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

At the end of December Congress put a short- lived hold on a huge physician reimbursement cut. This year there are many problems we must address; the July 1 reimbursement cut, ASC payment cuts, NASPER funding, and increased costs, reimbursement denials, and ACOEM and ODG Guideline issues which will affect reimbursement. The issues seem insurmountable but with your help, we can tackle each one of these issues, one-by-one and win.

1. Physician Reimbursement Cuts
2. ASC Cuts
3. NASPER Funding

Send a letter addressing all three issues through Capwiz: http://capwiz.com/asipp/issues/alert/?alertid=11058511=CO

Our government officals need to hear from our patients as well. This is easy to accomplish; print out the patient letter we have provided and ask all your patients to sign it (the last page of the word document for your state, see link in paragraph above). After you obtain these signatures your staff can send them as a Capwiz letter using the following link: http://capwiz.com/asipp/issues/alert/?alertid=11058731=CO

If you have any questions, call the ASIPP office for assistance: 270-554-9412.

The death of actor Heath Ledger from an accidental overdose of six pain and anxiety medicines -- including the narcotics OxyContin and Vicodin -- has prompted warnings about misuse of prescription drugs, which ranks as one of the fastest growing segments of drug abuse. Nobody disputes the problem. But the strategies for tackling it aren't changing the trends, they are just hobbling doctors and patients, and may retard the development of new medications. (S. Gottlieb, The Wall Street Journal, Feb. 27, 2008)

The Drug Enforcement Administration is, sensibly enough, targeting the small number of physicians who inappropriately prescribe drugs in violation of current laws, the "patients" who doctor shop for painkillers and hoard drugs to abuse or sell them, and the criminal diversion of these medications from pharmacies and distribution centers. But the DEA is also trying to influence clinical decisions about when these drugs are prescribed.

The Wall Street Journal

On February 15, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration made available a Draft Guidance for Industry: Good Reprint Practices for the Distribution of Medical Journal Articles and Medical or Scientific Reference Publications on Unapproved New Uses of Approved Drugs and Approved or Cleared Medical Devices (Draft Guidance). This Draft Guidance is intended to address a policy gap left by the expiration of Section 401 of the FDA Modernization Act (FDAMA`). Its publication comes after several years of silence by FDA on the dissemination of reprints discussing unapproved uses of approved products (so-called "off- label uses"), following the decision in Washington Legal Foundation v. Henney.

FDA will be accepting comments on the Draft Guidance until April 21, 2008.

The Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the Draft Guidance may be found at the following link: http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/08-746.pdf

The Draft Guidance itself may be seen at the following link: http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/FDA-2008-D-0053-gdl.pdf

A bill filed by Rep. Steve Walsh that would require doctors to complete 10 hours of prescription drug and pain medication training before receiving their license has moved closer to becoming law.

Walsh, a Lynn Democrat, filed the legislation after serving as a member of the Massachusetts OxyContin and Other Drug Abuse Commission, a group formed through a Walsh budget amendment.

The bill recently received a favorable report from Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. If enacted, it would require training for doctors on effective pain management in an effort to avoid over prescribing of highly-addictive painkillers like OxyContin.

The Daily Item

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

After two years of planning and a public investment of more than $60 million, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said on Monday that New York City was ready to equip doctors with computer software that can track patients' medical records in order to provide better preventive care (Marc Santora, The New York Times, Feb. 26, 2008).

While not mentioning anyone by name, Mr. Bloomberg used his press conference in the Bronx on Monday to criticize national political leaders for failing to address the issue of disease prevention, which he considers a more significant problem than either the lack of access to health care or skyrocketing costs.

The New York Times

AT Inc. is partnering with Tennessee to provide the country's first statewide system to electronically exchange patient medical information, the telecommunications company said today.

The system is designed to securely transmit detailed patient information between medical professionals. It will allow doctors to access medical histories, prescribe medicines over the Internet and transfer images like X-rays, MRIs and CT scans.

The Tennessean

According to a report issued this week by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), growth in health care spending in the United States is projected to be 6.7 percent in 2007, Average annual growth is expected to remain near that rate through 2017, the report said.

The analysis was prepared by CMS's Office of the Actuary and published online by the journal Health Affairs. Over the full projection period (2007-2017), annual growth in health spending is anticipated to be higher than annual growth in both the overall economy (4.9 percent) and in general inflation (2.4 percent).

CMS

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

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