The Online Abstract Submission deadline has been extended to March 31, 2008. ASIPP is seeking abstracts submissions for the 10th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians is now open. The meeting will be held June 21- June 25, 2008 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Washington, DC.

To be considered for a presentation at the meeting, abstracts must be submitted by the submission deadline of 5 pm Central Standard Time (CST) March 31, 2008.

Click here for rules an submission direction

In the final hour, Congress passed a bill that would temporarily suspend the 10.1% physician payment cut scheduled to take effect on January 1 and replace it with a 0.5% payment update for the first 6 months of 2008.

On December 18, the Senate unanimously passed S. 2499, which is known as the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) Extension Act of 2007. The House of Representatives followed suit and passed the bill on December 19, voting 411 to 3.

If Congress fails to take action before the end of next June, physicians will face a cut of approximately 10.6 percent.

If you are interventional pain physician who owns or works in an ASC, it is very important that you send a comment letter to CMS addressing the many disparities which exist between ASC setting and HOPD setting. These disparities coupled with the new proposal by CMS are of great concern to SIPMS.

The cut-off for comment letters is Jan. 28, 2008 but please customize and send your letter(s) as soon as possible. If you send you letter via USPS you must send one original and two copies (3 total should be mailed). You may also send your comment letter electronically by clicking on the following link: Submit comment letter. We ask that you also get your staff involved as they may also send comment letters.

The docket number and titel is: CMS-1392-FC - Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Changes to the Hpsoital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and CY 2008 Payment Rates; Changes to the Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System and CY 2008Payment; Changes to Hospital Conditions of Participation; Changes Affecting Necessary Provider Designations of Critical Access Hospitals Rates

To assist you in sending your letter electronically, we have provided step-by-step instructions.

• Click on the link to access the sample letter
• Save the file to your computer
• Edit the letter as you desire adding your name and address to the letter
• Click on the following  CMS link to submit
• Click on the "Submit Comment" button
• Fill out the personal information screen and click "Continue"
• Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and type "attachment" in the text box
• Click on "Continue"
• Click on "browse," choose the Word file containing the saved comment letter
• Choose the appropriate file type and click and click on "Save Comments"

The Federation of State Medical Boards wants physicians to prove competence through a process similar to maintenance of board certification. Doctors see even more paperwork ahead.

Board leaders are working on an initiative to expand the requirements for maintenance of licensure, a process in which doctors demonstrate continued competence at the time of relicensing. In most states, physicians can maintain their licenses just by having no disciplinary actions against them and by completing a minimum number of hours of continuing medical education.

Make plans to attend ASIPP's comprehensive review course and hands-on cadaver workshop dedicated solely to vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and Sacroplasty on February 8-10, 2007 in Memphis TN. This CME educational program will consist of didactics covering various aspects of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, followed by a comprehensive hands- on cadaver workshop.

The course is designed to prepare physicians seeking credentialing or as an in-depth review of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Participants will experience a comprehensive learning opportunity focused on all aspects of vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, and Sacroplasty.

Register before Jan. 18, 2008 to obtain the early registration discount! Visit the ASIPP Web site for more information.

FDA issued its second safety warning on Dec. 21, 2007, about the fentanyl transdermal system, an adhesive patch that delivers a potent pain medicine through the skin. In July 2005, FDA issued a similar warning to the public and to health care providers emphasizing that the directions on the product label and on the patient package insert should be followed exactly in order to avoid overdose.

FDA has continued to receive reports of deaths and life-threatening side effects after doctors have inappropriately prescribed the patch or after people incorrectly used it.

FDA

Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife, Linda, are in jail facing 34 charges in federal court. Federal prosecutors say 56 of Schneider's patients accidentally overdosed from prescription drugs from 2002 to 2007.

A DEA agent says Schneider's Haysville clinic can no longer practice medicine because there are no licensed physicians or nurses working there.

kwch.com

Botulism Risk from Canned Green Beans

FDA is warning consumers about potentially contaminated canned cut green beans manufactured by New Era Canning Company, New Era, Mich. New Era is voluntarily recalling the green beans because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), the bacterium that causes botulism.

ASIPP is now offering the Interventional Techniques In Chronic Spinal Pain to all meeting registrants at the special price of 50% off.

Interventional Techniques in Chronic Spinal Pain is the premier manual for interventionalists. With detailed descriptions of practical techniques in interventional pain management this is a must have publication for all interventioanl pain physicians. Additionally Eeach book comes with a complimentary CD version of the book.

To order your copy, go to ASIPP Web site.

ASIPP Publishing

ASIPP is offering a new feature for those who advertise on our Postions Wanted section of the ASIPP Website. As a service to our advertisers and our members, we will list the link to each current job posting.

Interventional Pain Physician -- Louisville, Kentucky

Partnership Opportunity - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pain Management -- Florida

Pain Management Opportunity -- Pennsylvania

Entrepreneurial Opportunity -- Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Florida Opportunities

Pain Medicine Fellowship Program Opportunity

Interventional Pain Specialist -- Toledo, Ohio

Interventional Pain Specialist -- Paducah, KY and Marion, IL

Interventional Pain Medicine Physician -- St. Cloud, Minnesota

Entrepreneurial Opportunity -- Wooster, Ohio

Musculoskeletal Interventionalist -- Dallas, Texas

Interventional Pain Specialist - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Interventional Pain Physician -- New Hampshire

Interventional Pain Physiatrist Wanted - Nevada