April 8, 2009
Florida clinics multiply, drug overdoses climb |
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Broward County has become the painkiller capital of the United States, the notorious home to a cottage industry of storefront pain clinics selling alarming numbers of narcotics and feeding a brazen black market sprawling through the South and New England (Hiaasen, The Miami Herald, May 4, 2009)
The Miami Herald |
Review Course in Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty and Sacroplasty |
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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 |
Pain doctor made to prove care was proper |
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Innocent until proven guilty? That principle was turned on its head when an Ohio jury was instructed that, to find a physician not guilty of drug trafficking, the doctor had to show he followed the standard of care when he prescribed pain medications (Sorrel, amednews, April 6, 2009).
amednews.com |
Comprehensive Review Course in Controlled Substance Management |
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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 |
Pain bill advances in Oklahoma state legislature |
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According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Oklahoma House Committee on Public Health voted 13-5 in support of SB 1133 as amended. The amended version would make it unlawful to practice or offer to practice interventional pain management unless such individual is a licensed MD or DO.
However, a nurse anesthetist could administer a lumbar intra-laminar epidural steroid injection when requested to do so by a physician and under the direct supervision of a physician. Moreover, a nurse anesthetist would be prohibited from operating a freestanding pain management facility without direct supervision of a physician who is board-certified in interventional pain management or its equivalent.
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.
SB 1133 |
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 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 |
Government announces 2010 Medicare Advantage rates |
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The federal government said Monday it will bump up a rate used to figure Medicare Advantage reimbursement to insurers, but many analysts expect overall payment rates to fall next year (Associated Press, April 6, 2009).
That raises some concern for how lower reimbursement will affect the plans, which allow the elderly and disabled to receive benefits through private health insurers.
Dailyadvance.com |
Medicare Advantage defenders decry proposed cuts |
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Medicare Advantage, for years strongly accused by critics of receiving too much federal money, lately has become a big target for lawmakers eager to find tens of billions of dollars to offset new health spending. But Barbara S. Spivak, MD, says the private alternative to fee-for-service care works well for some beneficiaries (Silva, amednews.com, April 6, 2009).
That's when many of the poisoned machines will get more aggressive about "phoning home" to the worm's creators over the Internet. When that happens, the bad guys behind the worm will be able to trigger the program to send spam, spread more infections, clog networks with traffic, or try to bring down Web sites.
amednews.com |
Questions and Answers for Consumers about FDA's Action Involving Unapproved Narcotics Containing Morphine Sulfate, Hydromorphone or Oxycodone |
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent warning letters directing companies to stop making and distributing specific narcotic products in certain dosage forms that lack the required FDA approval. Affected products include unapproved high concentrate oral solutions containing morphine sulfate and unapproved immediate release tablets containing morphine sulfate, hydromorphone, or oxycodone.
FDA |
FDA Recalls Pistachio Products Update |
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The FDA and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are investigating Salmonella contamination in pistachio products sold by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, Calif. The company has stopped all distribution of processed pistachios and will issue a voluntary recall involving approximately 1 million pounds of its products. Because the pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods, it is likely this recall will impact many products. In addition, the investigation at the company is ongoing and may lead to additional pistachio product recalls.
FDA |
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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