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SVS announces new leadership for 2017-18
CHICAGO, Ill., June 15, 2017 – New leaders were elected at the annual business meeting June 3 of the Society for Vascular Surgery during the organization’s annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. They are:
Dr. R. Clement Darling III, president. Dr. Darling, who served as president-elect during the past year, has been active in the leadership of the society for more than 26 years, serving on numerous SVS committees, on the board of directors and on the executive committee. Dr. Darling is president of The Vascular Group, Albany, N.Y.; director of The Institute for Vascular Health and Disease and chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery at Albany Medical Center Hospital. He also is a professor of surgery at Albany Medical College.
Dr. Michel S. Makaroun, president-elect. Dr Makaroun served as SVS vice president during the past year. He has been active in the SVS since 1997 and served as secretary from 2013-2016. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the SVS and is a professor of surgery and of clinical and translational science at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dr. Kim J. Hodgson, vice president. Dr. Hodgson previously has served three terms as treasurer for the SVS as well as on several committees and the SVS board of directors. He was the inaugural editor of the Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program (VESAP) and continued in that role for two more editions. He is chair of the division of vascular surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill., where he holds the David Sumner endowed chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and has served for six years on the Vascular Surgery Board.
Dr. Ronald Fairman, chair, SVS Foundation. Dr. Fairman, now immediate past president of the SVS, has moved over to his new role as chair of the SVS Foundation. Dr. Fairman will oversee the foundation’s competitive, peer-reviewed, grant-making initiatives, which are made possible by contributions from members, medical societies and corporations. Dr. Fairman is chief of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Medicine, in Philadelphia. He has a dual faculty appointment, as Clyde F. Barker - William Maul Measey professor of surgery and professor of radiology.
Dr. Samuel R. Money, treasurer. Dr. Money is a professor of surgery in the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Ariz. In addition to being a vascular surgeon, Dr. Money holds an M.B.A. He has held leadership roles in numerous professional societies.
In addition, Dr. Ali AbuRahma will continue as the Society secretary. Dr. AbuRahma is a professor of surgery, chief of vascular and endovascular surgery and director of the vascular surgery fellowship and integrated residency programs at West Virginia University, Charleston, W.Va. He also serves as the medical director of the vascular laboratory and co-director of the Vascular Center of Excellence at Charleston Area Medical Center. In addition to his role as secretary, Dr. AbuRahma has served on the SVS board of directors, the Foundation board and several other committees.
As part of the changing of the guard, the SVS Appointments Committee also has welcomed dozens of new members to the Society’s councils and committees.
CHICAGO, Ill., June 15, 2017 – New leaders were elected at the annual business meeting June 3 of the Society for Vascular Surgery during the organization’s annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. They are:
Dr. R. Clement Darling III, president. Dr. Darling, who served as president-elect during the past year, has been active in the leadership of the society for more than 26 years, serving on numerous SVS committees, on the board of directors and on the executive committee. Dr. Darling is president of The Vascular Group, Albany, N.Y.; director of The Institute for Vascular Health and Disease and chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery at Albany Medical Center Hospital. He also is a professor of surgery at Albany Medical College.
Dr. Michel S. Makaroun, president-elect. Dr Makaroun served as SVS vice president during the past year. He has been active in the SVS since 1997 and served as secretary from 2013-2016. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the SVS and is a professor of surgery and of clinical and translational science at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dr. Kim J. Hodgson, vice president. Dr. Hodgson previously has served three terms as treasurer for the SVS as well as on several committees and the SVS board of directors. He was the inaugural editor of the Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program (VESAP) and continued in that role for two more editions. He is chair of the division of vascular surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill., where he holds the David Sumner endowed chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and has served for six years on the Vascular Surgery Board.
Dr. Ronald Fairman, chair, SVS Foundation. Dr. Fairman, now immediate past president of the SVS, has moved over to his new role as chair of the SVS Foundation. Dr. Fairman will oversee the foundation’s competitive, peer-reviewed, grant-making initiatives, which are made possible by contributions from members, medical societies and corporations. Dr. Fairman is chief of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Medicine, in Philadelphia. He has a dual faculty appointment, as Clyde F. Barker - William Maul Measey professor of surgery and professor of radiology.
Dr. Samuel R. Money, treasurer. Dr. Money is a professor of surgery in the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Ariz. In addition to being a vascular surgeon, Dr. Money holds an M.B.A. He has held leadership roles in numerous professional societies.
In addition, Dr. Ali AbuRahma will continue as the Society secretary. Dr. AbuRahma is a professor of surgery, chief of vascular and endovascular surgery and director of the vascular surgery fellowship and integrated residency programs at West Virginia University, Charleston, W.Va. He also serves as the medical director of the vascular laboratory and co-director of the Vascular Center of Excellence at Charleston Area Medical Center. In addition to his role as secretary, Dr. AbuRahma has served on the SVS board of directors, the Foundation board and several other committees.
As part of the changing of the guard, the SVS Appointments Committee also has welcomed dozens of new members to the Society’s councils and committees.
CHICAGO, Ill., June 15, 2017 – New leaders were elected at the annual business meeting June 3 of the Society for Vascular Surgery during the organization’s annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. They are:
Dr. R. Clement Darling III, president. Dr. Darling, who served as president-elect during the past year, has been active in the leadership of the society for more than 26 years, serving on numerous SVS committees, on the board of directors and on the executive committee. Dr. Darling is president of The Vascular Group, Albany, N.Y.; director of The Institute for Vascular Health and Disease and chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery at Albany Medical Center Hospital. He also is a professor of surgery at Albany Medical College.
Dr. Michel S. Makaroun, president-elect. Dr Makaroun served as SVS vice president during the past year. He has been active in the SVS since 1997 and served as secretary from 2013-2016. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the SVS and is a professor of surgery and of clinical and translational science at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dr. Kim J. Hodgson, vice president. Dr. Hodgson previously has served three terms as treasurer for the SVS as well as on several committees and the SVS board of directors. He was the inaugural editor of the Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program (VESAP) and continued in that role for two more editions. He is chair of the division of vascular surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill., where he holds the David Sumner endowed chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and has served for six years on the Vascular Surgery Board.
