March 7-9, 2008

• Review Course and Cadaver Workshop - March 7- 8
• FIPP Exam - March 9
  

• Review Course in Fluoroscopy
• ABIPP Competency Certification Exam in Fluoroscopic Interpretation and Radiation Safety
• Cadaver Workshop - May 17-18 (Basic and Intermediate)
  

• ASIPP 10th Annual Meeting Celebration
• Featuring Practice Management for Interventional Pain Physicians and Professionals
• Legislative Session and Capitol Hill Visits
• Abstract Presentations

• Board Review Course
• Coding, Compliance and Practice Management
• Controlled Substance Management
• ABIPP Competency Examinations
• ABIPP Part I Examination
  

• Review Course and Cadaver Workshop

• Review Course and Cadaver Workshop In Spinal Cord Stimulation

Medicare's controversial Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program is coming under increased scrutiny, even as it moves toward expansion nationwide. The program, initially authorized by Congress as a demonstration program, is scheduled to begin expanding nationally, as a result of legislation passed at the end of 2006. In 2007, Medicare providers and Members of Congress began expressing their concerns over the RAC Demonstration Program overseen by the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) and its potential impact on quality of patient care.

Representative Lois Capps (D-CA) introduced legislation that would impose a moratorium on the program and require CMS to submit a report evaluating the RAC program. A recent increase in activity by the RACs and by CMS seems to indicate that additional changes may be on the horizon.

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If you have information or comments please contact: Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD, 2831 Lone Oak Road, Paducah, KY 42003, Phone 270.554.8373 ext. 101, or e-mail at drm@asipp.org

RAC Activity Update

As reported last week, many of you may have received the decision from Blue Cross Blue Shield, specifically Anthem in Kentucky and Indiana, on bundling fluoroscopy codes into the procedure based on the determination of adhesiolysis code.

On behalf of ASIPP, Dr. Laxmaiah Manchikanti sent a letter to Ingenex Corp. asking them to correct a coding description that has apparently caused the bundling of fluoroscopy codes 62310 through 62319, 62270 through 62282 and 62310 through 62319 into 77003.

These codes are being bundled by many insurers and at times, even Medicare, based on an unfortunate interpretation of CPT codes and the subsequent description in a coding publication.

Letter to Ingenex

Based on the new fee schedule, ASCs should have received an approximate 3% cut for 2008 and an undetermined amount for 2009. However, due to misunderstanding many carriers are using the final rate for 2008 rather than transitional rate; this is causing a significant increase in cuts.

Further, due to the issues related to software programs we can no longer use modifier 50. We have been advised to file the first procedure with 2 items, either times 2 or on 2 separate lines, however, it seems that this system is not working and we are not getting paid for the second procedure in the bilateral.

ASIPP is working on this issue with CMS, as well as some local carriers.

On May 16 - 18, ASIPP will hold a Review Course in Fluoroscopy Cadaver Workshop in Spinal and Non-Spinal Interventional Techniques covering basic and intermediate levels. The course will be held at the Memphis Marriott Downtown and the Medical Education Research Center (MERI) in Memphis, TN.

At the completion of the Fluoroscopy course, physicians will also have the opportunity to sit for the ABIPP Competency Certification Examination in Fluoroscopic Interepretation and Radiation Safety.

This course is an essential component for interventional pain physicians and will provide educational opportunities to assist you in providing high quality, competent, safe, and cost-efficient services to your patients.

Register early and save. Registrations received on or before April 25 may take advantage of the early registration discount.

The Memphis Marriott Downtown is our host hotel for this event. Book your room on or before April 23 to recieve the ASIPP discount group rate of $159. Call 1- 888-557-8740.

Meetings

A measure now before the Alaska Senate would authorize the Board of Pharmacy to create and keep a detailed record of which Alaskans are using prescription drugs.

Senate Bill 196, sponsored by Senate President Lyda Green and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, seeks to establish a controlled substance prescription database in the pharmacy board that would include a record of every prescription written in the state for medicines controlled under state and federal law.

