Published: October 16, 2013

SGR Repeal Gains Momentum in U.S. House of Representatives

The Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, the flawed mechanism used to calculate payments to physicians within the Medicare program, has been the proverbial “thorn-in-the-foot” issue for the physician community for more than a decade. Created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the SGR formula was intended to control growth in Medicare payments for physician services by basing payments on per capita growth in the gross domestic product (GDP). Under the SGR formula, physician payments are reduced when growth in Medicare patients’ use of physician services exceeds the universal spending target set by the SGR formula. By faulty design, a weak economy could trigger a decrease in target spending even if use of physician services remained high. As a result, physicians have annually faced steep cuts to their payment rate, forcing Congress to take action almost every year to avert massive cuts in the Medicare system. Since the trend toward negative annual payment updates began, the AAO-HNS and others in the physician community have continually urged Congress to repeal the flawed formula and replace it with a payment framework that would provide stability for physicians practicing within the Medicare program and ensure critical access to care for the nation’s senior population. In this case, however, Congress’ annual actions to avert the payment cuts have acted as a double-edged sword. The good? Steep payment cuts for physicians have been avoided. The bad? In most cases, Congress failed to identify appropriate “pay fors” to fund the elimination of each year’s scheduled cuts. As a result, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the cumulative debt associated with the SGR had grown to more than $300 billion by the end of 2012. Despite wide conceptual support by both Democrats and Republicans for repealing the flawed SGR formula, the immense cost associated with such action has proved prohibitive. However, based on early Congressional attention and an updated cost analysis by CBO, it seems 2013 may be the year that the stars align and Congress finally takes action to fully repeal the SGR formula. A Rare Opportunity The first piece of good news for this year came in the form of a Congressional hearing. In February, the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee gathered to discuss and evaluate key components for developing a new Medicare physician payment model. While hearings on this topic are not particularly out of the ordinary, its scheduling so early in the 113th Congress signaled that SGR reform was a front-burner issue for many Members of Congress. Soon thereafter, staff from the House Ways and Means Committee invited various physician specialty groups, including the AAO-HNS, to participate in a briefing session on the Committee’s development of a proposal to repeal the SGR and put in place a framework for a Medicare physician payment system designed to incentivize the delivery of efficient, high-quality healthcare. During the meeting, Committee staff emphasized their need for input from the physician community and made a request for official written comments from all the groups in attendance. Given the rare opportunity to take part in the infancy stages of developing a potential new payment model, the AAO-HNS Government Affairs and Health Policy teams, in conjunction with the Academy’s Physician Payment Policy (3P) and Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup, began drafting comments specific to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. In the past, most legislative proposals regarding the SGR have attempted to move the Medicare physician payment system to a one-size-fits-all approach. However, this year’s initial proposal shows that Members of Congress have begun to understand that, given the dynamic nature of modern healthcare delivery, any payment model must also provide options to accommodate providers across the continuum of care. The AAO-HNS has emphasized that in any sort of payment mechanism, each specialty must be afforded the opportunity to drive the metrics and/or standards by which they are measured. Given the complexity of developing a new payment system and the time required to adapt and test the functionality of new programs, the AAO-HNS also underscored the need for providing a stable payment period for all physicians within the Medicare program following the initial repeal of the SGR. The Academy’s official comments, dated February 26, 2013, are available at www.entnet.org/advocacy. While no one will argue about Washington’s love of a wonky policy scheme, even the best intended proposal could become moot if costs remain prohibitive, right? Here lies the last bit of encouraging news regarding the possibility of SGR repeal in 2013. Also in February, the CBO announced a massive reduction (to $138 billion) in the estimated cost of repealing the SGR. Following the announcement, a seemingly dead-end issue has been revived in earnest and the chairs of the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees have heralded SGR repeal as one of their top priorities. Although no hard timeline had been established at the writing of this article, several Members of Congress are urging leaders to address the SGR issue prior to the August recess. However, it must also be said that despite all of this year’s positive activity, ongoing negotiations to reach a compromise regarding an overall deficit reduction plan pose a serious risk of derailing efforts to address the SGR and many other legislative issues. Nevertheless, the AAO-HNS remains hopeful that 2013 marks the year that the infamous SGR is finally laid to rest. And as many agree, repeal of the SGR is now on sale and Congress should act fast before the CBO changes its mind. For more information about AAO-HNS legislative priorities in the 113th Congress, email legfederal@entnet.org.

The Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, the flawed mechanism used to calculate payments to physicians within the Medicare program, has been the proverbial “thorn-in-the-foot” issue for the physician community for more than a decade. Created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the SGR formula was intended to control growth in Medicare payments for physician services by basing payments on per capita growth in the gross domestic product (GDP). Under the SGR formula, physician payments are reduced when growth in Medicare patients’ use of physician services exceeds the universal spending target set by the SGR formula. By faulty design, a weak economy could trigger a decrease in target spending even if use of physician services remained high. As a result, physicians have annually faced steep cuts to their payment rate, forcing Congress to take action almost every year to avert massive cuts in the Medicare system.

Since the trend toward negative annual payment updates began, the AAO-HNS and others in the physician community have continually urged Congress to repeal the flawed formula and replace it with a payment framework that would provide stability for physicians practicing within the Medicare program and ensure critical access to care for the nation’s senior population. In this case, however, Congress’ annual actions to avert the payment cuts have acted as a double-edged sword. The good? Steep payment cuts for physicians have been avoided. The bad? In most cases, Congress failed to identify appropriate “pay fors” to fund the elimination of each year’s scheduled cuts. As a result, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the cumulative debt associated with the SGR had grown to more than $300 billion by the end of 2012.

Despite wide conceptual support by both Democrats and Republicans for repealing the flawed SGR formula, the immense cost associated with such action has proved prohibitive. However, based on early Congressional attention and an updated cost analysis by CBO, it seems 2013 may be the year that the stars align and Congress finally takes action to fully repeal the SGR formula.

A Rare Opportunity

The first piece of good news for this year came in the form of a Congressional hearing. In February, the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee gathered to discuss and evaluate key components for developing a new Medicare physician payment model. While hearings on this topic are not particularly out of the ordinary, its scheduling so early in the 113th Congress signaled that SGR reform was a front-burner issue for many Members of Congress.

Soon thereafter, staff from the House Ways and Means Committee invited various physician specialty groups, including the AAO-HNS, to participate in a briefing session on the Committee’s development of a proposal to repeal the SGR and put in place a framework for a Medicare physician payment system designed to incentivize the delivery of efficient, high-quality healthcare. During the meeting, Committee staff emphasized their need for input from the physician community and made a request for official written comments from all the groups in attendance.

Given the rare opportunity to take part in the infancy stages of developing a potential new payment model, the AAO-HNS Government Affairs and Health Policy teams, in conjunction with the Academy’s Physician Payment Policy (3P) and Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup, began drafting comments specific to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. In the past, most legislative proposals regarding the SGR have attempted to move the Medicare physician payment system to a one-size-fits-all approach. However, this year’s initial proposal shows that Members of Congress have begun to understand that, given the dynamic nature of modern healthcare delivery, any payment model must also provide options to accommodate providers across the continuum of care.

The AAO-HNS has emphasized that in any sort of payment mechanism, each specialty must be afforded the opportunity to drive the metrics and/or standards by which they are measured. Given the complexity of developing a new payment system and the time required to adapt and test the functionality of new programs, the AAO-HNS also underscored the need for providing a stable payment period for all physicians within the Medicare program following the initial repeal of the SGR. The Academy’s official comments, dated February 26, 2013, are available at www.entnet.org/advocacy.

While no one will argue about Washington’s love of a wonky policy scheme, even the best intended proposal could become moot if costs remain prohibitive, right? Here lies the last bit of encouraging news regarding the possibility of SGR repeal in 2013. Also in February, the CBO announced a massive reduction (to $138 billion) in the estimated cost of repealing the SGR. Following the announcement, a seemingly dead-end issue has been revived in earnest and the chairs of the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees have heralded SGR repeal as one of their top priorities.

Although no hard timeline had been established at the writing of this article, several Members of Congress are urging leaders to address the SGR issue prior to the August recess. However, it must also be said that despite all of this year’s positive activity, ongoing negotiations to reach a compromise regarding an overall deficit reduction plan pose a serious risk of derailing efforts to address the SGR and many other legislative issues.

Nevertheless, the AAO-HNS remains hopeful that 2013 marks the year that the infamous SGR is finally laid to rest. And as many agree, repeal of the SGR is now on sale and Congress should act fast before the CBO changes its mind.

For more information about AAO-HNS legislative priorities in the 113th Congress, email legfederal@entnet.org.