Dr. Ronald Fairman, chair, SVS Foundation. Dr. Fairman, now immediate past president of the SVS, has moved over to his new role as chair of the SVS Foundation. Dr. Fairman will oversee the foundation’s competitive, peer-reviewed, grant-making initiatives, which are made possible by contributions from members, medical societies and corporations. Dr. Fairman is chief of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Medicine, in Philadelphia. He has a dual faculty appointment, as Clyde F. Barker - William Maul Measey professor of surgery and professor of radiology.
Dr. Samuel R. Money, treasurer. Dr. Money is a professor of surgery in the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Ariz. In addition to being a vascular surgeon, Dr. Money holds an M.B.A. He has held leadership roles in numerous professional societies.
In addition, Dr. Ali AbuRahma will continue as the Society secretary. Dr. AbuRahma is a professor of surgery, chief of vascular and endovascular surgery and director of the vascular surgery fellowship and integrated residency programs at West Virginia University, Charleston, W.Va. He also serves as the medical director of the vascular laboratory and co-director of the Vascular Center of Excellence at Charleston Area Medical Center. In addition to his role as secretary, Dr. AbuRahma has served on the SVS board of directors, the Foundation board and several other committees.
As part of the changing of the guard, the SVS Appointments Committee also has welcomed dozens of new members to the Society’s councils and committees.
VESAP3 Discounted as of July 1
The third version of the Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program – commonly known as VESAP3 – will be discontinued on Sept. 1.
Starting July 1, this resource is available for half-price. Sales of VESAP3 will end Aug. 1, with access continued until Sept. 1. Costs for the comprehensive package are: $200 for candidates, $250 for members and $300 for non-members. Cost per module is $27 for candidates, $32 for members and $37 for non-members.
VESAP4, with expanded and updated content, a simplified, user-friendly navigation system AND a mobile app (Apple products only) will launch in August. Cost will be $450 for candidates, $550 for members and $650 for non-members. A total of 75 CME (7.5 for each of the 10 sections) will be available.
For more information, email [email protected].
The third version of the Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program – commonly known as VESAP3 – will be discontinued on Sept. 1.
Starting July 1, this resource is available for half-price. Sales of VESAP3 will end Aug. 1, with access continued until Sept. 1. Costs for the comprehensive package are: $200 for candidates, $250 for members and $300 for non-members. Cost per module is $27 for candidates, $32 for members and $37 for non-members.
VESAP4, with expanded and updated content, a simplified, user-friendly navigation system AND a mobile app (Apple products only) will launch in August. Cost will be $450 for candidates, $550 for members and $650 for non-members. A total of 75 CME (7.5 for each of the 10 sections) will be available.
For more information, email [email protected].
The third version of the Vascular Education and Self-Assessment Program – commonly known as VESAP3 – will be discontinued on Sept. 1.
Starting July 1, this resource is available for half-price. Sales of VESAP3 will end Aug. 1, with access continued until Sept. 1. Costs for the comprehensive package are: $200 for candidates, $250 for members and $300 for non-members. Cost per module is $27 for candidates, $32 for members and $37 for non-members.
VESAP4, with expanded and updated content, a simplified, user-friendly navigation system AND a mobile app (Apple products only) will launch in August. Cost will be $450 for candidates, $550 for members and $650 for non-members. A total of 75 CME (7.5 for each of the 10 sections) will be available.
For more information, email [email protected].
Coding Course is Oct. 13-14 in Chicago
Learn what you need to know about coding changes at the 2017 Coding and Reimbursement Workshop for vascular surgeons, set for Oct. 13-14 at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago.
Cost is $880 for an SVS member or the staff of SVS members; $955 for non-members and $250 for residents and trainees.
The intensive two-day program is designed to address 2017 updates, including changes to endovascular stent placement outside the lower extremity and PQRS as well as coding for intravascular embolization and retrograde intrathoracic carotid stenting. Additionally, the course will review the proposed updates for 2017 with a focus on reporting standards for interventional and open surgical procedures.
An optional workshop on Evaluation and Management (E&M) coding will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 13. Cost is $100 for SVS members and staff, $125 for non-members and $50 for residents and trainees. Register and learn more at the link above.
Learn what you need to know about coding changes at the 2017 Coding and Reimbursement Workshop for vascular surgeons, set for Oct. 13-14 at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago.
Cost is $880 for an SVS member or the staff of SVS members; $955 for non-members and $250 for residents and trainees.
The intensive two-day program is designed to address 2017 updates, including changes to endovascular stent placement outside the lower extremity and PQRS as well as coding for intravascular embolization and retrograde intrathoracic carotid stenting. Additionally, the course will review the proposed updates for 2017 with a focus on reporting standards for interventional and open surgical procedures.
An optional workshop on Evaluation and Management (E&M) coding will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 13. Cost is $100 for SVS members and staff, $125 for non-members and $50 for residents and trainees. Register and learn more at the link above.
Learn what you need to know about coding changes at the 2017 Coding and Reimbursement Workshop for vascular surgeons, set for Oct. 13-14 at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago.
Cost is $880 for an SVS member or the staff of SVS members; $955 for non-members and $250 for residents and trainees.
The intensive two-day program is designed to address 2017 updates, including changes to endovascular stent placement outside the lower extremity and PQRS as well as coding for intravascular embolization and retrograde intrathoracic carotid stenting. Additionally, the course will review the proposed updates for 2017 with a focus on reporting standards for interventional and open surgical procedures.
An optional workshop on Evaluation and Management (E&M) coding will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 13. Cost is $100 for SVS members and staff, $125 for non-members and $50 for residents and trainees. Register and learn more at the link above.
ACS Committee on Diversity Issues seeks two new members
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Diversity Issues (CODI) is seeking candidates to fill two vacancies on the committee beginning in October 2017.
