January 17, 2024 By

ASE Advocacy Update: CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule

ASE has been working to fight prior authorization on behalf of our members and joined several coalitions, including the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, to advance this issue.  There has been progress with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) action today! The CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule has been finalized. The rule sets requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) fee-for-service (FFS) programs, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP managed care entities, and issuers of Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) offered on the Federally-Facilitated Exchanges (FFEs), to improve the electronic exchange of health information and prior authorization processes for medical items and services.  Most of these changes will take effect in 2026.

Please see the CMS press release for more information, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-finalizes-rule-expand-access-health-information-and-improve-prior-authorization-process

The fact sheet for this final rule is available here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cms-interoperability-and-prior-authorization-final-rule-cms-0057-f

Filed Under: Advocacy News, News
January 8, 2024 By

ASE Publishes Updated Guideline for Evaluating PHVs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

ASE Publishes Updated Guideline for Evaluating Prosthetic Heart Valves

The guideline focuses on the use of echocardiography and multimodality imaging in evaluating patients with significant cardiac valvular disease

(DURHAM, NC, January 8, 2024)—A new guideline from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) aims to provide clinicians with a comprehensive resource for evaluating prosthetic heart valves (PHVs). Guidelines for the Evaluation of Prosthetic Valve Function with Cardiovascular Imaging: A Report from the American Society of Echocardiography Developed in Collaboration with the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography replaces the Society’s original guideline published in 2009.

While many principles and recommendations detailed in ASE’s original guideline on PHVs are still current and valid, the document was published prior to several important developments, including the function of percutaneous valves, the use of three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, and the role of computed tomography (CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the evaluation of PHVs.

“This new guideline on prosthetic valves was very much needed, as the field has changed so much since 2009, with the introduction of percutaneous valves and improvements in 3D echocardiography and multimodality imaging,” says Chair of the Guideline Writing Group Dr. William A. Zoghbi, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cardiology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. “It provides clinicians with a roadmap for evaluating PHVs, while aiming to improve patient care and outcomes in the field.”

Dr. Pei-Ni Jone, Co-Chair of the Guideline Writing Group and Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory at the Heart Center, as well as an Attending Physician in Cardiology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, adds, “The new guideline provides the clinician with much-needed information on how to evaluate PHVs with cardiac ultrasound, particularly with the added value of 3D echocardiography, and when to use further imaging with cardiac CT or CMR.”

Echocardiography is the first-line modality used to assess prosthetic valve function in patients with significant cardiac valvular disease. However, recent advances in CT and CMR have enhanced their roles in evaluating valvular heart disease. This new guideline offers guidance on which imaging modality can be most helpful for each respective valve and includes the newest valves available.

Additionally, the guideline consolidates critical information gleaned from imaging into tables and key points, while also offering a review of the echocardiographic techniques used and providing recommendations and general guidelines for evaluating prosthetic valve structure, function and regurgitation.

The new guideline is published in the January 2024 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. All guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

 

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Filed Under: News
December 4, 2023 By

New ASE Guideline Aims to Optimize Care for Pediatric Oncology Patients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

New Guideline Aims to Optimize Care for Pediatric Oncology Patients

The guideline focuses on the use of echocardiography and multimodality imaging in monitoring cardiac function in children with cancer

(DURHAM, NC, December 4, 2023)—A new guideline from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) offers recommendations to pediatric cardiologists and oncologists on the application of multimodality imaging in children undergoing cancer treatment.

Cardiovascular ultrasound has long been recognized as a valuable tool in assessing cardiac function and is the first-line imaging technique used to monitor cardiac function during and after cancer treatment in both adult and pediatric patients. However, as the field of pediatric cardio-oncology continues to evolve, children with cancer may also benefit from the addition of other noninvasive imaging techniques.

The newly released guideline, titled “Multimodality Imaging for Cardiac Surveillance of Cancer Treatment in Children: Recommendations From the American Society of Echocardiography,” provides detailed guidance on how to perform echocardiographic exams, which parameters to use in clinical decision making, and the circumstances under which additional imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), should be considered.

