November 2012 Practice Update (part two)

2012-11-29

ASH Annual Meeting: Practice-Related Events

Please join us at the following special practice-related events at the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition:

For more details and registration information about these practice-related events, read more.

News from Medicare

New Medicare & Medicaid Regulations Benefit Hematologists; ASH Advocacy Improved Physician Payment
ASH's advocacy efforts were instrumental in making hematologists eligible for enhanced payments within the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule. Payment rates for hematology/oncology services will increase by 2 percent based on the changes made in this rule. In addition, CMS proposed payment for two new codes for transitional care management (TCM) services provided to patients being discharged from acute, rehabilitation, or long-term acute hospital stays into the community. Primary care providers and specialists can bill these for new services within 30 days following discharge. ASH advocacy also influenced the Medicaid rule implementing a provision of the Affordable Care Act stipulating that Medicaid reimbursement for certain primary care services equal Medicare rates in 2013 and 2014. While originally thought to only apply to physicians who are board-certified in family medicine, internal medicine or pediatrics, the final Medicaid rule included subspecialists in these fields and will result in increased payments for adult and pediatric hematologists. Read ASH's comprehensive summary of the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. 

These changes do not factor in the looming 27 percent cut in Medicare physician payment if Congress does not avert scheduled cuts by January 1, 2013. Additional advocacy is needed to assure that physician payment is not cut in January. Please visit ASH's Advocacy Center to send a letter to your Representative and Senators today. 

Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) 2013 Final Rule Released; Read ASH's Summary of the Rule and its Impact on Hematology  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule on November 15 updating payment policies and rates for both hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) for calendar year (CY) 2013. CMS projects that total payments for services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries in HOPDs during CY 2013 under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) will be approximately $48 billion.

Read ASH's comprehensive summary of the rule and the projected impact it will have on hematology services.

News from ASH

ASH's 2012 von Willebrand Disease Mobile App is Available
The mobile download of ASH's pocket guide on the Clinical Practice Guideline on the Evaluation and Management of von Willebrand Disease (VWD) is now available on the ASH Guides Mobile App. The mobile app and the hard copy version of the von Willebrand Disease pocket guide were revised to include up-to-date information including a bleeding score. ASH Guides is a software application that allows users to download the Society's clinical quick reference guides to smartphones and tablet computers. In addition to VWD, the ASH Guides application features the Society's quick reference guides for Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) and Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP).

Download the ASH Guides app today at no cost. If you already have ASH Guides installed on your device, tap the refresh icon within the app to ensure you have the latest updates, including the VWD pocket guide download. If you encounter errors or have difficulty using ASH Guides, please contact ASH customer service at 1-866-828-1231.

A PDF version of the 2012 revised von Willebrand Disease pocket guide is available on ASH's website and the hardcopy version will be available at the ASH Booth.

In 2013, ASH will continue to add the Society's Quick Reference Guides to the ASH Guides mobile app including Anticoagulant Dosing and Management of Anticoagulant-Associated Bleeding Complications in Adults.

Registration Now Open for Highlights of ASH® in North America  

In 2013, ASH will host the only official Highlights of ASH:

  • January 18-19: San Diego, CA and Toronto, Canada
  • January 25-26: Dallas, TX and New York, NY
  • February 1-2: Miami, FL and San Francisco, CA

The program format is designed to allow practitioners, fellows, academicians, and allied health professionals to discuss some of the most rapidly evolving treatment developments and real patient cases with leaders in the field. Don't miss the chance to network with colleagues and gain new practice strategies while you discuss the most influential scientific discoveries from the 54th ASH Annual Meeting. Register today.

back to top