[ORTCCTelehealth-TAO] Fwd: FW: [ata-bf] Action Alert CPT Code for Critical Care Services

Sat Oct 31 04:54:58 PDT 2009

FYI...

If you are interested in responding, please note the very short timeframe.

Cathy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Doug A. Romer <Dar01 at grh.org>
Date: Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Subject: FW: [ata-bf] Action Alert CPT Code for Critical Care Services
To: Catherine Britain <csbritain at gmail.com>

 Hi Cathy
Perhaps our TAO listserve especially Miles would like to see this.

 ------------------------------
*From:* Jordana Bernard [mailto:JBernard at americantelemed.org]
*Sent:* Friday, October 30, 2009 10:21 AM
*To:* Business & Finance
*Subject:* [ata-bf] Action Alert CPT Code for Critical Care Services

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------------------------------

* *

*A message from Dr. Elizabeth Cowboy, ATA TeleICU Discussion Group Chair:*

Dear TeleICU Supporters:

Please act now. It takes three minutes to add your details. FORWARD
immediately to all eDocs, eNurses and corporate sponsors. Our goal is 2000
responses by Sunday.

* *

*October 29, 2009*

**

*Telemedicine practitioners have a great opportunity to urge our four major
professional organizations (QUAD Societies) to join together in advocating
for the adoption of a billable / reimbursable CPT code for TeleICU
services.  **But we have only until Sunday, November 1st to deliver our
message!*

* *

Your letters / emails should encourage the representatives of the QUAD
Societies to support the adoption of a billable / reimbursable CPT code and
reference the recent survey collected by* NAMDRC** *showing that TeleICU
services submitted for reimbursement would increase by only 4% for 99291
codes and by 6.8% for 99292 codes.  With Congress currently searching for
ways to reduce healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes, TeleICU
must be part of the discussion. *To facilitate this, email your leadership
(below) to ask the CPT/AMA to make TeleICU a Category 1 code (from its
current Category 3 code).  *

*There are talking points for your use on page two of this alert if needed*.

* *

*Association Contacts*

*Email*

*SCCM*

*Dr. Mitchell Levy*

*mitchell_levy at brown.edu*

*SCCM*

*Mr. Steve McEllin*

*smcellin at sccm.org *

*ACCP*

*Dr. James Mathers*

*jamathers at verizon.net*

*ACCP*

*Ms. Lynn Marcus*

*lmarcus at chestnet.org*

*ACCP/ NAMDRC*

*Dr. Steve Peters*

*peters.steve at mayo.edu*

*ATS*

*Mr. Gary Ewart*

*gewart at thoracic.org*

*ATS*

*Dr. Randall Curtis*

*jrc at u.washington.edu*

*Sample Talking Points:*

ë      *As a __________, with firsthand knowledge of the benefits of
telemedicine, I am writing to urge you to advance the adoption of a
reimbursable CPT code for TeleICU.  *

ë      *The current CPT code of Category 3 does not recognize the important
role TeleICU plays in the delivery of critical care.*

ë      *Adopting a Category 1 / reimbursable CPT code for TeleICU will help
encourage wider adoption of this technology across the US and especially in
rural and underserved areas.*

ë      *As Congress struggles with identifying ways to reduce costs in the
US healthcare system while at the same time improving patient outcomes,
TeleICU has proven itself to achieve both of these objectives.*

ë      *The current healthcare reform bills now under consideration by
Congress have provisions that encourage the use of telemedicine services.*

ë      *President Obama included grant opportunities in the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the implementation and expansion
of telemedicine signaling the growing acceptance of TeleICU as a best
practice for critically ill patients.*

ë      *TeleICU offers the potential to reduce the overall costs of critical
care services*

ë      *TeleICU adds value, decreases mortality, decreases LOS, decreases
morbidity, saves money, improves the process of care and facilitates
compliance.*

ë      *Many hospitals have limited qualified physicians and critical care
nurses available for 24/7 bedside monitoring of critically ill patients and
TeleICU can help meet fill this staffing gap** **and workforce shortage.*

[image: Please write or email the contacts listed above by Monday!]

*Please copy me (a blind copy is fine) on any correspondence you send to any
of the quad representatives on this issue: elizabeth_cowboy at via-christi.org*

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-- 
Catherine S. Britain
csbritain at gmail.com
541-910-7366
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