“Cardiovascular complications developing during and after cancer treatment remain a significant challenge and continue to compromise the long-term health of this growing patient cohort,” says Luc Mertens, MD, PhD, FASE, chair of the guideline writing group. “The primary goal of cardiac monitoring is to identify early signs of potentially reversible heart disease and to minimize the risk of progression from asymptomatic to clinically overt heart disease.”

The document also stresses that therapeutic decisions should be based on multidisciplinary discussions among cardiologists, oncology teams, and the patient and their family.

“This guideline highlights the knowledge gaps in the current practice of cardiac monitoring and cautions making therapeutic decisions on cancer treatment for pediatric patients solely on cardiac imaging data,” says Gautam Singh, MD, FASE, co-chair of the writing group. “By standardizing the use of echocardiography and providing evidence-based recommendations, this guideline can help improve long-term cardiac outcomes of pediatric cancer patients.”

This document is published in the December 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. All guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: News
November 27, 2023 By

GivingTuesday 2023

 

The ASE Foundation is Accepting
GivingTuesday Donations November 26-December 2

Fundraising Goal: $35,000

The ASE Foundation is proud to participate in the global generosity movement known as GivingTuesday. Your donation ensures that we continue to foster the next generation of cardiovascular ultrasound professionals, award research grants to investigators, bring cardiac care to areas in need, among other charitable projects in 2024.

The Foundation celebrates the generosity of our donors every day. After all, YOU are what makes us successful! Your donations provide support for initiatives, such as student scholarships, scientific research, and guideline dissemination, that are not supported by ASE membership dues.

Click here to donate today. No matter where your heart lies, the Foundation can support your passion and you can take pride in knowing that 100% of your donation goes back out into the field. Donations towards our $35,000 fundraising goal will be accepted through December 2. Together we can continue to make a world of difference!

Filed Under: News
November 22, 2023 By

Apply for an ASE/ASEF Leadership Position

Now is your chance to become a leader in ASE and the ASE Foundation! If you are an active member and meet the criteria outlined for the position, ask a friend or colleague who is also an ASE member to submit a nomination on your behalf. All available positions are open to any ASE member, regardless of their specialty, and we are looking for a diverse pool of nominees.

November 30, 2023, is the deadline for candidates to submit all materials required for available positions on the ASE Foundation Board of Directors and Council Steering Committees.

December 7, 2023, is the deadline for candidates to submit all materials required for available positions on the ASE Board of Directors and ASE Executive Committee. Changes were recently made to the criteria for Treasurer, Secretary, and Council Representative. See if you qualify.

Learn More & Apply!

Filed Under: News
November 22, 2023 By

Download the New Echo for Cardiac Amyloidosis Poster

ASE offers a variety of echocardiography and amyloidosis resources, and we are happy to announce a new, free poster available now on our website! Download the Echo for Cardiac Amyloidosis poster that was produced by ASE in collaboration with Pfizer. This piece was created from an article “Practical Points for Echocardiography in Cardiac Amyloidosis” that was published in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. This new poster focuses on the common echocardiographic imaging findings of cardiac amyloidosis (CA), and highlights red flags that should raise suspicion for the diagnosis. It offers practical tips for image acquisition and interpretation and outlines recommendations for standard reporting of an echocardiogram in a patient with CA.
Filed Under: News
November 22, 2023 By

GivingTuesday 2023 is Around the Corner!

GivingTuesday is next week on November 28, but the ASE Foundation will be accepting contributions toward its $35,000 fundraising goal from Sunday, November 26 – Saturday, December 2. When considering your donation, keep in mind that you can earmark your funds to a Foundation initiative that aligns with your priorities. If bringing adult and pediatric cardiac care to areas in need, teaching clinicians, and providing direct patient services to at-risk communities around the world is important to you, consider donating to the Foundation’s Global Health Outreach initiative.
In September 2023, the Foundation welcomed the return of its in-person global health events. In collaboration with the Vietnam National Heart Institute at Bach Mai Hospital, a team of ASEF volunteers traveled to Sapa in Northern Vietnam to host a two-day medical outreach and research event. They also participated in a two-day Vietnam-America Echocardiography Symposium at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, which consisted of lectures and case presentations for over 150 clinicians from across Northern and Central Vietnam. You can read more about this event online here and in the upcoming December 2023 issue of Echo magazine.
Donations to the Foundation’s Global Health Outreach initiative also fund the dissemination of both English and translated guidelines and educational materials to help facilitate adoption of these quality measures by specialists worldwide. When planning your GivingTuesday donation next week, consider donating to Global Health Outreach.
Contact the Foundation at Foundation@ASEcho.org with any questions or to make an early pledge
Filed Under: News
November 13, 2023 By

New AMA Survey to Document Changes in Physician Practice Expense

Your input will ensure future accurate valuation!

