What's new...
DDW Statement on Swine Flu
DDW is monitoring the swine flu situation. The World Health Organization has not recommended international travel restrictions. At this time we do not anticipate any changes to the meeting timing, location or programming. Updates will be provided at www.ddw.org as needed.
(Last updated April 28, 2009 3:13 p.m. ET).
Stimulus Bill Authorizes Financial Incentives for Physicians to Adopt Health IT by 2014
The economic stimulus sets aside billions to jumpstart the adoption of Health IT by physicians and hospitals in order to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs. Incentives of up to $44,000 will be awarded to physicians who adopt a certified electronic record. Go to ASGE's Health IT fact sheet for more information.
ASGE Submits Comment Letter on CMS's Proposed Decision Not To Cover CTC
On March 12, 2009, the ASGE submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding their proposed decision memo not to extend coverage of the Medicare screening benefit to Computed Tomography Colonography (CTC) for Colorectal Cancer (CAG-00396N). ASGE’s comment letter agreed and urged CMS to finalize their proposed decision.
Coding-related issues of importance to gastroenterologists for 2009
Although there is only one new CPT* code for 2009 for GI endoscopy for direct cholangioscopy/pancreatoscopy and one new Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) code for endoscopy and polyp surveillance, there are other coding changes that may be of interest to the gastroenterology community
- New code for cholangioscopy/pancreatoscopy
- New code for hemorrhoid management using thermal energy
- New code for laparoscopic Heller myotomy
- CPT codes deleted in 2009
- Review of low-volume gastroenterology procedures
- Clarification of evaluation/management (E/M) procedures
- Renumbered codes for infusion services
- G-codes to describe follow-up inpatient telehealth consultations
- Reminder about telephone services and Medicare policy
- PQRI codes
SedationFacts.org—Growing and Expanding!
SedationFacts.org, a one-stop resource for endoscopic sedation news and information, is growing and expanding with a new site re-organization to better serve your needs for endoscopic sedation information. The newly enhanced site now offers a "Special Circumstances" link that discusses sedation for pregnant and lactating women, pediatrics, the elderly, the difficult-to-sedate and obstructive sleep apnea. Now you'll find even more valuable content from expert resources on subjects such as patient safety and care, and much, much more. Explore this new sedation site today at www.SedationFacts.org!
SedationFacts.org is funded by an educational grant from Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. A joint initiative of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the AGA Institute and the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc., this Web site provides the information you need to sustain and improve patient safety associated with endoscopic sedation.
Updated Practice Guidelines
Two important guidelines, "Infection Control During Gastrointestinal Endoscopy" and "Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy" were recently updated and published in the May issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. View guidelines. . .
Colorectal Cancer:
Not Just a Man’s Disease
ASGE and other medical groups recently partnered with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to dispel the myth that colorectal cancer is a man’s disease. Screening awareness materials were mailed to nearly 50,000 ACOG physicians and the initiative was announced at ACOG’s scientific meeting in May. Read more and download materials.