Peninsulaclarion.com

Problems with alcohol as a primary substance of abuse accounted for 40 percent of the 1.8 million admissions in 2006 for substance abuse treatment in the United States according to a report based on the latest nationwide survey of treatment facilities. Yet this percentage of admissions for alcohol abuse treatment is markedly lower than the 51 percent share it represented in 1996.

The Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2006 Highlights report, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also reveals that over the same 10 year period the percentages of admissions for methamphetamine, prescription drug and marijuana abuse rose.

The idea that chronic pain should be considered a disease and be specifically treated as such is what a pain management expert in Australia is proposing. Michael J Cousins AM, MD, DSc, professor and director of the Pain Management Research Institute at the University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, in Australia, presented the Decade of Pain plenary session on February 14, 2008, at the 24th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida.

Cousins has been drawing attention in Australia and internationally to evidence that shows that severe persistent pain becomes a "disease entity" and has been instrumental in the delivering the message that pain relief is a basic human right.

MedHeadlines

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 and submission directions.

Chattem, Inc. recently announced a voluntary nationwide recall of its Icy Hot Heat Therapy products, including consumer "samples" that were included on a limited promotional basis in cartons of its 3 oz. Aspercreme® product. (Feb. 19, 2008)

Chattem is recalling these products because it has received reports of first, second, and third-degree burns, as well as skin irritation resulting from consumer use or possible misuse of these products.

FDA Alert

"Prevalence of facet joint pain in chronic spinal pain of cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions," a May 2004 article by Laxmaiah Manchikanti, Mark V. Boswell, Vijay Singh, Vidyasagar Pampati, Kim S. Damron and Carla D. Beyer. This article has been accessed by more than 39,300 people since it first appeared on BioMed Central.

Visit Spinal Disorders and Techniques for the article "Facet Joint Pain in Chronic Spinal Pain: An Evaluation of Prevalence and False-positive Rate of Diagnostic Blocks",  Rajeev Manchukonda, BDS; Kavita N. Manchikanti, BA; Kimberly A.Cash, RT; Vidyasagar Pampati, MSc; Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD

More than 17,700 people have accessed the article "A randomized, controlled trial of spinal endoscopic adhesiolysis in chronic refractory low back and lower extremity pain," earning it a "highly accessed" flag on BioMed Central's online journal, Anesthesiology. The article, authored by Laxmaiah Manchikanti, Mark V. Boswell, Jose J. Rivera, Vidyasagar Pampati, Kim S. Damron, Carla D. McManus, Doris E. Brandon and Sue R. Wilson, has been on the web site since Aug. 1, 2006.  This article is also listed as the 7th all-time most viewed article.

"Risk of whole body radiation exposure and protective measures in fluoroscopically guided interventional techniques: a prospective evaluation." The article, written by Laxmaiah Manchikanti, Kim A. Cash, Tammy L. Moss, Jose Rivera, and Vidyasagar Pampati, was published in 2003, has been viewed over 14,400 times, and as the articles mentioned above, is available to open access on the BioMed Central Web site. Access these articles on BioMed Central.

BioMed Central

For your convenience, you may now pay your dues online. Click here then click on "Renew Here." No password is required to renew. If you have questions or need assistance contact the ASIPP office at 270-554-9412 Ext. 208

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.

Fellowship Trained Physician — Northwest Indiana

Outpatient Interventional Pain Physician — Atlanta, Georgia

BC/BE Physiatrist — Shrewsbury, New Jersey

100% Pain Practice — Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Partnership Opportunity — Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Interventional Pain Physiatrist Wanted — Nevada

Interventional Pain Specialist — Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Pain Management Opportunity — Pennsylvania

Entrepreneurial Opportunity — Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Florida Opportunities

Pain Medicine Fellowship Program Opportunity

Interventional Pain Specialist — Paducah, KY and Marion, IL

Interventional Pain Medicine Physician — St. Cloud, Minnesota