Welcome to the South Carolina Chapter ACC website. Our vision statement is "To improve the health and well being of South Carolinians through the support of cardiovascular specialists." Use the navigation buttons on the left to access our website. Please feel free to e-mail us if you have any questions or comments.
Save the Dates: September 28 - 30, 2012
It's time once again to make plans for a weekend full of exciting and educational scientific sessions within a relaxing atmosphere perfect for time alone or an easy family get-a-way. The SC Chapter will host attendees at Wild Dunes Resort on Isle of Palms, South Carolina for the 19th Annual Joint Meeting of the NC/SC Chapters of the ACC. We hope you'll plan to join us!
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Penalties, Deadlines, & Incentives
E-Prescribing: What You Need to Know
For the first time, practitioners who did not e-prescribe at least 10 times between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2011 or who did not meet the requirements and/or request a hardship exemption by Nov. 8, 2011 will be penalized with a one percent payment reduction on all of their 2012 Medicare payments. Practitioners who e-prescribed at least 25 times during 2011 or who e-prescribe at least 10 times between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2012 can avoid the 2013 penalty. More information is posted in the CardioSource.org/healthIT section to help understand how to avoid the penalty, as well as how to successfully participate to collect the bonus.
Last Chance to Participate in PQRS Before Penalties Begin
Since 2007, successful participants in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) have received a bonus payment of as much as 2 percent of Medicare allowed charges. Beginning this year through 2014, qualifying participants will receive a bonus payment of 0.5 percent. However, while there may be some provisions for physicians who do not have appropriate measures to report, the vast majority of cardiologists will likely be subject to a penalty starting in 2015. Also, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will assess the penalty similar to the e-prescribing penalty, meaning penalties will be based on participation prior to the year in question. For example, physicians who do not participate in PQRS in 2013 will be subject to the 2015 penalty. To help members understand the PQRS participation requirements, and learn more about the ACC tools available, the first PINNACLE Network webinar of 2012 focused entirely on PQRS. Got to http://www.cardiosource.org/webinars for the Jan. 26 archive of the PINNACLE Network PQRS webinar.
Last Year for Maximum Payment Under the EHR Incentive Program
This year marks the last year for physicians interested in participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program to receive the maximum payment. Physicians can earn up to $44,000 over five years if they meet the program requirements and begin participating in 2011 or 2012. First-year participants must only comply with the program’s requirements for 90 days. This means that participants in their first year have until Oct. 1 to comply. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a guide for beginners to the EHR Incentive Program and has produced measure specification sheets for all of the core and optional requirements, available at www. cms.gov/ehrincentiveprograms. The ACC has also partnered with the Managed Care Advisory Group (MCAG) to help members receive maximum incentive payments under the EHR Incentive Program. MCAG uses a dashboard to track physician progress in meeting the Meaningful Use requirements and help identify problem areas. Once requirements are met, MCAG will complete and send the application for the incentive bonus to CMS. More information on the EHR Incentive Program, ACC resources and MCAG, is available at CardioSource.org/HealthIT.
ACC PAC Celebrates 10th Anniversary
To kick-off its 10th anniversary and better showcase news and events, the American College of Cardiology’s Political Action Committee (ACCPAC) has launched a new and improved website . Check out the site and learn more about ACCPAC activities across the country at www.accpacweb.org. In addition, stay tuned for exciting 10th anniversary celebrations at ACC.12.
Legislative Practice Visits:
Let Them See What the Cardiac Care Team Can Do
The ACC is urging members to join the advocacy effort by hosting a Legislator Practice Visit. These visits provide unique opportunities for federal and state government officials to witness first-hand how the cardiac care team provides patients with quality, cost-efficient care by employing state of the art technology, health care data and professional training through a team approach. These visits are also opportunities to establish and/or building upon personal relationships with policymakers at the state and/or federal level. Contact Elizabeth Ellis at eellis@acc.orgfor more information or to set up a practice visit.
CardioSmart is a patient education site of the American College of Cardiology. CardioSmart's mission is to engage, inform, and empower patients to better prepare them for participation in their own care. They are committed to providing visitors to their site with accurate, un-biased information in an advertising-free environment.
Contact us:
SC Chapter ACC
134 Collin Campbell
Beaufort, SC 29906
Tel: 843-252-4709
Email: info@sccacc.org
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