Transplant News AudioConference 12/4/08

[Guest guest]

The CMS Interpretive Guidelines for transplant centers COPs: What centers waiting to be audited need to know; why centers that have already been audited must remain vigilant

Webinar/Audioconference: Thursday, December 4, 2008

3:00 – 4:30 Eastern time 2:00 – 3:30 Central time

1:00 – 2:30 Mountain time 12:00 – 1:30 Pacific time

Presented by Transplant Communications in conjunction

with the American Society of Transplant Surgeons

CME’s will be available through NATCO

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Speakers

*Diane Millman, Esq. and Burke, Esq. Powers, Pyles, Sutter and Verville, legal and regulatory experts, counsel for the American Society of Transplant Surgeons

*Mike Abecassis, MD, MBA, Chief, Division of Transplantation, Professor of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Treasurer, American Society of Transplant Surgeons

* Milton, BSN, CCTC, MBA, Administrative Director/Associate Faculty, University of Texas Health Center, San

*CMS representative (invited) Q & A only

*Jim Warren, Editor & Publisher, Transplant News - Moderator

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is now using the final version of the Interpretive Guidelines (IGs) for survey agencies who conduct transplant center certification surveys to follow and the centers that have been audited to date are finding the guidelines are more detailed (and more onerous) than the regulations themselves, often imposing administrative burdens and clinical responsibilities beyond the scope of the regulations.

In the December issue of the American Journal of Transplantation (AJT), several articles were published on recent efforts by the transplant community, led by the ASTS, to get CMS to revisit some of the IGs which transplant centers have pointed out as unrealistic, expensive note likely to improve the safety of the patients. To its credit, CMS has implemented some of the recommended changes but the process is still ongoing and has the potential to impact transplant centers who are still waiting to be audited and centers who have been audited and found deficient in several areas according to the IGs.

Lawyers for the Washington, DC-based law firm Powers Pyles Sutter and Verville, which serves as regulatory counsel to the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) have written a report warning that transplant centers facing the Medicare certification process for the first time are entering “uncharted waters.”

While the CMS instructions to the survey agencies that will conduct the audit suggests the team will include two or three surveyors and be on site for at least three days, some centers say there were a larger number of surveyors and lasted up to a week.

The Webinar/Audioconference will provide in-depth information on how to prepare for an audit based on the experience of others who have already gone through the process and for centers that have been audited and are now faced with correcting deficiencies the surveyors found. For example, it is very important for transplant centers to understand CMS’ criteria for distinguishing “condition level” from “standard level” deficiencies and the serious consequences that could follow if CMS doesn’t accept the plan developed to address the problems reported by the surveyors.

Who Should Listen:

The program is designed specifically for transplant administrators, transplant surgeons, hospital administrators, and insurance company executives.

Continuing Education Credits

NATCO, The Organization for Transplant Professionals will award 1.5 continuing education credits for nurses and transplant coordinators. By completing the evaluation at a link that will be provided you in an e-mail once you have registered, you and the staff listed on the evaluation form will receive certificates of participation via e-mail within three weeks after the Webinar/Audioconference.

Team-Wide Training at its Best (and most cost- and time-efficient):

Gather your entire staff on December 4 for one low single-participant price. You may photocopy as many copies of the printed materials as you need to provide to your staff. The materials will be posted several days prior to the Webinar/Audioconference at a special link on the Transplant Communications Web site.

Registration Information:

Participation in the audioconference is just $292 per site and allows access to ONE telephone line for an unlimited number of people to listen by speakerphone. ADDITIONAL SITES MAY BE ADDED FOR JUST $146 PER SITE. Please note on the registration form if you are paying for additional telephone sites.

How the Webinar/Audioconference Works:Train your whole office with no travel expense or time away from the office. All you need is a computer with internet access and you can join in on the webinar. You can watch the presentation, submit questions, and participate in audience polls. Just add a projector for groups. Choose to listen to the audio over your computer speakers or dial in to a toll free number. You may also choose to just listen to the audioconference on your speaker phone and work from the Power Points you download from a special link on the Transplant Communications Web site. The login information is sent out several days prior to the event. Testing of your computer connection prior to the event is suggested and instructions will be provided with the login information. Free technical support is available from the conference hosting company.

No special equipment is needed. The program is scheduled to run for 90-minutes with the final 30-minutes devoted to answering questions from participants. An e-mail with all the information you need to participate on December 4 will be sent as soon as you register!

How to Register:

ONLINE

For the first time participants can register on-line at the Transplant Communications Web site: www.trannews.com. Simply click on the button on the left of the home page that says Audio Conference Materials. You will be able to pay by using a credit card through a secure server, or generate a form that you can print and fax or mail to Transplant News.

By Fax or Mail

Fill out the following form, print out and fax it to (Please note that a phone number and e-mail address must be provided for the registrant.)

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Fax Number (required)________________________________________________

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Sign me up for the following:

[ ] $292.00 Audioconference and written materials – includes written transcript of the conference

[ ] $322.00 Audioconference, written materials, transcript and audio CD of the conference

[ ] $352.00 Audioconference, written materials and WMV DVD. This is a new product. WMV stands for Windows Media Video and can be viewed from the hard drive or any kind of media player. The WMV file will include the audio and power point slides synched together and will also include the live Q & A session. It will play in an online on-demand format for your convenient replay and will make an excellent training tool for your staff.

[ ] $146.00 per additional call-in site. Number of additional sites ____

I CAN’T MAKE IT ON DECEMBER 4. SEND ALL WEBINAR/ AUDIOCONFERENCE MATERIALS

[ ] $292.00 Written materials, transcript, and audio CD will be shipped approximately 2 weeks following the conference

[ ] $322.00 Written materials, transcript, audio CD and WMV DVD will be shipped approximately 2 weeks following the conference.

TOTAL ORDER $________

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

[ ] I’M PAYING BY CHECK! (Make check payable to Transplant Communications) Mail to: Transplant Communications, 3500 Boston St., Suite 317, Baltimore, MD 21224

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Questions? Contact Jim Warren, Editor & Publisher, Transplant News – Phone: , E-mail: Trannews@...

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