Breaking News
RPA Releases Guidance to Nephrologists on Interactions with ACOs
Pay 2012 Membership Dues Today
Vote for 2012 RPA Board of Directors
AMA Seeking Use of Military Drawdown Dividend to Fund Long Term SGR Fix
RPA's Nephrology Coding and Billing Seminar - Have You Registered?
Register Today for RPA 2012 Annual Meeting: Special events for practice managers; Renal Fellows Track
Save the Date - the 10th Annual NCAP Forum - June 9 - 10, 2012
Advanced Practitioners Conference
U.S. Senators, Academic Medicine Groups Seek IOM Review of GME
AMA, CMS Working Collaboratively to Fight Physician Identity Theft
FDA ESRD Pilot Solicitation
What's New on www.renalmd.org - Check out the latest info that we have posted!
RPA Releases Guidance to Nephrologists on Interactions with ACOs
In advance of the implementation of shared saving programs that establish accountable care organizations (ACOs) in Medicare, RPA has developed guidance to nephrologists on interacting with ACOs. The document not only addresses the options nephrologists will have in their relationships with general ACOs, but also offers insight on Medicare-sponsored renal integrated care models that may be established later this year. Specific guidance is provided to assist nephrologists with evaluating possible participation arrangements with ACOs.
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Pay 2012 Membership Dues Today
All members who have not paid their RPA membership dues will receive another invoice via mail this month. If you have a balance due, you may submit payment via fax, the RPA website or by calling the RPA office. Please direct questions regarding your account status to Rona Eisenberger or ext. 13.
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Vote for 2012 RPA Board of Directors
Don't forget to cast your ballot for RPA Board of Directors candidates. You may vote online, or by fax. All ballots must be submitted to the RPA office by midnight on Friday, February 17th. If you have any questions, please call the national office at 301-468-3515. Thank you for taking the time to vote.
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AMA Seeking Use of Military Drawdown Dividend to Fund Long Term SGR Fix
In an effort to finally achieve a long term solution to the Medicare physician payment shortfall caused by use of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, the AMA is seeking to use funds remaining from the Overseas Contingency Operations budget (savings from the reductions in force in Iraq and Afghanistan) to offset the cost of SGR reform. This concept reportedly has the bipartisan support of many lawmakers in both the U.S. House and Senate. The current delay in implementation of the 27% cut in Medicare Part B/physician reimbursement is scheduled to expire on February 29th. Go to the RPA Legislative Action Center to lend your support to this effort.
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RPA's Nephrology Coding and Billing Seminar - Have You Registered?
Preceding the 2012 Annual Meeting, RPA will hold its first coding and billing seminar of 2012 on Thursday, March 15th, Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, DC. Pre-registration for this unique and dynamic seminar is now open. Advance registration closes Monday, March 5th.
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Register Today for RPA 2012 Annual Meeting: Special events for practice managers; Renal Fellows Track
Join us March 15-18, 2012 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., to gain practical, relevant information for your practice on the following topics:
- Making the Transition to ICD 10
- Integrated Care Models/Accountable Care Organizations and what they mean for nephrology practice
- Diversification of Practice Service Mix (Ultrafiltration, CKD Education and Access Centers)
- How to Comply with Meaningful Use
- Participation in the Physician Quality Reporting System
Also, Practice Managers join us for the following special events planned for you at this year's Annual Meeting:
- Back by Popular Demand! Practice Managers Track focusing on practice governance, CMS physician compare website, establishing practice performance metrics and so much more
- Practice managers welcome booth
- Practice managers reception
- Practice managers luncheon/forum
... And much more!
Special workshops are planned for renal fellows with travel grant funding available.
Register for the 2012 Annual Meeting.
View the RPA Annual Meeting homepage for more details.
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Save the Date - the 10th Annual NCAP Forum - June 9 - 10, 2012
RPA's Nephrology Coverage Advocacy Program (NCAP) will convene the Tenth Annual NCAP Forum June 9 -10, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. As details are finalized, updates will be posted on www.renalmd.org. Extend your stay through June 11 for RPA Capitol Hill Day. More specific information will be available shortly. REMINDER - Regional leaders and carrier advisory committee representatives and alternates should plan to attend the NCAP Luncheon at the RPA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC on Saturday March 17, 2012.
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Advanced Practitioners Conference
RPA invites you to attend an educational seminar that will help you maximize your value to your Nephrology practice. Mark your calendars for July 11-13, 2012, for the advanced practitioner workshop at The Hilton Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN. Look for more information to come soon on the RPA website, www.renalmd.org.
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U.S. Senators, Academic Medicine Groups Seek IOM Review of GME
On December 21, a bipartisan group of seven U.S. Senators sent a letter to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) urging the IOM to "conduct an independent review of the governance and financing" of the graduate medical education (GME) system. Subsequently, members of the academic medicine community including the American College of Physicians (ACP) sent a letter to the IOM supporting the request.
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AMA, CMS Working Collaboratively to Fight Physician Identity Theft
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the AMA have been working jointly to promote the "CMS Provider Victim Validation/Remediation Initiative" to assist Medicare providers who have been victims of identity theft. CMS has compiled a list of contractors who serve as "Points of Contact" for victimized providers to reach out to when they have been victims of identity theft.
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FDA ESRD Pilot Solicitation
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is soliciting nominations of innovative device technologies to participate in a pilot program addressing the health needs of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Appropriate candidates are those with new technologies with innovative device application concepts for which the sponsor has expectation of impacting the morbidity or mortality rates of patients with ESRD. And, new technologies with innovative device application concepts for which an original or supplemental application for premarket approval (PMA), investigational device evaluation (pre-IDE, IDE) or petition for de novo review will be required.
The FDA intends to accept requests for participation in the ESRD pilot solicitation until February 15, 2012. The FDA may terminate the solicitation before the closure of the period or may extend the solicitation beyond February 15. Device sponsors interested in voluntary participation in the solicitation and for general questions about the solicitation contact: InnovationChallenge@fda.hhs.gov. To view the full funding announcement, please visit the webpage at: www.fda.gov/deviceinnovationpathway.
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What's New on www.renalmd.org - Check out the latest info that we have posted!
- AMA-Join Today - Remain united on issues affecting our patients, our practices and our livelihoods.
- ESRD Networks Position on ESRD Patient Solicitation describes the issue, highlights relevant literature on the issues of professionalism and ethics in medicine, and provides selected examples of state statutes addressing the issue. The position statement concludes with specific principles to guide professional ethics in nephrology regarding ESRD patient solicitation.
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