Congress voted to halt planned cuts in Medicare payments to doctors Tuesday, overriding President Bush's veto in a battle that pitted health insurers against physicians.

The new law stops a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors, part of a scheduled cost-saving formula that went into effect July 1.

The Board Review and Competency Course in Controlled Substance Management & Coding, Compliance and Practice Management is less than two weeks away. If you have not registered, there are still openings. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to broaden your knowledge and enhance your skills in interventional pain management.

Comprehensive Pain Medicine Board Review

This course is designed for physicians seeking board certification or re-certification for the ABMS Pain Medicine examination or for the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP) Part I examination.

The review course will be held on July 28 - August 1 in St. Louis. This five-day intensive Board Review Course is a CME activity is not only geared to prepare physicians for their pain boards but can also serve an in-depth review of the specialty of pain medicine.

ABIPP Part 1 exam will be administered in St. Louis on Aug. 2, 2008 at the Chase Park Plaza. You must submit an application to determine eligibility to sit for this exam. The minimum requirements for eligibility are:

• A Primary ABMS or AOA board certification
• An active license to practice medicine in the United States

More information and application is available on the ASIPP Web site.

Competency Review Course and Exams

Online registration is now open for the 2008 Competency Review Course and Examinations in Coding, Compliance, and Practice Management & Controlled Substance Management.

The course will be held at the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis on July 28 - August 2, 2008. This intensive review course is planned as a CME activity to prepare physicians seeking competency certification and to provide Interventional Pain Management Specialists and other healthcare providers an in-depth review of multiple areas of interventional pain management.

The Controlled Substance Management course will be held on July 28 - 29 with an optional exam on July 30. The Coding, Compliance, and Practice Management section will begin on July 31- Aug. 1. The examination for this section will be held on Aug. 2.

ASIPP and NANS is excited to present an upcoming course in spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal implantable techniques. The review course and hands-on cadaver workshop will take place on Oct. 24-26, 2008 in Memphis, TN.

The course will feature intermediate and advanced levels. Online registration and meeting information will be available by next week. Watch for more information and mark the date to attend.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed that the evidence is adequate to conclude that thermal intradiscal procedures do not improve health outcomes. Because of this CMS has determined that thermal intradiscal procedures are not reasonable and necessary for the treatment of low back pain and we propose to issue a national noncoverage determination for TIPs.

CMS is requesting public comments on this proposed determination. They are particularly interested in comments that include evidence not previously reviewed or that assess their evaluation of the evidence included in the determination.

After considering the public comments and any additional evidence CMS will make a final determination and issue a final decision memorandum.

More information on CMS proposed decision on Intradiscal Procedures, click here

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a proposed rule that will update payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2009 and improve quality of services provided in hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). The proposed rule builds on efforts across Medicare to transform the program into a prudent purchaser of health care services, paying based on quality of care, not just quantity of services.

In order for ASIPP to secure a seat on the AMA House of Delegates, we must meet the requirement of the AMA membership of at least 35% of our active members. Currently this number falls short of this by 100 members.

We have had many responses in the last week and are making progress on our fulfilling the required percentage. We are are still short however so if you are not a member of the AMA, please join today. Please note that the AMA is currently offering a half price registeratin opportunity.

Thank you in advance for taking this important action to assure IPM is represented in important issues considered by the AMA.

A prominent pain doctor who founded a multimillion-dollar practice was sentenced Friday to three years in federal prison for his role in one of the District's largest health care scams.

Medicare spending on medical imaging increased to $14 billion from 2000 to 2006, and CMS should require prior authorization for imaging services to discourage physicians from ordering the tests for personal profit rather than patient benefit, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Monday.

A Florida man speaks out about his drug abuse as he alleges to be a former patient of the doctor accused as the ringleader in the trafficking of illegal prescription drugs into six Kentucky counties, including Rowan, Carter and Elliott. (Rose, Morehead News, July 11, 2008)

Doctors complain of shrinking payments from health insurers, pointing to insurance companies' huge profits and high CEO salaries. In response, insurers say doctors provide uneven care, overtreat patients, and push up costs for everyone. The decades-old confrontation has gotten more heated recently, as insurers squeeze doctors' payments as one way to bring down soaring healthcare costs. (Roberson, Dallas Morning News, July 14, 2008)

An increasing number of Texas doctors are opting out of Medicare, weary of the perennial fights over cuts in reimbursement. Only 58% of doctors in the state now accept new Medicare patients, according to a survey by the Texas Medical Association. That number is down from an estimated 90% before 1990. Among primary-care doctors, the percentage that now accept Medicare patients is 38%. Leaders of the Texas Medical Assocation now predict the percentage will continue to plummet if Congress doesn't arrive at a long-term solution soon. (Houston Chronicle, July 8, 2008)

improve pain management and patient care, with its "grade" jumping from a D+ to a B, the American Cancer Society reported Tuesday. (Hendrick, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 15, 2008)

Researchers analyzed whether state pain policies and regulations enhanced or impeded pain management. The study, by the University of Wisconsin's Pain & Policy Studies Group, said only five states received a grade of "A" for enabling health care professionals to effectively alleviate the suffering of their patients, without encountering barriers in legislation or regulation.

The Georgia Society of Pain Physicians' (GSIPP) Annual Meeting/Pain Summit will once again be held at Lake Oconee, in Greensboro, GA on August 8-10, 2008.

For the 3rd consecutive year, the meeting will take place at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton at Reynold's Plantation. This year promises to be another wonderful venue at this incredible resort.

The meeting agenda will cover various interventional and pain practice related topics by nationally and internationally renown speakers. To date presentations will be provided by: Gabor Racz, MD, Rick North, MD, Ted Kline, MD, John Nelson, MD, Aaron Calodney, MD, Leonardo Kapural, MD, Jeff Petersohn, MD and Jennifer Bolen, JD.

GSIPP President welcomes all ASIPP members to attend and see firsthand just how beautiful the South really is.

ASIPP is now offering a new feature for those who advertise on our Positions Wanted section of the ASIPP Website. As a service to our advertisers and our members, please find the link to each current job posting.

Fellows hip Trained Physician - Northwest Indiana

Out patient Interventional Pain Physician - Atlanta, Georgia

Pain Management Opportunity - Pennsylvania

Entrepre neurial Opportunity - Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Florida Opportunities

Pain Medicine Fellowship Program Opportunity

BC/ BE Physiatrist - Shrewsbury, New Jersey

Part nership Opportunity - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Interve ntional Pain Medicine Physician - St. Cloud, Minnesota

100% Pain Practice - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Natio nal Pain Institute - Florida

Interv entional Pain Specialist - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

MAYO CLINIC - Cardiac Anesthesiologist

Interven tional Pain Physiatrist Wanted - Nevada