In this issue

·  February-April Meeting Registration Available

·  2010 CPT Coding Update

·  Join Us For A Special Webinar Titled 'Coding: Be Prepared For 2010'

·  Abstract and Poster Session Deadline Set

·  ASIPP Webinar Survey

·  Medical Billing Code Monopoly Explains American Medical Association's Support for Health Plan, Critics Say

·  Side By Side Comparison of House and Senate Health Bills

·  Patient Safety Improving Slightly, 10 Years After IOM Report on Errors

·  Practices Can Speed Collections By Preauthorizing Credit Cards

·  GAO: Retiree Health Spending Remains Underfunded in Many States

·  Florida Republican May File Suit Over Health Bill

·  Upcoming State Society Meetings

·  Physicians Wanted

February-April Meeting Registration Available

Make your plans to attend the Comprehensive Review Course and Cadaver Workshop (Basic, Intermediate, and Comprehensive Interventional Pain Management Examination Preparation Course) Or the Controlled Substance Management Review Course to be held concurrently February 26-28, 2010 in Memphis, Tennessee.

Book your room at the Peabody by February 3, 2010 to receive the discounted group room rate of $175.

Register Today

2010 CPT Coding Update

Changes to CPT-2009 for IPM Physicians CPT-2009 has some relevant information for interventionalists. Changes are as follows: Click Here to see CPT changes

Be aware that beginning Jan. 1, 2010, CMS will halt payment for the in-office consultation codes (99251-99245) and inpatient consultation codes (99251-99255) in 2010. These codes remain listed in the AMA CPT 2010 manual, but this does not guarantee coverage as Medicare did adopt the proposal to no longer pay for the consultation codes.

There has also been significant confusion with language for coverage for implantable neurostimulator electrodes in an office setting. CMS has posted a correction for code L8680, maintaining the 2009 code through 2010. The change was the result of a collaboration among industry and multiple societies.

The new definition for L8680 effective January 2010 is "IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATOR ELECTRODE, EACH". CMS corrected the description that it published on November 5th and it is now the same as it was in 2009.

Join Us For A Special Webinar Titled 'Coding: Be Prepared For 2010'

Don't find yourself behind in 2010. Join us January 13 for this 90 minute webinar brought to you by ASIPP and presented by Joanne Mehmert, CPC, CCC-PM will bring you up-to-date on issues that affect billing for Pain Management services. Mark your calendar. Click HERE for more information and registration information.

The AMA made significant changes in the way facet procedures will be reported in 2010. For starters CPT codes 64470-64476 have been deleted and replaced by CPT codes 64490-64495. The AMA also created new codes for the removal of a spinal cord stimulator electrode array. In addition to the CPT coding changes Joanne will review issues including but not limited to:

Program highlights include:

• ICD-9- and HCPCS revisions
• Fee schedule update
• OIG Work Plan review
• CCI and CMS audit updates
• Information on CMS code proposed changes for urine drug testing

Conference includes a Q/A and handouts. For more information email Ray Lane at rlane@asipp.org.

Abstract and Poster Session Deadline Set

Mark your calendars now to participate in the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians abstract and poster presentation at the 12th Annual Meeting, June 26 - June 30, 2010 in Arlington, Virginia.

This year we are offering an early bird deadline of March 31, 2010. This early deadline will ensure that your abstract gets first preference and an opportunity to grab one of our limited spots for presentation.

A final abstract submission deadline will be April 31, 2010. Those selected will be notified and will receive free registration to the annual meeting.

ASIPP Webinar Survey

In our continuing efforts to bring you educational excellence, we are pursuing webinars as an alternative means for you to acquire your educational requirements. To maximize this endeavor we need your opinion and ask that you complete a quick online survey. Thank you for your participation, ASIPP Staff

Take Survey Now!

Medical Billing Code Monopoly Explains American Medical Association's Support for Health Plan, Critics Say

WASHINGTON - -- As Democrats tout the American Medical Association's endorsement of their health care overhaul, critics are pointing to their studious sidestepping of a little-known monopoly that sends millions into the trade group's coffers each year, saying it's no surprise the Democrats were able to gain the AMA's support.

The AMA, which this year reversed its long-standing opposition to such changes, holds the exclusive rights to the medical billing codes that doctors are required to use when they submit bills to insurance plans. They are the equivalent of a bar code for nearly every medical procedure, from transplanting hearts to tucking tummies and scoping colons.

Chicago Tribune

Side By Side Comparison of House and Senate Health Bills

The Senate has passed their version of the Health Care Reform bill in the form of H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Unlike the House's bill, the Senate's bill does not include the public health insurance option, differs in Medicaid expansion, abortion, tax subsidies, and comes in at $871 billion vs. the House's bill cost of $1.052 trillion.

For a side-by-side comparison, click HERE.

Patient Safety Improving Slightly, 10 Years After IOM Report on Errors

November marked a decade since the release of a seminal Institute of Medicine report that cited research estimating as many as 98,000 Americans die annually from preventable medical errors.

The report, "To Err is Human," attracted a flurry of media attention and political scrutiny -- as well as criticism from physicians who said the estimate was too high. It also helped catalyze the modern patient safety movement, but to what end?

A report issued in December in the policy journal Health Affairs, said patient safety efforts since 1999 deserve a B-minus grade, compared with a C-plus for 2004.

Amednews.com

Practices Can Speed Collections By Preauthorizing Credit Cards

Hotels and rental car companies have long preauthorized a customer's credit card before the final bill is tallied. Now some companies are offering physicians the ability to do the same -- for a fee.

The preauthorization systems work much like many others that process credit, debit and various health and flexible savings account cards. A swipe box is plugged into a computer, usually through a USB port, and can be used for both charges and preauthorization. The patient needs to present the credit card at each visit, although most of the systems also allow for automatic recurring charges over time. Practices can estimate costs and process payments through a suite of Web-based tools, which can be integrated with most practice-management systems.

Amednews.com

GAO: Retiree Health Spending Remains Underfunded in Many States

Health-related spending represents the fastest growing component in state government budgets throughout the United States. And, while Medicaid will remain the largest health-related expenditure component among state governments for now and the near future, spending on state and local government retirees' health benefits is projected to more than double as a share of total operating revenues to 2.1% by 2050, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

GAO said that according to its model, by 2050 the number of state and local government retirees is likely to grow by about 70%-from the current level of 3 million to 5.1 million retirees. However, the cost of retiree health benefits is projected to grow more quickly, at an annual rate of 6.7% over that same period. Retiree health benefit liabilities of state and local governments currently amount to more than $530 billion, GAO estimated, with liabilities heavily dependent on projections of healthcare costs.

Health Leaders Media

Florida Republican May File Suit Over Health Bill

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Florida's attorney general questioned the constitutionality of the federal health care bill on Tuesday, calling on states to study whether to file suit to kill a provision requiring that individuals buy health insurance or pay a fine.

The attorney general, William McCollum, a Republican who is running for governor in 2010, said that the so-called mandate was "an affront to our country's principles." He added that the fine might be illegal because, in his view, it is disconnected from any commercial act.

New York Times