The mission of the Committee on Diversity Issues is to study the educational and professional needs of underrepresented surgeons and surgical trainees and the impact that its work may have on the elimination of health care disparities among diverse population groups.
Surgeons interested in developing initiatives to expand diversity within the ACS membership and leadership and to developing resources and programming for surgeons related to diversity and cultural competency should apply. Nominations are open to all, and the committee encourages representation by individuals of diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
Nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Be an active Fellow of the ACS
- Be able to serve an initial three-year term: 2017–2020
- Attend one in-person meeting at the annual ACS Clinical Congress
- Participate in quarterly conference calls
- Contribute to committee initiatives
To apply, go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/CmteDiversityApp to access the application and submit by June 30.
Applicants will need to do the following:
- Upload a summary of your curriculum vitae (five pages or less)
- Upload a letter of interest highlighting your skills and expertise, along with contributions you would like to make to the committee
Eligible candidates will be selected and notified by the committee in July and will be invited to attend the October 23 meeting of the Committee on Diversity Issues as guests. This meeting is held in conjunction with the 2017 Clinical Congress in San Diego. Travel reimbursement will not be provided.
Direct questions to [email protected].
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Diversity Issues (CODI) is seeking candidates to fill two vacancies on the committee beginning in October 2017.
The mission of the Committee on Diversity Issues is to study the educational and professional needs of underrepresented surgeons and surgical trainees and the impact that its work may have on the elimination of health care disparities among diverse population groups.
Surgeons interested in developing initiatives to expand diversity within the ACS membership and leadership and to developing resources and programming for surgeons related to diversity and cultural competency should apply. Nominations are open to all, and the committee encourages representation by individuals of diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
Nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Be an active Fellow of the ACS
- Be able to serve an initial three-year term: 2017–2020
- Attend one in-person meeting at the annual ACS Clinical Congress
- Participate in quarterly conference calls
- Contribute to committee initiatives
To apply, go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/CmteDiversityApp to access the application and submit by June 30.
Applicants will need to do the following:
- Upload a summary of your curriculum vitae (five pages or less)
- Upload a letter of interest highlighting your skills and expertise, along with contributions you would like to make to the committee
Eligible candidates will be selected and notified by the committee in July and will be invited to attend the October 23 meeting of the Committee on Diversity Issues as guests. This meeting is held in conjunction with the 2017 Clinical Congress in San Diego. Travel reimbursement will not be provided.
Direct questions to [email protected].
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Diversity Issues (CODI) is seeking candidates to fill two vacancies on the committee beginning in October 2017.
The mission of the Committee on Diversity Issues is to study the educational and professional needs of underrepresented surgeons and surgical trainees and the impact that its work may have on the elimination of health care disparities among diverse population groups.
Surgeons interested in developing initiatives to expand diversity within the ACS membership and leadership and to developing resources and programming for surgeons related to diversity and cultural competency should apply. Nominations are open to all, and the committee encourages representation by individuals of diverse cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
Nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Be an active Fellow of the ACS
- Be able to serve an initial three-year term: 2017–2020
- Attend one in-person meeting at the annual ACS Clinical Congress
- Participate in quarterly conference calls
- Contribute to committee initiatives
To apply, go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/CmteDiversityApp to access the application and submit by June 30.
Applicants will need to do the following:
- Upload a summary of your curriculum vitae (five pages or less)
- Upload a letter of interest highlighting your skills and expertise, along with contributions you would like to make to the committee
Eligible candidates will be selected and notified by the committee in July and will be invited to attend the October 23 meeting of the Committee on Diversity Issues as guests. This meeting is held in conjunction with the 2017 Clinical Congress in San Diego. Travel reimbursement will not be provided.
Direct questions to [email protected].
Dr. Bowyer to Receive Robert Danis Prize from ISS/SIC
Mark W. Bowyer, MD, FACS, Chair of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma’s Surgical Skills Committee, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Robert Danis Prize.
Mark W. Bowyer, MD, FACS, Chair of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma’s Surgical Skills Committee, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Robert Danis Prize awarded by the International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC). This award is presented to a surgeon who has made important contributions to the fields of trauma, burns, or critical care. Dr. Bowyer was selected for his lifelong commitment and broad contributions to the field of trauma and surgical simulation.
Dr. Bowyer, the Ben Eiseman Professor of Surgery and surgical director of simulation, division of trauma and combat surgery, department of surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)–Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), Bethesda, MD, spent more than 22 years as an Air Force trauma and combat surgeon. He has taught trauma skills to thousands of medical students and physicians around the world in the last three decades and is one of the chief architects of the Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposures in Trauma course, which has been presented in more than 100 course sites in 11 countries in the last six years. Dr. Bowyer served as the Air Force’s “trauma czar” while serving Iraq, where he directed and coordinated all care provided to combat trauma patients.
In addition, he is the surgical director of the USUHS Val G. Hemming Simulation Center, where he has been on the forefront of using simulators to teach advanced trauma and acute care surgical skills and where he works to develop and validate augmented and virtual reality, as well as trauma, laparoscopic, acute care surgical, triage, and critical care-based simulators. At present, Dr. Bowyer is working on simulation projects to improve patient safety.
Dr. Bowyer will receive the Danis Prize during the ISS/SIC 2017 World Congress of Surgery, August 13−17 in Basel, Switzerland. (Read more about the World Congress of Surgery at www.wcs2017.org/.) Read more about Dr. Bowyer at bit.ly/2qcpETa.
Mark W. Bowyer, MD, FACS, Chair of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma’s Surgical Skills Committee, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Robert Danis Prize.
Mark W. Bowyer, MD, FACS, Chair of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma’s Surgical Skills Committee, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Robert Danis Prize awarded by the International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC). This award is presented to a surgeon who has made important contributions to the fields of trauma, burns, or critical care. Dr. Bowyer was selected for his lifelong commitment and broad contributions to the field of trauma and surgical simulation.
