ASIPP is pleased to announce a new member benefit. You can now log on to the ASIPP Member's Only Web page to discuss issues important interventional pain management issues.

The service will be available to all active members in good-standing. We encourage you to log on, view and participate the new feature. Log on today and connect with your colleagues.

'MemberSite' Home Page: http://asippmember site.org Name: ASIPP Password: member (Case sensitive)

Member Blog: Once on the "Members Only" page, click on the "Members Blog" button to access or use the link indicated to go directly to the blog. http://asippme mbersite.org/blog Name: ASIPP Password: memberblog (Case sensitive)

We will soon have available a "Dr Finder" site to enable members to search for other members by name, location, and/or specialty. Watch for updates on this.

The Physician Practice Information Survey will take surveys through the end of the year. We need at least 100 surveys to be completed and returned which is only one-tenth of the surveys mailed. To date, 75 usable surveys have been returned but we need 100 surveys in order to get the most benefit from the survey.

The 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.

If you have been selected to participate in this important effort and have any questions about this survey, please call 1-877-816-8940 toll-free and ask to speak with one of dmrkynetec's executive interviewers about the 2008 Physician Information and Practice Expense Survey. Also, please inform your staff of your desire to participate in this survey and the importance of accepting incoming calls, faxes or e- mails from dmrkynetec, the firm administering the survey.

If you received a survey and have not yet completed it, we encourage you to do so today.

The December Cadaver Workshop, Dec. 5- 7 , will feature instruction in basic, intermediate and intradiscal therapy procedures. The workshop will be preceded by a review course in fluoroscopic interpretation with an optional competency examination.

The course will be held in Memphis, TN at the Westin Memphis Beale Street and the Medical Education & Research Institute (MERI).

Register by Nov. 4 to receive the early registration discount.

When booking your room at the Westin Memphis Beale Street, please inform the agent you are booking under ASIPP to receive the discounted group rate. Cut- off date for hotel discount is Nov. 4.

The Washington State Society has created a survey for Interventional Pain Medicine physicians for the purpose of gathering information from practitioners who have actual experience with Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Practice Management systems.

The survey goal is to collect enough data to help those who are in the process of EMR evaluating systems for purchase. The results will hopefully help to minimize purchase mistakes and save IPM physicians time and money.

The survey goal is to collect enough data to help those who are in the process of EMR evaluating systems for purchase. The results will hopefully help to minimize purchase mistakes and save IPM physicians time and money.

Click on the link the link below to particiapate in the survey and please share it with your colleauges.

Democratic lawmakers in Congress are girding for a major battle over Medicare next year that could result in substantial changes, including cuts in payments to private insurers that offer Medicare coverage and a new right for the federal government to negotiate drug prices.

No matter who is elected to the White House and Congress, pressure to act on Medicare is rising as the program grabs a growing share of the federal budget. Medicare spending hit $431.5 billion last year, nearly doubling in just seven years, according to the trustees of the Medicare trust funds.

New Federal Trade Commission regulations to combat identity theft have taken physicians and the health care industry by surprise and prompted the agency to delay enforcement from Nov. 1 to May 1, 2009. Medical groups fought for and won a six-month reprieve for doctors to implement a prevention program originally mandated for November 1 (Sorrell, amednews, Nov. 3, 2008 issue).

The so-called "red flag" rules require entities that regularly extend credit, or defer payment for services, to establish a written program for preventing identity theft as well as detecting and responding to warning signs of such thefts. The commission first released the rules last November as directed by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003.

The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) has contracted the Rubenstein PR firm to handle the national public relations campaign undertaking.

It is our objective to promote a basic understanding of the various modalities and benefits our specialty can offer, and to demonstrate what it is that makes IPM physicians unique in their approach to the treatment and elimination of chronic and/or acute pain.

ASIPP believes that educating the national media, the general public, payors and even other physicians about new and emerging therapies in this rapidly expanding field is the logical and necessary next step for our specialty. We hope you will support this effort by making a contribution to the campaign.

Watch for updates on the progress of this important effort.

Modifiers (usually 2-digits) are added to the main procedure code to signify that the procedure has been altered by a distinct factor. Modifiers are accepted by most payors. Modifiers can increase or decrease reimbursement. They can also cause claims not to pay properly or deny if used incorrectly or not used, when necessary. Some modifiers are for use by ASCs only, some for physician practices and some are for use by both provider types. Correct modifier usage is under close review by Medicare at the present time (Ellis, October 1, 2008, Becker's ASC Review)

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.

Sam Fishbein, the husband of Leslie Fishbein, has filed a lawsuit over his wife's death in March. Leslie Fishbein died after receiving injections for chronic back pain.

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

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