June 21, 2006

July Cadaver Workshop and Review Course – Room Block Extended

Make plans to attend the next Interventional Techniques Review Course and Comprehensive Interventional Cadaver Workshop on July 7-9, 2006 in Memphis, TN. The DoubleTree has extended ASIPP’s room block until Thursday, June 29th. If you have not already booked your room, do so by 5:00 p.m. on June 29 to secure the reduced rate.

DoubleTree

185 Union Avenue

Memphis, TN 38103

901.528.1800

The Review Course is planned as a CME activity to prepare physicians seeking board certification by ABIPP or as an in-depth review of Interventional Techniques. Additionally the Review Course will be based on the specifications of the Cadaver Workshop and will assist in preparation for ABIPP Part I or Part II (FIPP) examinations.

REGISTER ONLINE at: asipp.org

Registration Still Open for ABIPP Part I and Pain Medicine Board Review

ABIPP is still accepting applications to sit for the ABIPP Part 1 Examination and registration is still open for the Comprehensive Pain Medicine Board Review Course. The review course is designed for physicians seeking board certification or re-certification for ABMS Pain Medicine examination or for American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP) Part I examination.

The exam will be held on Aug. 5 – 9 in St. Louis. This five-day in-depth review Board Review Course is a CME activity which also serves as an ideal review for the specialty of pain medicine. To register on-line or for more information on the review course or to register, visit our Web site…Meetings

Send your ABIPP exam application in today!

California’s Pain Management CME Requirement Deadline Approaching

On October 4, 2001, AB 487, a bill was signed into law requiring most California-licensed physicians to take, as a one-time requirement, 12 units of continuing medical education (CME) on "pain management" and "the appropriate care and treatment of the terminally ill." The bill, which has become Business and Professions Code section 2190.5, exempts pathologists and radiologists.

The Medical Board will accept courses or programs that address one or both topics. The courses or programs must qualify for Category 1 credit and be presented by an organization accredited to provide CME by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the American Medical Association (AMA), the California Medical Association (CMA), or the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). In addition to accrediting CME providers, AMA, CMA, and AAFP may also present CME programs which will be accepted.

Physicians with an active license before January 1, 2002, will have until December 31, 2006, to obtain the 12 hours. The mandated hours must be completed by their second license renewal date or within four years whichever comes first. The 12 required hours shall count toward the 25 hours of approved continuing education each physician is required to complete during each calendar year.

http://www.medbd.ca.gov/CME_Laws.htm

New Law Allows States to Reform Benefits for Medicaid Patients

Idaho, Kentucky and West Virginia are the first to respond to the Medicaid provisions in the Deficit reduction act, signed into law in February. This provision gives states a new flexibility in reforming state benefits for Medicaid patients. In general Physicians are supportive of measure to preserve the Medicaid system which is near a breaking point.  

• West Virginia had the most controversial plan, requiring patients to sign an agreement promising to obtain screenings as directed by doctors, adhere to health programs, attend doctors' appointments and take prescribed drugs. In return they would get coverage for tobacco cessation programs and nutritional education, diabetes care, and mental health and chemical dependency services. Those who break the contract could lose these benefits by being demoted to a "basic" package.
• Idaho offered similar incentives but no punishments.
• Kentucky, meanwhile, provoked concerns from its state medical association by limiting the number of prescriptions to a monthly allowance of four, only three of which could be brand-name drugs. West Virginia's plan has similar restrictions. Waivers are available, but doctors are concerned about a lack of detail on how such exemptions will be made.

FDA Counterfeit Drugs Task Force Report Released

COSTA MESA CA USA -- MEDICAL INDUSTRY E-MAIL NEWS SERVICE(TM) -- JUNE 09 2006 -- The FDA announced new steps to strengthen existing protections against the growing problem of counterfeit drugs. The measures, which were recommended in a report released today by the agency's Counterfeit Drug Task Force, emphasize certain regulatory actions and using new technologies for safeguarding the integrity of the US drug supply.

"The adoption of the FDA Counterfeit Drug Task Force's recommendations will further reduce the risk that counterfeit products will enter the US drug distribution system and reach patients," said Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, the FDA's Acting Commissioner. "We must remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure our nation's drug supply is protected against an increasingly sophisticated criminal element engaging in a dangerous type of commerce."