Dr. Bowyer, the Ben Eiseman Professor of Surgery and surgical director of simulation, division of trauma and combat surgery, department of surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)–Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), Bethesda, MD, spent more than 22 years as an Air Force trauma and combat surgeon. He has taught trauma skills to thousands of medical students and physicians around the world in the last three decades and is one of the chief architects of the Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposures in Trauma course, which has been presented in more than 100 course sites in 11 countries in the last six years. Dr. Bowyer served as the Air Force’s “trauma czar” while serving Iraq, where he directed and coordinated all care provided to combat trauma patients.
In addition, he is the surgical director of the USUHS Val G. Hemming Simulation Center, where he has been on the forefront of using simulators to teach advanced trauma and acute care surgical skills and where he works to develop and validate augmented and virtual reality, as well as trauma, laparoscopic, acute care surgical, triage, and critical care-based simulators. At present, Dr. Bowyer is working on simulation projects to improve patient safety.
Dr. Bowyer will receive the Danis Prize during the ISS/SIC 2017 World Congress of Surgery, August 13−17 in Basel, Switzerland. (Read more about the World Congress of Surgery at www.wcs2017.org/.) Read more about Dr. Bowyer at bit.ly/2qcpETa.
Mark W. Bowyer, MD, FACS, Chair of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma’s Surgical Skills Committee, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Robert Danis Prize.
Mark W. Bowyer, MD, FACS, Chair of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma’s Surgical Skills Committee, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Robert Danis Prize awarded by the International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC). This award is presented to a surgeon who has made important contributions to the fields of trauma, burns, or critical care. Dr. Bowyer was selected for his lifelong commitment and broad contributions to the field of trauma and surgical simulation.
Dr. Bowyer, the Ben Eiseman Professor of Surgery and surgical director of simulation, division of trauma and combat surgery, department of surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)–Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), Bethesda, MD, spent more than 22 years as an Air Force trauma and combat surgeon. He has taught trauma skills to thousands of medical students and physicians around the world in the last three decades and is one of the chief architects of the Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposures in Trauma course, which has been presented in more than 100 course sites in 11 countries in the last six years. Dr. Bowyer served as the Air Force’s “trauma czar” while serving Iraq, where he directed and coordinated all care provided to combat trauma patients.
In addition, he is the surgical director of the USUHS Val G. Hemming Simulation Center, where he has been on the forefront of using simulators to teach advanced trauma and acute care surgical skills and where he works to develop and validate augmented and virtual reality, as well as trauma, laparoscopic, acute care surgical, triage, and critical care-based simulators. At present, Dr. Bowyer is working on simulation projects to improve patient safety.
Dr. Bowyer will receive the Danis Prize during the ISS/SIC 2017 World Congress of Surgery, August 13−17 in Basel, Switzerland. (Read more about the World Congress of Surgery at www.wcs2017.org/.) Read more about Dr. Bowyer at bit.ly/2qcpETa.
This month in CHEST: Editor’s picks
Giants in Chest MedicineKarlman Wasserman, MD, PhD, FCCP. By Dr. T. Kisaka, et al.
Original ResearchHydrocortisone, Vitamin C, and Thiamine for the Treatment of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Retrospective Before-After Study. By Dr. P. Marik, et al.
Quantitative CT Measures of Bronchiectasis in Smokers. By Dr. A. A. Diaz, et al.
Giants in Chest MedicineKarlman Wasserman, MD, PhD, FCCP. By Dr. T. Kisaka, et al.
Original ResearchHydrocortisone, Vitamin C, and Thiamine for the Treatment of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Retrospective Before-After Study. By Dr. P. Marik, et al.
Quantitative CT Measures of Bronchiectasis in Smokers. By Dr. A. A. Diaz, et al.
Giants in Chest MedicineKarlman Wasserman, MD, PhD, FCCP. By Dr. T. Kisaka, et al.
Original ResearchHydrocortisone, Vitamin C, and Thiamine for the Treatment of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Retrospective Before-After Study. By Dr. P. Marik, et al.
Quantitative CT Measures of Bronchiectasis in Smokers. By Dr. A. A. Diaz, et al.
ABIM Internal Medicine Summit
On April 7, four members of CHEST staff and leadership, along with staff and leadership from other medical specialty societies, participated in the Internal Medicine Summit, hosted by the American Board of Internal Medicine, in Philadelphia. The meeting covered an array of topics related to certification and maintenance of certification (MOC), including the alternative assessment model announced in December 2016, quality improvement (QI) as part of MOC, and practicing medicine in an ever-changing political landscape.
The meeting began with Dr. Richard Baron, President and CEO of the ABIM, explaining how the notion of certification has changed over the years. According to Dr. Baron, the concept of lifetime certification no longer makes sense in the rapidly changing field of medicine. As part of the evolution of certification, the ABIM has moved away from “rules to follow” toward something, co-created with societies, that is more relevant and less burdensome. This shift includes aligning certification and MOC requirements with things physicians are already required to do by their states and institutions. Dr. Baron also stressed that in today’s cultural and political landscape, along with the prevalence of “fake news,” the need for trust in the doctor-patient relationship is increasing; trust is no longer a “given.” Therefore, in an age when credentials can be purchased online, there’s an increasing need for an external certification to build trust and boost credibility.
Dr. Marianne Green, member of the ABIM Board of Directors and the ABIM Council, gave an update on the recertification assessment options. While currently, only an every 2-year assessment option will be offered as an alternative to a 10-year higher stakes exam, the ABIM is looking to partner with societies to deliver education, based on the needs identified via the assessment. Furthermore, in addition to partnering with societies to address the identified knowledge gaps, the ABIM plans to collaborate with societies in future alternatives to both the 2-year and 10-year assessments, with the shared goal of “maintenance and support of a community of life-long learners who hold ourselves accountable to peer-defined standards.” Initially, the 2-year lower stakes assessment will cover the breadth of the knowledge in the specialty/subspecialty, but the ABIM is committed to taking a more modular approach in the future. When asked about the fee structure for the new assessment options, Dr. Green communicated that details regarding fees would be announced in fall 2017.
