SRC Strategic Alliances NEWS

*Table of contents* SRC Launches an International BSCOE Program Humana Launches Bariatric Surgery Management Program Using ASMBS BSCOE Hospitals and Surgeons SRC Counters Efforts to Reduce N.C. Medicaid Coverage Seek Full Approval Now for Improved Reimbursement SRC Working to Rectify Inappropriate Medicare Reimbursement Denials Surgeon Requirements — NCD on Bariatric Surgery SRC Meets with CMS and AHRQ	In this issue SRC Launches an International BSCOE Program Surgical Review Corporation’s launch of its International Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence program will improve patient care, build consumer confidence and increase coverage for bariatric surgery worldwide. Click here for more . . . Humana Launches Bariatric Surgery Management Program Using ASMBS BSCOE Hospitals and Surgeons Humana has launched a bariatric surgery management program to serve its approximately 11.3 million medical members. Click here for more . . . SRC Counters Efforts to Reduce N.C. Medicaid Coverage North Carolina Physicians’ Advisory Group and SRC were successful in stopping proposed changes to Medicaid coverage of bariatric surgery that would have denied access to a population that needs it the most — the poor and minorities. Click here for more . . . Seek Full Approval Now for Improved Reimbursement Most major payors require Centers of Excellence designation for bariatric surgery reimbursement. If your center or program has achieved Provisional Status as an ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®, now is the time to apply for Full Approval — Fast-tracking and volume averaging might help. Click here for more . . . SRC Working to Rectify Inappropriate Medicare Reimbursement Denials Is your program experiencing issues regarding reimbursement for Medicare claims? SRC is working with CMS and others to rectify billing guidelines used by Medicare intermediaries. Click here for more . . . Surgeon Requirements — NCD on Bariatric Surgery Confused about which surgeons qualify to care for Medicare bariatric surgery patients? SRC offers clarification based on the CMS National Coverage Determination. Click here for more . . . SRC Meets with CMS and AHRQ SRC’s leadership traveled recently to DHHS to meet with leadership of CMS and AHRQ to discuss SRC’s future goals and plans for BOLD™. Click here for more . . . L to R: Jackie Sneve, Walter Pories, Gail Hughes	Meet SRC at events across the country: SRC staff spends extensive time meeting with industry leaders to build clinician and industry sup-port of the ASMBS BSCOE and the SRC International BSCOE programs. We work to negotiate standardization of outcomes criteria, encourage payor coverage of bariatric surgery and communicate the value of bariatric surgery. *Look for us at these upcoming conferences:*
		National Association of Specialty Health Organizations (NASHO) Leadership Summit August 1-2, 2007 Westlake Village, California More than 100 employer, payor and specialty health organization professionals meet to discuss ways to maximize outcomes through effective benefits.
		National Business Coalition on Health November 11-13, 2007 Scottsdale, Arizona Eighty member coalitions representing more than 11 percent of the U.S. insured population.
		American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO) Annual PPO Forum January 27-29, 2008 Marco Island, Florida More than 350 attendees representing the top PPO decision makers.
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July 26, 2007	Vol. 1, Issue 1	www.surgicalreview.org