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Takeda, a global biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan with a global hub in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has joined The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) as one of its inaugural Premier Sponsors, a program that represents the highest-level opportunity for companies to differentiate themselves and support their strategic interest to ASCRS members and audiences. Premier Sponsors receive year-round recognition and premium positioning as part of the exclusive sponsorship.

“Through the newly launched Premier Sponsors program, ASCRS is reaching new heights in collaboration with our industry partners. We’re thrilled to have Takeda as a charter member and look forward to the next several years of exciting work,” said Conor Delaney, MD, PhD, ASCRS President.

ASCRS Executive Director David Westman, CPA, CAE stated, “ASCRS is thrilled to collaborate with Takeda as we launch our Premier Sponsor program. Our Premier Sponsors work with our Society and membership to strategically move the colon and rectal surgical specialty forward. We look forward to many successful years together.”

“Takeda is excited to support ASCRS and its members in their important work of advancing the understanding, prevention and treatment of colon and rectal disorders,” said Vijay Yajnik, MD, PhD, vice president, head of U.S. Medical for Gastroenterology at Takeda. “Patient care is best enhanced when we work together to address the most complex and significant unmet needs with solutions extending beyond medicine alone.”

Takeda’s work in gastroenterology focuses on GI inflammation, short bowel syndrome, liver disease and motility disorders.

“For more than 30 years, Takeda and our collaborative partners have worked to improve the lives of people with gastrointestinal diseases,” said Gamze Yüceland, senior vice president, Gastroenterology Business Unit at Takeda. “Through partnerships like this, we can deepen connections among the community and work together to ensure patients living with colon and rectal disorders can achieve their best possible quality of life.”

Learn more about the Premier Sponsorship here.

For further information about Premier Sponsorships, contact Jason Keith, Sr. Director, Corporate Relations | Marketing and Communications at [email protected].

About The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons is a professional society for healthcare providers specializing in colorectal surgery. ASCRS is dedicated to ensuring high-quality patient care by advancing the science, prevention and management of disorders and diseases of the colon, rectum and anus.

House of Delegates (HOD)
In 2022, based on a census of ASCRS members who are also members of the AMA, ASCRS was awarded a second Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates. Delegate and Alternate Delegate Drs. Harry Papaconstantinou and Ronald Gagliano announced their intention to resign effective EOY 2022, after 10 years of service to ASCRS and after offering to participate in orientation for the new Delegates and Alternate Delegates. A subcommittee of the Healthcare Economics Committee (HEC) received interest in the delegate positions from several members. Ultimately Drs. Anne Mongiu and Juan (Lucas) Poggio were selected as delegates, and Drs. Paul Johnson and Sachin Vaid were selected as alternates. The delegates will serve for three years.
 
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)
In September 2022, Dr. William Harb, who served as Advisor to the AMA CPT Advisory Committee, offered his resignation. The HEC followed a similar process for a replacement, naming Dr. Eric Weiss as Advisor and Dr. Joshua Eberhardt as Alternate Advisor. Dr. Weiss has served ASCRS in the role in the past.
 
RVS Update Committee​ (RUC)
In May 2022, Dr. Guy Orangio, ASCRS Past President and RUC Advisor, indicated his interest in stepping down after many years of service. As with the HOD and CPT reps, the HEC invited applicants, and selected Dr. Kelly Tyler to replace Dr. Orangio as RUC Advisor. Dr. Tyler joins Dr. Stephen Sentovich, Alternate Advisor, on the RUC.
 
While in their roles, AMA Delegates and Advisors and their alternates serve as members of the ASCRS Healthcare Economics Committee.
 

CMS Coding Update 2023

• Only 2% cut in Medicare payment 
  • 8.5% Medicare cut averted with year-end legislation
• Telehealth extended through 2024
  • Current codes for provision of telehealth service will remain unchanged this year
• Update to E/M codes
  • Change documentation requirements and use Medical Decision Making or Total Time the day of service to determine level of service 
  • When using total time and the time exceeds the highest-level code - a prolonged services code can be added
  • Initial Inpatient/Observation codes (99221-3)   
    • *Note:  observation visits to use these codes as all observation specific codes have been deleted
  • Subsequent Inpatient/Observation codes (99231-3)
  • Same day observation/discharge codes (99234-6)
  • Inpatient consultation codes (99252-5)
  • Outpatient consultation codes (99242-5)

• New abdominal wall hernia codes any method (open, laparoscopic, robotic) based on size, reducible/incarcerated and initial/recurrent
  • The new codes have zero-day global period so all preop visits and postoperative visits are billable using outpatient or inpatient E/M visit codes
  • Mesh placement is included in the new hernia codes
  • If you are removing the mesh, there is a new code for removal
  • All abdominal wall hernia types are included: epigastric, ventral, umbilical and parastomal  
  • Inguinal, femoral and lumbar hernias are excluded from this change

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) are supporting the annual health policy scholarship to attend the Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management. The scholarship is a unique opportunity to learn more about health care delivery, policy and reform.

Open to members of ASCRS and ACS residing in the United States, the scholarship supports attendance to the Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management at Brandeis University, June 3-8, 2024. The recipient will receive $8,000 to be used toward the cost of tuition, travel, housing, and subsistence during the program.

Applicants must be members in good standing of both organizations and be between 30 and 60 years of age. Specific requirements for the Health Policy Scholarship are available on the ACS website. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is March 15, 2024. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in May 2024.

Applications should be submitted online here.

Questions may be directed to the ACS Scholarships Administrator at 312-202-5281 or [email protected].

Cook Biotech Incorporated has joined The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) as one of its inaugural Premier Sponsors, a program that represents the highest-level opportunity for companies to differentiate themselves and support their strategic interest to ASCRS members and audiences. Premier Sponsors receive year-round recognition and premium positioning as part of the exclusive sponsorship.

“Premier Sponsors are the evolution of our Society and core industry partners working together at a strategic level. ASCRS appreciates Cook Biotech’s support and looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship,” said Conor Delaney, MD, PhD, ASCRS President.

ASCRS Executive Director David Westman, CPA, CAE stated, “We’re excited for Cook Biotech to join the ASCRS Premier Sponsor program as a charter member. The combined interest of our two organizations will surely do great things for the specialty in the years to come.”

Cook Biotech President Umesh Patel said, “We are proud to support ASCRS and its mission to advance the field of colorectal surgery. Cook Biotech is committed to providing support for clinicians and improving outcomes for patients. We look forward to our unique partnership with ASCRS as we work together to achieve these objectives.”

Learn more about the Premier Sponsorship here.

For further information about Premier Sponsorships, contact Jason Keith, Sr. Director, Corporate Relations | Marketing and Communications at [email protected].

About Cook Biotech
Cook Biotech, a Cook Group company, has been a leader in regenerative medicine for over 25 years. We develop transformative advanced tissue-repair products that improve patient outcomes worldwide. Our products are derived from naturally occurring extracellular matrices with wide-ranging indications including hernia, soft tissue defects, rectopexy, wound care, and fistula.

About The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons is a professional society for healthcare providers specializing in colorectal surgery. ASCRS is dedicated to ensuring high-quality patient care by advancing the science, prevention and management of disorders and diseases of the colon, rectum and anus.