb. November 12 Board of Councilors Meeting Highlights For the first time, members of the Board of Councilors, the Chapter’s policy decision body, had the Internet at their disposal when the Board met on November 12. Through arrangements with Webex, participants were able to log in for the conference at their facilities. This was extremely helpful to two current Councilors who have been traveling (regularly by automobile) to previous Board meetings held in Chicago: Dr. Frank Aguirre, Springfield, and Dr. Donald McElroy, Peoria. Following are salient issues addressed at the November 12 Board meeting. Comments from Chapter members are welcome. Board of Councilors Meeting Minutes November 12, 2005 - 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Webex/Internet or Conference Room Cardiovascular Associates Alexian Brothers Hospital, 701 Biesterfield Road, Elk Grove Village Present: Webex On Site Office Location David J. Hale, MD Diane E. Wallis, MD Webex Off Site Attendees Alan S. Brown, MD Bruce R. Greenspahn, MD Thomas D. Stamos, MD Payman Sattar, MD Timothy A. Sanborn, MD Peter W. Kakavas, MD Donald B. McElroy, MD Frank V. Aguirre, MD 2005 Illinois Chapter Membership Report — It was noted that the Chapter had once again experienced a good membership response, particularly in view of the large increase in national dues and the first increase ever in Chapter dues from $95.00 to $125.00. Membership eligible ACC Fellows in Illinois responded at a 84% membership level. This is similar to Chapter membership levels in past years. Advocacy September 18-20 ACC BOG & Legislative Conference, Washington, D.C.: Dr. Hale and Dr. Wallis attended this meeting and found it helpful in bringing them up to date on current issues, and ACC activities focused on advocacy that needed to be addressed in Congress and by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. The meeting was followed by visits on Capitol Hill with members of Congress closely allied with reimbursement and other issues affecting cardiology practice and quality patient care. September 13 Meeting with AHA Midwest Affiliate: Dr. Hale, Dr. Wallis and Jack Carow met with Heather Gavras, Midwest AHA Affiliate, to discuss establishing closer communication and liaison with the Illinois Chapter. Among items suggested by AHA were: research funding tobacco control stroke physical education/activity school nutrition access to care women and heart disease A second issue is the Herrick Lecture, once cosponsored by the Illinois Chapter as part of its Annual Meeting but recently presented as part of Dr. Robert Bonow’s Taste of Chicago Cardiology Meeting held each year. A telephone conference has been arranged at the end of this month to discuss the 2006 Herrick Lecture and potential Illinois Chapter support. June Advocacy Planning Meeting: It was reported that this meeting, called by the Illinois Chapter to discuss issues involving CT Angiography, has resulted in a national stance being adopted by the ACC on recommendations stemming from this meeting. Res Publica Advocacy Proposal: Clarification was provided on a proposition from Res Publica. It proposes monitoring of activities and legislation in Springfield concerning CT Angiography., It was agreed that it was an important advocacy matter that might best be handled by a Political Action Committee. Upon a vote, four negative responses were received to the question: “Should ILACC fund a white paper by Res Publica re: imaging prerogatives up to $15,000. One vote. It was suggested that the membership be polled in regard to starting an Illinois chapter Political Action Committee. Medical Liability Insurance - Continuing premium increases for medical liability insurance were discussed. It was felt that the Illinois Chapter should look into the possibility of establishing a captive insurance company such as theopthamologists have in Illinois and nationwide. Women’s Initiative Committee – There is interest in restarting a series of Women’s Initiative Committee dinner meetings featuring well known speakers on topics of interest to women cardiologists in Illinois. Quality Status Report: Medicare Health Support Program (MHSP) – The current status of the pilot program under Aetna that will take place in and surrounding counties Chicago was reviewed. A grant of $4000 to the chapter from Aetna has been approved to bring the program to the attention of Illinois cardiologists. Part A Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs): Two Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) are under review by Chapter representatives. The draft LCDs require review of a) LDL and b) Eptifibatide. Responses are due shortly. Illinois Foundation for Quality Health Care – DOQ-IT: The Illinois Chapter held a teleconference on November 13 with staff of the Illinois Foundation for Quality health Care. The discussion was centered on the Doctor’s Office Quality Information Technology (DOQ-IT) program which is aimed toward establishing an Electronic Health Record (HER) system in medical practices. This federally funded program is being pushed nationwide. In Illinois, the Foundation is working with medical and surgical societies by offering assessment of practice record keeping, recommending improvements installation of an ERH system, minimizing installation costs, and consultation on project planning and future system utilization, particularly in regard to Pay for Performance (P4P). Education 2005 Illinois Chapter Meetings: CME evaluations of the September 10 Diabetes Educational Initiative in Evanston were highly favorable. There was a registration of 26 physicians and seven exhibitors. The next presentation of the program will take place at the James T. Dove Conference Center in Springfield as part of the November 19-20 Chapter Annual Meeting. Registration, while currently low, is beginning to pick up and there are hopes for a large registration and a good turnout by exhibitors. 2006 Chapter Practice Management Symposium – The Program Committee, will shortly convene a meeting soon to plan the program for the Practice Management Symposium in early February in Chicago. New Business Chapter eNewsletter: Favorable comments were received on the first Chapter eNewsletter. It was suggested that the newsletter be sent to members monthly regardless of the importance or non-importance of available information. Board of Councilors Elections: 2006 Vacancies and Completed Terms. A list of Chapter Districts indicating 2006 vacancies due to completed terms, and incumbents finishing the first of their terms, was reviewed. The Nominating Committee will shortly be appointed by to nominate individuals for the openings. Next Meeting: January 11, 2006 – The next meeting will continue via the Webex technology.