The American Medical Association (AMA) is undertaking a new national survey, supported by 173 healthcare organizations, to collect representative data on physician practice expenses. The aim of the Physician Practice Information (PPI) Survey is to better understand the costs faced by today’s physician practices to support physician payment advocacy. The study will serve as an opportunity to communicate accurate financial information to policymakers, including members of Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The AMA has contracted with Mathematica, an independent research company with extensive experience in survey methods as well as health care delivery and finance reform, to conduct the study.

Watch for invitations to complete this survey in your email inbox (remember to check spam/junk folders):

  • Invitations and reminders about the survey will come from PPISurvey@mathematica-mpr.com with the subject line: “American Medical Association requests your input on physician practice expense and patient care hours.“
  • Invitations and reminders about physician hours worked will come from PhysicianHoursSurvey@mathematica-mpr.com with the subject line: “Please help to update accurate physician payments.“

The Medicare physician payment schedule, maintained by CMS and used by many other payers, relies on 2006 cost information to develop practice expense relative values, the Medicare Economic Index and resulting physician payments. As the U.S. economy and health care system have undergone substantial changes since that time, including inflation and the wide-spread adoption of electronic health records and other information technology systems, practice expense payments no longer accurately reflect the relative resources that are typically required to provide physician services.

The survey will rely on financial experts in the practice to complete an online financial information survey. The number of direct patient care hours is a critical component of the Medicare payment methodology. Therefore, thousands of individual physicians will receive a short patient care hours survey from either their practice directly or from Mathematica. The input from physician practices and individual physicians that are randomly selected to participate in this study is critical for its success. Participation will ensure that practice expenses and patient care hours are accurately reflected.

Please contact sherry.smith@ama-assn.org with any questions related to the PPI Survey or Irene Butler ibutler@asecho.org if you would like additional background information.

Mathematica formally launched the PPI Survey on July 31, 2023.

Filed Under: Advocacy News, General
November 2, 2023 By

ASE Releases Updated COVID-19 Statement Guideline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

American Society of Echocardiography Releases Updated COVID-19 Statement Guideline
The guideline addresses lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and offers new recommendations and guidance to echocardiography laboratories for preparedness in future pandemics

(DURHAM, NC, November 2, 2023)—The COVID-19 pandemic altered the medical landscape and spurred dramatic changes in the practice of echocardiography. While we have moved on from a public health emergency, the emergence of multiple variants makes it an ongoing health issue and an opportune time to reflect on the impact of pandemics.

Considering these developments, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) released an updated guideline document to address the current state of COVID-19’s impact on echocardiography and to apply lessons learned to echocardiography laboratory operations in future pandemics.

The new guideline, titled American Society of Echocardiography COVID-19 Statement Update: Lessons Learned and Preparation for Future Pandemics, is an update to the Society’s initial statement released in early 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

The statement offers recommendations on specific indications and decisions about the performance of echocardiography services, infection/transmission mitigation strategies, role of cardiac point-of-care ultrasound/critical care echocardiography, and training in echocardiography, all of which are important areas impacted by current and future pandemics.

“The information included in this guideline will help echocardiography laboratories better plan and prepare by incorporating the lessons we learned the first time around,” says James N. Kirkpatrick, MD, FASE, chair of the guideline writing group. “If in the next pandemic we are once again in contingency or crisis situations, this scientific statement will help direct triage efforts, ensure resources are efficiently employed, and establish plans and protocols helping to prevent staff distress and burnout.”

Additionally, the guideline recognizes the role of professional societies in guiding the development of local policies in conversations between echocardiography laboratory directors and administrators, infection control experts, and staff.

“ASE was one of the first professional societies to offer guidance to echocardiography laboratories around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says ASE Past President (2019-2020) Madhav Swaminathan, MD, FASE, co-chair of the guideline writing group. “The pandemic has evolved since publishing that initial statement, and we have learned that sharing experiences and providing information proactively helps better protect echocardiography service providers and patients.”

