News

Important Message from Dr Stainback...
Subject: CMS reimbursement cuts-what to do?

Dear Greater Houston Society of Echocardiography Members,

Now is your final chance to be heard on this issue. As we discussed at the last GHSE meeting, major cuts in Echo reimbursement are slated to begin on January 1, 2010.

This will have a devastating effect on cardiology generally and will also likely result in practices either closing or severely curtailing Medicare services particularly in smaller communities. The new CMS rule calls for phased in cuts of 40% for echo as well as 35% for nuclear cardiology and 10% across the board cuts for other cardiology services. For now, the cuts do not affect hospital outpatient services. These reimbursement cuts are addition the already sizeable Medicare cuts that were sustained last year which already have many practices skating on thin ice financially.

The immediate impact on your job - A typical cardiology practice population is comprised of >45% Medicare patients since cardiovascular disease disproportionately affects older individuals.

Please do the following ASAP since legislation is being introduced in Congress that may be able to mitigate the CMS rule by Texas Congressman Charlie Gonzalez (D)

Please look at the following sites:

ASE:
http://capwiz.com/asecho/issues/alert/?alertid=14450826

Please send your letter through this Capwiz service to your representative. Do not be concerned about any deadlines having passed, the more "noise" that is created from votes, the better the chance of passing this legislation.

ACC:
I recommend viewing the ACC's you-tube video to see the effect this AND other cardiology cuts will have small practices:
http://www.campaignforpatientaccess.org/

Please select "share your story" and enter your concerns / the specifics of your practice situation. This will be used as testimony in congressional legislation.

If you are unable to use the above services, please email me any personal stories or effects that the changes will have on your practice and I will forward them on to our representative.

Everybody needs to express their voice on this uphill battle. Other medical groups that would be "winners" with the new CMS rule will actively oppose Gonzalez' Bill which asks congress to exempt cardiology from the 2010 PFS rule ( in an as yet to be decided way that would not hurt other subspecialties)

Happy Holidays!

Ray Stainback, MD
President, Greater Houston Society of Echocardiography

Raymond F. Stainback, MD, FACC, FASE
Medical Director, Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging
Texas Heart Institute, St.
Luke's Episcopal Hospital

For a PDF copy of this letter, click here.

Message from the President:

Dear GHSE members,

We had a very merry, successful and well-attended Joint Echo and Vascular society gathering at the Medical Center Marriott Hotel last Thursday night. This format seems to have gone well for the 3rd year.

Special thanks are in order for the Board members (Sue, Liza, Marti and many others) and to all of the Members, Vendors, Doctors and Students that made this possible. We are a really great team.

We had a wonderful presentation by Dr. Vijay Nambi on carotid Doppler exams and implications for the somewhat controversial new Texas Bill requiring private payer funding for this and / or coronary Ca++ scoring for screening purposes in at risk groups.

We presented 9 interesting "unknown" echo cases is a contest format. Each team was strong, and the winners took home starbucks cards.

We reviewed the final CMS rules for Medicare Echo reimbursements and implications for providers. (all this in 45 minutes!) Whenever there is a concrete worthy grass roots initiative (legislation introduced?) we will keep you informed so as to have a coordinated effort if needed.

For those of you who were unable to join us, we missed you and look forward to seeing you in the new year. Happy and safe holidays to everyone and Happy New Year!

Ray Stainback, MD
President, GHSE

Raymond F. Stainback, MD, FACC, FASE
Medical Director, Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging
Texas Heart Institute, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital

Pictures of the festive event are available HERE (click)!

New CME Source!

The Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital offers free CME courses in Echocardiography.
They currently have 11 echo courses (along with about 80 other cardiology related courses.)
Thanks Carolyn!
The following link will take you to the catalogue.

Click here!

Join the Echocardiography Group at Yahoo!