March 4, 2009
Kansas Governor Accepts Offer as Health Secretary |
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President Obama has asked Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas to become his nominee for secretary of health and human services, tapping a red state ally to help him push through his plan to remake the nation's healthcare system. Sebelius accepted the president's offer and will be introduced by Obama at the White House today. The selection comes just days before Obama hosts a healthcare summit meeting at the White House. (Baker, The New York Times, Feb. 28, 2009).
Also read: Sebelius's political skills, experience win plauditsWashington Post, March 2, 2009
The New York Times |
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.
For hotel information and registration, go to the ASIPP Meetings page of our Web site.
Online Registration |
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 |
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 |
CMS sssues change request |
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On Feb. 6, 2009, CMS issued a change request alerting contracters to strengthen program safeguards to prevent improper payment for facet joint injection services.
CMS |
United sets new basis for fee schedule |
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UnitedHealthcare says that starting in April, it will revise contracts that allowed drops in physician pay without notice, a move the company says will affect 70,000 doctors nationwide(Berry, amednews.com, March 2, 2009).
United's variable contract agreement, which the company said was based on a "progressive RVU" methodology, will be replaced April 1 by one based on Medicare's 2008 resource-based relative value scale.
amednews.com |
Prosecutors plan crackdown on doctors who accept kickbacks |
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Federal health officials and prosecutors, frustrated that they have been unable to stop illegal kickbacks to doctors from drug and device companies, are investigating doctors who take money for using these products. (Harris, The New York Times, March 3, 2009).
At least that's how the California Workers' Compensation Institute interprets the approach of each agency, as described in a bulletin the Oakland policy research group released Monday.
The New York Times |
Medicare disadvantage |
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President Obama announced in his budget proposal last week a $634 billion down payment toward a more efficient health-care system that would provide coverage for all Americans. To help pay for it, he plans to erase subsidies the federal government pays to private health insurers that provide health-care services for Medicare beneficiaries. (commentary, ohio.com, March 4, 2009).
GAO report number GAO-09-25 entitled 'Medicare Advantage: Characteristics, Financial Risks, and Disenrollment Rates of Beneficiaries in Private Fee- for-Service Plans'
Ohio.com |
Docs seek gag orders to stop patients' reviews |
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The anonymous comment on the Web site RateMDs.com was unsparing: "Very unhelpful, arrogant," it said of a doctor. "Did not listen and cut me off, seemed much too happy to have power (and abuse it!) over suffering people." Such reviews are becoming more common as consumer ratings services like Zagat's and Angie's List expand beyond restaurants and plumbers to medical care, and some doctors are fighting back (Tanner, Yahoo News, March 4, 2009).
Yahoo News |
Recession, Medicare cuts not enough to stop skyrocketing health spending growth |
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Although a projected 21% cut to Medicare physician pay and the downturn in the economy are poised to restrain national health spending growth in 2010, overall health spending is still expected to nearly double between 2009 and 2018, reaching $4.4 trillion (Trapp, amednews, March 2, 2009).
amednews.com |
Lawyer says pharmacists liable |
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A Southern Nevada lawyer told the state Supreme Court on Monday that pharmacists, at the least, had a duty to call physicians to voice their concerns before dispensing a narcotic painkiller to a woman who killed a man in a 2004 vehicle crash in Las Vegas (Vogal, Review-Journal, March 3, 2009).
Review-Journal |
Doctors seek fees at time of service |
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An increasing number of physicians are asking for the patient's share of that day's medical fees, including any deductible set by the insurer, at the time of the visit. At one Washington, DC, doctor's office, a video screen in the waiting area tells patients that if they don't have their insurance card, the practice would be happy to "reschedule your appointment." That practice also asks that the co-pay be provided before the patient sees the doctor and calls patients in arrears to a window in full view, and earshot, of other waiting patients (Kritz, The Washington Post, March 9, 2009).
The Washington Post |
Call for Abstracts 2009 |
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The Online Abstract Submission (see step-by- step procedures below) for the 11th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) is now open. The meeting will be held June 27- June 30, 2009 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA.
To be considered for a presentation at the meeting, abstracts must be submitted and completed by the submission deadline of April 20, 2009.
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For More Information or to Submit |
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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