The information and/or opinions expressed in the current news items below and AACE in the news do not necessarily represent the opinion or position of AACE

Current News

CMS Proposes To Eliminate Payments for Consultations - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed rule for the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on July 1st. AACE is still reviewing the 1100+ page document, however one proposed change of great concern is the elimination of payment for consultations provided in both the office and hospital setting. If enacted, AACE members would use E/M codes for new patient or existing patient office visits. CMS states that the resulting savings will be redistributed to increase payments for all existing E/M codes. The rule also contains an across-the-board 21.5% reduction in Medicare payments effective January 1, 2010, due to the current physician payment law based on the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. These two provisions alone would result in significant pay reductions for AACE members, which AACE will actively oppose. AACE will provide additional details on the proposed rule in the days and weeks ahead. For more information on the rule, please click on the following link: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp

AACE Response to Insulin Glargine Cancer Risk Articles in Diabetologia...More

Responses to Insulin Glargine Cancer Risk Articles in Diabetologia...More

Help Secure DXA Payment Relief In National Health Care Reform Legislation...more

Health Care Reform Draft Legislation Released in U.S. House of Representatives
Draft legislation to reform the nation's health care system was recently released by the three U.S. House congressional committees that have jurisdiction over health care issues. This draft legislation includes provisions that will be of particular interest to AACE members. For more information, click here

The Wall Street Journal has published an Op-Ed letter to the President and Congress by AACE Member Dr. Mark Sklar. To read the letter that expresses his reflections on health care reform, click here.

AACE MEMBER INPUT REQUESTED
Invitation to participate in final vetting process for Adipose Tissue Pathophysiology: Scientific Conference

Medicare Scam Alert
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has become aware of a scam where perpetrators are sending faxes to physician offices posing as the Medicare carrier or Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). The fax instructs physician staff to respond to a questionnaire to provide an account information update within 48 hours in order to prevent a gap in Medicare payments. The fax may have the CMS logo and/or the contractor logo to enhance the appearance of authenticity. Medicare FFS providers, including physicians, non-physician practitioners, should be wary of this type of request. If you receive a request for information in the manner described above, please check with your contractor before submitting any information. Medicare providers should only send information to a Medicare contractor using the address found in the download section of the CMS.gov website found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNGenInfo/ or http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll

Member Alert - FDA Alert RE: Levemir

AACE Member,

The FDA has issued the following Public Health Advisory regarding Levemir Insulin:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has learned that some stolen vials of the long-acting insulin Levemir made by Novo Nordisk Inc. have reappeared and are being sold in the U.S. market. Three lots or a total of 129,000 vials of this product were stolen in all. These stolen insulin vials may not have been stored and handled properly and may be dangerous for patients to use.

The FDA has received one report of a patient who suffered an adverse event due to poor control of glucose levels after using a vial from one of these three lots.

The agency is advising patients who use Levemir insulin to:

1. Check your personal supply of insulin to determine if you have Levemir insulin from one of the following lots: XZF0036, XZF0037, and XZF0038. Patients can locate the lot number on the side of the box of insulin and also on the side of the vial.
2. Do not use your Levemir insulin if it is from one of these lots. Replace it with a vial of Levemir insulin from another lot. If you must switch to another brand of insulin for any reason, first contact your healthcare provider as another insulin product may require adjustments in dosing.
3. Always visually inspect your insulin before using it. Levemir is a clear and colorless solution.
4. Contact the Novo Nordisk Customer Care Center at 800-727-6500 for what to do with vials from these lots or if you have any other questions.

To read the FDA Advisory on the FDA web site, go to http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm166358.htm

To read the press release issued by Novo Nordisk, go to http://press.novonordisk-us.com/index.php?s=43&item=204

2009 AACE Annual Meeting Photos Online
Professional photos from the 2009 AACE Annual Meeting are available online. Visit http://www.collages.net, enter AACE2009 as the User Name, and 3373 for the password to view and purchase photos. The Web site will only be active until July 26, 2009, so make sure you order your photos before that date.

2008 ASAP CREDIT EXTENDED!
Due to the continued interest in the 2008 ACE Self Assessment Program (ASAP) by physicians, we are pleased to announce that we have extended the CME credit for the 2008 ASAP until March 31, 2011. Click here for more information and to purchase the 2008 ASAP.

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGISTS (AACE) AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF ENDOCRINOLOGY (ACE) POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST... More

AACE Patient Safety Exchange

• Is there a link between Lantus (insulin glargine) and cancer? A commentary on reports from the FDA and the EASD on the possible association. ... Read more at the AACE Patient Safety Exchange.
• Patient Safety Issues in the U.S – The dangers of an overly narrow focus ... Read more at the AACE Patient Safety Exchange.
• Insulin Pens and Safety – a suggestion from Dr. Irl Hirsch ... Read more at the AACE Patient Safety Exchange.
• Patient Safety and Bilingualism ... Read more at the AACE Patient Safety Exchange.
• Patient Safety, Insulin Pumps, and Cognitive Dysfunction ... Read more at the AACE Patient Safety Exchange.
• The FDA Med-Watch Alert on Stolen Levemir – Is this just one example of a much bigger patient safety problem? ... Read more at the AACE Patient Safety Exchange.
• New editorial by Dr David Cooper in Response to the FDA Safety Alert on Propylthiouracil ... Read more at the AACE Patient Safety Exchange.

Diabetes Experts Issue New Recommendations for Inpatient Glycemic Control, Call for Systemic Changes in Hospitals Nationwide
New recommendations released today by a consensus group of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are calling for major changes in the way health care professionals treat hospitalized patients with high blood glucose (sugar) levels. The authors recommend revised glucose targets of 140-180 mg/dL in the ICU setting, and between 100-180 mg/dL for most patients admitted to general medical-surgical wards...More

Endotext, a comprehensive, authoritative, and easily accessible source of information on all aspects of clinical endocrinology is accessible to AACE domestic and international members...More