More from May 2013 - Vol. 32 No. 05
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Otolaryngologists Needed in Rwanda
Representatives from the Rwanda Human Resources for Health (HRH) Program contacted the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery about opportunities for otolaryngologists to work in teaching institutions in Rwanda, East Africa, starting August 2013. The HRH Program seeks otolaryngologists to work for periods of three months to one year. Expected salaries are equivalent to about $140,000/year, in addition to a housing allowance, health insurance, and roundtrip travel costs. Visiting otolaryngologists would work with both faculty and residents at teaching institutions in Kigali and Butare, Rwanda. The HRH program has requested these otolaryngology subspecialties in order of need: Otology and neuro-otology Rhinology and skull base Pediatric ENT General ENT HRH also seeks laryngologists or reconstructive surgeons for focused three-month teaching positions. Ideal candidates are otolaryngologists with at least two years of experience beyond residency. The AAO-HNSF International Steering and Humanitarian Efforts Committees urge otolaryngologists interested in positions within the HRH program to email Janet Hindsman at JLH8V@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu. For HRH FAQs on facilities, living conditions, housing, safety, schools, and visas for faculty and family members, visit http://hrhconsortium.moh.gov.rw/
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International Outreach Supports Academy’s Core Mission
By M. Steele Brown “Through collaboration with otolaryngologists around the world, the AAO-HNS reaches out to regions of every economic level,” said Gregory W. Randolph, MD, AAO-HNSF Coordinator for International Affairs, “It’s part of the Academy’s core mission to further the specialty.” According to AAO-HNS/F past president David W. Kennedy, MD, the Academy works to empower its members by providing or supporting the highest possible level of professional and public education, research, and health policy advocacy. But to sustain or improve its offerings, the Academy must remain healthy. The international arena, he noted, offers the most opportunity for growth. At present, the Academy has 1,205 international members (10 percent of the total membership), hailing from 88 countries on six continents. J. Pablo Stolovitzky, MD, a past chair of the AAO-HNS Board of Governors, said the growing demand for knowledge that exists in many emerging countries—coupled with their often limited capacity to adequately fill that gap—offers the Academy an opportunity to do what it does best. “The Academy is the world leader in otolaryngology and it has done that through education and through the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM, which is the largest gathering of otolaryngologists in the world,” he said. “As a result, the meeting is the center of attention for the international otolaryngologic community due to the excellence of the activities—particularly educational and research—that it has presented over the last several decades.” Dr. Stolovitzky affirmed that besides the tangible benefits generated through revenues from the Academy’s growing international membership, there are other positives that are gleaned from international outreach. “Revenues come in and allow the Academy to proceed with our national strategic planning activities, which definitely benefits both our U.S. and international members,” he said. “But the intangible benefit is the enrichment of the academic activity through collaboration with international members, which in turn develops research at the academic level in America by U.S. members.” “For example, research and education activities are enhanced by the participation of the international community through the Academy and that is done through the Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM, through publications submitted to our journal, and collaboration at the committee level,” he added. “Numerous Academy committees have international members and/or participation.” Dr. Kennedy stressed, “I see our international efforts as particularly vital because the number of otolaryngologists in the U.S. is not likely to increase dramatically in the foreseeable future, while the potential for people to attend our Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM from overseas and enroll as members is almost unlimited, So there exists a potential opportunity for both membership and revenue growth to help with our different missions.” Growing Our International Corresponding Societies Network  The Academy’s growing network of 54-member International Corresponding Societies (ICS) is the mechanism through which the organization targets and reaches the otolaryngologists and their patients, Dr. Randolph said. These national and, in some cases, regional societies affiliate with the Academy informally—there are no fiscal or legal ties—so leaders get to know one another to build trust and work together on issues of concern. Our International Steering Committee, with its 22 regional advisors and advisors-at-large, is the architecture that underpins that global effort, Dr. Randolph observed. “We live in a big world, and because the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery represents one of the foremost centers of otolaryngologic expertise on the planet, we have many global and international responsibilities,” he said. “Given the number and wide distribution of the ICS network, I crafted this system of Regional Advisors and appointed Academy leaders with deep experience in certain regions to mediate a particular area and keep up to date with the various International Corresponding Societies in their region. Because the advisors are familiar with all the leaders of these societies…it has been helpful to deepen our international relationships.” Catherine Lincoln, CAE, MA, the Academy’s senior manager of international affairs, reported that joint meetings, generally occurring during the national congress or annual meeting of an ICS, represent a significant opening for the Academy. She said the joint events might take the form of pre-congress workshops, miniseminar-style panels, or one- or two-day standalone courses. “The host society selects the topics and ideally there will be equal numbers of American and host country speakers,” she added. “Some otolaryngology societies like the Mexican, Turkish, and Venezuelan Societies hold a joint meeting every year.” Reaching Out to the Developing World  Besides the practical, self-sustaining benefits gained through international collaboration, AAO-HNS/F President James L. Netterville, MD, said the Academy focuses on humanitarian outreach. Dr. Netterville, who serves as one of two regional advisors for Africa, revealed the AAO-HNS/F places a high value on developing outreach efforts in the areas of international medical missions, education and meeting support, as well as collaborative research and outcomes studies. “It is not surprising that we gain as much from these interactions with our international colleagues as they do,” he said. “Those of us in the Academy leadership actively look for ways to support our members in their efforts toward creative outreach activities.” G. Richard Holt, MD, D-BE, MSE, MPH, past Academy president and Regional Advisor for the Middle East, said it is critical to look at how American otolaryngology can boost or bolster research and clinical care in developing and emerging countries. “We have—through our Academy and Foundation—probably the largest clinical and educational support group for otolaryngologists across the world, and that brings with it a responsibility to do everything we can to include our (international) colleagues in terms of making available what we have to offer,” he said. “We have a really strong obligation to give otolaryngologists in those countries the knowledge and tools to begin outcome studies and care for their patients at the highest level of care possible within the constraints of their country, and to show them that they are really not cut off. In countries like Iraq, where they have been both educationally and clinically isolated for some time, we have a real responsibility to help.” Exchanging Ideas through Research, Scholarships, and Journals  Dr. Stolovitzky, who serves as the Regional Advisor for Latin America, said he believes that because the Academy serves as a global forum, it has a duty to foster worldwide research communication. “We are living in a global world and isolation does no good, particularly in science and more specifically in medicine,” he said. “We need the collaboration and the participation to advance our knowledge base, and that is achieved if we have a world forum to do that.” Dr. Randolph said the Academy’s International Visiting Scholarships (IVS) and International Travel Grants strengthen idea exchange. “The IVS program funds individuals from abroad to help them attend the meeting and mediate an observership in the U.S., while travel grants enable foreign otolaryngologists to come to the meeting,” he said. “I think that the denominator for all of these programs is this: As we meet, so we become friends, and as we become friends, so we develop an ongoing relationship that aids in networking and building other relationships.” Dr. Holt, who formerly served as the editor-in-chief of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, said the journal’s strong international section now allows Academy members to share information online. “It’s even easier to share that information now, so somebody working in Germany knows what researchers in the U.S. are doing. If they have similar or complementary ideas, they can directly contact the U.S. researchers with the purpose of collaborating,” he added. “The same thing happens when you are at the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM. So many ideas are exchanged, both clinical and research. You make contacts with people from other countries with the purpose of continuing to share ideas.” Dr. Kennedy, one of two Regional Advisors for Europe, said a good portion of the technology that U.S. otolaryngologists use frequently today came from overseas. “Endoscopic sinus surgery was initially started in Europe, where I picked it up at a meeting,” he recalled. “Since that time it has become one of the most frequently used procedures—and one of the major changes—within the specialty in the U.S. Within rhinology, the rigid optic telescope or rigid optic endoscope came from England.” Dr. Kennedy said in recent years, innovation has slowed in Europe, in part due to changes in the healthcare system and a growing emphasis on cost controls. “Of course we are—to some extent—entering the same sort of period here in the U.S.,” he said. “So I think it’s critical that we keep this same kind of interchange going globally, because you never know where the next innovations will come from.” What Is Our Return on Investment?  According to Dr. Stolovitzky, it is not uncommon or unreasonable for U.S. Academy members to question the efficacy of investing in international outreach. “We have limited resources, like any institution, and the pink elephant in the room is whether or not these international efforts are actually taking away from our own agenda here in the U.S.,” he said. “The expectation is for the Academy to concentrate on core activities like education and advocacy. Our U.S. members are definitely concerned about their medical practices and the socioeconomic and legislative issues affecting those practices.” “Members will ask themselves what the Academy can do to produce revenue through international outreach. We know for a fact that there has been a decline in corporate support for the specialty and our Academy needs to rely on additional sources of revenue to fund our core activities. Increased international membership and attendance to the Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO are critical to accomplishing this goal.”
2013 Clinical Fundamental Courses
Business of Medicine/Practice Management Clinical Outcome Measures/Evidence-Based Medicine Michael G. Stewart, MD, MPH Management of the Addicted Surgeon Peter Sargent Roland, MD Universal Precautions for the Otolaryngologist Peggy E. Kelley, MD General Otolaryngology Anesthesia-related Topics for Otolaryngologists Murali Sivarajan, MD DVP: How, When, Why in Otolaryngology Amy Clark Hessel, MD Ethics and Professionalism Roger D. Cole, MD HIPAA: Updates and What it Means for You Kathleen L. Yaremchuk, MD Integration of Quality and Safety into Otolaryngology Amy Clark Hessel, MD Pain Management in Head and Neck Surgery Christopher L. Oliver, MD Rhinology/Allergy Treatment of Anaphylaxis  John H. Krouse, MD, PhD
Bigger, Better Instruction Courses
