Indiana-ACC Message from Dr. Donald Westerhausen

News from the Indiana Chapter of the American College of Cardiology

Indiana-ACC Newsletter, March 2020

President's Message

Donald R. Westerhausen, Jr., MD, FACC

Dear Indiana-ACC Colleague,

What an overwhelming couple of weeks that we have experienced. I am not sure any of us ever imagined that we would be facing a global pandemic when we ushered in 2020. As we work through this landscape together, know that the ACC is working to provide COVID-19 clinical guidance for the global cardiovascular care team.

Here are some resources to help guide you:

ACC’s COVID-19 Hub

Visit ACC’s COVID-19 Hub with important resources including webinars.

CDC Guidance for Healthcare Professionals

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/index.html

Indiana State Department of Health

Many of you are already aware of the resources from the Indiana State Department of Health. Daily updates and trending numbers of cases for the state are published by county at https://coronavirus.in.gov/2393.htm . General questions from the public or healthcare provider inquiries about COVID-19 may be directed to the ISDH COVID-19 Call Center at the toll-free number

877-826-0011 (available 24/7) or email epiresource@isdh.in.gov .

Join the Conversation

Join the COVID-19 discussions on ACC's Member Hub .

Tell Legislators to Take Action with This Simple Tool

Take Action! COVID-19 Grassroots Action Alert

Telehealth

Federal action has significantly expanded access to telehealth for Medicare and Medicaid patients, but state barriers related to coverage, modality, payment, and licensure also must be addressed. ACC has called for more aggressive action at the federal level on such issues as allowing voice-only and easing rules around interstate care, but some states have already taken significant action of their own. The Center for Connected Health Policy is tracking COVID-19 related state actions specific to telehealth, in particular those related to coverage and payment.

CMS.gov Fact Sheet on Telehealth | FAQ on Telehealth

Licensure and Practice Across State Lines

While some states had pre-existing mechanisms in place to waive physician licensure requirements in emergency circumstances, this is far from universal. 18 states and DC previously adopted the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioner Act (UEVHPA) , allowing them to recognize out-of-state licenses during declared states of emergency, if certain conditions are met. Other state emergency declarations include specific waivers of licensure or allow expedited licensing processes for out-of-state physicians and other healthcare providers. The Federation of State Medical Boards is tracking states waiving licensure requirements and renewals .

Here is the Indiana-specific Executive Order: https://www.in.gov/gov/files/EO_20-05.pdf .

Liability

At the federal level, ACC supports the Good Samaritan Health Professional Act (S. 1350/H.R. 6283), which would apply limited civil liability protections to volunteer clinicians during a federally declared disaster. However, some states already have this type of protection in place or could adopt similar legislation on their own.

The National Governors Association has compiled a wealth of information about each state’s response to the pandemic, including emergency declarations, orders related to closures and public gatherings, and links to state health department COVID-19 information.

We will continue to provide important links at https://www.inacc.org/covid-19/ . Please take care, stay connected, and remain grounded in your training and attention to compassion and comfort in this time. The Indiana-ACC is here for you.

Please take a moment to complete the surveys at the bottom of this eNewsletter. If Gwen Goldfarb, our chapter executive, or I can be of assistance to you, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Don

Indiana-ACC Legislative Day on February 18th

The Indiana-ACC held its annual legislative day in Indianapolis on February 18, 2020. Members visited their Indiana representatives and senators to introduce them to cardiology issues facing them and their patients. Building relationships with state lawmakers helps to ensure that the Indiana Legislature remains informed about issues facing providers and patients. The group also met with the district offices of Senator Todd Young and Senator Mike Braun.

Legislation addressed included House Bill 1006 Regulation of Tobacco Products, Senate Bill 1 Tobacco and Vaping Age, and Senate Bill 356 Healthy Food Finance. The good news is that Senate Bill 1 passed!

Take a look at the video with Dr. Donald Westerhausen giving an overview of the day .

Two Surveys

Here are two surveys that may be of interest to you:

#1 The Research Team at the Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation, in partnership with the Heart Rhythm Society interoperability workgroup, is exploring clinician preferences and use of CIED data elements in the clinical decision process. Please consider completing a short online survey (<5 minutes) to determine preferences based on your role in remote monitoring data management. The goal is to improve clinician efficacy and patient care. Here is the survey . If you have any questions or comments, you may contact Dr. Michael Mirro, MD, FACC, FHRS, FAHA and/or the research team at 260-266-7765 or by email: CIEDSurvey@parkview.com.

#2 Please take three minutes of your time to answer these important questions about the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on our practices, needs, and available resources. Here is the survey . It is hoped that this information can be used to improve patient care and healthcare professionals' safety in all participating national and international locations.

Prepared by the multi-state and international cardio-oncology collaborative network from the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and International Cardio Oncology Society (ICOS).

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