August 2010 Practice Update (part one)

2010-08-05

CMS Offers Training Session on Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will conduct a training conference call for individual practitioners detailing the specifics of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive program on Tuesday, August 10, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Read more.

2010 PQRI & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program National Provider Call With Question & Answer Session
The CMS Provider Communications Group is hosting a national provider conference call on the 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program on Tuesday, August 17, 2010, from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. EDT. Visit the CMS website to register for the call. Call participants can access a transcript one week after the call on the CMS website.

ASH Working with CMS to Smooth Transition Between ICD-9 and ICD-10
Beginning on October 1, 2013, all physicians and other entities covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act must begin using the new ICD-10 adopted code set. ASH is working with CMS to assure a smooth transition from ICD-9, which consists of roughly 14,000 codes, to ICD-10, which expands to over 68,000 codes. Read more.

FDA Solicits Public Input on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is soliciting public comments concerning the issues and challenges associated with the development and implementation of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for drugs. ASH is developing written comments as part of the open request for comments and encourages any members who have participated in a REMS program and have concerns with the program to share these directly with the Society. Read more.

FDA Announces Reorganization of the Office of Oncology Drug Products
As part of recent organizational changes within the FDA, the Office of Oncology Drug Products (OODP) is planning a reorganization that is expected to take effect in 2011. The OODP, which currently comprises three divisions, will change its name to the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products (OHOP) and create a new structure with four divisions. Read more.

Blood Journal Reports: Intensive Chemotherapy May Be Harmful to Most Older Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia
The prognosis for nearly three-quarters of elderly patients on intensive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia is poor, with a median survival of less than six months, according to a study published online July 28 in Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology. “Recent studies have suggested that intensive chemotherapy might benefit elderly patients with AML, but we found that not to be the case,” said Hagop Kantarjian, MD, Chairman of the Leukemia Department at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and senior author of the study. Read more.

Register for ASH Webinar Series on Thrombosis
ASH will present a series of three webinars on thrombosis issues practicing hematologists frequently confront. The sessions will feature presentations by experts in the field, provide time for questions and answers, and will cover the most current information on how to best diagnose and care for patients.

  • September 14, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. EDT - Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)
    Speakers include: Andreas Greinacher, MD, Ted Warkentin, MD, and Adam Cuker, MD
  • October 20, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. EDT - Coagulation Management in Cancer
    Speakers include: Kenneth Mann, PhD, Ken Bauer, MD, and David Garcia, MD
  • November 17, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. EDT - Non-Hemophilia-Associated Conditions Associated With Bleeding
    Speakers include: Catherine Hayward, MD, PhD and Sarah O’Brien, MD

For more information or to register for these webinars, please visit www.hematology.org/webinars.

2010 ASH Annual Meeting Advance Registration Now Open
Online registration for the 52nd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition is now open. Register online or fax a completed registration form to 888-273-5706 (U.S. and Canada toll free) or 703-631-6288 (international). To qualify for the advance registration discounts, registration forms and full payment must be received by November 4. Full details including the schedule, program, housing, travel, and important dates are listed online.

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