ACCC & CMS News

The following information has been received by ANCO.


****ACCC NEWS****
The Association of Community Cancer Center's (ACCC) This Week At ACCC was published and is available online at http://www.accc-cancer.org/mediaroom/newsletters/2009/media_ACCCNEWSLETTER_5-18-2009.html. ANCO is an Institutional Member of ACCC. This edition features:

Many Disagree with Medicare's "No" Decision for Virtual Colonoscopy

ACCC Public Policy Update: Two CMS May 20 Teleconferences

Health Plan Paperwork/Interactions Taking Much Physician and Nurse Time

New FTC "Red Flags" Rule on Identity Theft Applies to Many Providers

Q&A on ACCC's Listserve: Use of Nurse Practitioners

Houston, We Have a Free Meeting June 10

A Compelling Value This September in Minneapolis: Updated Agenda

US Oncology Launches Audio Reimbursement Education for Practices


****CMS NEWS****
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Special Open Door Forum:
Medicare Imaging Demonstration Project
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
9:30 am – 11:30 am ET

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is holding a Special Open Door Forum (ODF) in order to solicit stakeholder input for the design and development of the Appropriate Use of Imaging Services Demonstration. This Special ODF will be a “listening session” in which CMS hopes to gather information from stakeholders about issues that will affect Demonstration design and implementation.

This demonstration was authorized by Section 135(b) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) for the purpose of collecting data regarding physician use of advanced diagnostic imaging services. For purposes of this demonstration, advanced diagnostic imaging services are defined as diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and nuclear medicine (including positron emission tomography).

CMS is interested in holding this Special ODF to gather input related to the design and implementation of this provision. CMS will not be able to respond to comments at this Forum but intends to consider the information we obtain as input develop this demonstration.

CMS is especially interested in information and feedback in the following topic areas:
1. Demonstration Framework:
a. Given that prior authorization is excluded from the demonstration by legislative mandate, how can we best design the demonstration to test both point of order (POO) and point of service (POS) systems?

b. How could CMS assess the impact of POO and POS systems through randomized designs or other comparative models?

c. What will motivate physician participation in the demonstration? How should physicians be recruited? What is the role of economic and non-economic incentives in encouraging participation?

2. Point of Order (POO) and Point of Service Systems (POS):
a. What are the major characteristics of POO and POS? How are they similar and how are they different in their assessments of appropriateness? How are these systems currently used by providers and payers?

b. What data are captured by the systems and what is the comparability in data elements across systems? Are there distinctions in how appropriateness of individual procedures is assessed between these two systems?

c. Does use of POO versus POS systems vary systematically by type of service, service setting, type of physician, and/or geography? How common is the use of these systems by specialists, primary care physicians and performing physicians?

d. How do ordering and performing physicians interface with the POO or POS systems? Do individual physicians or group practices use of more than one system?

3. Imaging Procedures:
a. Specific procedures being considered for inclusion in the demonstration are likely to be high in volume, high in growth, exhibit geographic variation, and have consensus around clinical guidelines. Are there other criteria we should consider when selecting procedures for inclusion in the demonstration?

b. What procedures that have the characteristics described above have been incorporated into POO and POS?

c. Should the demonstration focus on applying a decision support system for only specific types of imaging procedure use (e.g., MRI for Lumbar Spine, rather than all MRIs)? Might a focus on only specific types of procedures cause confusion for physicians or increase burden on physicians?

For a more information, please see the demonstration website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DemoProjectsEvalRpts/MD/itemdetail.asp?filterType=none&filterByDID=-99&sortByDID=3&sortOrder=descending&itemID=CMS1222075&intNumPerPage=10

We ask that all interested parties who wish to present their positions or comments prepare to speak for no more than 2 minutes. Telephone participants will also be given an opportunity to speak and will be under the same time limitation.

CMS requests that interested parties prepare their comments or input in written form and submit this information toImagingDemo135b@cms.hhs.gov . We also request that you bring a hard copy of your written material for collection at the Special ODF.

We look forward to your participation.

There are two ways to participate, by phone or "in-person".

1. To participate by phone:
Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID: 90111467
Persons participating by phone are not required to RSVP.
Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.

2. To participate "in-person" at the CMS Baltimore Site, RSVP is required.
Please RSVP by 2pmET Thursday, May 21, 2009 to: SpecialODF@cms.hhs.gov . Please use “Medicare Imaging Demonstration” in the subject line, send your name along with the name of your organization, your contact information, and indicate whether or not you plan to speak.

Please plan to arrive no later than 9:00 AM to account for time required to pass through security. Visitors are subject to a vehicle search and an examination of all parcels (including purses) brought into the complex. Visitors all must have a valid Government-issued photo identification card or badge.

ADDRESS:
CMS Single Site Building
Auditorium
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244

An audio recording and transcript of this Special Forum will be posted to the Special Open Door Forum website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/05_ODF_SpecialODF.asp and will be accessible for downloading beginning June 8, 2009.

For automatic emails of Open Door Forum schedule updates, E-Mailing list subscriptions and to view Frequently Asked Questions please visit our website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoorforums/ .

Thank you for your interest in CMS Open Door Forums.