The American Venous Forum is committed to promoting evidence-based best practices to ensure that patients have access to the highest quality care – especially the underserved.
We believe that vigorous advocacy in venous and lymphatic disease is critical to this commitment.
Medicare Physician Payment Cuts – Urgent Call to Action
As you likely know, CMS has proposed a 7% cut in the Medicare payment rates scheduled to take effect January 1st, 2021. Multiple vascular societies are encouraging their members to contact their US Representative and US Senators to prevent these cuts, and the AVF is proud to be engaged in this effort. Please read the letter, and make your voice heard. Time is of the essence. Thank you.
Harold Welch, MD
President, AVF
CMS Preauthorizations for Vein Ablation Procedures in a Hospital Outpatient Setting
On July 1, 2020, CMS instituted a prior authorization requirement that was announced last year. Most vein procedures that are performed in a hospital outpatient setting will be affected by this change.
On May 28th, CMS had an Open Forum on their new program, and Dr. Mark Iafrati, Chair of the AVF Health Policy Committee participated. Dr. Iafrati has provided a summary of the Open Forum, as well as copies of the slides used. As mentioned, this program affects prior authorization for vein ablation procedures in a hospital outpatient setting only, at this time. Of course, the concern is that in the future, this will extend to all outpatient settings. The AVF Health Policy Committee, along with our sister societies, will be monitoring for future CMS decisions concerning vein ablation policies.
Read Dr. Iafrati’s Summary of the Open Forum
View Copies of CMS Slides from Open Forum
Can You Hear Me Now?
The AVF Seeks Its Voice in the AMA
How is your reimbursement for a given procedure determined by Medicare and insurers? Who makes up the billing codes for procedures? How are new technologies assigned codes?
The processes of revising reimbursements and coding occur through committees of the AMA House of Delegates, which make direct recommendations to Medicare, to which the insurers generally follow suit. They meet twice a year. There are national representatives from every specialty and field. The members of the American Venous Forum have not been represented in this forum – but we are working to change this.
Read Dr. Daniel Monahan’s VEIN SPECIALIST Article About Our Voice in the AMA