This document is a multi-society and multi-national statement comprised of a diverse writing group that includes experts from ASE, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. It is published in the November 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

ASE published several earlier COVID-19 statements covering a variety of specific areas, including pediatrics and sonography. View all ASE Guidelines by visiting ASEcho.org/Guidelines.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

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Filed Under: News
September 29, 2023 By

ASE Advocacy Update 9/29/23

The fall season brings with it the potential for government shutdown on October 1. We are seeing this play out this week as Congress has yet to pass any of the 12 FY2024 appropriations bills or a short-term spending bill (i.e., Continuing Resolution (CR)) to keep the government funded while Congress continues to work on a broader spending package. The Senate is expected to vote by Saturday on a CR that would fund the government until November 17. There are two CR proposals in the House—one to fund the government for 30 days and the other until January 11—but a vote has not been scheduled and may not be by the October 1 deadline. Below are some highlights of the impact on key health policy areas in the event Congress does not pass a CR by midnight Saturday, September 30, and there is a government shutdown.

Congress

  • Congressional offices will remain open.

Medicare and Medicaid

  • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will continue to process claims.
  • Physicians would not have to hold claims until the CR passes, but there could be a delay in payment if the shutdown is prolonged and funding to Medicare Administrative Contractors is delayed.
  • If the shutdown is prolonged, it is possible that the release of the Medicare physician fee schedule final rule, outpatient prospective payment system final rule, and other major regulations could be delayed.
  • Medicare benefits will not be affected.
  • Medicaid has full funding for the next three months.
  • Approximately half of CMS employees would be deemed essential and continue to work, although many would be unpaid until the shutdown ends.
  • CMS staffing levels may not be sufficient to respond to physicians’ questions about Medicare policies or scores under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
  • Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) staff may continue to develop new alternative payment models, but any new model that CMMI plans to formally announce would likely be delayed.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • HHS will use its authority under the Antideficiency Act (ADA) to maintain existing HHS activities, including research and vaccine and therapeutic development.
  • CMS will maintain the staff necessary to make payments to eligible states for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
  • CMS will continue Federal Exchange activities, such as eligibility verification, using Federal Exchange user fee carryover.
  • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will continue substance abuse and mental health programs, including those that provide critical behavioral health resources in the event of a natural   or human-caused disaster such as Disaster Behavioral Health response teams, the 24/7 365 day-a-year Disaster Distress Helpline that provides crisis counseling to people experiencing emotional distress after a disaster, and the 988/Suicide Lifeline to connect people in crisis with life-saving resources.
  • The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will maintain the minimal readiness for all hazards, including COVID-19, pandemic flu, and hurricane responses.
  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will continue research and clinical activities.
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will continue to support drug and medical device reviews, as well as emergency use authorizations and countermeasures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. FDA will also continue core functions to handle and respond to emergencies, such as monitoring for and quickly responding to outbreaks related to foodborne illness and the flu, supporting food and medical product recalls when products endanger consumers and patients, pursuing criminal and certain civil investigations when the public health is at risk, and screening the food and medical products that are imported to the U.S.
  • HHS will continue to protect human life and property, such as monitoring for disease outbreaks conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • CMS regulations and guidance related to the No Surprises Act, including the Independent Dispute Resolution process, could be delayed.
  • The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will continue to oversee many direct health services and other activities funded through carryover balances, such as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program – Parts A and B and Ending the HIV Epidemic.
  • The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will continue activities funded through the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (PCORTF).
  • Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is under a three-year appropriation; all of ARPA-H activities would continue during a lapse of appropriation.
  • The Indian Health Service (IHS) is under advance appropriations for FY 2024; the majority of IHS-funded programs will remain funded and operational in the event of a lapse of appropriation.

Miscellaneous

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue at least through October.
  • The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) could begin an immediate reduction in benefits a few days after the shutdown starts, although some states may be able to use extra funding to maintain funding for a week or two.
  • Student loan payments: The beginning of a government shutdown could coincide with the restart of federal student loan payments in the U.S. on Oct. 1, but borrowers will still have to make payments to their loan service providers.
Filed Under: Advocacy News, News
American Society of Echocardiography
The Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals
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