The ACP is an Advocate for Your Practice

The AVLS has long been an advocate for those who treat venous and lymphatic disease through initiatives that educate and promote phlebology with the general public, medical community and policy-makers.

Below are a few examples of how the AVLS has advocated for the specialty on a number of levels.

THE AVLS DRAFTS MOCA SUPPORT LETTER AND SUBMITS COMMENTS ON CODES
As an advocate for excellence in vein care and the clinical research that supports this mission, the AVLS has authored a letter of support for mechano-chemical ablation (MOCA). This letter can be used by members as a resource with payers and insurance.

In September, the AVLS submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) supporting recommendations for two new CPT codes covering mecanochemical ablation (MOCA). The AVLS Board of Directors also made recommendations regarding the reimbursement scale of the 364X1 and 364X2 codes developed by the Relative Value Scale Update (RUC) and CPT Committees.

THE AVLS SUBMITS COMMENTS ON LOCAL COVERAGE DETERMINATIONS
The AVLS has submitted or is in the process of submitting comments and letters in support of members and vein care practitioners in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina with payers including Blue Cross Blue Shield and First Coast Service Options. The AVLS will continue to monitor issues across the country while providing expertise and backing for our members and the vein care community as a whole.

THE AVLS LEADS COALITION PRESENTATION AT MEDCAC MEETING
As part of a 10-member coalition of organizations dedicated to evidence-based care of venous disease, the ACP led a joint presentation to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) meeting on treatment strategies for patients with lower extremity chronic venous disease.

The group included: the Society for Interventional Radiology (SIR), American College of Cardiology (ACC), American College of Radiology (ACR), American Heart Association (AHA), Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), Society for Vascular Medicine (SVM), American Vein & Lymphatic Society, Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, VIVA Physicians (Vascular Interventional Advances), and the US Compression Alliance. The presentations were well received and a follow-up letter was authored by the coalition to address concerns raised by the committee.

THE AVLS CONTINUES TO SERVE AS VOICE WITH THE AMA
As a delegate to the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates, the AVLS has gained the opportunity to shape health policy and AMA advocacy efforts, giving a voice to vein care and AVLS advocacy. AMA Delegation status has afforded the AVLS an opportunity to appoint AVLS representatives to both the RUC and CPT coding committees, nominate a candidate to the surgical Residency Review Committee and to appoint a representative to the AMA-convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement.

THE AVLS BRINGS VENOUS TOPICS TO OTHER SOCIETIES
The AVLS presented at several meetings this year, bringing an important clinical perspective to other societies from around the world. In addition to sessions at the American Venous Forum and International Vein Congress meetings, the AVLS presented topics at the Society for Vascular Surgery, Society for Vascular Medicine, and Society for Vascular Ultrasound in the U.S. Internationally, the AVLS was represented at the UIP Chapter Meeting in Seoul, South Korea.

THE AVLS CONTINUES PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Building on the successful PR initiative, the AVLS increased its social media efforts to expand its reach with the general public. By identifying specific market segments and crafting targeted messaging, the AVLS increased engagement (e.g. follows, reposts, likes) 117% in the last year. In addition, the AVLS secured a grant of $10,000 a month from Google as part of their non-profit AdWords program.