Philip M. Dorfman, MD, FACC
As November draws nearer, it is important that you and your patients are aware of the importance of the Ohio Supreme Court elections. The Supreme Court has the final say on laws that impact medical liability insurance. To preserve patient access to physicians and stop the escalating cost of medical liability insurance, it is critical that the Ohio Supreme Court uphold tort reform.

Many close decisions by the Ohio Supreme Court in the 1990s actually expanded liability for physicians and hospitals, subjecting health care providers to even greater exposure for litigation.

Four of the seven justices making up the Ohio Supreme Court will be elected in November, making it critical for Ohioans to cast informed votes in these elections. I would ask that you become informed by doing the following:

• Visit Ask Your Doctor
• Visit Ohio Patients for a Fair Court
• Request literature pieces about the Ohio Supreme Court race

As community leaders, health care providers in Ohio have the potential to play a major role in how citizens view important public policy issues. Please talk to family and friends and act as a champion to educate others about Ohio’s medical liability insurance crisis and its connection to the Ohio Supreme Court.

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Plan to attend the 14th Annual Meeting of the Ohio-ACC on October 16th at the Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland. Continental breakfast and exhibits will be from 7:00-8:00 a.m., and the meeting will be from 8:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Topics include stem cell therapeutics in CV disease, novel antiplatelet therapies, patent foramen ovale in patients with and without history of stroke, atrial fibrillation management, pulmonary hypertension management; adults with congenital heart disease, and evaluation of the young athlete. Register online today.

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Timothy P. Obarski, DO, FACC
I am your new liaison to the Ohio Medicare Carrier and will work diligently to represent the voice of cardiovascular physicians to our Carrier. If you have any issues that arise in this regard, please e-mail me at tobarski@heartspecialistsofohio.com. Michael R. Jennings, MD, FACC, was my predecessor. Dr. Jennings shared the following about his experience as the liaison to the Ohio Medicare Carrier: "The greatest success was the relationship I had with the carrier and the carrier medical directors such that they would page me with any concerns regarding cardiology issues.The medical directors are excellent physicians who have the best for medicare beneficiaries at heart. However, they are asked to attempt to keep up on all fields of medicine and podiatry. If they don't have direction from a specialist they trust, they will approach the literature themselves and often go off on a tangent that results in policies that are in conflict with clinical practice. This can be prevented by accessible good advice early in the process."

Level of Billing Comparison
If cardiologists want to compare their levels of billing with those of their colleagues, that information can be acquired from Dale Bates, Freedom of Information, PO Box 18297, Columbus, Ohio 43218.
 
Sunset of Grace Period for Old CPT Codes
As of October, 2004, there will no longer be a three-month grace period for filing claims under an old CPT code.  Beginning in October, one must have the new code from the onset  for ICDs.  Likewise, as of January, 2005, new billing codes must be used immediately as the three-month grace period is no longer in effect. It is recommended that you acquire a new CPT code book and familiarize yourself with any changes. 
 
Items Under Review
The following requests for payment are under review:  carotid artery stenting; cardiac rehab for valve replacement surgery, angioplasty, heart or heart lung transplant, and CHF; expansion of coverage for ICD patients meeting the criteria of the SDC-HeFT trial;  and counseling for patients to stop smoking.
 
Electron Beam CT Scanning for coronary calcification did not pass for reimbursement.  This was considered a screening test and the data was felt not to be strong enough to allow reimbursement.
 
Medicare Offices Moving
The Medicare offices will be moving to the Easton Mall area in Columbus. Further information and addresses will be forthcoming upon completion of the move. 

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While Medicare Part B covers and pays for Microvolt T-wave Alternans testing in Ohio, it has come to the Chapter’s attention that private insurers are not covering nor paying for this test. This non-invasive risk stratifier has FDA approval and a CPT code (93025) for billing purposes. If you are being denied payment for MTWA testing by any private insurer including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna or United Healthcare, please let the Ohio Chapter or the National ACC know.

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The Annual Scientific Session is one of the most important  educational benefits of ACC membership. Apply for one of 20 travel awards available to Cardiac Care Associate members to attend ACC '05 in Orlando, Fla.

Each travel award covers up to $1,250 per person in expenses and includes registration, transport and hotel. Awardees are reimbursed after the meeting and are required to document use of funds. These travel awards are available to Cardiac Care Associate members only.

For more information, interested CCA members should go to
http://www.acc.org/about/award/awardopps.htm#CCA. Deadline is Oct. 31, 2004.

Winners will be randomly selected on Nov. 1 and notified the same day. The list of winners will be posted on www.acc.org by Nov. 2.

Questions? Contact Shavon Lowe at slowe@acc.org or (800) 253-4636, ext. 673.

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Let us know your opinion on the question below by responding to us by October 17th. Your answer may appear in the November issue of Cardiology.

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Dana Langley Birdsong
During the 2004 Presidential conventions, the ACC and 11 other physician specialty organizations, as part of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, hosted an "Alliance Day" at both the Democrat and Republican conventions.  A raffle of ACC members who have contributed $1,000 or more to the ACC PAC was held to determine who from the ACC would represent the College at both events.  James Fasules, MD, FACC, and Samuel Wann, MD, MACC, attended the Alliance events in Boston, while Jay Alexander, MD, FACC, and Howard Walpole, Jr., MD, FACC, traveled to New York City.

The purpose of the events was to highlight the Alliance and to honor members of Congress who have supported the interests of specialty physicians. Democrats honored in Boston included: Reps. Sherrod Brown, Ohio, and Bart Gordon, Tenn., and Sens. Max Baucus, Mont., and Jeff Bingaman, N.M.  At the Republican Convention, Reps. Jim Greenwood, Pa., and Nancy Johnson, Conn., and Sens. Charles Grassley, Iowa, and John Ensign, Nev., were honored.  All honorees received the Alliance of Specialty Medicine's First Annual Hugh Williamson Award, named for the physician and signer of the Constitution.

During the September ACC Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, the ACC PAC raised more than $30,000. These contributions helped make it possible to host the Legislative Conference PAC reception and dinner at historic Union Station, located on Capitol Hill.  ACC PAC contributors were joined at the event by honored guests House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-MO, and Congressman John Shadegg, R-AZ.  During his remarks Rep. Blunt reiterated the importance of continued involvement from the physician community to keep the push for meaningful tort reform in the forefront of the legislative debate and commented on the need to correct the Medicare physician payment formula before the end of 2005.  Rep. Shadegg reminded the audience of the importance of physicians making their voice heard in Washington. 

Also in September, the ACC PAC launched its first e-solicitation the week of September 13.  ACC members practicing in medical liability crisis states, Ark., Conn., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ky., Mass, Miss., Mo., Nev., N.C., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Ore., Pa., S.C., Texas, Wash., W.Va., Wyo.,  received via email a videotaped message from their ACC colleague Dr. Jay Alexander, who practices in the crisis state of Illinois, challenging ACC members to become as politically mobilized as the personal injury lawyers by giving to the ACC PAC in this important election year. To view the video, log onto www.epacweb.com/acc.

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