While the first part of the meeting focused on MOC Part 2, the conversation turned toward quality improvement, or QI, later part of the meeting. The practice improvement, or MOC Part 4, requirement is on hold through the end of 2018. Both the ABIM and represented societies value the importance of quality measures. Dr. Graham McMahon, president and CEO of Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), laid the framework for QI as being “activities that address a quality or safety gap with interventions intended to result in improvement and with specific, measurable goals. QI activities are learner-driven, as learner engagement is a key target of ACCME’s standard. Representatives from the Heart Rhythm Society, the Society of Hospital Medicine, the Arthritis Foundation, and the American College of Rheumatology shared their organization’s initiatives related to QI.
Apart from the focus on certification and MOC, the meeting also focused on the needs arising from a changing political world, including what is at stake with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the challenges arising with the wide dissemination of questionable news and the general disregard of science. Stephen Welch, CHEST EVP/CEO, participated in a panel entitled “Practicing Medicine in a Fact-Free World.” He, along with other media professionals, discussed the challenges that physicians, patients, and physician educators encounter in a time when false facts are published as truth and information is sensationalized to attract more attention.
Since the meeting, CHEST leadership sent a letter to the ABIM leadership noting a desire to be one of the societies with whom the ABIM collaborates for both alternative assessment methods and the open-book resources selected. Additionally, CHEST expressed interest in receiving the data that are culled from the assessments, an interest aligned with CHEST’s current data analytics initiatives. CHEST will continue to collaborate with the ABIM to ensure CHEST members’ needs are represented and prioritized in future discussions.
On April 7, four members of CHEST staff and leadership, along with staff and leadership from other medical specialty societies, participated in the Internal Medicine Summit, hosted by the American Board of Internal Medicine, in Philadelphia. The meeting covered an array of topics related to certification and maintenance of certification (MOC), including the alternative assessment model announced in December 2016, quality improvement (QI) as part of MOC, and practicing medicine in an ever-changing political landscape.
The meeting began with Dr. Richard Baron, President and CEO of the ABIM, explaining how the notion of certification has changed over the years. According to Dr. Baron, the concept of lifetime certification no longer makes sense in the rapidly changing field of medicine. As part of the evolution of certification, the ABIM has moved away from “rules to follow” toward something, co-created with societies, that is more relevant and less burdensome. This shift includes aligning certification and MOC requirements with things physicians are already required to do by their states and institutions. Dr. Baron also stressed that in today’s cultural and political landscape, along with the prevalence of “fake news,” the need for trust in the doctor-patient relationship is increasing; trust is no longer a “given.” Therefore, in an age when credentials can be purchased online, there’s an increasing need for an external certification to build trust and boost credibility.
Dr. Marianne Green, member of the ABIM Board of Directors and the ABIM Council, gave an update on the recertification assessment options. While currently, only an every 2-year assessment option will be offered as an alternative to a 10-year higher stakes exam, the ABIM is looking to partner with societies to deliver education, based on the needs identified via the assessment. Furthermore, in addition to partnering with societies to address the identified knowledge gaps, the ABIM plans to collaborate with societies in future alternatives to both the 2-year and 10-year assessments, with the shared goal of “maintenance and support of a community of life-long learners who hold ourselves accountable to peer-defined standards.” Initially, the 2-year lower stakes assessment will cover the breadth of the knowledge in the specialty/subspecialty, but the ABIM is committed to taking a more modular approach in the future. When asked about the fee structure for the new assessment options, Dr. Green communicated that details regarding fees would be announced in fall 2017.
While the first part of the meeting focused on MOC Part 2, the conversation turned toward quality improvement, or QI, later part of the meeting. The practice improvement, or MOC Part 4, requirement is on hold through the end of 2018. Both the ABIM and represented societies value the importance of quality measures. Dr. Graham McMahon, president and CEO of Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), laid the framework for QI as being “activities that address a quality or safety gap with interventions intended to result in improvement and with specific, measurable goals. QI activities are learner-driven, as learner engagement is a key target of ACCME’s standard. Representatives from the Heart Rhythm Society, the Society of Hospital Medicine, the Arthritis Foundation, and the American College of Rheumatology shared their organization’s initiatives related to QI.
Apart from the focus on certification and MOC, the meeting also focused on the needs arising from a changing political world, including what is at stake with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the challenges arising with the wide dissemination of questionable news and the general disregard of science. Stephen Welch, CHEST EVP/CEO, participated in a panel entitled “Practicing Medicine in a Fact-Free World.” He, along with other media professionals, discussed the challenges that physicians, patients, and physician educators encounter in a time when false facts are published as truth and information is sensationalized to attract more attention.
Since the meeting, CHEST leadership sent a letter to the ABIM leadership noting a desire to be one of the societies with whom the ABIM collaborates for both alternative assessment methods and the open-book resources selected. Additionally, CHEST expressed interest in receiving the data that are culled from the assessments, an interest aligned with CHEST’s current data analytics initiatives. CHEST will continue to collaborate with the ABIM to ensure CHEST members’ needs are represented and prioritized in future discussions.
On April 7, four members of CHEST staff and leadership, along with staff and leadership from other medical specialty societies, participated in the Internal Medicine Summit, hosted by the American Board of Internal Medicine, in Philadelphia. The meeting covered an array of topics related to certification and maintenance of certification (MOC), including the alternative assessment model announced in December 2016, quality improvement (QI) as part of MOC, and practicing medicine in an ever-changing political landscape.
The meeting began with Dr. Richard Baron, President and CEO of the ABIM, explaining how the notion of certification has changed over the years. According to Dr. Baron, the concept of lifetime certification no longer makes sense in the rapidly changing field of medicine. As part of the evolution of certification, the ABIM has moved away from “rules to follow” toward something, co-created with societies, that is more relevant and less burdensome. This shift includes aligning certification and MOC requirements with things physicians are already required to do by their states and institutions. Dr. Baron also stressed that in today’s cultural and political landscape, along with the prevalence of “fake news,” the need for trust in the doctor-patient relationship is increasing; trust is no longer a “given.” Therefore, in an age when credentials can be purchased online, there’s an increasing need for an external certification to build trust and boost credibility.
