The Society Joins with AMA to Stop Dual Chamber Pacemaker Audits

The Heart Rhythm Society joined with the American Medical Association (AMA) to help stop Medicare audits of dual chamber pacemakers.

As previously reported in Keeping Pace, the Society’s weekly e-newsletter, members received a sudden increase in denials across several Medicare Administrative Contractors due to outdated language in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Cardiac Pacemakers. In April, the Society sent a comment letter (PDF, 226K) requesting that CMS revise the coverage decision and halt the recovery actions until the review of the coverage decision is complete (learn more). In addition to the written request, HRS and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) submitted a resolution to the AMA for review by its House of Delegates at its June meeting.

After spirited debate, the AMA House of Delegates broadened the proposal to benefit the entire house of medicine and passed the resolution. The new policy requires that the AMA work with national medical specialty societies and CMS to identify outdated coverage decisions that create obstacles to clinically appropriate patient care. In addition, the AMA will support efforts to suspend recovery actions for evidence-based technologies and treatments.

This success would not have been possible without the Society’s participation in the AMA House of Delegates. Thanks to Heart Rhythm Society members’ support during the summer 2009 recruitment campaign, the Society acquired a seat at the house of medicine’s table. With this voice the Society has elevated an issue of great importance to ensure access to health care and protect Society members from unwarranted audits.