ACS NewsScope
From: DoctorJoe@aol.com
Fri Mar 19 13:00:46 1999
Just thought those of you who are not members of the American College of
Surgeons would like to see some of their hot topics. Let me know if you like
this stuff... I can forward it whenever it comes out.
Joe P.
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Subject: ACS NewsScope
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ACS NewsScope
A Weekly News Update from the American College of Surgeons
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March 19, 1999
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--
Highlights for the week:
* ACS Questions Fraud and Abuse Efforts
* Senate Committee Reviews Managed Care Bill
* CESTE Coordinates Hernia Repair Clinical Trial
* NPDB Self-Query Fee To Be Imposed
* Briefly Noted
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ACS QUESTIONS FRAUD AND ABUSE EFFORTS
The American College of Surgeons sent a letter to Donna E. Shalala, PhD,
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on
March
16 expressing Fellows' strong reaction to a new program that encourages
Medicare patients to identify incorrect or improper payments for services.
As was reported in last week's edition of "ACS NewsScope," the new policy
becomes effective on April 1 and requires physicians and providers to
furnish itemized billing statements within 30 days when requested by
Medicare beneficiaries. In its letter to the HHS Secretary, the College
notes that surgeons across the country believe the "Who Pays/You Pay"
campaign portrays them as adversaries to both patients and the Medicare
program, feeding "the distrust that surgeons and other physicians have
developed toward the Medicare program, as well as a truly lamentable
erosion
of trust between patients and those who provide their health care." The
letter can be found on the ACS Web site at http://www.facs.org/about_
college/acsdept/socio_dept/acs_comments/ fraud.html.
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SENATE COMMITTEE REVIEWS MANAGED CARE BILL
At press time, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP)
Committee was reviewing a managed care reform bill introduced by the
Senate
Republican leadership. Among other provisions, the legislation would
ensure
patients direct access to specialists when recommended by their treating
provider and prohibit the inclusion of "gag clauses" in physicians'
managed
care contracts. However, the legislation does not include reforms the
College supports, such as guaranteed access to specialists outside the
plan,
a requirement that health plans eliminate arbitrary hospital length-of-
stay
limits, elimination of financial incentive plans that reward or punish
physicians based on the care they provide or authorize, guaranteed
coverage
for patients who participate in clinical trials programs, and health plan
and professional liability reforms. On March 15, the College sent a
letter
to all members of the HELP Committee outlining the College's views. It
can
be found on the College's Web site at http://www.facs.org/about_ college/
acsdept/socio_dept/ acs_comments/lott.html.
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CESTE COORDINATES HERNIA REPAIR CLINICAL TRIAL
The American College of Surgeons' Committee on Emerging Surgical
Technology
and Education (CESTE) has coordinated a group of expert Fellows to develop
a
set of proposals to conduct clinical trials in the management of inguinal
hernias in men. The first trial--comparing open, tension-free hernia
repair
(Lichtenstein) with preperitoneal laparoscopic repair--has been approved
and
funded by the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program. Sixteen sites
participating in the trial began enrolling patients in January. To be
conducted over a period of six years, the study will ultimately enroll
2,000
men. Further information is available from Olga Jonasson, MD, FACS, at
ojonasson@facs.org.
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NPDB SELF-QUERY FEE IMPOSED
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently published
a
final rule establishing a fee for health care practitioners who request
information about themselves from the National Practitioner Data Bank
(NPDB). To become effective March 31, the self-query fee is expected to
be
set at $10 per request, more than twice the current $4 fee for health care
entities. The College has opposed the self-query fee since it was first
proposed in March 1998. For more information, contact Diane Schneidman in
the Washington Office at dschneidman@facs.org.
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BRIEFLY NOTED....The American College of Surgeons will hold its annual
Spring Meeting April 25-28, 1999, in New York City. For further
information: http://www.facs.org/99spring.meeting/index.html....The ninth
annual publication of the Surgical Research Clearinghouse, a listing of
research scholarships, fellowships, and awards that are available from
various surgical specialty societies is now online at:
http://www.facs.org/
about_college/acsdept/edsurg_dept/clearinghouse/srgrscl.html....ACS
workshops "Successful Surgical Practice Mergers" (March 30 in Orlando)and
"How to Run a More Profitable Surgical Practice" (March 31 in Houston)
will
be presented by the Socioeconomic Affairs Department. Information:
312/202-5150....The American College of Surgeons Oncology Group's (ACOS-
OG)
upcoming Semi-Annual meetings have been scheduled for May 19-21 and
November
12-14, 1999. Both meetings are open to all surgeons and related health
care
professionals. For more information, contact Mary Klonowski at
mklonowski@facs.org.
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ACS NewsScope is a weekly news service for Fellows of the American College
of Surgeons and other interested individuals provided by the ACS
Communications Department.
