Louisiana Supreme Court Upholds Injunction in CRNA Scope of Practice

We are pleased to announce that the Louisiana Supreme Court has denied the writs filed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing (LSBN), Louisiana Association of Nurse Anesthetists (LANA) and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). This ruling means that the permanent injunction issued by the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal is now final.

In December 2008, the LSBN with the support of the LANA/AANA appealed the December 23, 2008 favorable ruling for the Spine Diagnostics Center of Baton Rouge by the Louisiana Court of Appeals. The case has been in the courts since 2005.

J. Michael Burdine, on behalf of the Spine Diagnostics Center of Baton Rouge, first brought the case to the courts in an effort to halt the practice of interventional pain techniques by non-physicians, specifically in this case by CRNAs. Subsequently the Louisiana Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (LSIPP) and American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) became principal supporters in the case.

Over the years many organizations and individuals have supported the case through testimony, filing of Amicus Briefs, financial support , and time. Thanks to all who have worked tirelessly to see this case to the end. ASIPP is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the many dedicated individuals in the fight to preserve interventional pain management and most importantly, to uphold patient safety.

HHS nominee Sebelius awaits Senate vote

President Obama's second choice to lead the Dept. of Health and Human Services had her confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill but did not receive a Senate vote before lawmakers left town for two weeks, continuing a leadership void in the department (Silva, amednews, April 13, 2009).

Senators did not vote on whether to confirm Democratic Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as HHS secretary before recessing April 3. The next opportunity for the upper chamber to consider the nomination will come after lawmakers return to the Capitol the week of April 20.

amednews.com

Review Course in Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty and Sacroplasty

On May 15-17, 2009, ASIPP will hold a specialty review course and cadaver workshop in Verbebroplasty, Kyphoplasty,and Sacroplasty.

This intensive review course and hands-on workshop is a CME activity designed to prepare physicians seeking credentialing and as an in-depth review of vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and sacroplasty. The 3-day event is an excellent way to begin learning new skills or to assist you in improving your existing skills.

The course offers an excellent opportunity for educational and professional enhancement. At the conclusion of the course, in addition to your CME certificate, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Accommodations are at the Memphis Marriott Downtown. Call 901-527-7300 or 888-557-8740 and inform your booking agent you are booking under the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians to receive a discounted group rate of $169 per night (discount ends April 23).

Enrollment is limited and the early registration discount price ends on April 23.

Online Registration

Comprehensive Review Course in Controlled Substance Management

Online registration is now open for the Competency Review Course and Examination in Controlled Substance Management. The course will be held in Memphis, TN at the Memphis Downtown Marriott on May - 15-17. The review course will be held on May 15-16 with an optional exam on May 17.

This intensive review course is planned as a CME activity to prepare physicians seeking competency certification and also to provide Interventional Pain Management Specialists and other healthcare providers an in-depth review of the important topic of controlled substance management.

Accommodations are at the Memphis Marriott Downtown. Call 901-527-7300 or 888-557-8740 and inform your booking agent you are booking under the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians to receive a discounted group rate of $169 per night (discount ends April 23).

Online Registration

FDA Adopts Interim Plan to Avoid Shortage of Medically Necessary Opioid

The U.S Food and Drug Administration has amended its March 30, 2009, action warning manufacturers to stop the production and distribution of certain unapproved prescription opioids, to allow the continued marketing and distribution of one particular type of opioid -- a high concentrate morphine sulfate oral solution -- on an interim basis.

The FDA took this action in response to concerns from patients and health care professionals in the palliative care community that the action taken on March 30 would cause a shortage of 20 mg/ml morphine sulfate oral solution. This product is widely used to alleviate pain in terminally-ill patients. The agency has determined that this dosage form is medically necessary, and should remain on the market until an approved alternative becomes available to the patients that need it.

SB 1133 would authorize the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision to impose administrative penalties and initiate disciplinary and injunctive proceedings against any person who violates the Oklahoma Interventional Pain Management and Treatment Act.

FDA Alert

Registration Now Open for ASIPP 11th Annual Meeting

The ASIPP Annual Meeting is the premier Educational Forum for Evidence-based Medicine for Interventional Pain Management! This is a first-time opportunity to learn about the importance of evidence medicine as it applies to you, your patients, and your practice. In addition, this year we offer an extensive program that covers the essential elements of practice management including extensive presentation on Billing and Coding. Learn from the experts in these fields; learn about cutting-edge research and the importance of guidelines, IPM techniques as they apply to evidence-based medicine. Discover many important "pearls" for Billing and Coding. Hear how you can run your ASC or office more efficiently through best practices. Interventional Pain Management is continually growing and evolving, and there is no better time to stay abreast of the field and learn about emerging issues.

