April 29, 2009
Sebelius Confirmed By Senate |
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In a 65-31 vote falling mainly along party lines, Kathleen Sebelius was confirmed by the Senate as secretary of Health and Human Services yesterday evening. She had needed 60 votes to be approved. Sebelius, who resigned her seat as governor of Kansas after the vote, is expected to travel to Washington Wednesday to be sworn in (Simmons, HealthLeaders Media, April 29, 2009).
HealthLeaders Media |
Openings remain for the Review Course in Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty and Sacroplasty |
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There are still a few openings for the May 15-17, 2009 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 make your reservation.
Online Registration |
Comprehensive Review Course in Controlled Substance Management |
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Register online 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 to make your reservations.
Online Registration |
Registration Now Open for ASIPP 11th Annual Meeting |
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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-based medicine in IPM 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.
Listen to our distinguished faculty and learn from these experts the 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 "Night at the Oscars" Business Dinner Meeting on Saturday evening. The night will hold dinner, awards, entertainment, and dancing.
On Tuesday we will bring Capitol Hill to you. Presentations will be made by many distinguished congressional and governmental speakers who will address how the changing economy and administration will affect healthcare and Interventional Pain Management in particular, MCAC, etc.
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 award winning 2009 ASIPP Annual Meeting! Join us on June 27-30, 2009, in Washington, DC.
Brochure (subject to change)
Online Registration |
Florida Senate unanimously approves system to track potential prescription drug abuse |
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After years of stalled efforts to stop prescription- drug abuse and slow the state's growing pain clinic industry, the Florida Senate last Friday passed legislation to create a statewide monitoring system to track those ''doctor shopping'' for addictive pills. (Gilpatrick & Hiaasen, St. Petersburg Times, April 25, 2009).
Bills filed in the Florida House and Senate would create a prescription drug monitoring program, as well as additional oversight of pain management clinics. The monitoring program would allow doctors and pharmacists to check whether patients have recently filled prescriptions at other pharmacies before authorizing new ones.
St. Petersburg Times (tampabay.com) |
Helping search engines find you more quickly |
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Patients looking for a new doctor used to turn to the Yellow Pages which, in its alphabetized way, gave an advantage to doctors whose names started with A (Dolan, American Medical News, April 27, 2009).
Now, thanks to online search engines, Dr. Zimmerman has the same shot at being the first name listed as does Dr. Anderson -- unless Dr. Anderson has tapped the power of search engine optimization.
amednews.com |
Federal agencies begin to prioritize comparative effectiveness research dollars |
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Federal authorities charged with supervising a major expansion of comparative effectiveness research have begun holding public forums and gathering input in advance of carrying out their work (Trapp, American Medical News, April 27, 2009)..
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enacted in February includes $1.1 billion for comparative effectiveness research. Such studies evaluate of the effectiveness of different drugs, devices and procedures on the same medical condition.
amednews.com |
Medicaid physician fees grew 15 percent from 2003 to 2008 |
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Between 2003 and 2008, Medicaid physician fees rose 15.1 percent, closing a portion of the gap with Medicare physician payment rates, according to a study by researchers from the Urban Institute (Ledue, Healthcare Finance News, April 28, 2009).
Healthcare Finance News |
FDA Requires Additional Labeling for Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers |
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The Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule today that requires manufacturers of over-the- counter (OTC) pain relievers and fever reducers to revise their labeling to include warnings about potential safety risks, such as internal bleeding and liver damage, associated with the use of these popular drugs.
Products covered by the FDA action include acetaminophen, and a class of drugs known as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. Acetaminophen is in a class by itself. The revised labeling applies to all OTC pain relievers and fever reducers, including those that contain one of these ingredients in combination with other ingredients, such as in cold medicines containing pain relievers or fever reducers.
FDA |
Patient taking Fentanyl and Vicodin dies; doctors sued for failing to turn patient over to a pain managment specialist |
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Two Belleville doctors are being sued over the death of a man who was prescribed Fentanyl and Vicodin at the same time (Holleran, St. Clair Record, April 28, 2009).
The comlaint claims the patient's death was caused because his physicians prescribed excessive amounts of narcotic drugs and failed to consult with a pain management specialist concerning pain medications they should have prescribed.
The St. Clair Record |
E-prescribing jumps 61% |
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E-prescribing jumped 61% in the first quarter of 2009, according to a survey by Surescripts. "In the past two years, the U.S. has gone from 19,000 to 103,000 prescribers routing prescriptions electronically-punctuated by 39% sequential growth in prescriber adoption in the first quarter of this year," said Harry Totonis, president and CEO of Surescripts (HealthLeaders Media, April 23, 2009).
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HealthLeaders Media |
Physicians Wanted |
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Visit the ASIPP Web site to find available positions for IPM physicians.
Physicians Wanted |
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Copyright © 2008
American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians ®
81 Lakeview Drive, Paducah, KY 42001
Phone 270.554.9412, Fax 270.554.5394
E-mail asipp@asipp.org
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