Health Policy & Advocacy
.jpg)
What's New
How to Practice Evidence-Based Medicine
President Obama Signs Law Updating Medicare Physician Payment
UnitedHealth Group Lawsuit Settlement Claim Forms Sent
Group Practice Task Force Publishes White Paper on Practice Integration Opportunities
Registration for Southeast Region Advocacy Fly-In and Joint Surgical Advocacy Conference (JSAC) Now Open
How to Practice Evidence-Based Medicine
Evidence-based medicine is defined as the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence, combined with individual clinical expertise and patient preferences and values, in making decisions about the care of individual patients. In an effort to emphasize the importance of evidence-based medicine in plastic surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery have launched an initiative to improve the understanding of evidence-based medicine concepts and provide tools for implementing evidence-based medicine in practice.
President Obama Signs Law Updating Medicare Physician Payment
On June 24, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3962, the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010. The bill passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 417 - 1. This legislation provides Medicare physicians with a 2.2% payment update through November 30, 2010 and replaces the 21.3% cut currently in effect.
On June 25, President Obama signed into law the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010.
CMS has directed Medicare claims contactors to stop processing claims at the negative 21.3% rate and temporarily hold all June claims until the 2.2% update is loaded into processing systems. Claims are expected to be processed at the adjusted rate no later than July 1, 2010. CMS has announced that claims processed in June that reflect the negative update will be automatically reprocessed without action necessary by the physician.
UnitedHealth Group Lawsuit Settlement Claim Forms Sent
Physicians entitled to a portion of $350 million set aside by UnitedHealth Group Inc., to settle a class-action lawsuit - which alleged the nation's largest health insurer had been underpaying doctors and policyholders for more that a decade - will soon be receiving the paperwork necessary to submit their claims.
Group Practice Task Force Publishes White Paper on Practice Integration Opportunities
The ASPS Board of Directors convened the Group Practice Task Force to examine integration strategies and recommend additional resources to assist member plastic surgeons who are considering forming a group practice. Members of the Task Force have compiled their findings into the white paper, "Practice Integration Opportunities for Plastic Surgeons." Many case studies are provided throughout the document, which is divided into four major categories of group practice, including formal corporate practice; independent practice with shared facilities, personnel, etc.; unique group practice models; and centers of excellence.
Registration for Southeast Region Advocacy Fly-In and Joint Surgical Advocacy Conference (JSAC) Now Open
Your participation is vitally important in our upcoming ASPS sponsored Federal Advocacy Event in Washington, D.C.! Please join us in your nation’s capitol to learn first-hand about the critical issues facing our specialty and take that message directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. This event affords you an opportunity to help shape the critical issues facing plastic surgeons and your patients. We hope that you will join us to represent plastic surgery and your state. We need your participation! This event is for ASPS members and candidates from the Southeastern states listed below. To RSVP for this event, please email Pete Wallace or contact him by phone at (202) 672-1519.
Southeast Regional Fly-In: September 21-22, 2010: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Importantly, the third annual Joint Surgical Advocacy Conference (JSAC) will also be held in Washington D.C. July 25th – 27th. In 2009, 19 surgical societies converged on Washington, DC to participate in JSAC and meet with lawmakers on the key issues most critical to surgery. ASPS is on the planning committee for this event that brought over 400 surgeons to Washington last year, and we strongly encourage members to participate. To register, please visit http://www.facs.org/ahp/jsac2010.html. You may also email Pete Wallace or contact him by phone at 202-672-1519.