Dr. Marianne Green, member of the ABIM Board of Directors and the ABIM Council, gave an update on the recertification assessment options. While currently, only an every 2-year assessment option will be offered as an alternative to a 10-year higher stakes exam, the ABIM is looking to partner with societies to deliver education, based on the needs identified via the assessment. Furthermore, in addition to partnering with societies to address the identified knowledge gaps, the ABIM plans to collaborate with societies in future alternatives to both the 2-year and 10-year assessments, with the shared goal of “maintenance and support of a community of life-long learners who hold ourselves accountable to peer-defined standards.” Initially, the 2-year lower stakes assessment will cover the breadth of the knowledge in the specialty/subspecialty, but the ABIM is committed to taking a more modular approach in the future. When asked about the fee structure for the new assessment options, Dr. Green communicated that details regarding fees would be announced in fall 2017.
While the first part of the meeting focused on MOC Part 2, the conversation turned toward quality improvement, or QI, later part of the meeting. The practice improvement, or MOC Part 4, requirement is on hold through the end of 2018. Both the ABIM and represented societies value the importance of quality measures. Dr. Graham McMahon, president and CEO of Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), laid the framework for QI as being “activities that address a quality or safety gap with interventions intended to result in improvement and with specific, measurable goals. QI activities are learner-driven, as learner engagement is a key target of ACCME’s standard. Representatives from the Heart Rhythm Society, the Society of Hospital Medicine, the Arthritis Foundation, and the American College of Rheumatology shared their organization’s initiatives related to QI.
Apart from the focus on certification and MOC, the meeting also focused on the needs arising from a changing political world, including what is at stake with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the challenges arising with the wide dissemination of questionable news and the general disregard of science. Stephen Welch, CHEST EVP/CEO, participated in a panel entitled “Practicing Medicine in a Fact-Free World.” He, along with other media professionals, discussed the challenges that physicians, patients, and physician educators encounter in a time when false facts are published as truth and information is sensationalized to attract more attention.
Since the meeting, CHEST leadership sent a letter to the ABIM leadership noting a desire to be one of the societies with whom the ABIM collaborates for both alternative assessment methods and the open-book resources selected. Additionally, CHEST expressed interest in receiving the data that are culled from the assessments, an interest aligned with CHEST’s current data analytics initiatives. CHEST will continue to collaborate with the ABIM to ensure CHEST members’ needs are represented and prioritized in future discussions.
Learn What’s New at CHEST Annual Meeting 2017
We’ve listened and considered all of your feedback to enhance your experience at CHEST 2017, Oct 28-Nov 1, Toronto, Canada. This year, we have changed the format of our postgraduate courses, updated our interdisciplinary sessions, and added new ways to register. Take a look at what’s new.
Postgraduate courses
New this year at CHEST 2017 is the option to attend a half-day or full-day course for a more flexible experience. There are nine, half-day sessions that include lunch, and the afternoon sessions allow people to fly in that morning to avoid an extra hotel night and missing work.
Interdisciplinary sessions
These sessions are free but require a ticket.
Monday, October 30
- The State of PAH in 2017: An Update on the Science, New Therapies, and the Changing Treatment Algorithm
- Critical Skills for ICU Directors and Their Leadership Team
- Interstitial Lung Disease: 2017 Update on Patient-Centered Management
- Lung Cancer: 2017 Update in Diagnosis and Management
Tuesday, October 31
- Challenges in ICU Management
Wednesday, November 1
- Enhancing Quality of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs and Integrated COPD Disease Management
Don’t forget to register for CHEST 2017!
You can now register as a group! Ten or more health-care professionals from your team can register as a group for discounted tuition rates. Group registration is open through October 22 and will not be offered on-site. Learn more about CHEST 2017 updates and how to register at chestmeeting.chestnet.org.
We’ve listened and considered all of your feedback to enhance your experience at CHEST 2017, Oct 28-Nov 1, Toronto, Canada. This year, we have changed the format of our postgraduate courses, updated our interdisciplinary sessions, and added new ways to register. Take a look at what’s new.
Postgraduate courses
New this year at CHEST 2017 is the option to attend a half-day or full-day course for a more flexible experience. There are nine, half-day sessions that include lunch, and the afternoon sessions allow people to fly in that morning to avoid an extra hotel night and missing work.
Interdisciplinary sessions
These sessions are free but require a ticket.
Monday, October 30
- The State of PAH in 2017: An Update on the Science, New Therapies, and the Changing Treatment Algorithm
- Critical Skills for ICU Directors and Their Leadership Team
- Interstitial Lung Disease: 2017 Update on Patient-Centered Management
- Lung Cancer: 2017 Update in Diagnosis and Management
Tuesday, October 31
- Challenges in ICU Management
Wednesday, November 1
- Enhancing Quality of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs and Integrated COPD Disease Management
Don’t forget to register for CHEST 2017!
You can now register as a group! Ten or more health-care professionals from your team can register as a group for discounted tuition rates. Group registration is open through October 22 and will not be offered on-site. Learn more about CHEST 2017 updates and how to register at chestmeeting.chestnet.org.
We’ve listened and considered all of your feedback to enhance your experience at CHEST 2017, Oct 28-Nov 1, Toronto, Canada. This year, we have changed the format of our postgraduate courses, updated our interdisciplinary sessions, and added new ways to register. Take a look at what’s new.
Postgraduate courses
New this year at CHEST 2017 is the option to attend a half-day or full-day course for a more flexible experience. There are nine, half-day sessions that include lunch, and the afternoon sessions allow people to fly in that morning to avoid an extra hotel night and missing work.
Interdisciplinary sessions
These sessions are free but require a ticket.