We welcome and encourage all ASIPP members and guests to attend the 11th Annual Meeting. This program offers something for everyone; physicians, administrators, nurses, educators, etc. We also invite you to attend the ASIPP Business Dinner Meeting on Saturday evening. The night will hold dinner, awards, entertainment, and dancing. Stay through Tuesday to hear our distinguished speakers address how the changing economy and administration will affect healthcare and Interventional Pain Management in particular.

Our host hotel is the Crystal Gateway Marriott , 1700 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202. Phone: (703) 920-3230. When making your reservations ask for the ASIPP discounted rate.

You won't want to miss the 2009 ASIPP Annual Meeting! Join us on June 27-30, 2009, in Washington, DC.

Brochure (subject to change)

Online Registration

With success comes scrutiny: ASCs face legal obstacles

Ambulatory surgery centers are subject to a number of state-level restrictions, and they are getting pushback from hospitals and health insurers (Sorrel, amednews, March 30, 2009 issue).

When Georgia general surgeon Christopher Smith, MD, made plans in 1991 to open an ambulatory surgery center with his partners at Albany Surgical PC, he envisioned having a less-hectic schedule, sending patients home instead of to the hospital, and reducing costs for his practice and his patients.

Dr. Smith did not envision getting sidelined in the courts for years. But he did, thanks to a state law barring general surgeons from operating an ASC without first proving that the outpatient facility would serve a community need. Although recent changes lifted the certificate-of-need restriction, "we've never been able to get off the ground," he said. "To say it was an uphill battle is an understatement."

amednews.com

Texas Attorney General Ends Investigation of BCBS Physician-Rating Program

The office of Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott (R) on Friday said it ended an investigation into the physician-rating program of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and reached an agreement that the insurer will no longer use claims data to rank doctors, the Dallas Morning News reports. All major insurers operating in Texas use systems to rate doctors, but while these systems are seen as a benefit to members seeking better price and transparency in quality, they also can be "stumbling blocks in the payer-provider relationship," according to the Morning News. Doctors have expressed concerns that insurers create these ratings based solely on bills, without discussing the care delivered with doctors, and that physicians receive poorer ratings when patients fail to comply with their orders or when an insurer makes an error.

Dallas News

Senator Puts UnitedHealth Execs on Payments Hot Seat

Among health insurance CEOs, Stephen Hemsley of UnitedHealth is known for shying from the limelight and rarely submits to press interviews, let alone cross-examination at a congressional committee hearing (Fuhrmans, The Wall Street Journal, March 31, 2009).

So it was something of a star turn when he testified today before the Senate Commerce Committee over whether UnitedHealth and other insurers have systematically underpaid consumers for out-of- network care. Sen. John D. Rockefeller, the committee's chairman, is delving into the industry's controversial payment-setting practices more than two months after New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo began reaching settlements with the industry's biggest players over the issue.

The Wall Street Journal

Electronic health records raise doubt

When Dave deBronkart, a tech-savvy kidney cancer survivor, tried to transfer his medical records from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to Google Health, a new free service that lets patients keep all their health records in one place and easily share them with new doctors, he was stunned at what he found (Wangsness, Boston.com, April 13, 2009).

Google said his cancer had spread to either his brain or spine - a frightening diagnosis deBronkart had never gotten from his doctors - and listed an array of other conditions that he never had, as far as he knew, like chronic lung disease and aortic aneurysm. A warning announced his blood pressure medication required "immediate attention."

Boston.com

New Rules Governing Internet Pharmacies Go Into Effect

New Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations implementing the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 go into effect Monday, April 13. These regulations will help to prevent the illegal diversion of powerful medications that can cause harm to consumers for whom they were not intended, for the profit of those who are not licensed to handle them and who would exploit the uninformed. The Interim Final Rule was published in the Federal Register this week, and the public has 60 days from its publication to submit comments to the DEA.

DEA Update

Senate leaders to launch healthcare reform roundtables

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) announced Tuesday the schedule for a series of roundtables on the financial aspects of healthcare reform (Manos, Healthcare Finance News, April 15, 2009).

Policy and industry experts will gather with committee members throughout April and May to discuss healthcare reform issues as Congress works to hammer out the details of comprehensive healthcare legislation by June. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to play a key role in developing the legislation.

.

Healthcare Finance News

Physicians Wanted

Visit the ASIPP Web site to find available positions for IPM physicians.

Physicians Wanted