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News -> March, 2003 News
Michael J. Sillers, M.D.
Birmingham, AL
The patient advocacy committee has recently combined efforts with the CPT committee to refine the practice expense component of the CPT codes used most frequently in the practice of rhinology. These efforts culminated in the presentation of consensus data to the Practice Expense Advisory Committee (PEAC) of the AMA in Orlando, FL January 27-29. These data were presented along with data from other subspecialty societies within our specialty as well as from all of medicine. AAO-HNS was well represented by Dr. Peter Weber who presented all these data formally to the PEAC. The process was time consuming, frustrating, and at times, seemingly consistently inconsistent. Each specialty is working to preserve their slice of the fixed reimbursement pie-any gains one specialty realizes translates into a loss by another specialty. Thankfully, all of our codes passed without major changes being made. Congratulations are in order for Peter Weber, M.D. and Teresa Lee, J.D., M.P.H., each of who worked tirelessly in representing our entire Academy.
The patient advocacy section on the ARS website has recently been reorganized in an effort to simplify access to committee updates as well as sample appeal letters for inappropriate claim denials. These letters are provided as a service to our membership in an effort to promote excellence in patient care. Should you meet with success or failure in your appeals process, please let us know. If you can suggest changes that would further assist the membership, we can utilize the ARS website to disseminate this information. If you have an interest in serving on the patient advocate committee in the future, please contact any of the committee members.
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