Letter to HHS Price on Global Codes

The Honorable Thomas Price, MD
Secretary
Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Seema Verma
Administrator
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Re: Collecting Data on Resources Used in Furnishing Global Services

The Frontier of Complex Aortic Aneurysm Repair

“Prospective, nonrandomized study to evaluate endovascular repair of pararenal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm using fenestrated-branched endografts based on supraceliac sealing zones.” Journal of Vascular Surgery, May 2017.

CHICAGO, Illinois, May, 2017 – Significant success has been achieved in treating complex proximal aneurysms using a combination of fenestrated and branched-graft devices, based on a report of prospectively studied patients with complex aortic aneurysm in the May edition of the Journal of Vascular Surgery.

Don’t blame the brain for an ischemic stroke

A CLOGGED ARTERY IN THE NECK IS THE LIKELY CULPRIT – HERE’S WHY

CHICAGO, Illinois, May 1, 2017 – Since a stroke occurs in the brain, it might seem like that’s where the problem originated. But that is not usually the case.

Most ischemic strokes are caused by a complication of atherosclerosis, the official name for hardening of the arteries. That’s a common health issue that can range from minor, to troublesome, to deadly, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery.

VQI Varicose Vein Registry Yielding Data on Treatment Efficacy

Joint Effort of the Society for Vascular Surgery and American Venous Forum Off to a Good Start

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 12, 2017 – A new Varicose Vein Registry, a joint effort by the Society for Vascular Surgery, the Vascular Quality Initiative and the American Venous Forum, has begun producing useful outcomes information, as reported in the May edition of the Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders.

Global Surgery Data Collection News

CMS has established a process for reporting postoperative encounters, inpatient and outpatient, during the surgical 10- or 90-day global period for a select number of procedure codes. The physician fee schedule (PFS) reimburses services based on all services rendered during the global period, inclusive of surgical procedures and all postoperative visits, as a single PFS payment.