Implementation of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, also known as the Open Payments program, is just around the corner. Starting Aug. 1, industry will be required to report payments or other transfers of value to physicians.

Has your practice adopted an EHR? On July 31 at 3 p.m. ET, the American College of Cardiology will host a webinar on documentation and coding. During the webinar, participants will have the opportunity to review Evaluation and Management (E/M) documentation along with tips to help them understand documentation guidelines.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released two proposed rules with important ramifications for cardiovascular professionals. These rules address Medicare payment and quality provisions for physicians and hospital outpatient services in 2014.

While medical school curriculum has evolved along with the healthcare system over the past two decades, one educator says schools need to continue to refine training and prepare future physicians to function in teams, manage their patient populations differently and capitalize on available IT in order provide quality healthcare.

Ipsos Healthcare, the global healthcare division of Ipsos, has added the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation (SPAF) Monitor to its syndicated Cardiovascular Therapy Monitor Portfolio.

In the technology world, a stellar innovation poorly launched into the marketplace faces an uphill battle. The same may be true for interventions designed to reduce heart failure readmissions.

Hospitals potentially could lower their 30-day heart failure readmissions rate by two percentage points by following six strategies. “That may not seem like a lot,” the lead researcher told Cardiovascular Business, but applied to the costs of readmissions annually “you are looking at a fair amount of money and a significant clinical change.”

Elective PCI is one of five procedures or treatments that are problematically overused, according to a joint panel of medical experts. They highlighted strategies to reduce PCI overuse and offered four proposed interventions.