Your immediate action is critical! Tell your representative in the House to vote "YES" for HR 5 (formerly known as HR 452).

Earlier today, SCAI joined with 24 other healthcare associations in asking the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Health to favorably report HR 452, the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act, out of committee next week. HR 452 would repeal the section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) which calls for the creation of IPAB, a government board whose sole job is to cut Medicare spending.

SCAI is encouraging its members to submit comments to the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) in response to its Draft Technology Assessment on Carotid Stenting issued earlier this morning.

Yesterday Modern Physician reported on concerns by SCAI and its Alliance of Specialty Medicine partners that the final Medicare physician fee schedule for 2012 lacked transparency in its development and uniformity in its payment methodology while also creating confusion in an attempt to lower payments for diagnostic imaging services.

While the healthcare community awaits legislation that may halt an SGR-mandated, across-the-board 24.7 percent fee cut for physician services provided under the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has instructed its claims administration contractors to hold payments through Jan. 17, 2012. Whether or not a legislative fix for the SGR is passed by then, CMS will need to issue payments; if legislation follows, CMS will need to address changes retroactively.