Charged with organizing the instruction course program presented during the 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM, this past December the Instruction Course Advisory Committee, led by Sukgi S. Choi, MD, began the daunting task of reviewing and scoring the 512 instruction courses that were submitted for consideration for this year’s program. The committee conducted a face-to-face meeting in February to discuss the merits of the submissions based on the committee member scores, previous attendance, and previous attendee evaluation scores for some of the most popular staple courses. After a rigorous discussion, the committee crafted a solid program that balances all fields of otolaryngology and targets the needs of our members. This year’s instruction courses program will be presented by the leading experts in the field of otolaryngology and other healthcare professionals. A majority of the program will be presented in a didactic setting, however it also includes courses presented for those who appreciate varying learning styles. The three subgroups outside the regular courses are: Hands-on—These courses allow each attendee to participate in the presentation and often involve simulation equipment or practical applications. Minicourse—Limited to 25 participants, minicourses promote informal discussion and the exchange of information. Interactive—Interactive courses will use an audience response system, allowing audience members to respond to the presenter via a polling mechanism during the course. More Clinical Fundamental Courses Capitalizing on the huge success of the two Clinical Fundamental instruction courses presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM in Washington, DC, eight additional Clinical Fundamental instruction courses will be included on the 2013 program. These courses are designed to meet the American Board of Otolaryngology’s Maintenance of Certification Part III requirements for Clinical Fundamentals and are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Inquiries regarding MOC should be addressed to the ABOto at www.aboto.org. Dates and times will be announced later. The Instruction Course sessions are one- or two-hour sessions that address current diagnostic, therapeutic, and practice management topics, presented by both Academy members and nonmembers. Early registration for Instruction Courses increases your possibility of receiving your first-choice selections and saves you money. Instruction Course fees are $50 per hour, and $70 per hour for hands-on courses, if you register in advance. Fees will increase to $70 per hour and to $90 per hour for the hands-on courses after the August 23 advance registration deadline. Register online at www.entnet.org/annual_meeting. 2013 Clinical Fundamental CoursesBusiness of Medicine/Practice Management Clinical Outcome Measures/Evidence-Based Medicine Michael G. Stewart, MD, MPH Management of the Addicted Surgeon Peter Sargent Roland, MD Universal Precautions for the Otolaryngologist Peggy E. Kelley, MD General Otolaryngology Anesthesia-related Topics for Otolaryngologists Murali Sivarajan, MD DVP: How, When, Why in Otolaryngology Amy Clark Hessel, MD Ethics and Professionalism Roger D. Cole, MD HIPAA: Updates and What it Means for You Kathleen L. Yaremchuk, MD Integration of Quality and Safety into Otolaryngology Amy Clark Hessel, MD Pain Management in Head and Neck Surgery Christopher L. Oliver, MD Rhinology/Allergy Treatment of Anaphylaxis John H. Krouse, MD, PhD
2013 Scientific Program Revamps Posters, Oral Presentations
The Program Advisory Committee, led by Eben L. Rosenthal, MD, began preparing for the AAO-HNSF 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM in September as it assessed the 2012 program, reviewed the attendee evaluation data, and refined the abstract/proposal criteria that would be vital in the selection process of this year’s miniseminars and scientific presentations. The call for papers began in November for the miniseminar program and was reopened to scientific oral and poster abstracts from late January to mid-February. By late February, the committee had reviewed a few hundred miniseminar proposals and was then responsible for reviewing and evaluating more than 1,100 oral and poster abstracts. The 2013 Scientific Program was then created from this enormous pool of quality evidence-based research and case studies. As is tradition, the 2013 Scientific Program will include five Honorary Guest Lectures whose esteemed lecturers were personally invited by AAO-HNS/F President James L. Netterville, MD. This year’s guest lectures will cover topics from head and neck cancer to medical ethics. Be sure to review the enclosed Preliminary Program for the full list of lecturers and topics. The Scientific Program comprises scientific oral presentations, miniseminars, and scientific poster presentations. Scientific Oral Presentations—Timely oral presentations that contain innovative information and present findings on scientific research, surgical procedures, practices, and approaches for practicing surgeons, residents, and medical students. During each session, the author will conduct a brief presentation and take questions from the audience. Miniseminars—Presentations, case studies, and/or interactive discussions that provide an in-depth, state-of-the-art look at a specific topic. Scientific Posters—The annual meeting features displayed posters that showcase the expansive range of studies in all areas of otolaryngology. More than 400 scientific posters contain innovative information and findings on original scientific research, case studies, surgical procedures, practices, and approaches for practicing surgeons, residents, and medical students. Scientific Posters will be located in Hall C of the Vancouver Convention Centre and can be viewed Sunday through Wednesday. Poster Program Improved Beyond the tried and true, this year’s Scientific Program features some new and exciting additions to its core evidence-based education programming. Among them is the opportunity to view all 400-plus scientific posters from the convenience of your home/office computer or mobile device starting on Sunday, September 29. For additional convenience, each poster in the Poster Hall will have a corresponding QR code on its board. Scanning the barcode with a smartphone or camera-equipped tablet will allow you to access an electronic version of the poster. Computer kiosks will also be located in the Poster Hall for electronic poster viewing. To further extend your interaction with the poster authors, the traditional poster reception has been converted to a Poster Presentation Breakfast. The breakfast will take place from 7:00-8:00 am Tuesday, October 1 in Hall C of the convention center. This networking event will provide poster presenters an opportunity to present their data and respond to questions all, while enjoying a healthy breakfast before the start of that day’s Scientific Program. New Oral Format The oral presentations also will receive a facelift this year. In response to comments we received from oral presenters and previous years’ attendees, some oral presentations will now be given in a quickshot talk format that consists of a three-minute oral presentation and two minutes of discussion. The new format will provide additional time for questions and answers after each oral presentation and allow us to expand the number of oral presentations that can be presented during the scientific program. With three critical improvements to the Scientific Program and the beautiful backdrop of Vancouver, BC, Canada, this year’s annual meeting is set to captivate and engage all participants. We look forward to your joining us and experiencing everything the annual meeting has to offer. 3P Miniseminar: Alternative Payment Models and Academy Advocacy This miniseminar outlines the efforts the Physician Payment Policy Workgroup (3P) and the Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup have undertaken to prepare members for the implementation of Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements by supplying the tools to participate in diverse payment systems and quality initiative programs. Topics include public and private payment models, including ACOs; bundling; and the importance of specialty-specific measures in quality and payment initiatives. Presenters will discuss strategies including how resources, such as the Clinical Indicators and Policy Statements, are used to advocate for appropriate policies by health insurance companies for coverage of services.
06_FallFlavors
Cruise to the Meeting
A scenic Alaskan cruise is the perfect way to begin your visit to Vancouver for the 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM. You will discover a place where the mountains are taller, the rivers are mightier, and the wildlife is more plentiful than any place else. Sailing dates: September 21–28 Cruise line: Holland America Line Ship: ms Zuiderdam (1,916 passengers, 82,305 tons) Itinerary: Seven-night Vancouver roundtrip (Inside Passage) Alaska cruise Highlights: Cruising the Inside Passage, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Glacier Bay National Park Contact Jodi Pallan at 1-800-943-8687 or email jodi@alaskabysea.com for reservations. Interested in holding a meeting or reception at the annual meeting?Fill out a meeting space application today! Find it at www.entnet.org/annual_meeting.Organizing an Alumni Reception? Email alsa@entnet.org soon to learn more about cost saving, food and beverage, and entertainment options.Benefits of conducting a meeting through AAO-HNSF: Publicity. Meeting/event is published online and in the final program Convenience. Ease of being able to meet near the annual meeting Experience. Experienced staff working with you on your meetings/events If you have any questions, please email alsa@entnet.org. Top Five Reasons to Attend The World’s Best Gathering of Otolaryngologists. Join more than 5,500 medical experts from around the globe. Exceptional Education Offerings. Earn up to 27.5 hours of continuing education credit by attending instruction courses, miniseminars, and scientific oral presentations. Networking Opportunities. Reconnect and meet new colleagues from around the world in the OTO EXPO, evening events, and alumni receptions. The Latest Evidence-Based Information. Analyze research and get updates on diagnosis, treatment, and operative procedures. The Practice of Medicine Extends Beyond the Exam Room. At the OTO EXPO, review products and services from nearly 300 companies that will help you provide the best patient care.   Five Fall Flavors There are certain hallmarks of fall that are undeniable: brilliantly colored foliage, crisp weather, and—the best part—seasonal flavors. As the seasons begin to change, Vancouver shifts from the vibrant flavors of summer to deeper, earthier tastes of fall. Experience the best fall has to offer, whether you’re sampling freshly pressed apple cider at a farmers’ market or ordering a gourmet dish made with flavorful wild mushrooms. Freshly Pressed Apple Cider  Few flavors capture the essence of autumn like freshly pressed apple cider. Its tartness recalls sun-drenched days of summer, while its heaviness and warm spices hint to the upcoming chill of winter. Head to one of Vancouver’s many farmers’ markets, where you can sip on apple cider while shopping for other seasonal items like handmade jams and jellies, carving pumpkins, and earthy root vegetables. Hand-Picked Wild Mushrooms  Who would have thought fungi would make such an impression on a culinary hotbed like Vancouver? Despite their humble origins, these forest vegetables sprout up on special tasting menus all over the city during the damp days of autumn. You can even attend a salmon and mushroom festival to learn about mushroom identification and the various flavor profiles of these unique edibles. Richly Flavored Pumpkin Ale  No one can accuse Vancouver of having a shortage of great local beer, and with the abundance of craft breweries, it only makes sense that creative brewmasters would make the most of seasonal flavors. Get a taste of fall with Pumpkin Ale from Granville Island Brewing. This limited edition brew boasts flavors of roasted pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, and it just so happens to pair perfectly with winter vegetables and seasonal dishes. Ice-Cold Pacific Oysters  Vancouver has unbelievably fresh seafood year-round, but during the fall and winter, BC oysters are especially plump and delicious. Find a nearby seafood restaurant in Vancouver for a fresh plate of ice-cold shellfish. British Columbia Wine  With so many fall feasts and flavorful dishes of the season, a great wine pairing is in order. Fortunately, British Columbia is known for its amazing wine country—Okanagan Valley in particular. Choose a food-friendly wine like a Bordeaux-style blend, or sample a variety of vintages at the Fall Okanagan Valley Wine Festival (October 4–14).
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AAO-HNSF 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM
