The Independent Payment Advisory Board — What Next? March 21, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: Healthcare Reform Act, Independent Payment Advisory Board, IPAB
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Last week, David Penson, MD, representing the American Urological Association (AUA), testified before the House Committee on Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, and called on Congress to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).
The Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), as a member of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine alongside AUA, has opposed the creation of the IPAB since it was first suggested, and has advocated for its repeal since the enactment of the health care reform law. The Society recently joined the IPAB Coalition in order to work with more organizations calling for the same action. (more…)
Meaningful Use Stage 2: Relevance to the EP March 15, 2012
Posted by David Scher, MD, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, EP Physicians, Health Policy.Tags: Electronic Health Records, Healthcare reform, Practice management
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My eyes all but glazed over during a comprehensive read of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program – Stage 2 Proposed Rule. It outlines updated objectives and measures that EPs and other health care providers will need to meet in order to be deemed “meaningful users,” so that they continue to earn toward the $44,000 mark in financial incentives.
As usual, the regulation was long…and complicated. Nonetheless, I have deciphered some good news from the rule that I am excited to share! Ok, so perhaps “excited” is a stronger than necessary reference. (more…)
EP Science: Basic and Translational March 14, 2012
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: cardiomyopathy
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Truncation of Titin Causing Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are at high risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. According to the Heart Rhythm Society Consensus Statement in Genetic Testing (Ackerman et al, Heart Rhythm 2011; 8:1308), none of the >25 known disease-associated genes has been shown to account for ≥5% of this disease.
A recent article by Herman et al (NEJM 2012; 366:619; PMID: 22335739) is likely to change that statement. The authors analyzed TTN (the gene encoding the sarcomere protein titin) in 312 subjects with dilated cardiomyopathy, 231 subjects with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and 249 controls. (more…)
Promoting a Culture of Safety Featured Symposium at Heart Rhythm 2012 March 12, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Cardiac Rhythm Management, Scientific Sessions.Tags: Heart Rhythm 2012, patient safety
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At Heart Rhythm 2012 in Boston, Bruce L. Wilkoff, MD, FHRS, CCDS and Paul Varosy, MD, FHRS will host a featured symposium on the fundamentals of transforming intraprocedural heart rhythm care to a culture that promotes patient safety. (more…)
Cardiac Science Corporation Voluntarily Recalls AEDs March 7, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, EP Physicians, Industry.Tags: AED, automated external defibrillator, recall, Safety alert
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On February 27, 2012, Cardiac Science Corporation notified customers of a recall of several models of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) manufactured between July 1, 2011 and December 30, 2011. (more…)
HRS Picks: Many Americans in the Dark about Heart Rhythm Disorders March 6, 2012
Posted by Heart Rhythm Society in Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Society News, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Uncategorized.Tags: AF, Afib, Atrial fibrillation, SCA, Sudden Cardiac Arrest
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In the article below, published on the blog, Be Healthy, Well & Inspired, the Heart Rhythm Society’s omnibus survey results about Americans understanding of heart rhythm disorers are shared with readers. The Society also issued a press release about the results during Heart Health month. (more…)
Support HRS’ Advocacy Efforts- Participate in the Virtual Fly-in February 23, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Health Policy.Tags: AF Resolution, Afib, American Heart Month, Atrial fibrillation, Members of Congress
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The Heart Rhythm Society, in collaboration with other stakeholders, is educating Members of Congress, their staff and the public about heart rhythm disorders. During the American Heart Month, HRS is organizing a virtual fly-in on February 23. We ask HRS members and non-members to email their House Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor the AF Resolution (H. Res. 295). (more…)
Courage May Be The Solution February 18, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: Congressional hearing, Healthcare, Medicare, Physician Payment System, Quality & outcomes
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Last week, the Ways and Means Committee of the House of the Representatives held a congressional hearing to examine programs that reward physicians for delivering high quality and efficient care. Health insurers and physicians spoke about their individual efforts to improve quality and efficiency: insurers through new payment models and financial incentives, and physicians through practice transformations. (more…)
Five Reasons Why Patients with Implantable Defibrillators Deserve Their Data February 17, 2012
Posted by David Scher, MD, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, EP Physicians, Health Policy, Industry.Tags: Arrhythmia, Electronic Health Records, HEREHR, HITECH Act, ICD, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, pacemaker
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The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was signed into law on February 17, 2009. The objective of Measure 12/15 of Meaningful Use regulations of the HITECH Act, which refers to electronic health records, states that eligible professionals “Provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information (including diagnostic test results, problem lists, medication lists, medication allergies) upon request.”
A patient’s implantable defibrillator consists of a diagnostic test of the patient’s rhythm as well as of the implanted device itself. I do not see a distinction between data derived from these devices and other diagnostic tests. In this post I will explain why, in addition to conforming to the above regulatory requirement, the furnishing of this data will benefit patients. (more…)
EP Science and Research: Basic and Translational February 16, 2012
Posted by Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS in Science & Research.Tags: Arrhythmias, ICD, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, sudden infant death syndrome
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Connexin and arrhythmias
Igarashi et al (Circulation 2012;125:216; PMID 22158756) randomized 30 Yorkshire swine into two groups (sinus rhythm and AF), and each group into three subgroups: sham-operated control, gene therapy with adenovirus expressing connexin (Cx) 40, and gene therapy with adenovirus expressing Cx43. The AF group had burst atrial pacing. All animals underwent terminal study seven days after gene transfer. Sinus rhythm animals had strong transgene expression but no atrial conduction changes. In AF animals, controls had reduced and lateralized Cx43 expression, and Cx43 gene transfer restored expression and cellular location to sinus rhythm control levels. In the AF group, both Cx40 and Cx43 gene transfer improved conduction and reduced AF relative to controls.
The authors conclude that Connexin gene therapy preserved atrial conduction and prevented AF. (more…)
Heart Rhythm Society
Laurie Racenet, RN, MSN, ANP
Michael Giudici, MD, FACC, FACP, FHRS
Heather M. Ross, DNP, ANP-BC, CCDS, CEPS, FHRS
Anne Dubin, MD, FHRS
John D. Day, MD, FHRS
Andrea M. Russo, MD, FACC, FHRS
Joshua M. Cooper, MD, FACC
Amit J. Shanker, MD, FHRS, FACC
Bruce Stambler, MD
David Wiggins, RN, BS BME, CEPS
Fred M. Kusumoto, MD, FHRS
Leonard Ganz, MD, FHRS
christinechiuman
Craig Delaughter, MD, PhD
Ariana Del Negro, Heart Rhythm 2010 Quality
Peng-Sheng Chen, MD, FHRS
MSKremers MD,FHRS
Ann C. Garlitski, MD, FACC, FHRS
Alan Cheng, MD, FHRS
Ulrika Birgersdotter-Green, MD
Christopher Clyne, MD, FHRS
Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS
David Scher, MD, FHRS
Sanjay Deshpande, MD, FHRS
Thomas F. Deering, MD, FHRS
