By Sean Lyden, MD and Matthew Mell, MD
SVS Government Relations Committee

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) are working to address the burden regarding the use of health IT and electronic health records in physician’s practices. Per its Request for Information; Reducing Administrative Burden to Put Patients Over Paperwork (CMS-6082-NC), CMS is seeking innovative ideas that broaden perspectives on potential solutions to relieve burden and ways to improve:

SVS’ Policy and Advocacy Council is working with its committees’ members to submit comments on proposed government rules that will directly impact vascular surgeons and the care they provide to Medicare patients.

The comments are in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) CY 2020 Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Year 4 Quality Payment Program (QPP) and the Hospital Outpatient Perspective Payment System (HOPPS) Rules.

CMS issued the proposed rules in late July. Comments are due Sept. 27.

BY MISTY HUMPHRIES, MD ON BEHALF OF THE LEADERSHIP AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEE

Wanted: Mentors to help shape a medical student or resident’s career.

The Society for Vascular Surgery’s online community, SVSConnect, is introducing a new “Mentor Match” feature. It provides a simple way to match general surgery residents and medical students with vascular surgeons who can help guide the younger people in their careers in the specialty.

Vascular surgeons know they need excellent medical malpractice insurance. But how about disability insurance? SVS members just might be significantly under-insured, potentially impacting their lifestyles after a disability.

SVS’ Affinity Program of expanded benefits can connect members with individual disability plans with three companies – Principal Life Insurance Company, Securian, and Lloyd’s of London. These plans provide taxfree benefits, protecting hundreds of thousands of dollars – maybe even millions – in future tax-free benefits income.

After nearly a year of research, consultation and consideration, after hearing feedback from approximately 300 members on tone, approach and messaging, the Society for Vascular Surgery is about to begin implementing a branding campaign.

The SVS Executive Board approved referral communication planning and production in July. The Springboard consulting firm will test communications with referral sources and tweak as necessary. The campaign is expected to roll out in the spring, ahead of the 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting.

PAD Resources: September is PAD Awareness Month, and SVS has not only resources but also new information for its members.

The Society for Vascular Surgery has new officers for the 2019-20 year, elected at the 2019 Vascular Annual Meeting.

New President Dr. Hodgson

Dr. Hodgson holds the David Sumner endowed chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Southern Illinois University and is medical director of the David S. Sumner Vascular Laboratory at Memorial Medical Center.

Major enhancements are coming to the SVS Vascular Quality Initiative’s Hemodialysis Access Registry, with completion expected by the end of the year.

The registry captures all arterio-venous fistulas and grafts procedures, including A-V fistulas using transposed veins and A-V grafts using autogenous, prosthetic or biological material. It has been in use since 2011.

‘DC Update’ Newsletter Debuts: The Society for Vascular Surgery has a new electronic newsletter, “DC Update” to keep SVS members informed of the events in Washington, D.C., that impact their lives. Initially, the newsletter (sent Sept. 16) will appear every other month.