Refocus Your Practice with Invigorating Sessions at 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

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The landscape of practice management and coding methodologies continues to be challenging in the current healthcare environment, and rheumatology practices must maintain focus on managing an effective and efficient practice. Join us at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, Nov. 3–8 in San Diego, and gain knowledge and understanding of best practices in an ever-changing environment of managed care, compliance, third-party payers, regulations and declining reimbursements.

The Committee on Rheumatologic Care (CORC) is bringing together a dynamic practice-focused program to address these issues to help practicing rheumatologists, fellows in training, practice administrators and coders stay current on important topics and engage with subject-matter experts and industry professionals to provide insights and strategies for success. With three educational sessions, two premeeting courses, advocacy updates and quality reporting panel discussions, this year’s meeting offers something for everyone.

The healthcare industry is undergoing a significant evolution, moving away from long-standing fee-for-service agreements and toward value- and risk-based arrangements centered on innovative physician-hospital alignment models, quality improvement initiatives and cost-savings strategies. With these uncertainties in the physician community, we have identified areas practices should be aware of and developed a program that offers strategies they can implement right away. Education and training are more relevant than ever, and this program offers an open dialogue with nationally renowned speakers regarding the potential impact the newly proposed requirements will have on rheumatology practices.

Training and education are key to understanding the current healthcare environment, and obtaining tools necessary to conduct a careful and comprehensive assessment of practice operations and financial management is essential to success. Attending the CORC premeeting courses is the best way to get the most effective and timely continuing education, in-depth information, tools and tips for rheumatology practices.

Choose from five different Annual Meeting offerings and dive into exciting and timely topics that include:

• Friday, Nov. 3: Coding Workshop Premeeting: E/M Coding & Auditing Workshop (Roundtable Discussion with Hands-On Coding)
  In this session, attendees will learn the components of E/M auditing, including the gray areas of auditing, and participate in hands-on auditing exercises to deepen understanding and build confidence in their E/M auditing abilities. Discuss such elements as documentation guidelines, history of the encounter, medical necessity, medical decision making, audit policy parameters and more.
• Saturday, Nov. 4: CORC Premeeting Practice Management Track: Innovation, Improvement and Insights for Today’s Rheumatology Practice
  This interactive session for new and established rheumatologists, fellows in training, practice managers and administrators will address auditing, the False Claim Act, overpayments and much more. This session will include a keynote address from one of the nation’s most recognized and respected authorities on compliance, Sean M. Weiss, who will walk attendees through the specific steps necessary to create an effective OIG Compliance Plan. There will also be a roundtable discussion on the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) Registry and Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) quality reporting measures for rheumatology practices.

As a bonus, attendees who register for the premeeting courses will have access to three additional days of great sessions to enhance the Annual Meeting experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to access all the practice sessions, which include:

• Sunday, Nov. 5 (11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.): Reshaping the Relationship Between Physicians and PBMs
• Monday, Nov. 6 (9–10 a.m.): Biosimilar Medicine: A Changing Landscape in Healthcare
• Tuesday, Nov. 7 (9–10 a.m.): Performance-Based Contracting: Emerging Issues and Considerations

Join us for an informative meeting and exceptional educational experience. Registration is now open for ACR practice management training at the Annual Meeting webpage.

Visit the Annual Meeting page for event details, registration and housing information. For additional information or questions on the practice and/or coding workshops, contact Antanya Chung, CPC, CPC-I, CRHC, CCP, at [email protected].