Indiana-ACC Message from Dr. Raymond Dusman

News from the Indiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology

Indiana-ACC Newsletter, September 2017

President's Message

Raymond E. Dusman, MD, FACC

Dear Indiana-ACC Colleague,

I am pleased to invite you to the 21st Annual Meeting of the Indiana-ACC on Saturday, October 21, at the Westin Indianapolis. We are thrilled to have the ACC Immediate Past President Dr. Richard Chazal join us. He is a senior cardiologist and the medical director of the Heart and Vascular Institute for Lee Health, a four hospital, not-for-profit system in Fort Myers, FL. He is glad to be returning to Indiana for our meeting because he completed a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the Krannert Institute of Cardiology at Indiana University, where he spent one year working under Harvey Feigenbaum, MD, FACC as a designated echocardiography fellow. Chazal has spent eight years on the ACC Board of Trustees, seven of which were on the Executive Committee. Nationally, Chazal has served as a member and/or chair of over 50 committees and workgroups for the College.

Other Topics/Speakers Include:

MACRA: Early Experience and Lessons Learned

Edward T.A. Fry, MD, FACC

Cardio-Oncology & Building a Specialty Clinic

Vijay U. Rao, MD, PhD, FACC

Kerry C. Skurka, RN

Rey P. Vivo, MD, FACC

Atrial Fibrillation: 2017 Update & Specialty Clinic Focus

Gopi Dandamudi, MD

Allison Weaver, MSN, RN, FNP-C

Latest Technologies: Rapid Updates

CardioMems for Heart Failure - Sanjeeb Bhattacharya, MD

Telecardiology - Michael GeRue, RN

Leadless Pacemakers - Kyle P. Hornsby, MD, FACC

Wearable Technology - Michael J. Mirro, MD, FACC

ACC Legislative Conference

I recently returned from the ACC Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, where I, along with 16 other Indiana-ACC members, went to Capitol Hill to meet with our Indiana Congressional delegation to discuss three key points:

Cosponsor H.R. 1155/S. 1361, a bill that would expand access to cardiac rehabilitation by allowing physician assistants, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists to supervise cardiac, intensive cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Foster innovation and research through increased funding for the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ease administrative burden on clinicians by exercising oversight of QPP implementation, streamlining electronic health record (EHR) requirements, supporting H.R. 3120, a bill that would ease meaningful use requirements, and facilitating smooth transition to new payment models.

Make sure to take a look at the photos from DC!

Be sure to download the ACC Advocacy Action mobile app to get easy access to ACC's advocacy priorities and timely talking points to share during congressional visits. The app was designed to help members engage with lawmakers and influence health policy. Download it today on iTunes (iPhone, iPad) and Google Play (Android devices).

Advocacy Award

I am pleased to announce that our Indiana-ACC Chapter Executive, Gwen Goldfarb, was presented with the prestigious ACC Excellence in Advocacy Award at the recently held ACC Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. This annual award recognizes an outstanding individual who has been a staunch advocate on behalf of the ACC and the entire cardiology profession. Congratulations, Gwen!

If Gwen Goldfarb or I can be of assistance to you, please let us know .

Sincerely,

Ray

Women in Cardiology

Meet & Greet Held in Indy

The Indiana-ACC held its first Women in Cardiology Meet & Greet during August in the Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis. We had an outstanding showing! The group was honored to have National ACC President and Indiana-ACC's own Minnow Walsh, MD, FACC join everyone.

The next Women in Cardiology networking opportunity will be during the Indiana-ACC Annual Meeting on October 21.

Quality Payment Program

Indiana Jumpstart Conference

The QPP Indiana Jumpstart Conference on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, in Indianapolis is aimed at helping Indiana clinicians and healthcare administrators move forward on Quality Payment Program (QPP) reporting. Representatives from all healthcare organizations are welcome, regardless of hospital/practice/clinic size or participation status in the QPP Resource Center™ or the Great Lakes Practice Transformation Network (GLPTN). Clinicians are encouraged to attend but, if you can only send one person, send your practice manager or the person responsible for QPP reporting. Hosted by Purdue Healthcare Advisors and Qsource, this full-day, no-cost conference will feature presentations from Indiana and CMS speakers, group presentations, and personalized assistance on QPP reporting. QPP Advisors will be on hand to give customized, in-person assistance on QPP eligibility; MIPS scoring and reporting in 2017; understanding your QRUR; APMs; quality improvement; and demonstrations on how to navigate the QPP Resource Center’s website portal dedicated to helping Midwest clinicians. Register now for the event at https://pha.purdue.edu/qpp-jumpstart.

Work Toward Reducing the Burden of Prior Authorization with ACC’s New PARTool

The ACC is seeking input from practices on incorrectly denied or difficult prior authorization requests via the new web-based prior authorization tool (PARTool). The tool collects data to help the College determine overall prior authorization and test substitution trends, and better understand problematic areas of the prior authorization process, including time burdens, test substitution and peer-to-peer reviews. The College will use the data garnered from responses to the 12-question form to share trends with insurers, prior authorization vendors, state legislators and insurance officials to engage them in working to reduce the burden of prior authorization. Submit your issues via the simple online form at www.acc.org/PARTool .

ACC Emerging Advocates Program: Apply Now! Deadline Sept 28, 2017

Your ACC has launched the application for the second class of Emerging Advocates. The program provides a unique opportunity for ACC members, Fellows in Training, Early Career Professionals and members of the Cardiovascular Team to increase their advocacy knowledge and lend a voice to improving cardiovascular care through health policy. During this 10-month program, Emerging Advocates will learn from the College's advocacy leaders about high-level advocacy topics and get introduced to issues specifically affecting cardiology, like the movement toward value-based payment, graduate medical education funding, medical coding development and medical coverage policies. Applications and letter of recommendations will be accepted until Sept. 28, 2017. For additional program details and apply, click here.

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