Welcome! In its 117th year, the AAO-HNSF 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM provides the opportunity for thousands of Academy members, non-member physicians, allied health professionals, administrators, and exhibiting companies to convene. It draws more than 5,500 medical experts and professionals from around the world and features instruction courses, miniseminars, scientific oral presentations, honorary guest lectures, and numerous scientific posters. The 2013 annual meeting will take place in Vancouver, BC. Vancouver offers a winning combination of world-class hotels, meeting venues, and restaurants in a setting of spectacular beauty. Few convention cities offer such a wide range of cosmopolitan amenities in a downtown core that is safe, clean, pedestrian friendly, and stunning in its backdrop of mountains and ocean. Whether you’re an annual meeting veteran or a first-time attendee, attending one or more of the AAO-HNS/F activities will make the most of the meeting experience. • Maximize Your Membership—Get Involved with AAO-HNS/F 4:30–5:30 pm Saturday, September 28 This session will give you insights on how to maximize your membership in the AAO-HNS by taking advantage of all member benefits and opportunities to participate in AAO-HNS/F activities. These activities are designed to help you improve as a physician and a leader. Not an Academy member? Come to this session to learn about the value of Academy membership, meet key leaders, and ask questions of knowledgeable staff members. To learn more, visit www.entnet.org/getinvolved. • First-Time Attendees Orientation 5:30–6:30 pm Saturday, September 28 Learn what to expect and how to get the most out of your first AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM. This orientation is particularly important for all first-time attendees. However, even the most experienced AAO-HNSF meeting attendee can benefit. Learn how to maximize your annual meeting experience and how to organize your many ideas and activities so you can easily navigate your way around the meeting. • Career Fair-New this Year 6:00–8:00 pm Monday, September 30 This year’s most dynamic recruiting event, the AAO-HNSF Career Fair, is hosted by HEALTHeCAREERS Network. This evening event will take place on Monday at the Pan Pacific Hotel. The Healthcare Career Fair provides opportunities for candidates in all specialties and levels of training to speak face-to-face with hiring representatives onsite. Employers can leverage this opportunity to personally engage with numerous qualified job seekers at one time. • Instruction Course Tickets The Instruction Course sessions are one- or two-hour sessions that address current diagnostic, therapeutic, and practice management topics, presented by both Academy members and non-members. Early registration for Instruction Courses increases the possibility of receiving your first-choice selections and saves money. Instruction Course fees are $50 per hour, and $70 per hour for hands-on courses, if you register in advance. Fees will increase to $70 per hour and to $90 per hour for the hands-on courses after the August 23 advance registration deadline. Register online at www.entnet.org/annual_meeting. • Interactive Itinerary Planner Our itinerary planner grows more sophisticated each year, with new ways to design your schedule and customize your annual meeting experience. The education program will be available online. The revamped itinerary planner will allow you to search the education program by area of interest/track, date and time, and/or by program type. Networking opportunities such as alumni receptions will be searchable as well, along with the AAO-HNS/F committee meetings and other association events. • Session Recordings Selected sessions will be available for download. Orders may be placed during the registration process, onsite, or online following the conference. • OTO EXPOSM The practice of medicine extends beyond the exam room, and the OTO EXPO has nearly 300 companies that cater to every aspect of your practice—device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, collections, EMR systems, waiting room solutions, financial management firms, and more. Be sure to visit the OTO EXPO each day to see the best products and services our industry has to offer. Exhibits will be in Halls A-C of the Vancouver Convention Centre. The OTO EXPO will be open: Sunday, September 29 10:00 am–5:00 pm Monday, September 30 10:00 am–5:00 pm Tuesday, October 1 9:30 am–3:30 pm Wednesday, October 2 9:30 am–1:00 pm Children younger than 16 are not permitted in the Exhibit Hall. • ENT Careers Live! Employers and job seekers will have an opportunity to participate in ENT Careers Live!, our employment event, during the Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO. It will be located on the show floor in Hall B, Booth 448. Don’t miss this valuable networking opportunity. Visit ENT Careers, the trusted otolaryngology employment source, at www.healthecareers.com/aaohns to learn more. Networking Opportunities • Alumni Receptions 6:30–8:00 pm Tuesday, October 1 Experience the revitalized Alumni Receptions. This year’s alumni receptions have been enhanced to allow you to visit more easily with your friends and colleagues from other institutions, enjoy a lavish selection of regional Canadian morsels and treats, and be entertained by local talent. Visit www.entnet.org/annual_meeting frequently to see the latest list of Alumni Receptions. • International Reception(invitation only) 8:00–10:00 pm Tuesday, October 1 All registered international attendees and their spouses are invited to this reception, where President James L. Netterville, MD, will honor the delegates from our guest countries—Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, and Thailand. We encourage international guests to wear national dress. Attendees enjoy a variety of desserts and DJ with dancing. • Poster Presentation Breakfast 7:00–8:00 am Tuesday, October 1 This networking event will provide poster presenters an opportunity to interact and personally discuss their findings with annual meeting attendees. • President’s Reception 6:00–7:30 pm Sunday, September 29 The President’s Reception is open to all Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO attendees, including registered guests and exhibitors. A well-attended event, it takes place on the first evening of the annual meeting in honor of the outgoing president. Badges are mandatory. If your guest has not registered, please do so before attending any annual meeting event. • Women in Otolaryngology Section Luncheon/General Assembly 12:00–2:00 pm Monday, September 30 This year, the Women in Otolaryngology Section’s keynote luncheon speaker features Christina M. Surawicz, MD, MACG, professor of medicine, division of gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle. Dr. Surawicz will address attendees on Women and Leadership. This will be followed by the Section’s General Assembly meeting designed to facilitate the flow and exchange of creative ideas and mentoring opportunities. Space is limited and tickets are required. Education Program Overview The 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO program, developed by the AAO-HNSF 2013 Program Advisory Committee and the Instruction Course Advisory Committee, is made up of the following sessions: • Scientific Program The Scientific Program of the Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO is composed of scientific oral presentations, miniseminars, and scientific poster presentations. The scientific posters will be on display throughout the conference during the hours of registration. The scientific oral presentations and miniseminars are included in the price of a full conference registration and begin at 10:30 am on Sunday and from 8:00 am to noon Monday through Wednesday. • Instruction Courses Instruction Courses are presented by experts in the field of otolaryngology and other healthcare professionals. Education Offerings by Track Business of Medicine/Practice Management Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery General Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Laryngology/Broncho-Esophagology Otology/Neurotology Pediatric Otolaryngology Rhinology/Allergy Sleep Medicine Registration Information Register for the annual meeting and reserve your hotel room online atwww.entnet.org/annual_meeting. AAO-HNSF encourages all prospective attendees to register as soon as possible for the annual meeting to take advantage of reduced registration fees and to avoid waiting in lines onsite. Attendees can register online at www.entnet.org/annual_meeting until October 2, 2013. Registration must be completed by midnight, Eastern Daylight Time on July 12, to obtain the lowest discounted rate. Fees increase at 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time on July 13. Your registration fee for the annual meeting includes the following: Access to all Scientific Sessions and Honorary Guest Lectures Entrance to the OTO EXPO The opportunity to review the latest scientific research in the poster area Access to complimentary shuttle service to and from most official AAO-HNSF hotels and the Vancouver Convention Centre Entrance to the Opening Ceremony and President’s Reception. Your registration fee for the annual meeting does not include the following ticketed events: Instruction Courses International Reception Ultrasound Workshop Otolaryngology Historical Society meeting Travel Information Every year, thousands of people visit Canada to attend conferences. We invite you to visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website at www.cic.gc.ca to obtain important information that will help you avoid problems that can affect your travel plans. Travel to Canada Checklist Make Sure you Have your Passport. Be sure the expiration date is after October 2013. U.S. citizens renew or request a new passport from the State Department at www.travel.state.gov. Determine your Eligibility. Find out if you qualify as a business visitor. Apply. Before you plan your visit, you should find out if you need a visa to enter Canada. If you do not need a visa to enter Canada, you will still need to meet some specific requirements. If you do need a visa, find out how to apply. Check Processing Times. Most applications for visitor visas (temporary resident visas) are processed within a few weeks or less. Processing times vary depending on the visa office. Prepare for Arrival. Be prepared and know what to expect when you arrive in Canada. Extend your Visa. To extend your stay in Canada, you should apply 30 days before your status expires. Bring a Guest to Canada. You can avoid problems or delays when you bring your foreign business guests to Canada by planning in advance. • Airport Located nearly 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is ranked as one of the top airports in the world and is served by a wide variety of local, national, and international air carriers with direct routes to most major destinations. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is responsible for providing integrated border services and ensuring that all people entering Canada meet the requirements for entry. At YVR, CBSA officers are available around the clock, providing inspection services and promoting the free-flow of low-risk travelers, while enforcing laws and stopping potential threats. Entry Requirements. Find out what documents and identification are required for Canadians and non-Canadians returning to or entering Canada at www.cbsa.gc.ca. Currency Regulations. Carrying currency? Information for departing and arriving passengers about when and how to report currency to the CBSA can be found at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca. CANPASS Air. Learn more about this expedited program for pre-approved travelers at www.yvr.ca. • Conference Airport Shuttle AAO-HNSF will provide direct-to-airport service available from the Vancouver Convention Center on Wednesday, October 2 from 11:45 am to 4:15 pm with continuous departures every half hour. The cost for this direct service is $20, which includes luggage handling. Due to limited seating, you are strongly encouraged to make your reservation well in advance once you arrive at the Convention Center. Keep in mind that the Vancouver International Airport is approximately nine miles from the convention center, so allow yourself ample time before your flight. All reservations must be paid in cash (CAD or USD) onsite in Vancouver at the AAO-HNSF Shuttle Information Center located outside on Waterfront Road, Exhibit level, prior to your departure. Important Dates May 6 Registration Open July 12 Early Registration Rate Deadline August 23 Advance Registration Rate Deadline September 29-October 2 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM   Coming to Canada Cell Phone Use in Canada Attending the 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSMfrom the U.S. or internationally? Take note: Roaming charges and data plan fees for cell phones (especially smartphones such as the iPhone or Android) and tablets such as the iPad can be costly, with prices spiking as high as several dollars per minute. Before catching your flight to Canada, contact your local cell phone carrier to get information about special pricing plans for calls, text messaging, and internet usage outside your home country. If you use a smartphone, ask your carrier about certain settings such as “airplane mode” that may help you save money on usage. Credit Cards Most major credit cards are accepted, but visitors are always advised to check with the vendor before a purchase is made. Cash machines with 24-hour access are available in many convenient locations throughout Greater Vancouver. Weather Warmed by Pacific Ocean currents and protected by a range of mountains, Vancouver enjoys mild temperatures year-round. September averages 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). Electricity Outlets and voltage (110 volts) are the same as in the U.S. Small appliances such as hair dryers, irons, and razors, can be used in Canada. For those from other countries, adapters are required for electrical appliances. The frequency of electrical current in Canada is 60 Hz. Language Canada has two official languages: English and French. English is the predominant language in British Columbia. Vancouver is quite cosmopolitan and is a multicultural mix of many groups. Because of this, the city is considered multilingual on an unofficial level. Many banks, hotels, airline offices, service institutions, shops, and key tourist destinations have multilingual staff. After English and Chinese, the most common languages spoken are Punjabi, German, Italian, French, Tagalog (Filipino), and Spanish. Time Zone Most of British Columbia, including Vancouver, is in the Pacific Time Zone. During the annual meeting, Vancouver will be on Pacific Daylight Savings Time.
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Subscription Products Offer In-Depth Study and Interactive Learning
