SAN FRANCISCO –The American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives (AAOE) is offering sessions during the 2008 Joint Meeting held in Atlanta from November 8 to 11 to help practices learn about and successfully report on the two Medicare bonuses being offered in 2009.

Practices can earn up to a two percent bonus for e-prescribing and/or participating in PQRI (Physician’s Quality Reporting Initiative).  Hence, practices could earn up to a four percent bonus for participating in both programs. The sessions listed below will help attendees learn about the three new ophthalmology PQRI reporting measures and the new e-prescribing bonus. In addition, Academy members will share their strategies for successful implementation in these sessions. 

In all, AAOE will offer a total of 75 practice management instruction courses (50 of which are new this year) to help practices operate successful practices with topics ranging from reimbursement to professional development.

Introduction to E-Prescribing:  Improving the Safety and Efficiency of Medication Management

Sunday, Nov. 9
1:15 – 1:45 p.m.
Room: A412

During this session, you will learn what e-prescribing is and how to implement including a discussion of available Academy e-prescribing resources.  An Academy representative will discuss the Medicare incentive program and members will share their experience with e-prescribing. 

PQRI Implementation: The Nuts and Bolts of 2009 Reporting

Sunday, Nov. 9
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
Room: A412

This session will address all applicable quality reporting measures affecting ophthalmology, step-by-step practical implementation, CMS 1500 form examples, and tips from successful reporting practices.  It will be followed by a question and answer period.

Physician Profiling and Accountability

Monday, Nov.10
12:15 – 1:45 p.m.
Room: A412

Physician profiling, the practice of assessing physicians' performance, is a growing trend. This session will examine profiling and other physician accountability initiatives tied to payment including the outlook of CMS's Medicare physician quality reporting and Physician Web Compare plans.

Registration for the Annual Meeting is available online until October 15.  For a complete program listing or to register for the Annual Meeting, visit www.aao.org/meetings/annual_meeting.

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About the American Academy of Ophthalmology

AAO is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons—Eye M.D.s—with more than 27,000 members worldwide.  Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” – opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. For more information, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org.