Recipient of ACC's Chapter Recognition Award in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The purpose of the Michigan Chapter of the American College of Cardiology is to contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, to ensure optimal quality of care for individuals with such diseases, and to foster the highest professional ethical standards. The Chapter is the voice of cardiology in Michigan, providing input to policy makers in the legislature, state government, professional organizations and third party payers. Register for the 22nd Annual Chapter Conference October 8-10, 2010 Grand Traverse Resort Integrating science, patient care, and practice models, the 2010 Chapter conference is, indeed, a Blueprint for Cardiac Care. Keynoters Barry Maron, MD and William Zoghbi, MD lead a program filled with case discussions, debates and state-of-the art presentations. Myriad special interests will be addressed in focus symposia including: Cardiac Imaging Symposium Structural Heart Symposium BMC2 Interventional Symposium Cardiometabolic Risk Management Through Weight Management Practice Management: Thriving in a Changing World Mission: Lifeline - Moving STEMI Care Forward in Michigan Conference Chair Simon Dixon, MBChB invites of all of Michigan's cardiology community to take advantage of this outstanding educational opportunity and to join him in "Chapter Central" to enjoy the Michigan/Michigan State game on Saturday afternoon (regardless of one's green or blue affilation). For complete program and registration information click here.  Sign a Petition To Stop the Medicare Meltdown ACC has joined a grassroots coalition of state medical societies to gather signatures on a petition that urges Congress and the president to fix the flawed payment formula that threatens care for Michigan’s 1.4 million Medicare recipients. Chapter members are encouraged to sign the electronic petition at www.msms.org/medicaremeltdown Keep Current on the Latest News from Washington ACC Advocate www.qualityfirst.acc.org Learn How the National Health Reform Law Will Impact Michigan The Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency has published a preliminary fiscal analysis of the federal health reform legislation. The analysis reviews key provisions of the legislation and the implementation timeline for those provisions. Importantly, it also includes an initial analysis of the legislation’s fiscal impact on state and local government in Michigan. Problems with the New Nuclear Cardiology Codes? Effective January 1, 2010, the billing for myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT and planar) changed. Practices must use CPT® codes (78451-78454) to report these procedures. Is your practice using the new codes and having problems with getting paid or receiving correct reimbursement for your nuclear cardiology studies? If you are having difficulties or questions, please let ACC know at the ACC Imaging Payer Hassle Factor Form. What you should know... The new 2010 Cardiology CPT® Codes   Insurer contracts: Provisions in your insurer contracts that may affect reimbursement. 1. Is there language in the contract that governs the fee schedule? Is this language linked to a specific year? 2. Does the contract incorporate CMS changes automatically? 3. Is reimbursement tied to Work RVUs only, or are practice expenses and practice liability insurance also included? 4. Does the contract require advance notice for fee schedule changes? For more tips for reviewing your provider contracts, please visit MPI Coding: Assessing the Current Situation. Give Your Patients Information They (and You!) Can Trust CardioSmart is a patient information website hosted by the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF). On CardioSmart patients can learn about types of heart disease, tests and treatment options, monitor and track their blood pressure, see videos of tests and procedures and assess their risk for heart disease. Get the Legislative Lowdown from Lansing If you want to get the lowdown on what the Chapter is working on in the state legislature, then you'll want to participate in the 15-minute Legislative Lowdown conference call at noon on the last Thursday of every month. Call the chapter office (517-663-6622) to receive an email reminder of the calls and the call-in number. Find The Perfect Job or the Perfect Candidate The Michigan Chapter ACC Career Center is the premiere electronic recruitment resource for the profession.