Monday, October 30
- The State of PAH in 2017: An Update on the Science, New Therapies, and the Changing Treatment Algorithm
- Critical Skills for ICU Directors and Their Leadership Team
- Interstitial Lung Disease: 2017 Update on Patient-Centered Management
- Lung Cancer: 2017 Update in Diagnosis and Management
Tuesday, October 31
- Challenges in ICU Management
Wednesday, November 1
- Enhancing Quality of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs and Integrated COPD Disease Management
Don’t forget to register for CHEST 2017!
You can now register as a group! Ten or more health-care professionals from your team can register as a group for discounted tuition rates. Group registration is open through October 22 and will not be offered on-site. Learn more about CHEST 2017 updates and how to register at chestmeeting.chestnet.org.
Save the Date: 2017 AATS Focus on Thoracic Surgery: Mastering Surgical Innovation
Mark your calendar for the 2017 AATS Focus on Thoracic Surgery meeting taking place in a new location this year - Las Vegas.
October 27-28, 2017
Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Program Directors
G. Alexander Patterson
David S. Sugarbaker
Program Committee
Thomas A. D’Amico
Shaf Keshavjee
James D. Luketich
Bryan F. Meyers
Scott J. Swanson
Traves D. Crabtree
For more informaton, go to:
aats.org/focus
Mark your calendar for the 2017 AATS Focus on Thoracic Surgery meeting taking place in a new location this year - Las Vegas.
October 27-28, 2017
Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Program Directors
G. Alexander Patterson
David S. Sugarbaker
Program Committee
Thomas A. D’Amico
Shaf Keshavjee
James D. Luketich
Bryan F. Meyers
Scott J. Swanson
Traves D. Crabtree
For more informaton, go to:
aats.org/focus
Mark your calendar for the 2017 AATS Focus on Thoracic Surgery meeting taking place in a new location this year - Las Vegas.
October 27-28, 2017
Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Program Directors
G. Alexander Patterson
David S. Sugarbaker
Program Committee
Thomas A. D’Amico
Shaf Keshavjee
James D. Luketich
Bryan F. Meyers
Scott J. Swanson
Traves D. Crabtree
For more informaton, go to:
aats.org/focus
Low payment for pulmonary rehab explained
A new review of 2015 Medicare data clearly points fingers at hospitals for the historically low payment rates for pulmonary rehabilitation.
To fully understand these data, everyone involved in the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation services needs to know some of the specifics regarding Medicare’s rate setting process for hospital outpatient services. Those services are paid on the basis of a prospective payment methodology, similar to the DRG system for inpatient services. Under the outpatient system, APCs (ambulatory payment classifications) are computed with two key data sources, both provided by hospitals.
The second key component used by CMS for rate setting is the hospital cost report, submitted annually to CMS tied to the individual hospital’s fiscal year. This flow of data to CMS is ongoing because of differing fiscal years and is somewhat attributable to changes in Medicare proposed rates for the following year, published in July, compared with final rates, published in early November.
The other key historical fact that needs emphasis is what happened in 2010 when CMS began reimbursing for pulmonary rehab under new HCPCS code G0424. Clearly, there were no charge data to examine, so the Agency had to do a bit of guesswork, estimating what would be a reasonable payment. CMS turned to payment information tied to codes G0237 and G0238, codes that had been used by many institutions for the previous decade for billing pulmonary rehab. But one critical difference existed. The new code, G0424, was a 1-hour code, while G0237-38 were 15-minute codes. Over the next 2 years, even CMS cited the failure of hospitals to adjust their charges to reflect all the component services included in this new, bundled 1-hour code, compared with the unbundled 15-minute code.
The new review of CMS data bears out this problem. With approximately 1,350 institutions billing for hospital outpatient pulmonary rehab via code G0424, there is incredibly wide variance in charge data. The range is from a high of $1,981 to a low of $44, with 1,350 institutions in-between. The average charge was $247, but the difference between the lowest charge and the highest charge is approximately 44-fold.
For cost report data, the spread is from $1,265 to $4 (yes, $4, based on data provided to CMS). Approximately 750 hospitals, more than half, submit data to CMS reflecting costs associated with the delivery of pulmonary rehab, per hour, at $50 or less.
There are probably several reasons why hospitals behave this way. First, there is the historical phenomenon cited by CMS that it often takes years for hospitals to adjust charges appropriately when any new HCPCS code is adopted by CMS. And, in fact, CMS cited pulmonary rehab as a glaring example of that failure by hospitals. Second, there is the cost report data, and we believe it, too, falls victim to hospital neglect. We can understand that a service such as pulmonary rehab falls so far below the radar by chargemasters, hospital administrators and others associated with information submitted to CMS that little attention is paid to accuracy of charges or administrative costs culled from the hospital cost report. And then, there is the matter of community relations. The hospitals at the very high end of the spectrum in terms of charges ($1,100 and up) are unlikely to build good community relations if they let people know of those charges. Ironically, it is fair to presume that hospitals do pay very close attention to their charges and cost report data for very high-end hospital outpatient services, micro-examining that information to ensure desirable payment rates.
So, the critical challenge to the pulmonary community is to focus on those two very specific bits of data submitted by hospitals to CMS: what a hospital identifies as the “charge” for code G0424 and is then entered on every claim submitted to G0424; and second, information correlated to the administrative aspects of pulmonary rehab that hospitals submit to CMS annually in their cost report to CMS. Until those adjustments are made, pulmonary rehab will live with unacceptable payment rates.
A new review of 2015 Medicare data clearly points fingers at hospitals for the historically low payment rates for pulmonary rehabilitation.
To fully understand these data, everyone involved in the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation services needs to know some of the specifics regarding Medicare’s rate setting process for hospital outpatient services. Those services are paid on the basis of a prospective payment methodology, similar to the DRG system for inpatient services. Under the outpatient system, APCs (ambulatory payment classifications) are computed with two key data sources, both provided by hospitals.
