In This Issue:
 Chapter Conference -- Register Today
Stop the Medicare Cuts
Michigan Policy Getting Healthier
MSMS Capitol Check-Up
Mark Your Calendar -- CV Nursing Symposium
Mission: Lifeline Conference Draws 38 Hospitals
21st Annual Chapter Conference
Get a glimpse of cardiology's future landscape at the 21st Annual Michigan Chapter Conference, Oct. 16-18 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. A world-class, fast-paced general session, unique focus sessions, and the traditional fellows’ case and research competitions make this year’s conference a better value than ever.
Guest Faculty
- Ralph Brindis, MD, MPH ACC President-elect
The Healthcare Landscape: How the College and its Members Can Shape It
- Sir Magdi H. Yacoub, MBChB Imperial College London
New Frontiers in Heart Failure: Cells, Devices and Beyond
- Stuart D. Russell, MD Johns Hopkins Hospital
LVAD – A Bridge to the Future
Focus Sessions
- Interventional Cardiovascular Care: From Database to Bedside
BMC2 summary data for PCI and PVI in Michigan plus challenging cases.
- Cardiology Leadership Strategies: Preparing Your Practice for Tomorrow's Challenges
A unique seminar for physicians and CEOs of cardiology practices.
- Convergence of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
A seminar to examine developments in this dynamic field.
- Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Learning Session
A preparation session featuring the ABIM 2008 Update in Interventional Cardiology led by Dr. James Tcheng, Duke University Medical Center.
Join us in pleasantly surprising, bustling Grand Rapids! Conference Chair Dr. Mike Vredenburg says, “you’ll be delighted with the museums, restaurants and night life just steps away from the beautiful, historic Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.”
Click here for the conference brochure.
Click here to register on line.
Stop the Medicare Cuts
ACC President Fred Bove, MD asks all ACC members to take action to fight one of the gravest threats to cardiology practice the College and its members have faced in recent years.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule would reduce payments for cardiovascular-related services. CMS projects that the proposed changes would reduce total Medicare payments to cardiology by 11 percent. The projected payment cut would result from changes to the following areas: practice expense calculation; equipment utilization rates; malpractice rate calculation; and payment for consultations. In addition, CMS proposes a 21.5 percent reduction in the Medicare conversion factor due to the flawed sustainable growth rate. In short, there could be as high as a 30 percent cut in Medicare payments for cardiology.
How would your practice be impacted by the cuts? You can ‘do the math’ with this Practice Impact Calculator and instructions. Hundreds of ACC members will use these tools when they meet with their legislators at ACC’s Legislative Conference in Washington on September 15. You can do the same by participating in the Virtual Legislative Conference or use ACC's Capitol Connect to send an email message to your legislator.
To learn more about the issue and what you can do, go to www.accmi.org.
Michigan Policy Getting Healthier
Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan, a new coalition advocating for healthy weight in children, has been successful on several legislative and regulatory fronts in its first year.
Physical Education
SB365 & 366 passed the Health Policy Committee and are awaiting action in the Appropriations Committee. These bills would require all students in grades K-8 to participate in health and physical education curriculum and set standards for all school districts. Similar bills have been introduced in the House but have not yet had a hearing.
Body Mass Index Surveillance
Michigan’s immunization surveillance tool, Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR), will now also track pediatric BMI.
Medicaid Coverage
An L- Letter was produced and sent to pediatric physicians to provide them with information regarding billing and reimbursement for well-child visits that include identification, prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
Access to Healthy Food in Underserved Areas
Michigan’s Departments of Agriculture and Treasury have implemented a tax abatement program to provide incentives to developers and retailers to open a full-service grocery store, supermarket or other qualified food retail unit in underserved areas, leading to increased access to nutritious fresh and frozen foods in those communities.
Complete Streets
A “Complete Streets Resolution” has been drafted and efforts are underway to find legislative sponsors. The Resolution asks that the Legislature recognize all infrastructure as potential “Active Infrastructure,” and that bicycle, pedestrian, and transit needs be given full consideration in the planning and development of transportation facilities.
The Michigan Chapter is pleased to serve on the steering committee of this important coalition. Any organization or institution is welcome to join. For more information, go to www.americanheart.org/healthykidshealthymichigan.
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Health Care
Under the Dome
Radisson Hotel, Lansing
Thursday, September 24
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
There's still time to register for the annual MSMS Capitol Check-Up where you'll learn about the latest legislation under consideration in Lansing and its potential impact on the medical profession.
Featured topics:
MDCH Update
National & State Health Care Reform
Legislative Priorities
Individual Market Reform
To register go to www.msms.org/eo or call 517-336-5785.
11th Annual
Cardiovascular
Nursing Symposium
Monday, March 1, 2010
Washtenaw Community College
Featuring
Dr. Barry Franklin on Cardiac Rehabilitation
Save the date!
Details to be announced after the first of the year.
More than 130 professionals representing 38 hospitals and various state organizations and EMS agencies attended the Mission: Lifeline conference for PPCI/STEMI receiving hospitals in June at the University of Michigan Medical Center.
The conference, co-hosted by the Michigan Chapter ACC and AHA Midwest Affiliate, provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about the goals of Mission: Lifeline, review successful STEMI Systems of Care from around the country, consider the current status of the EMS system in Michigan, and discuss strategies for hub-and-spoke STEMI care systems. It also provided a valuable opportunity for attendees to network and to share successes and barriers. Presenters included Mission: Lifeline Co-Chairs Dr. Eric Bates, and Dr. Stuart Winston, and Dr. Alice Jacobs, Dr. Brahmajee Nallamothu, Dr. Shukri David, Eva Kline-Rogers, Denise Busman and Deb Guy.
Presentations from the conference are posted on the Mission: Lifeline website.
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