The deadline for the Physician Practice Information Survey has been extended through the end of January do to insuffient data. Interventional Pain Management nees 20 more surveys.

Please note that if you were selected to take the survey, you would have already received it. ASIPP did not distribute the surveys. They were distributed and are maintained by dmrkynetec survey firm. If you are unsure whether or not you received one, contact drmrkynetec at 877- 816-8940. They can assist you.

If you have recieved a survey (a limited number were sent out) and have questions, please call 1-877-816-8940 to speak with one of dmrkynetec's executive interviewers about the 2008 Physician Information and Practice Expense Survey.

The survey results will be used to positively influence national decision makers to ensure accurate and fair representation for all physicians and patients, and to articulate the challenges of running a practice that provides expert patient care, while operating a business that is sustainable. It is clear that by sending in your survey, you can directly affect your future.

If you received a survey, ASIPP encourages you to respond as soon as possible.

Plan to attend the March 6-8, 2008 Interventional Techniques Review Course, Cadaver Workshop, and ABIPP Part II Preparation.

The review course includes one day of didactics covering various interventional techniques and one and a half days of hands-on cadaver workshop designed to meet the needs of interventional pain physicians seeking to refresh or learn new skills and also for those who desire instruction for the ABIPP Part II examination.

During this 3-day event, you can improve existing skills, learn new skills, prepare for the interventional techniques certification, or prepare for the board examination. Whether you have been practicing interventional pain management for many years or are new to the field with basic skills, we are confident you will find this review course and cadaver workshop to be beneficial as it is essential to keep learning. We trust you will be eager to join us for this opportunity to professional enhancement.

The seminar will be conducted at the Westin Memphis Beale Street and the world famous Medical Education and Research Institute (MERI) in Memphis, TN. Make your plans early to attend. We look forward to seeing you in Memphis.

Meetings

Brochure

It's a perfect storm for ambulatory surgery centers nationwide. The economy is taking its toll, particularly on elective surgeries. But the centers also are being hit by changes in reimbursement and agreements between hospitals and insurers. The changes have been drastic enough so that some centers have closed (Taylor, Post-Tribune, Jan. 5, 2009).

A punitive damages verdict is enough to catch anyone's attention. But a verdict for punitive damages in a disability discrimination case can be a double whammy for physicians (Sorrel, amednews.com, Jan. 5, 2009).

Since such claims are not covered under traditional medical liability insurance, any judgments would come out of doctors' own pockets.

The House on Tuesday voted 242-181 to approve an operating rules package (H Res 5) that eliminates the Medicare trigger, which requires the president to submit a plan to contain Medicare costs if they reach a certain level, CQ Today reports. The trigger was approved as part of the 2003 Medicare law. Under the law, if 45% or more of the program's funding comes from general tax revenues for two consecutive years, the president must submit to Congress legislation that would slow spending over a seven-year period and make the program financially stable. The trigger went into effect for the first time last year.

The long-simmering concern about how physicians' financial relationships with industry could compromise medical research and education has led two prominent academic medical centers to declare they will shine a light on these ties. But some doctors wonder whether access to this kind of information is something that matters to patients (O'Reilly, amednews.com, Jan. 5, 2009).

It's a perfect storm for ambulatory surgery centers nationwide. The economy is taking its toll, particularly on elective surgeries. But the centers also are being hit by changes in reimbursement and agreements between hospitals and insurers. The changes have been drastic enough so that some centers have closed (Reinhardt, New York Times., Jan. 2, 2009).

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By reimbursing physicians for their time and effort, the Wyoming Department of Health hopes to encourage more physicians in the state to screen patients for early substance abuse issues. Starting Jan. 1, Wyoming's Medicaid program, EqualityCare, began covering billing codes for this screening, state officials said (Rupp, Star Tribune, Dec. 31, 2009).

Two Schenectady doctors are closing their family practice next month, in what a national watchdog group predicts will become a frequent occurrence.

Dr. Karen Michelena and Dr. Christopher Pawlinga send a letter to their 900 patients informing them that Union Street Family Medicine will close on February 6. The doctors blamed the poor economy and low physician reimbursements (CMS, Jaunuary 6, 2009).

If your state society has news to share, send it to mmartin@asipp.org

The AM CPT 2009 Professional Edition, AMA HCPCS 2009 Level II, and AMA Physician ICD-9-CM 2009 - Vol. 1 & 2 are now available online. Get prepared for the new year by purchasing your copies today.

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