The second key component used by CMS for rate setting is the hospital cost report, submitted annually to CMS tied to the individual hospital’s fiscal year. This flow of data to CMS is ongoing because of differing fiscal years and is somewhat attributable to changes in Medicare proposed rates for the following year, published in July, compared with final rates, published in early November.
The other key historical fact that needs emphasis is what happened in 2010 when CMS began reimbursing for pulmonary rehab under new HCPCS code G0424. Clearly, there were no charge data to examine, so the Agency had to do a bit of guesswork, estimating what would be a reasonable payment. CMS turned to payment information tied to codes G0237 and G0238, codes that had been used by many institutions for the previous decade for billing pulmonary rehab. But one critical difference existed. The new code, G0424, was a 1-hour code, while G0237-38 were 15-minute codes. Over the next 2 years, even CMS cited the failure of hospitals to adjust their charges to reflect all the component services included in this new, bundled 1-hour code, compared with the unbundled 15-minute code.
The new review of CMS data bears out this problem. With approximately 1,350 institutions billing for hospital outpatient pulmonary rehab via code G0424, there is incredibly wide variance in charge data. The range is from a high of $1,981 to a low of $44, with 1,350 institutions in-between. The average charge was $247, but the difference between the lowest charge and the highest charge is approximately 44-fold.
For cost report data, the spread is from $1,265 to $4 (yes, $4, based on data provided to CMS). Approximately 750 hospitals, more than half, submit data to CMS reflecting costs associated with the delivery of pulmonary rehab, per hour, at $50 or less.
There are probably several reasons why hospitals behave this way. First, there is the historical phenomenon cited by CMS that it often takes years for hospitals to adjust charges appropriately when any new HCPCS code is adopted by CMS. And, in fact, CMS cited pulmonary rehab as a glaring example of that failure by hospitals. Second, there is the cost report data, and we believe it, too, falls victim to hospital neglect. We can understand that a service such as pulmonary rehab falls so far below the radar by chargemasters, hospital administrators and others associated with information submitted to CMS that little attention is paid to accuracy of charges or administrative costs culled from the hospital cost report. And then, there is the matter of community relations. The hospitals at the very high end of the spectrum in terms of charges ($1,100 and up) are unlikely to build good community relations if they let people know of those charges. Ironically, it is fair to presume that hospitals do pay very close attention to their charges and cost report data for very high-end hospital outpatient services, micro-examining that information to ensure desirable payment rates.
So, the critical challenge to the pulmonary community is to focus on those two very specific bits of data submitted by hospitals to CMS: what a hospital identifies as the “charge” for code G0424 and is then entered on every claim submitted to G0424; and second, information correlated to the administrative aspects of pulmonary rehab that hospitals submit to CMS annually in their cost report to CMS. Until those adjustments are made, pulmonary rehab will live with unacceptable payment rates.
A new review of 2015 Medicare data clearly points fingers at hospitals for the historically low payment rates for pulmonary rehabilitation.
To fully understand these data, everyone involved in the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation services needs to know some of the specifics regarding Medicare’s rate setting process for hospital outpatient services. Those services are paid on the basis of a prospective payment methodology, similar to the DRG system for inpatient services. Under the outpatient system, APCs (ambulatory payment classifications) are computed with two key data sources, both provided by hospitals.
The second key component used by CMS for rate setting is the hospital cost report, submitted annually to CMS tied to the individual hospital’s fiscal year. This flow of data to CMS is ongoing because of differing fiscal years and is somewhat attributable to changes in Medicare proposed rates for the following year, published in July, compared with final rates, published in early November.
The other key historical fact that needs emphasis is what happened in 2010 when CMS began reimbursing for pulmonary rehab under new HCPCS code G0424. Clearly, there were no charge data to examine, so the Agency had to do a bit of guesswork, estimating what would be a reasonable payment. CMS turned to payment information tied to codes G0237 and G0238, codes that had been used by many institutions for the previous decade for billing pulmonary rehab. But one critical difference existed. The new code, G0424, was a 1-hour code, while G0237-38 were 15-minute codes. Over the next 2 years, even CMS cited the failure of hospitals to adjust their charges to reflect all the component services included in this new, bundled 1-hour code, compared with the unbundled 15-minute code.
The new review of CMS data bears out this problem. With approximately 1,350 institutions billing for hospital outpatient pulmonary rehab via code G0424, there is incredibly wide variance in charge data. The range is from a high of $1,981 to a low of $44, with 1,350 institutions in-between. The average charge was $247, but the difference between the lowest charge and the highest charge is approximately 44-fold.
For cost report data, the spread is from $1,265 to $4 (yes, $4, based on data provided to CMS). Approximately 750 hospitals, more than half, submit data to CMS reflecting costs associated with the delivery of pulmonary rehab, per hour, at $50 or less.
There are probably several reasons why hospitals behave this way. First, there is the historical phenomenon cited by CMS that it often takes years for hospitals to adjust charges appropriately when any new HCPCS code is adopted by CMS. And, in fact, CMS cited pulmonary rehab as a glaring example of that failure by hospitals. Second, there is the cost report data, and we believe it, too, falls victim to hospital neglect. We can understand that a service such as pulmonary rehab falls so far below the radar by chargemasters, hospital administrators and others associated with information submitted to CMS that little attention is paid to accuracy of charges or administrative costs culled from the hospital cost report. And then, there is the matter of community relations. The hospitals at the very high end of the spectrum in terms of charges ($1,100 and up) are unlikely to build good community relations if they let people know of those charges. Ironically, it is fair to presume that hospitals do pay very close attention to their charges and cost report data for very high-end hospital outpatient services, micro-examining that information to ensure desirable payment rates.
So, the critical challenge to the pulmonary community is to focus on those two very specific bits of data submitted by hospitals to CMS: what a hospital identifies as the “charge” for code G0424 and is then entered on every claim submitted to G0424; and second, information correlated to the administrative aspects of pulmonary rehab that hospitals submit to CMS annually in their cost report to CMS. Until those adjustments are made, pulmonary rehab will live with unacceptable payment rates.