Health Policy

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	Coding & Reimbursement
	Quality/Outcomes Reporting
	Device & Drug Safety
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	Legislation/ Take Action

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Health Policy

Founded in 1979, the Heart Rhythm Society has worked for more than 30 years to advance the treatment of heart rhythm disorders, define quality and develop standards for heart rhythm care. Our advocacy efforts help the Society fulfill its mission of improving patient care by promoting research, education, and optimal health care policies and standards.

Reminder: Update Your
Medicare Enrollment
U.S. electrophysiologists are encouraged to update their Medicare enrollment information to reflect the new physician specialty designation for electrophysiologists (specialty designation 21). Learn more »

The Heart Rhythm Society maintains a strong voice in Washington, DC; its advocacy efforts focus on issues of critical importance to the heart rhythm specialist, scientist and allied health personnel. The Society is setting standards for heart rhythm care and ensuring appropriate reimbursement for electrolphyisology services. The Society also authors and/or endorses scientific and clinical documents that provide three main components vital to advancements in the field: analysis, discussion of current issues, and suggestions for clinical application. Learn more about HRS Health Policy initiatives:

		Coding & Reimbursement The Society works with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and private payers to provide information and advocacy for appropriate coding, reimbursement and coverage for heart rhythm procedures. 2012 Coding Guide for Heart Rhythm Procedures and Services now available!

		ICD Registry™ The ICD Registry™ is the nation's first comprehensive healthcare database to capture detailed information about patients receiving implantable cardioverter deﬁbrillators (ICDs) and remains at at the forefront of benchmarking for ICD procedures. Learn more »

		Device and Drug Safety The Society maintains a strong working relationship with the Food & Drug Administration to provide input into optimal device and pharmaceutical health care policies. View information on device approvals, safety alerts, recalls and links to other FDA resources.

		Clinical Guidelines The Heart Rhythm Society's authored and/or endorsed clinical guidelines and documents provide expert guidance on issues such as improving patient care, staying up-to-date on the latest in clinical practice and research and advocating for fair reimbursement.

Measuring Outcomes The Society is supporting efforts to increase the quality and improve the efficacy of the nation's healthcare system, including: the HRS Measure Development Task Force, CMS' Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and the AMA-convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement (AMA-PCPI). Learn more »

Legislation/Take Action Legislation affecting heart rhythm professionals such as, health care reform, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), physician reimbursement and value-based purchasing. Learn more »

Research & NIH Funding View updates on NIH funding and research policies as well as funding opportunities for basic scientists and clinical trial updates.

RAC Program The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' efforts to identify improper Medicare payments and fight fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare program resulted in permanent Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) designed to guard the Medicare Trust Fund — learn more. To assist you with prepararation for an Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program audit, the Society has developed a list of conditions that warrant inpatient admission. Download Guidance Criteria (PDF, 70K) To get the latest information about the Recovery Audit Prepayment Review Demonstration visit the Society's blog, EPInsights.org.

Other This page provides links to a variety of miscellaneous information and documents that do not fall under the above Health Policy categories. Learn more »