| |
News -> January, 2002 News
Communication from the Rhinology and Paranasal Sinus Disease Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
James M. Chow, M.D.
AAO Rhinology & Paranasal Sinus Committee Chairperson
Chicago, IL
The Rhinology and Paranasal Sinus Disease Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery met on September 8, 2001, to discuss a variety of issues. First and foremost, the Board of Directors approved a committee recommended policy statement that reads: The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery endorses the intraoperative use of computer guided imaging systems in appropriate selected cases to assist the surgeon in providing localization of anatomic structures. These appropriate, specialty specific, and surgically indicated procedural services should be reimbursed whether used by neurosurgeons or other qualified physicians. Additionally, reimbursement should not be limited to particular intracranial neurological diagnoses, but expanded to include diagnoses related to extracranial and spinal indications for use of computed guided imaging systems as initially established by the AMA CPT editorial board. This includes surgery of the paranasal sinuses and skull base. [The AMA CPT editorial board developed a specific CPT code for use of computer guided imaging systems Ð CPT code 61795-stereotactic computer assisted volumetric (navigational) procedure, intracranial, extracranial or spinal].
Secondly, the topic of the mini-seminar planned for the 2002 Fall Academy Meeting in San Diego was selected to be "Controversies in the Management of Frontal Sinus Disease". This will be coordinated by Drs. Sillers and Casiano and will prove to be a stimulating discussion on a variety of topics related to the frontal sinus. Thirdly, the Sinus Pain Awareness month, which has been so successful in the past to educate our patients about rhinosinusitis, will be in February, 2002. This campaign site can be viewed on the Internet at www.entnet.org. Comments regarding this site are most certainly welcome. Additional topics that were discussed concern further development of patient education topics for inclusion on the Academy web site, developing a list of selected research topics of importance for possible future outcome studies and the involvement of this committee in the Sinus and Allergy Health Partnership.
This committee remains committed to addressing the concerns of the members of our Academy and I as well as the other members of this committee welcome concerns or issues that need to be addressed. Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and ideas.
|
|
