Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

Chapter 4: 2012 – 2016

addressed the yearly threat of significant decreases in Medicare physician payments it also created two new payment update tracks effective January 1, 2019: The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs). In sharing this accomplishment with the members in the May 2015 Bulletin , Dr. Denneny said, “…this was the result of years of work by multiple physician groups, including the AAO-HNS, to educate Members of Congress on the issues and the consequences of inaction. Personal relationships built and nurtured over many years, along with the consistency and appeal of the message, put this effort over the top.” With the SGR repeal finally a reality, the advocacy work was far from over. On April 27, 2016, CMS released the long-awaited replacement for the SGR: the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Model (APM) programs. These two programs were the key components of the new Quality Payment Program (QPP), which was created by MACRA. Under the new MIPS program, starting January 1, 2017, physicians reported on four categories that added up to a composite score, which CMS used to determine whether or not Eligible Clinicians (ECs), including most otolaryngologist head and neck surgeons, would receive a bonus payment or were subject to a payment reduction for 2019 payments. This transition called for additional efforts from the Academy to support members in this transition as well as advocate for the specialty throughout the proposed rule process. Transition to ICD-10 ICD-10 was one of the most significant challenges facing physicians during that time. In 2009, the United States government mandated that all healthcare institutions and practitioners covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act must transition to a new set of codes for transmitting information about patients’ conditions and treatments using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth

Revision The transition, which was delayed twice, to these codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) took effect October 1, 2015. Noncompliance and lack of preparedness would result in significant financial burdens. As such, the Academy offered a wide array of resources and tools to members in an effort to reduce the burden and stress as it related to this pending mandate. In addition to providing coding workshops at the Annual Meetings (ICD-10).

May 2014: Launched a newly redesigned website with: • Responsive design • Intuitive navigation • Single sign-on to connect to the Journal, Bulletin , and ENTConnect • Improved search function • Social sharing built in

and Leadership Forums, the Academy provided an ENT-specific sample superbill with common ICD 10 codes; a list of the top 200 most commonly used ICD-9 codes in an ENT practice and pertinent ICD 10 crosswalks; Bulletin articles drafted by ICD 10 experts; and comparison tools demonstrating incorrect documentation under ICD-10 and correct documentation under ICD-10 as well as highlighting claims that may be at risk for errors and denial.

May 2014: Launched ENTConnect – a new private online social network exclusively for members

“ENTConnect is a vibrant bulletin board of the hot-button issues in our field: legislative alerts, insurance company challenges, coding alerts, education opportunities, etc.” – Gayle E. Woodson, MD, February 2015 Bulletin

2014: AAO-HNS Socioeconomic Survey captured trend data from more than 1,000 members, reflecting the ever-changing healthcare environment and providing insight on the future of the specialty.

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