AcademyU®, the Foundation’s otolaryngology education source, offers five types of learning formats that include knowledge resources, subscriptions, live events, eBooks, and online education. Each contains elements that make up the breadth of the education opportunities available through the Academy. In this third article in the series we will explore the two subscription products published through AcademyU®: the Home Study Course (HSC) and Patient Management Perspectives in Otolaryngology (PMP). The Home Study Course is the longest running education product produced by the Foundation, having first been published in 1940. It is also the second most popular education resource with more than 3,000 subscribers annually. More than 1,000 otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residents in more than 100 residency programs subscribe to it, as well as 2,000 practicing physicians. In a two-year period, eight sections of HSC are published covering specific topics that reflect the breadth of the specialty. Two-year subscriptions are encouraged so subscribers will have access to all eight specialty areas. Registration for the 2013-2014 HSC year begins this month. Please see the registration form included in this Bulletin or visit www.entnet.org/HSC. Each HSC “Red Book” provides a compendium of research articles pertaining to one of the eight subspecialties within otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. For example, the 2013-2014 course year offers articles on congenital and pediatric problems; clinical competency issues; trauma and critical care medicine; and plastic and reconstructive problems. Each compendium is accompanied by an extensive bibliography and a self-assessment examination with a symposium discussion. Each section is designated for 40 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™. In addition to helping earn continuing education credit, HSC is a valuable resource for board exam preparation, certification and recertification, and CT Imaging accreditation. Work groups within each of the eight education committees develop the courses. These hard-working volunteers serve for six years and produce three sections during that time. Patient Management Perspectives in Otolaryngology PMP is an interactive electronic or print series that simulates real-life clinical decision-making. Each issue includes a clinical case study, visual materials, detailed patient management summary, references for further study, and a self-assessment post-test. A PMP volume consists of eight issues published annually with topics covering the eight otolaryngology subspecialties. PMP is under the editorship of Daniel J. Kirse, MD, working with volunteer authors from the education committees. Topics to be addressed in the 2013 volume include: Pharyngitis The Dizzy Patient Paragangliomas CSF Rhinorrhea Ear Deformity Child with Hoarseness Epiphora Interactions among Physicians and Physician Extenders. PMP offers subscribers the opportunity to hone decision-making skills through full management of an individual patient from presentation to discharge and follow-up; an interactive question and answer format, with immediate feedback on each choice made; lab studies and imaging, surgery and possible complications, medical therapy, postoperative care and follow-up; opportunities to explore different options and pathways in patient management; visuals including x-rays, scans, surgical photographs, diagrams, and animated full-color graphics; and a thorough, fully referenced discussion of the patient case, presenting both the author’s viewpoint and the broader background in the literature. Subscribers can earn eight AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ with each issue of PMP for a total of 64 credits available in an entire volume. “As the editor of PMP, I appreciate the hard work and dedication of the faculty who produce these highly interactive and practical learning resources,” said Dr. Kirse. “I recommend physicians at all phases in their career subscribe to PMP. Not only can they earn up to 64 continuing education credits annually, but they will also gain new skills that can be immediately applied to their practice.” To subscribe to either of these valuable education resources, visit www.entnet.org/HSC or www.entnet.org/PMP. To view all of the Foundation’s education and knowledge resources please visit www.entnet.org/academyu.
Advocating for Truth in Advertising across the Nation
Because of the increasing ambiguity of healthcare provider terms used in advertisements and marketing, patients often lack information and are confused about the wide diversity of professionals who work in healthcare settings. Many patients mistakenly believe they are being treated by medical doctors (MDs or DOs) when they are actually seeing non-physician providers. Recent studies confirm America’s patients prefer a physician-led approach to healthcare and need accurate information about the level of training and education of their healthcare providers—including physicians, technicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied providers. To address this issue, the AAO-HNS and others in the healthcare community continue to advocate for effective state and federal legislation that would require all healthcare providers to fully disclose their credentials and/or level of training in all patient communications. The AAO-HNS, in collaboration with other specialty groups, has worked to perfect the language used in the American Medical Association’s model bill concerning truth in advertising and the use of “board certification” by healthcare professionals. Across the nation, there have been numerous state legislative proposals introduced in the past several years, with more states adopting and implementing transparency legislation each year. Prior to this year’s state legislative sessions, truth-in-advertising legislation had been enacted in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Utah. In 2013, there have been truth-in-advertising bills—both good and bad—introduced in Arkansas, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. In addition, a bipartisan, truth-in-advertising bill (H.R. 1427) was introduced in the U.S. Congress recently. To learn more about the Academy’s advocacy efforts on truth in advertising, visit the AAO-HNS Legislative and Political Affairs webpage at www.entnet.org/advocacy or email the Government Affairs team at govtaffairs@entnet.org.
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Congressional House Calls
Last year’s AAO-HNS OTO Advocacy Summit was a great success, resulting in more than 100 pre-scheduled meetings on Capitol Hill with Members of Congress and their staffs. In these meetings, Academy members discussed issues affecting physicians across the nation, such as truth in advertising, scope-of-practice expansions, and the repeal of the antiquated Sustainable Growth Rate formula. With 77 members already signed up for this year’s Summit, it looks as if it will be another great year. However, if you are not able to attend the 2013 BOG Spring Meeting & OTO Advocacy Summit May 5-7, don’t let that stop you from discussing important issues with your Members of Congress. You can still meet with your Congressional delegation close to home. Reach Out The first step is to contact the district office of your federal legislator and simply introduce yourself. Make sure you mention you are a physician and a constituent who would like to discuss some important issues affecting you and your patients. If you need some talking points about the Academy’s legislative priorities, visit the Government Affairs webpage at www.entnet.org/Advocacy. In the event you do not feel comfortable reaching out to your Congressional offices, feel free to contact the Government Affairs team at govtaffairs@entnet.org, and they will contact the office on your behalf. Preparation Once a meeting is established, schedule a time to speak with a member of the AAO-HNS Government Affairs team to answer your questions or discuss your concerns. They can help familiarize you with issues that are currently under consideration in Congress and answer any questions you may have about etiquette during a legislative meeting. The team can also provide you with a customized form outlining the background and voting record of your Member of Congress. Finally, contact your local colleagues and invite them to join in this important conversation. Follow-up After the meeting with your legislator has concluded, reach out to the AAO-HNS Government Affairs team to debrief them. This will provide staff with important feedback on the legislator’s policy positions and enable follow-up with the Congressional office to answer any questions you may not have been able to answer. Finally, it is important to send a thank you note to the office/legislator. In the note, outline the issues you discussed, offer to be a resource in the future, and thank the Member of Congress (or their staff) for his or her time. Things to Remember Physicians are considered important “local validators.” Make sure you mention who you are and where you practice when contacting your Congressional offices. You are a constituent—aka, a potential vote. If you employ staff, advise your legislator you are also a businessperson in the community. You may speak/meet with staff instead of the Member of Congress. Don’t underestimate the value of such encounters. Staff members are a fundamental part of the legislative process and often understand the many different nuances of an issue better than the elected official. Always be courteous, professional, and respectful—even if you “agree to disagree” on issues. The AAO-HNS Government Affairs team is available to assist in many ways. Simply email govtaffairs@entnet.org with any questions. Stay Informed: Follow Government Affairs on Twitter Do you want to be one of the first to know the status of healthcare bills moving through Congress or your state? Follow the Government Affairs Twitter account @AAOHNSGovtAffrs. By following us, you can learn more about the issues impacting the specialty, including repeal of the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, medical liability reform, scope-of-practice battles, Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding, truth-in-advertising initiatives, and efforts to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). Not a fan of Twitter? You can check the Government Affairs webpage for updates at http://www.entnet.org/Advocacy. ENT PAC, the political action committee of the AAO-HNS, financially supports federal Congressional candidates and incumbents who advance the issues important to otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. ENT PAC is a non-partisan, issue-driven entity that serves as your collective voice on Capitol Hill to increase the visibility of the specialty with key policymakers. To learn more about ENT PAC, visit our new PAC website at www.entpac.org (log-in with your AAO-HNS ID and password).
The Transition to ICD-10: Will You Be Ready?
Robert R. Lorenz, MD  Lee D. Eisenberg, MD After years of delay, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has reiterated that on October 1, 2014, the ICD-9 code sets used to report medical diagnoses and inpatient procedures will be replaced by ICD-10 code sets. This means providers should be preparing now to meet the 2014 deadline for transition. The change does not affect CPT coding for physician services or outpatient procedures. Why ICD-10? The rationale for the transition is based on the fact that ICD-9 cannot be expanded to encompass necessary changes as it has only five numeric characters, whereas ICD-10 will have seven alphanumeric characters. Not only will the total number of diagnostic codes (ICD-10 clinical modification [CM]) be expanded from the current 14,000 to 68,000 codes, but the methodology of coding will be altered, too. This mandated change will have a major effect on documentation and billing in the office and hospital. ICD-9 dates back to 1977, and many changes have occurred in technology and disease processes that are not reflected in the current code set. Due to the lack of detail and specificity in the current ICD-9 code sets, significantly different disease processes are being referred to by a single code, making it difficult to capture detailed diagnostic information and the specificity for accurate billing and reimbursement, especially as it relates to severity and complexity. As members are aware, one of CMS’ primary goals in recent years has been to improve quality of care. Therefore, the lack of precision within the ICD-9 code set, which does not allow for the accurate measurement of quality, has been identified as an area requiring improvement by the agency. Further, since most developed countries converted to ICD-10 in the 1990s, international benchmarking of disease outside the U.S. will be facilitated by our domestic implementation of the ICD-10 code set. In addition to the ICD-10-CM coding system changes, the transition to ICD-10-procedural coding system (PCS) will occur concurrently, but applies only to inpatient procedural coding and will largely affect facility-based coders. Physicians will be largely unaffected by ICD-10-PCS changes and will continue to use the CPT coding methodology to report their medical services. Where Do I Stand? When one examines the scope of changes that the ICD-9 to ICD-10 transformation entails, it is easy to become overwhelmed considering the effects on payers, suppliers, clearinghouses, administrators, schedulers, databases, quality measures, and research registries. By starting with your daily workflow as a physician, your focus should be concentrated on two areas: documentation and provider-based coding. Regarding documentation, we can summarize by stating that the increased level of granularity contained within the diagnosis code will continue to need accurate and sufficient documentation to justify the use of that particular code. The use of the diagnostic code should not be the first time an auditor comes into contact with data describing the pathophysiology, but rather, the detail should be contained within the documentation produced by the provider. Therefore, the specificity requirements in your documentation will be