ELECTRONIC SAFETY NET FOR DRUG SUPPLY:

Among other new measures, the FDA will fully implement regulations related to the Prescription Drug Marketing Act of 1987, which requires drug distributors to provide documentation of the chain of custody of drug products -- the so-called "pedigree" -- throughout the distribution system. The FDA had placed on hold certain regulatory provisions because of concerns that were raised at the time about the impact on small wholesalers.

The Task Force report also underlines the agency's belief that widespread use of e-pedigrees using electronic track and trace technology, including RFID, would provide an electronic safety net for our nation's drug supply. The report therefore recommends that stake-holders continue to work expeditiously toward that goal, and that their implementing RFID technology be used first on products that are most susceptible to counterfeiting and diversion.

Federal District Court Rules in Landmark Pharmacy Compounding Case

A federal district court judge in Midland, Texas, last month ruled that compounded preparations are not new, unapproved drugs. Two other issues in the case -- the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s broad authority to inspect pharmacies' records and pharmacies' ability to compound from bulk active ingredients for non food- producing animals (e.g. pets, horses, zoo animals) -- are still being considered by the judge. The judge ruled from the bench on the first issue and may issue a written opinion. The case -- Medical Center Pharmacy, et al. v. Gonzalez -- was originally filed by nine pharmacies in September 2004.

http://news.findlaw.com/prnewswire/20060526/26may20061206.html

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Brochure

The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) brochure has been updated and is now available to download on the Medicare Learning Network’s (MLN) Products page located at   http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/CLIABrochure.pdf

The brochure includes an overview of CLIA, why it is important, how test methods are categorized, enrollment information, as well as information regarding the five types of laboratory certificates. A hard copy of the brochure will be available early this summer and will be available for ordering on the MLN Publications Page at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/MPUB/list.asp .

Court may look at peer review confidentiality

Two Florida appeals courts have ruled that a much debated constitutional amendment removes the protection of confidentiality in peer review proceedings. But disagreement over one aspect of the measure, which gives patients access to records related to medical errors, could send the matter to the state Supreme Court.

Both appeals courts determined that Amendment 7, passed by voters in a November 2004 ballot initiative, preempts earlier statutes that protect peer review, credentialing and risk management documents from being used in medical liability lawsuits. As a constitutional amendment, the measure also overrides legislation passed in June 2005 to preserve the confidentiality of records dealing with "adverse" medical incidents, judges found.

The court cases can be found at:

Notami Hospital of Florida v. Bowen, Florida 1st District Court of Appeal decision: (opinions.1dca.org/written/opinions2006/4-21-06/05-4149.pdf)

Florida Hospital Waterman v. Buster, Florida 5th District Court of Appeal decision: (www.5dca.org/opinions/opin2006/030606/5d05-2195.op.pdf)

Dates for ABIPP Part II (FIPP)

If you still need Part II (FIPP) to complete the requirements for ABIPP certification, apply now for ABIPP Part II (FIPP). The next available date, as well as, 2007 dates are as follows:

September 21, 2006 – Budapest, Hungary

March 11, 2007 – Memphis, Tennessee

September 20, 2007 – Budapest, Hungary

For exam application and information booklet go to: http://www.worldinstituteofpain.org/fipp.htm

For more information on ABIPP Part I (FIPP) contact Paula Brashear at paula.brashear@ttuhsc.edu or 806.743.3112.

State Society News

If your state society would like to announce meetings or share news stories with our readers, send your new items to Melinda Martin - mmartin@asipp.org

Please…Save the Date!!!

The New Hampshire Society of Interventional Pain Physicians Annual Meeting

The New Hampshire Society of Interventional Pain Physicians Annual Meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at 6:00 p.m.CR Sparks, Bedford, NH

Your nursing and management staff are encouraged to attend as well. Guest speaker to be announced.

To register or for more information, contact:

Kacey Guay 603-577-3003 x31

kguay@painsolutionsusa.com

Second Annual GSIPP Summer Meeting - July 21-23

The second annual summer meeting for the Georgia Society of Interventional Pain Physicians "Pain Summit At Lake Oconee” will be held on July 21-23 at Lake Oconee in Greensboro, GA.

It is strongly suggested that all physicians attending the meeting should stay at the Ritz Carlton (800-241-3333) in the reserved GSIPP block of rooms. If this becomes full, or if you’re seeking an alternate to the Ritz, there are two nearby hotels: Jameson Inn, Greensboro, 706-453-9135; and The Lodge, Greensboro, 706-485-7785. Both are about six miles from the meeting facility.

See the GSIPP brochure for registration and meeting information. Please mail your registration form and check early – we anticipate this meeting WILL fill up!