Issue Brief — In Office Ancillary Services

SCCT Health Policy Update — MedPAC Supports Changes in Reimbursement for Ancillary Services. More Information.

July 21, 2010 — CMS Announces Final Rules to Support ‘Meaningful Use’ of Electronic Health Records. More Information.

On March 30 and 31, 2010, SCCT President Jack A. Ziffer, MD, PhD, participated in the Food and Drug Administration's public meeting on ways to reduce radiation exposure from medical imaging. More Information.

Congress Passes Health Care Reform Legislation - March 21, 2010 — March 21, 2010

Addendum: The Senate has failed to approve the House provision to halt the 21.2 percent Medicare physician payment cut. This means that effective April 1, 2010, a cut of 21.2 percent will apply to every Medicare service billed. Now, the Senate has gone home for the Spring District Work Period. Be sure to contact your two U.S. Senators and express your outrage that the Senate has yet again failed patients and physicians.

Late March 21, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Senate version of health care reform by a vote of 219 — 212. The President signed the bill into law March 23, 2010. Key provisions of the legislation include health insurance reforms, coverage for the uninsured, and prevention and wellness initiatives. Medicare physician payment reform is not addressed in this legislation.

The House of Representatives also approved, by a vote of 220 - 211, a package of changes to the Senate bill under a process called reconciliation. The Senate must now approve the House changes to the Senate bill. At this point it is uncertain if the Senate will approve the reconciliation package. (remove these last two sentences) and replace them with "The Senate recently approved the reconciliation changes."

Click here to view a summary of key provisions of the health care reform and reconciliation bills.

Summary - Senate Finance Committee's Draft Health Care Reform Mark.

Please click here to review summary

Texas Heart Attack Prevention Bill Signed

Texas Governor Rick Perry signed the Texas Heart Attack Prevention Bill (HB1290), the nation's first preventive cardiovascular screening bill for early detection of coronary artery disease. The legislation, which will take effect on September 1, requires Texas insurers to pay up to $200 for a either a non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan measuring coronary artery calcification, commonly known as a Calcium scoring exam, or ultrasonography for measuring carotid intima-media thickness and plaque.

The final wording of Act HB1290 stipulates that health-benefit providers cover the cost of CT coronary-artery-calcium (CAC) scans and carotid ultrasonography in men between the ages of 45 and 76 and women between the ages of 55 and 76, as well as anyone (at any age) who has diabetes or is deemed to be at intermediate risk or higher for developing CAD, as determined by the Framingham risk score. The test may be conducted every five years by a certified laboratory.

These two non-invasive screening tests have proven by the National Health Institute studies to be strong predictors of those who are vulnerable to a heart attack or stroke. The Texas legislation is the first in the United States to mandate coverage coronary artery calcification.

If you would like to review the legislation, please click here.