predicated on the new, more specific, diagnostic codes you will be entering. More Specific? In regard to provider-based coding, it is easy to state that the new ICD-10 code set will be more “specific,” but many members have asked what that really means. The new code set contains increased granularity around diseases and will include new information such as, but not limited to, the following: Laterality Specific disease pathophysiology Combination codes Common clinical guidance scales and staging Timing of encounters Increased granularity of disease manifestations Alcohol and drug dependence effects of use Increase in injury codes Sequelae What Does This Coding Change Mean for You? The implication to your coding depends on how your practice is structured and what disease sets you commonly see. One place to start is determining whether you’ll be using an electronic medical record (EMR) by October of 2014. Most EMRs are updating their disease-selection technology (pick-list) to conform to ICD-10 requirements. While this may not automatically convert the code from the ICD-9 to the ICD-10 version for existing patients, choosing a new, more specific ICD-10 code using this technology is not much more onerous than today’s practice. Providers who are using paper-based documentation and billing will experience a significantly more difficult conversion to the new coding system, especially if they are using the actual tabular, numerical code, rather than the alphabetic, disease description, as the new numerical system bears little resemblance to the previous methodology. The administrative burden for converting different categories of diseases will vary according to disease. Some codes will map from one ICD-9 code to merely two or three ICD-10 codes while others may map from one ICD-9 code to 12 ICD-10 codes. The most obvious examples of mapping “one-to-many” (in other words, one ICD-9 code being able to be converted to many potential ICD-10 codes) include orthopedics and obstetrics. But even for our standard “382.01: Acute suppurative otitis media with spontaneous rupture of ear drum” ICD-9 code, we will have to include a side and a timing when converting to “H66.014: Acute suppurative otitis media with spontaneous rupture of eardrum, recurrent, right ear” in ICD-10. To assist with the conversion, CMS has developed a tool called General Equivalence Mapping, or GEM, which aids in the conversion from a code in ICD-9 to ICD-10, and is available online. This can be a straightforward, one-to-one conversion, or a more complicated one-to-many mapping. GEMs have been created for both a forward mapping ICD-9 to ICD-10 conversion, or a backward mapping ICD-10 to ICD-9 conversion. What Will This Cost My Practice? Potential costs of the conversion can vary widely, depending on your IT and administrative support. Providers should plan for an initial decrement in their productivity of five percent to 10 percent during coding functions. If your coding is done for you in your office or the hospital, estimates suggest a decrease in coder efficiency of 20 to 50 percent initially, depending on the site. Most large EMR systems have a robust plan for administrating the ICD-10 conversion, but for providers with practice-specific technology, or worse yet, homegrown systems; a full IT overhaul may be required due to the dependencies with systems that interact with the EMR. Training for physicians and staff will be costly and time consuming. The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) estimates it will cost $84,000 for a three-physician practice to transition to ICD-10 and up to $3 million for large practices. There are multiple educational vendors with prepared materials for your office staff, billers, and us as providers, to review the changes that are specific to your area of expertise. Providers should plan on four to six hours of physician education in order to learn the content. What Steps Should I Be Taking Now? Providers should communicate with their office manager or financial support personnel to ask for a risk assessment of their practice. This should include questions such as: What will your coding process entail when you are utilizing ICD-10? How much additional documentation will be required, if any, to substantiate the use of the more granular code? Do you have preference lists that can be updated ahead of time to mitigate the disruption to your practice? We also recommend that practices contact their payers and ask what type of infrastructure they are creating to assist with the conversion and whether there will be billing implications for the use of generic or unsubstantiated codes. Providers should also ask what percentage of their practice these codes and payers represent, and what they can do ahead of time to decrease revenue disruption. Remember, improving documentation accuracy to levels required for ICD-10 can begin now, even if your coding remains in the ICD-9 system. Other implementation and planning strategies could include the creation of a pilot with your office staff of dual coding to test the systems you’ve put into place or asking a payer to partner with you on a dual coding project ahead of the October 1, 2014, deadline in an effort to work out their own transition complications. Academy Resources for Transition In an ongoing effort to prepare and educate members regarding the looming transition to the use of ICD-10 diagnostic codes, the Academy has developed a series of educational articles and a dedicated webpage on www.entnet.org as resources for members. In addition, we are working toward an ongoing initiative to develop new resources for members, which will be rolled out during the remainder of 2013 and the first half of 2014. A miniseminar will take place at the 2013 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPOSM in Vancouver, Canada, which will include presentations by ICD-10 experts. Currently available Academy ICD-10 resources include: What’s New: http://www.entnet.org/Practice/International-Classification-of-Diseases-ICD.cfm General Information: http://www.entnet.org/Practice/International-Classification-of-Diseases-ICD.cfm ICD-9 to ICD-10 Crosswalk for Top 200 ENT Codes: http://www.entnet.org/Practice/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=156407 ICD-9 Coding to the highest level of specificity: http://www.entnet.org/practice/resources/upload/Coordinating%20ICD.pdf Previous Academy Bulletin Articles include: Conforming Your Otolaryngology Documentation to ICD-10: http://bulletin.entnet.org/highlight.aspx?id=2904&p=271 ICD-10: What it Means for Your Practice: http://bulletin.entnet.org/highlight.aspx?id=3516&p=310 Preparing for ICD-10: http://bulletin.entnet.org/highlight.aspx?id=3925&p=333 Other materials that may be useful to members seeking additional information include: CMS PowerPoint on ICD 10 Transition: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/Downloads/CMSICD-10Overview.pdf CMS Implementation Guide: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/downloads/ICD10SmallandMediumPractices508.pdf CMS Proposed Timelines for Small, Medium, and Large Practices: http://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding/ICD10/Downloads AMA ICD Transition White Papers: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/about-ama/icd10-white-paper-confirmation.page AAPC PowerPoint on Transition: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/Downloads/AAPCICD-10WillChangeEverything.pdf AAPC FAQ: http://www.aapc.com/icd-10/faq.aspx#why Understanding and Preparing for ICD-10: Making the Conversion from ICD-9 to ICD-10 Manageable: http://www.mgma.com/workarea/downloadasset.aspx?id=1368339
CPT for ENT: Coding for Intraoperative Neurophysiology Monitoring
Q: What Is Intraoperative Neurophysiology Monitoring and Can I Bill for It? A: Intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring applies to performing nerve monitoring during complex surgical procedures involving cranial nerves. Another physician (usually a neurologist or physiatrist), or an electrodiagnostic technologist, prepares the patient prior to surgery by attaching fine wires and electrodes on designated areas, such as the face or neck, during a case of facial nerve monitoring. For recurrent nerve monitoring, the electrodes are integrated into the endotracheal tube. These electrodes are connected to electrodiagnostic equipment that monitors specific nerves either through automated monitoring (e.g., an audible alarm), or by the clinician’s interpretation of the monitoring device’s output. Intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring is an “add-on” service, formerly reported with CPT 95920. For 2013, this code has been deleted and replaced with two new codes: CPT +95940: Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring in the operating room, one-on-one monitoring requiring personal attendance, each 15 minutes (List separately in addition to code for primary procedures.); and +95941: Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring, from outside the operating room (remote or nearby) or for monitoring of more than one case while in the operating room, per hour. Note that in the 2013 final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) elected not to accept the CPT Editorial Panel’s addition of CPT +95941, and, instead, created a G code to report monitoring that occurs outside the operating room. Providers should, therefore, report G0453: Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring, from outside the operating room (remote or nearby), per patient, (attention directed exclusively to one patient) each 15 minutes (List in addition to primary procedure.) for monitoring occurring outside the operating room for Medicare beneficiaries. Members should note +95941 may be used for nonmedicare patients. The American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) does not limit CPT codes to any particular specialty. However, the CPT introductory language and AMA coding guidance is clear that in order to bill these codes (+95940, +95941, or G0453) the service must be performed by a monitoring professional who is solely dedicated to performing the intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring and is available to intervene at all times during the service as necessary. The monitoring professional may not provide any other clinical activities during the same period of time. In the event the monitoring is performed by the surgeon or anesthesiologist, the professional services are included in the primary service code(s) and should not be reported separately. In addition, these codes should not be reported for automated monitoring devices that do not require continuous attendance by a professional qualified to interpret the testing and monitoring. These codes, as with all add-ons, are not billable as standalone codes and are linked to the appropriate neurophysiologic monitoring code. For example, if facial nerve monitoring is performed during a parotidectomy, link CPT code +95940, +95941, or G0453 with the appropriate EMG CPT code (95867—Needle electromyography; cranial nerve supplied muscle(s), unilateral) instead of with the parotidectomy CPT code. If the physician performs only the interpretation and does not own the equipment, he or she should append modifier -26 (professional component) to the code. The provider performing the monitoring must report both the intraoperative findings and record his or her precise level of involvement to obtain reimbursement. It is best to use CPT terminology in the dictation whenever possible. The provider who performs the nerve monitoring should have appropriate credentials to justify reimbursement. In addition, providers should note that there is not currently a code for reporting the use of surface electrode EMG monitoring performed for recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring during thyroid surgery. Members should also be aware that many carriers consider monitoring with an automated device integral to the surgery performed and will not reimburse for these services separately. Therefore, providers should familiarize themselves with their local Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), or private insurer’s medical policies and coding guidelines for these CPT codes prior to reporting these services. Ultimately, it is the discretion of the surgeon to determine the mode and administration of these tests.
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Key Dates for CMS Quality Reporting Initiatives
Today, otolaryngologists are subject to multiple quality reporting initiatives that affect their bottom line. Through the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Meaningful Use Incentive Program, the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program, and the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Incentive Program, physicians may be subject to a nearly five percent payment reduction in 2015 if they do not begin to participate in these programs. Because each of these programs is so complex and has different reporting criteria and timelines, the Academy has put together a timeline showing key dates for each program to help ensure you do not miss another deadline. For more details on the reporting criteria, incentive payments, and associated penalties, visit the Academy’s newly redesigned CMS Quality Reporting initiatives webpage at www.entnet.org/qualityreporting
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Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup Evaluates Payment Models
The Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup was formed to provide an avenue for the Academy to evaluate current and future trends in healthcare payment reform and to develop methods for otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to actively participate in these new models. The workgroup will supplement the work the Physician Payment Policy Workgroup (3P) and the Academy as a whole are already doing to position us for a future payment system based on quality and efficiency. This includes our work with national quality organizations, such as the American Medical Association convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement and the ABIM Foundation’s Choosing Wisely® campaign, which focus on the development of quality metrics and the enhancement of quality care. In addition, we are working closely with our physician leadership to support our members’ participation in quality programs such as Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and the Electronic Health Record (EHR) incentive programs. To support this work, in 2011 we partnered with CECity® to offer PQRIwizardSM, a CMS qualified registry for PQRS reporting. This tool allows the Academy to offer a streamlined method of participation in PQRS to otolaryngologists and builds member participation in the PQRS program. The Academy also continues to develop resources to aid member participation in the EHR Incentive program. The Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup plans to focus initially on three specific areas: 1) clarifying current quality guidance documents available to members, 2) developing a care path for members for the treatment of sinusitis, and 3) evaluation of payment reform trends. Clarifying Academy Guidance Documents Currently, the Academy produces a number of documents to aid members in achieving the highest standards of quality care, including Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), Clinical Indicators (CIs), Clinical Consensus Statements (CCS) and Position Statements. In the last year, the Academy updated nine Clinical Indicators, reaffirmed nine position statements and revised 10, and drafted a new position statement on tongue suspension. Also last year, the AAO-HNSF published an update to our guideline development manual and two CCSs. Two new guidelines will be published this year, two CPGs are currently being updated, and development of a new CPG on tinnitus and a CCS on chronic and recurrent rhinosinusitis in children has begun. Each of these guidance documents has proved valuable for the Academy’s membership. However, the Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup plans to further evaluate the guidance documents and determine how they are best utilized and what differences exist among them. In doing this, they hope to better define each guidance document and improve its applicability to members. Development of the Academy’s First Care Path The Ad Hoc workgroup will also work on the development of the first Care Path, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis. The Academy has developed several resources for our members on the treatment of sinusitis including a clinical practice guideline, performance measures, and a clinical indicator. Therefore, the workgroup will use these existing resources and work to develop a care path for this disease process focusing on the medical management of sinusitis, mapping out the physician decision-making process, treatment, and different options for patients. The workgroup hopes to create other Care Paths designed to help improve quality and efficiency for some of the most costly head and neck diseases with high variability in treatment. Payer Reform Trends Currently, the United States is undergoing a vast transformation of the healthcare system and the Ad Hoc workgroup is working with members, private payers, and patient advocacy groups to best understand, analyze, prepare, and help shape future payment models. Recently, the American Medical Association (AMA) asked the Ad Hoc workgroup to evaluate a draft tool being developed in conjunction with the AMA Federation to evaluate practice readiness for the value-based purchasing payment program. On behalf of the Academy, the Ad Hoc group provided input to assist the AMA and Federation in the development of a tool that is applicable to specialists and their practices. Recently, the Ad Hoc workgroup participated in the development of comments provided to the United States House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee’s proposal to replace the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). You can read more about this proposal and the Academy’s comments on page 29. Along with this work, the workgroup plans to collaborate with other stakeholders, including the AMA and Surgical Coalition, on the development of new payment models. The Academy also plans to engage private payers to partner in the development of alternative payment methods for otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons. As James L. Netterville, MD, stated in his President’s column, this is an exciting time in healthcare and the Ad Hoc workgroup is led by a talented group of physicians at the forefront of payment reform and with the expertise needed to develop alternative models of payment. The Academy will continue to work on ways to improve the quality of care for patients and advocate for otolaryngologists. For more information about the Ad Hoc workgroup, email the Health Policy team at healthpolicy@entnet.org.
To learn more about the special benefits for AAO-HNS members, visit www.thedoctors.com/AAOHNS
The Doctors Company Provides Unrivaled Savings, Benefits for AAO-HNS Members
As the nation’s largest medical malpractice insurer, The Doctors Company is on a mission to defend, protect, and reward the practice of good medicine. Since 2003, the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) has exclusively sponsored The Doctors Company. Qualified AAO-HNS members receive extensive benefits, including a program discount of five percent, a claims-free credit of up to 25 percent, the potential for dividends, free trial coverage for qualified members, and industry-leading patient safety tools. The Doctors Company sets the standard for aggressive defense. In the company’s 2012 Member Experience Survey, 94 percent of members agreed that the company relentlessly defended them against frivolous lawsuits. The Doctors Company’s defense includes Litigation Education Retreats, which help members facing claims to master defense tactics, deliver sound testimony, and cope with the emotional stress of a claim. As the acknowledged industry leader in patient safety, The Doctors Company’s innovative programs help AAO-HNS members reduce risk and avoid claims. The recent member survey found that 91 percent of members are pleased with The Doctors Company’s efforts to protect them from potential threats to their reputations and livelihoods. The year 2012 marked the fifth anniversary of the Tribute® Plan, an unrivaled benefit that rewards members for their loyalty and their dedication to superior patient care. Every year, Tribute grows and becomes more popular with The Doctors Company members—the highest award to date is $88,708. The recent survey showed that 92 percent of members agreed that The Doctors Company’s efforts to reward them were unmatched. AAO-HNS members rely on The Doctors Company’s superior strength to provide unrivaled protection. With $4 billion in assets and more than $1 billion in member surplus, the company has the resources to protect you now and in the future. The Doctors Company has the national perspective and local expertise to identify emerging trends and protect physicians with innovative coverage solutions. CyberGuard® protects doctors against cyber liability claims, today’s fastest-growing threat. MediGuard® provides doctors with legal representation for administrative actions. Both products are offered as part of the company’s core medical malpractice policy. We invite you to join your AAO-HNS colleagues and 73,000 doctors nationwide who put their trust in The Doctors Company. Otolaryngology Historical Society Call for Papers If you are interested in presenting at the next OHS meeting in Vancouver, BC, Canada, September 30, 2013, email museum@entnet.org.To join the society or renew your membership, please check the box on your Academy dues invoice or email Catherine R. Lincoln, CAE, MA (Oxon) at clincoln@entnet.org or call 1-703-535-3738.
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A History of Otolaryngology through Artists’ Eyes
Emma Cashman, MRCSI for the Otolarynogology Historical Society Art from the Renaissance through the 19th century provides some fascinating insights into historical perceptions of otolaryngology-related disease. For instance, Michelangelo was a perfectionist in his art and enthralled by anatomy. In much of his middle life, he dissected corpses and at one point toyed with the idea of publishing a treatise on anatomy with eminent physician Realdo Colombo, who is credited with distinguishing the thyroid gland as a separate organ. The presence of a goiter in Michelangelo’s Separation of Light from Darkness is well documented. Additionally, the Last Judgment, a masterpiece of Michelangelo’s later years, clearly depicts a woman with the classical signs of exophthalmos. Since the latest restoration in the 1990s, the presence of a small hemorrhage in the lower corner of her eyelid is now clearly visible. Both Rembrandt’s and Van Gogh’s ears have long been the source of speculation. Several lesser known works of art, however, provide an interesting historical insight into medieval perceptions of head and neck pathology. The central figure in Domenico Ghirlandaio’s An Old Man and His Grandson is the gentleman’s nose, which shows evidence of a rhinophyma. Does Piero di Cosimo’s A Satyr Mourning over a Nymph, currently housed in the National Gallery, London, represent the 15th century approach to tracheotomy? Sculpted depictions of facial trauma and, in particular, auricular hematomas, date back to antiquity. More recently, however, Rodin’s bust of fellow-sculptor Jules Dalou in 1889 provides a remarkably accurate portrayal of his subject’s deviated nasal anatomy. Robert C. Hinckley’s depiction of the first successful demonstration of anesthesia in 1846 (The First Operation Under Ether) commemorates an important landmark in surgical history. Hinckley purposely chose a large canvas to emphasize the importance of the event. The work depicts the patient sitting in a chair with his neck exposed for excision of a tumor of his jaw.
Diversity Committee Course Addresses Cultural Concerns
The Diversity Committee’s ongoing endeavors to promote cultural competence and improve patient care across the spectrum of cultures and ethnic backgrounds has been furthered by the release of a recent Patient Management Perspectives in Otolaryngology (PMP) issue. The Volume 42 issue addresses the “Adult for Rhinoplasty Consultation: The Mixed Non-Caucasian Rhinoplasty.” This is the first education activity developed by the Diversity Committee, and it is in the subspecialty of facial plastic surgery. The case is a non-Caucasian woman seeking rhinoplasty, whose aesthetic characteristics show a mix of ethnic backgrounds. She is aware of her ethnic background, and she and her family share pride in this background. These feelings cause her to express specific preferences to the consulting surgeon about the desired result. The preferences expressed may likely result in some confusion on the part of the surgeon, as they may seem to restrict the surgeon from planning a rhinoplasty that he or she might understandably feel would yield an overall pleasing result. This tension is woven into the case that plays out as the case study is read and followed. This course has a number of goals. As a basis, the case guides the participant in the approach to the aesthetic rhinoplasty patient, demonstrating an orderly progression from thoroughly listening to the patient, to formulating and carrying out a surgical plan, and through the postoperative care of the patient. Further, the case challenges the surgeon to listen, accept, and act upon a patient’s desires, even when these desires confuse or even thwart the surgeon in his or her efforts to achieve a result that he or she feels would be reasonably favorable. The case also demonstrates the concept that some patients of mixed ethnic heritage may be knowledgeable and sensitive about the specifics of that heritage, and may wish to preserve some, but not all, of the aesthetic characteristics of some components of that mixture. The influence the patient’s family may have on the aesthetic surgery patient’s feelings about his or her appearance is introduced. Even though it is axiomatic that the patient should be the primary beneficiary of surgical results, the surgeon who ignores the influence of significant surrounding persons on the patient’s self image and acceptance of surgical change does so at his or her peril, particularly when appearance characteristics are clearly ethnic in nature. The management of selected postoperative complications is explored. The concept of deciding against offering an operation to a patient who is clearly desirous of this operation is included, and an ethical manner that might be used to carry out this somewhat unusual decision is suggested. Finally, the course serves as a review of the characteristic rhinologic appearance of a specific non-Caucasian ethnic mix, the Mestizo nose. This review of the approach to, and management of, the Mestizo nose seems itself to be important, because with the increase of Hispanic populations and the increasing mobility of populations in general, the chances of any rhinoplastic surgeon, in any location, encountering a patient with Mestizo characteristics, is growing. Also, because of the specific ethnic mix that comprises the Mestizo nose, it lends itself well to the discussion of the patient with atypical, unexpected, or confusing aesthetic desires, some or all of which may originate in the patient’s ethnic self-image. This exercise also shines a light on the emergence of differing aesthetic ideals other than the generally accepted, Euro-centric, Caucasian/Western ideal of beauty that has long been the norm in aesthetic endeavors. These differing ideals may well grow to take a place beside long-accepted Western ideals, coexisting with them rather than replacing them. So, this course may be seen to address cultivation of the competencies of Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism, and of course, Practice-Based Learning, in addition to stimulating the development of cultural competence. The interactive nature of the study promises to make it more interesting, and, we hope, more effective than simply presenting didactic material. Participants are invited to visualize themselves in their consulting rooms, actually discussing the patient’s desires and possible management options. The Diversity Committee hopes this PMP issue serves not only to educate participants in the specific aspects of this type of challenge in Facial Plastic Surgery, but also to increase awareness of the ever-broadening scope of patient self-perception, especially as it pertains to the non-Caucasian patient. PMP is an interactive online or print series that simulates real-life clinical decision-making. Each volume consists of eight issues that provides up to 64 AMA PRA Category 1 creditTM . To subscribe, visit www.entnet.org/PMP.
