Current News from the ACC

ACC and STS Launch New Transcatheter Valve Therapy (TVT) Registry
The STS/ACC TVT RegistryTM is a new benchmarking tool developed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) to track patient safety and real-world outcomes related to new and emerging transcatheter valve therapy (TVT) procedures. Launched December 1, the TVT Registry is the first national program to evaluate safety and efficacy of a transcatheter valve aortic replacement (TAVR) option for patients who are otherwise considered to be non-operable for conventional valve replacement surgery. The registry was developed in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with input from other professional societies including the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), and trial sponsors from industry. The TVT Registry is governed by a joint Steering Committee with representatives from the STS and ACC selected through each society’s standard selection process. For more information, visit www.tvtregistry.org and read a blog post by ACC President David Holmes about the TVT Registry on the ACC In Touch Blog.

Calling all Medicare providers!  Under the new risk screening criteria required by the Affordable Care Act, Medicare contractors will be alerting providers enrolled in the Medicare program regarding revalidation of their enrollment. The revalidation process has four steps. Upon notification, providers will need to: 1) update enrollment through the online Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) or complete the 855; 2) sign the certification statement on the application; 3) pay any fees through pay.gov; and 4) mail supporting documents and certification statement to their MAC. To help providers better understand and prepare for this process, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. You can review the Medicare Learning Network’s fact sheet for more information.

New Cardiovascular Imaging Section Provides Specialists Opportunity for Involvement
American College of Cardiology (ACC) members will have an additional opportunity for involvement with the addition of the new Cardiovascular (CV) Imaging Member Section. CV Imaging Section membership will provide members a forum to advance professional priorities, offer input into the coordination of imaging activities within the College and facilitate networking with peers in their field. Governed by the ACC Imaging Council, the section hopes to represent the cardiovascular imaging community and work with ACC leadership to promote collaboration on issues facing cardiovascular specialists using imaging technologies to provide optimal patient care. As the CV Imaging Member Section grows in its inaugural year, members may establish work groups to address imaging-specific issues related to research, education, quality, guidelines, advocacy and more. Membership is open to physician, cardiac care associate and fellow-in-training members of the ACC. Those interested may join by opting in on their dues statement or calling the Resource Center at (800) 253-4636, ext. 5603. Visit CardioSource.org/Imaging for more information.

Free AUC Module Software Trial The new Health Outcomes Sciences (HOS) ePRISM® platform serves as the only software solution to embed the Appropriate Use Model and deliver it to clinicians at the point of care. The Appropriate Use Criteria module supplements ePRISM’s existing capacity to support bleeding avoidance therapy, stent choice and to better engage the patient in selecting the best possible treatments. With e-PRISM’s capability to take the complex algorithmic process of classifying an individual patient’s appropriateness for PCI and generate those results at the point of care, it can serve as an invaluable tool for clinicians when and where it matters most.

HOS is offering a free trial of the model for anyone who signs up prior to Dec. 31. Don’t miss the opportunity to view the software and understand how the use of a decision support aid at the point of care can help turn the Appropriate Use Criteria to your organization’s advantage. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and Health Outcomes Sciences (HOS) have a business relationship designed to use NCDR risk models at the point of care to improve medical decision-making. To learn more, please view the disclosure of the ACC and HOS relationship. For more information, visit h-outcomes.com or call (816) 979-3100.

Cardiology Debuts New Features
The Nov/Dec issue of Cardiology magazine's online flipper debuts some exciting new features! In addition to the interesting articles, you can now watch videos and listen to audio files. In this issue: the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC’s) Board of Governors (BOG)recently instated new representatives from the Army, Navy and Air Force to act as liaisons between their respective services and the ACC. The cover story highlights their role and compares the military health system with the traditional practice system. Also in this issue, a commentary from the Veterans Affairs representative to the BOG and a profile of the public health representative. View the newest issue on www.CardioSource.org/CardiologyMagazine and download the new Cardiology app for your iPad.

Advance Registration for ACC.12 s Now Open!
The American College of Cardiology’s 61st Annual Scientific Session & Expo reflects the College’s passion for science, education and peer-to-peer networking. ACC.12 in Chicago will highlight the ACC’s focus on lifelong learning and practice improvement, and will feature a new learning pathway structure to better address the needs of cardiovascular professionals round the globe. New this year: ACC.12 will officially kick off with the opening session at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, and will close on Tuesday, March 27, at noon with a brand new ACC.12 Innovators session featuring the top leaders in cardiology. Register by February 15 to receive advance registration rates and the best availability of hotels. For more information visit www.accscientificsession.org.

ACC Joins Campaign to Promote Wise Use of Resources Among Physicians, Patients
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has joined the ABIM Foundation and eight other leading national medical specialty societies in Choosing Wisely. The goal of this campaign is to help physicians, patients and other health care stakeholders think and talk about overuse or misuse of health care resources in the United States. Consumer Reports, the nation’s leading expert, independent, nonprofit consumer organization, has also joined the campaign to provide resources for consumers and physicians to engage in these important conversations.
  
As part of the campaign, the ACC will develop a list of five common tests or procedures in cardiology whose necessity patients and physicians should question and discuss. The resulting lists will be released in April 2012 and aim to spark discussion about the need – or lack thereof – for many frequently ordered tests or treatments in America.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that up to 30 percent of care delivered in America goes toward unnecessary tests, procedures, doctor visits, hospital stays and other services that may not improve people’s health – and in fact may actually cause harm. If current trends remain unchanged, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services project U.S. health care spending will reach $4.3 trillion and account for 19.3 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product by 2019.

To learn more about Choosing Wisely,visit www.ChoosingWisely.org.

Last Chance to Save 10% on CPT Guide
Efficiently and accurately report cardiovascular services and procedures with the new CPT® Reference Guide for Cardiovascular Coding. Co-published by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF), this all-inclusive cardiology coding and reimbursement resource provides a complete overview of the heart, including cardiovascular basics and common ailments. CPT guidelines, explanations of significant recent code revisions and the general intent and use of diagnostic and therapeutic clinical procedures and services will help ensure that providers, administrators and allied health professionals code properly and avoid costly coding mistakes. Order by Dec. 31 and save 10%.