IMPORTANT UPDATE
SCCT announces the finalists for the
6th Annual Toshiba Young Investigator (YIA) Award, and the
6th Annual Siemens Outstanding Academic Research (SOAR) Awards.
More Information
Alternatives to Intravenous Metoprolol. — More Information
March 27, 2012 — ACRIN-PA and ROMICAT II Trials Presented At ACC Late-Breaking Clinical Trials Indicate Coronary CT Angiography as Safe, Effective Tool in Evaluating Emergency Department Patients. More information
February 17, 2012, Congress approved legislation to halt the 27.4 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement that was slated to take effect March 1, 2012 for 10 months. No cuts in reimbursement for imaging services were included to offset the costs of this provision. President Obama has stated he will sign the bill into law as soon as he receives it.
AUC Coronary Revascularization Focused Update — More Information
IMPORTANT REIMBURSEMENT UPDATE — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated that because Congress acted so late in 2011 to prevent the 27.4 percent Medicare physician reimbursement cut that was slated for January 1, 2012, claims must still be held for a period of time to allow CMS time to develop the new payment rate files and the Medicare claims administration contractors time to install and test the files. More information
Urgent Medicare Reimbursement Announcement — Congress has just approved legislation to be signed soon by President Obama, to provide a two month reprieve from the impending 27.4 percent Medicare physician reimbursement cut that was slated to take effect January 1, 2012.
SCCT Voted-In to AMA Specialty and Service Society Caucus. More Information
SCCT Urges Super Committee to Reject Imaging Cuts. Please click here to view the letter that SCCT and other interested stakeholders sent to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, urging lawmakers to reject policies to restrict the provision of imaging services or further reduce reimbursement. If you haven't already, make sure to communicate with your lawmaker regarding your opposition to additional imaging cuts. Time is of the essence as the Super Committee will make recommendations to Congress by November 23, 2011. Please click here to view letter attachments.
SCCT Grassroots Action Alert — contact your U.S. Representative with a request to cosponsor H.R. 3269, legislation to repeal the MPPR provision included in the 2012 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. More Information
SCCT calls your attention to a recently published Medicare Learning Network(MLN) article on billing for diagnostic imaging procedures in the emergency department. Please take the time to review this important article. More Information
Final 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient Rules Released
On November 1, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the 2012 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the 2012 Final Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System rules. A summary of important provisions of both rules is available by clicking the following links:
2012 Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule
2012 Final Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System Rule
SCCT Action Alert - Oppose Prior Authorization and Further Cuts to Imaging Services. More Information. Talking Points.
SCCT Grassroots Action Alert - Voice Opposition to Additional Payment Cuts and Prior Authorization for Medical Imaging Services. More Information.
September 21, 2011 - CT-STAT Trial Finds CCTA Superior to MPI for Diagnosis of Early, Low-Risk Chest Pain in the Emergency Room. More Information.
August 16, 2011 - SCCT President Appointed to the MEDCAC. More Information.
August 16, 2011 - SCCT Announces New Leadership. More Information.
BCBSA Issues TEC Assessment - Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography meets the BCBSA TEC criteria for patients with acute chest pain presenting to the emergency room, without history of coronary artery disease and found not to have evidence of acute coronary syndromes. For details and to view a copy of the TEC assessment when it becomes available, visit:
http://www.bcbs.com/blueresources/tec/press/coronary-computed-tomographic.html
Please note: The BCBSA Medical Advisory Panel voted to table "Special Report: Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography for Evaluation of Stable Patients with Chest Pain and Suspected Coronary Artery Disease. SCCT will keep you updated on further developments as they occur.
SCCT Collaborates on Update to the Cardiac CT Appropriate Use Criteria. More Information
SCCT NEWS
Payer Pulse
In this edition of Payer Pulse, we provide an update from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the reprocessing of Medicare claims affected by the Affordable Care Act and 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule changes. Many commonly performed cardiology services are subject to this process; therefore, we strongly encourage you to contact your local Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) to determine any necessary action on your part.
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Advocacy Update — Noteworthy News
U.S. House of Representatives Continues to Eye Health Care Reform Repeal. More Information
Physician Pay "Fix" In President Obama's FY 2012 Budget Proposal. More information
Reminder — Rapidly Approaching Medicare Accreditation Requirements. More Information
SCCT in the News
The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) announces the finalists for the 5th Annual Toshiba Young Investigator (YIA) Award. More Information
The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) Announces Finalists for the SIEMENS Outstanding Academic Research (SOAR) Awards. More Information
SCCT Response to Dr. Einstein’s Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist Award Lecture. More information
Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) Collaborates on Update to the Cardiac CT Appropriate Use Criteria. More Information