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EHR—Meaningful? Useful?
Every president of the United States since George H.W. Bush has touted the electronic health information record (EHR) as the entry point to a new age of healthcare delivery and patient care. The adoption of EHR had been phlegmatic until President Barack Obama initiated and signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It was this legislation that committed a $20 billion investment in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, with the goal of coordinating an informatics infrastructure that would help to eliminate waste and redundancy, enhance quality and safety, allow for improved data collection and analysis, leading to the development of best practices for defined disease entities, i.e., acceptable outcomes for most patients, the most number of times for the least cost. It would therefore result in improved patient care and lower cost, with an anticipated savings of $12 billion over 10 years. In 2010, only 20 percent of physicians and 10 percent of hospitals were using EHR systems.1 The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program component of HITECH provided a financial incentive to physicians to buy into the process, with a federally funded “reimbursement” to offset some of the cost of EHR implementation. Of course these funds came with a quid pro quo; physicians had to meet certain criteria in data collection, services and information exchange (Meaningful Use-MU) as a prerequisite for payment. Also, payments to the physicians are staggered over five years, with the criteria for funding not fully developed. Impressively, physicians responded like lemmings jumping off the Norwegian cliffs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services boasts that physicians meeting at least five of the core Meaningful Use objectives has increased by at least 66 percent and currently, half of all physicians are meeting nine of the Meaningful Use objectives.2 Two-thirds of physicians have received MU incentives. Now CMS is developing post payment MU audits, using outsourced recovery services, to expose any fraud and abuse. MU will enter Stage 2 in 2014, with a three-month reporting period. The added criteria for Stage 2 were decided upon by identifying the Clinical Quality Measures least reported by current users. The Big Question The biggest frustration of this program is finding the meaning and usefulness of much of the data being collected. Currently, there is no connectivity between practitioners and, other than improved report generation and computer initiated faxing or email, there is no ability to share data. Some federally funded state health information exchange initiatives are being developed, but have been limited to electronic access to laboratory and radiology studies. In the face of this failure to communicate, much of the data collected is moot, with no apparent utility. The next goal of the program is to add PQRS and ICD-10 to our EHR agenda, piling on more administrative strain and another potential roadblock for financial reimbursement from third party payers, including CMS. Where have there been improvements from EHR to date? The ability to send a clinical visit summary to other providers is simplified and expedited. The patients can also be given a written summary of their visit as they exit. Patient healthcare information forms can be developed and personalized, including pre-and post-operative instructions, informed consent, specific disease educational material, and specific therapy material. The added capacity for medication interaction identification and e-prescribing through the Rx component of the EHR enhances patient safety and convenience by eliminating drug interactions and prescribing errors due to handwriting misreads. The next steps should include either a centralization of computer languages or, more likely, super software to allow interconnectivity of all EHR software. Additional services could also be developed. Our Hopes, Our Needs Thomas Goetz, editor of Wired magazine, sponsored and developed an improved clinical laboratory study patient data form, presented on the TEDMED Conference website. He presents a data form that summarizes all normal findings by system, e.g., thyroid, cardiac, and liver all normal. The program then presents abnormal values on a color-coded scale, which explains personal risk to the patient. The program then integrates the lab data with demographics and further develops actions that could be taken for the individual patient. This provides a basis for enhanced patient-doctor interaction, allowing for improved compliance and outcomes. This program costs all of $10,000 for Wired to develop.3 It is time for us, as end-users of EHR, to interact with software companies and the government to put the “meaning” and “useful” into Meaningful Use, put the “quality” into Physician Quality Reporting, and truly improve the quality of patient care. For more information and key dates for CMS Quality Reporting Initiatives, see page 20. Sources Flanders, Adam; “The Real Meaning behind Meaningful Use,” radiographics.rsna.org. US Department of Health and Human Services; “More doctors are adopting EHRs to improve patient care and safety,” HHS.gov/news/press/12/201212b.html. Goetz, Thomas; “It’s time to redesign medical records,” TEDMED, posted 10/11.
David R. Nielsen, MDAAO-HNS/F EVP/CEO
Integration Focuses Policy and Action
At the time of this writing, we just completed an interesting week of having a couple of important spotlights on otolaryngology. First, the FDA announced its decision to issue a “box warning” for the use of codeine as an analgesic following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children. Codeine is now contraindicated for this clinical scenario. While we had been communicating this issue to our members for some time, it became official only in February. Because tonsillectomy remains one of the most frequently performed surgeries in the United States, and often involves children, this is a significant announcement. It is beyond the scope of this column to share the details, but the specifics can be found at http://www.FDA.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm339112.htm. During that same week, the national press conference by the Choosing Wisely® campaign, which included an announcement of the AAO-HNS Foundation’s participation, took place at the Kaiser Family Foundation building in Washington, DC. Our “five things” or tests and treatments otolaryngologists and patients should question about overuse or effectiveness were released to the public. The event was well attended and many news outlets covered the campaign. We received several notices from members who heard the news in their local areas and complimented the Academy on its participation. You can read more atwww.entnet.org/choosing_wisely. While such events are not uncommon, this active week is a further reminder of the integration of the socioeconomic and the clinical. As advocates for our patients, we regard patient safety as paramount. Therefore, with regard to codeine, new data revealing a threat to patient safety is meaningful to us. However, it is challenging to have to abandon a well-established element of care on such short notice. The involvement of the FDA, the flurry of press coverage, and the need to notify doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, allied health providers, and the public demonstrate major advocacy, communications, and health policy challenges. The health policy issue arose from the published scientific and clinical literature combined with the FDA’s own tracking mechanisms for adverse events. Likewise, our participation in the Choosing Wisely® campaign arises from our members’ clinical experience, contributions, and suggestions. A member brought the campaign to our attention. The recommendations were chosen through suggestions from our members, subspecialty societies, Foundation committees, Guidelines Task Force, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Committee, and others. It is likely that future evidence-based guidelines’ action statements will provide further tests, treatments, or interventions that should be questioned. As future payment models will inevitably be linked to quality improvement, we again see the intersection between advocacy and clinical care. While the Academy/Foundation clinical committees are relatively well known to most of us, the health policy and socioeconomic structure is not. Most of us could sit in on a clinical committee, easily follow the dialogue and discussion, and contribute valued opinion, experience, or judgment. Few of us could attend a RUC (Relative Value Update Committee) or CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) meeting with the same comfort and ability to give relevant input without a lot of coaching, support, and assistance. Most of our members do not know to whom they are indebted for the outstanding manner in which our Physician Payment Policy Work Group (3P) members represent our interests and our specialty in these national venues. This group consists of appointed RUC and CPT representatives and alternates, our Coordinators for Socioeconomic and Practice Affairs, and other members who are engaged in policy in related areas or advancing their skills for future appointment opportunities. Our current Academy structure is designed to better coordinate our efforts for seamless interaction between the socioeconomic and the clinical, research and education, and advocacy. With a single business unit responsible for Health Policy, Regulatory Advocacy, Research, and Quality, we are positioned to anticipate the effect of each element on the other, and to respond more quickly and effectively in advocating for our physician members and their patients’ best interests. Please join me in thanking these tireless individuals who so expertly serve us. CPT Team Bradley F. Marple, MD CPT Advisor Lawrence M. Simon, MD CPT Alternate Advisor RUC Team Charles F. Koopmann, Jr., MD RUC Panel Member Jane T. Dillon, MD RUC Panel Alternate Wayne M. Koch, MD RUC Advisor John T. Lanza, MD RUC Alternate Advisor Pete S. Batra, MD RUC Team Trainee Peter Manes, MD RUC Team Trainee
James L. Netterville, MD AAO-HNS/F President
An Introduction to the Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup
Dear Friends, I’d like to take the opportunity this month to tell you about the important work being undertaken by a group of volunteers on behalf of the Academy. As we begin to move away from a traditional fee-for-service model of payment currently used by our healthcare system today, the Academy has convened an Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup, which serves as a subgroup of the Physician Payment Policy Workgroup (3P), to review current and future payment trends in otolaryngology and other specialties. One of the Ad Hoc group’s goals will be to recommend one new payment model to the executive committee and board of directors in 2013. This is an exciting time for the Academy, as the healthcare community strives to reform and improve, and this key group is led by a talented group of physicians working on your behalf. The Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup comprises 3P Socioeconomic Coordinator, James C. Denneny III, MD; Richard W. Waguespack, MD (Academy President-Elect); John S. Rhee, MD, MPH; Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH; Emily F. Boss, MD, MPH; Robert R. Lorenz, MD; and J. Pablo Stolovitzky, MD, as well as staff from the Research and Quality and Health Policy teams. Additionally, the workgroup plans to collaborate with other members and Academy leadership who have specialized knowledge of payment models. Focal Points In 2013, the workgroup will focus on several areas that are particularly vital to you as otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons and members of the Academy, including clarifying current guidance documents available, developing a Care Path for the treatment of sinusitis, and evaluating payment reform trends. This group has already been extremely active in the early months of 2013. For a more in-depth look at the Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup’s specific projects, please read Ad Hoc Payment Workgroup Evaluates Payment Models on page 18.