GAO Report Finds Lack of Transparency in Implantable Medical Device Prices February 14, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy, Industry.Tags: GAO, Government Accountability Office, ICD, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, Medicare
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In response to a request from Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the powerful U.S. Senate Finance Committee, on February 3 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report outlining the difference in prices that hospitals pay for implantable medical devices (e.g. defibrillators and hip replacements). (more…)
FDA User Fee Bills: Why You Should Care February 13, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: FDA, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PPACA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, UFA, User Fee Act
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relies upon user fees from manufacturers in order to perform product reviews in a timely fashion. The statutes that authorize collection of these fees are reauthorized every five years. The Medical Device User Fee Act (MDUFA) is up for reauthorization no later than September 30, 2012. The FDA has been actively engaged in discussions with manufacturers in anticipation of renewal. An article this week suggests that an agreement has been reached between the FDA and the device manufacturers that will increase the total fees paid over five years to FDA from $295M to an estimated $595M. The fees collected will allow the FDA to hire more evaluation staff during the term of the renewal. Although Members of Congress seem to agree on very little of late, renewal is expected by all parties because the FDA and the manufacturers both depend on the fees allowed by the Act to get products reviewed and approved. (more…)
CMS RAC Demonstration Project Postponed Until June February 6, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, RAC
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Recovery Audit Prepayment Review (RAC) Demonstration project was scheduled to begin on January 1, 2012 and was delayed in December by the Agency for further review.
Thinking About Patient-Centered Care February 1, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, EP Physicians, Health Policy.Tags: National Quality Forum, NQF, Patient care
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Last week, the National Quality Forum (NQF) hosted a meeting of the Partnership for Patients-National Priorities Partnership. The Partnership for Patients was convened last spring by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to “dramatically improve patient safety across the country.” (more…)
Guest Blogger: Boston AF Symposium Highlights January 27, 2012
Posted by Heart Rhythm Society in Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Science & Research.Tags: AF, Afib, Atrial fibrillation, clinical guidelines
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Editor’s Note: Guest blogger Hugh Calkins, MD, FHRS, CCDS is the Heart Rhythm Scientific Sessions Program Committee Chair (2012). He provides a brief overview of the Boston AF Symposium, which took place January 12 – 14, 2012.
This year’s Boston AF Symposium was very well attended, with more than 1,200 participants. I would like to share a few highlights from the meeting: (more…)
Health Information Technology: Building Safer Systems for Patient Care January 26, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: EHR, Electronic medical records, Health information technology, HIT, Institute of Medicine, IOM
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The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released a report which evaluates health information technology safety concerns and recommends way that both government and the private sector can make patient care safer using health information technology (HIT). (more…)
Five Reasons Why Physicians Will Love mHealth January 18, 2012
Posted by David Scher, MD, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, Education, EP Physicians, Health Policy.Tags: Electronic Health Records, Healthcare reform, Medicare, mHealth, mobile health technology, Practice management, Remote monitoring
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1. Mobile health technology will increase patient engagement. Most patients do not take the responsibility they should for their own health. They are likely preoccupied with all the stresses of everyday life and might therefore take the ‘I feel good, so I must be’ approach. They possibly mutter these words after wiping their faces, hurriedly walking out of McDonald’s for lunch. Or is it because of mistrust of their physician who they get to see for a big 15 minutes that the electronic record time slot permits? Or that they are caregivers to others and sacrifice their own well-being for that higher purpose? (more…)
Most Popular Posts of 2011 January 16, 2012
Posted by Heart Rhythm Society in Uncategorized.add a comment
EP Insights has had steady growth in readership and commentary since launching in February 2010. We would like to share the ten most popular posts of 2011 with you, encourage you to read any that you may have missed and contribute to the growing conversation among heart rhythm professionals.
- Education, Disclosures, and Bias, Oh My! (Part Two of Two) by Joshua Cooper, MD
In this post, Dr. Cooper is “evaluating the paradigm of Industry sponsorship of medical education.” - Appropriateness of ICD Use Challenged by Registry Study by Mark S. Kremers, MD, FHRS
Dr. Kremers discusses the findings of the study “Non–Evidence-Based ICD Implantations in the United States” noting that “the ICD Registry form should be reviewed by the physician to ensure accuracy and the supporting medical record should clarify issues that are not completely disclosed in the registry document. Increased attention to these issues will make the registry a better reflection of the care delivered and would be a positive development.” (more…)
Business Models of Mobile mHealth January 12, 2012
Posted by David Scher, MD, FHRS in Allied Health Professionals, Education, EP Physicians, Health Policy.Tags: CMS, Electronic medical records, Healthcare reform, Medicare, mHealth, mobile health technology, Practice management, Remote monitoring
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PriceWaterhouse Coopers’ Health Research Institute released a comprehensive report (free registration required) describing business models and opportunities for the mobile health industry.
In the operational/business model, providers see mHealth as more efficient and beneficial to the patient. According to the study, one-third of physicians make decisions based on incomplete information and mHealth can result in better care by providing more robust and timely information from the patient or device. (more…)
Audit Alphabet Soup: MACs, RACs and Pre-Payment Reviews January 11, 2012
Posted by Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH, FHRS in Health Policy.Tags: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, RAC
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To navigate the constantly changing current of Medicare audits, it is critical that the heart rhythm care community understands the distinction between a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC)-driven review and a Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) review. (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
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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
