Sept. 20, 2006

Act Now to Prevent 5.1% Cut

It now appears we do not have enough time before Congress adjourns to enact a revised long-term formula. Grassroots effort is extremely important within 2 weeks. We succeeded in adding many members as cosponsors to H.R. 5866, which would have been a much needed long-term solution, now we must act and work on a short-term solution that will prevent the 5.1% cut.

Once again for your convenience, we have provided sample letters that will be sent to your representatives and senators through Capwiz.

Physicians should follow the link provided to the Capwiz Web site: http://capwiz.com/asipp/issues/alert/?alertid=9037126&type=CO

Once on this site you simply insert your name and mailing information and the letter is automatically sent for you.

Staff members should follow this link for their letter: http://capwiz.com/asipp/issues/alert/?alertid=9037151&type=CO

Patients can also go to Capwiz and sign their letter as well: http://capwiz.com/asipp/issues/alert/?alertid=9037151&type=CO

You may customize your letter through Capwiz by choosing the print option or you may click on the link below to access a copy of the letters send on your own personal or business letterhead. You will also find the sample letters on the ASIPP home page: www.asipp.org

We have a great deal of work before us and no time to waste in accomplishing it, so send your letters out today. Let Congress know you want them to act to prevent the 5.1% cut.

Prevent IPM extinction; Enroll as 09 Designation

As we enter into discussions with CMS regarding the practice expense survey, we are faced with the need to increase our 09 interventional pain management specialty designation. Currently CMS is claiming there are too few interventional pain management physicians, consequently this will significantly weaken our strength as we deal with issues related to practice expense survey.

We need every member to join this effort. ASIPP would like to know if you have changed your specialty designation to 09. If you are not an interventional pain physician and do not practice interventional pain management 50% of the time, you should register as pain medicine (72). This is extremely important; this is the one opportunity we have to prevent radical deterioration of our specialty. If we do not act, we can only blame ourselves for our demise.

ASIPP is also working with ISIS and AAPM to improve the registration of specialty designation. We need to hear from you as to how you are registered so that we can work with CMS and AMA on this issue. A survey letter will arrive to all members soon but you can also find the survey letter on the ASIPP Web site

Click here to download the CMS form to change your specialty designation.

ASIPP Needs Member Opinion

ASIPP needs your opinion on the DEA proposed issuance of multiple prescriptions for Schedule II substances. We have been inundated with requests to look into this issue – many members have expressed grave concern.

The majority seen to be concerned with regards to the 90-day supply of Schedule II controlled substances. This may also cause problems with insurers for demonstration of medical necessity in the event you see a patient within three months. Most members express liking the idea of post-dating the prescription, unfortunately, this is not what DEA is proposing.

Members will soon receive a survey in the mail but you may click on the link to download a survey today: http://www.asipp.org/documents/membershipsurvey9-06_web.pdf

See article below for details on DEA proposal

DEA Proposes Issuance of Multiple Prescriptions for Schedule II Substances:

On September 6, 2006, the DEA published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which proposes to permit an individual practitioner to issue multiple prescriptions authorizing the patient to receive a total of up to a 90-day supply of a Schedule II controlled substance, provided that certain conditions are met.

Specifically, the DEA proposed a formal rule that would allow doctors with patients who need a constant supply of morphine-based painkillers to write multiple prescriptions in a single office visit. Under the new rule, a doctor can write three 30-day prescriptions at a time -- two of them future-dated -- to be filled a month apart.

The unexpected turnaround was welcomed by relieved doctors, who said it will help restore "balance" in government policy between the needs of pain patients and the effort to control prescription drug abuse and diversion. (Kaufman, Washington Post, 9/7)

Click here for Proposed Rule: Federal Register  

Additionally, DEA is requesting public comment on this proposed rule. Written comments must be postmarked, and electronic comments must be sent, on or before November 6, 2006.

For more information on how to submit a comment go to:

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2006/fr0906.htm

October Cadaver Workshop and Review Course

Make plans to attend the next Interventional Techniques Review Course and Comprehensive Interventional Cadaver Workshop on October 21-22, 2006 in Memphis, TN.

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.

Learn more about the course, workshop, and hotel information and REGISTER ONLINE at: http://www.asipp.org/meetings.htm

Enact NASPER in Your State

If you state has not yet enacted the NASPER program, please look at the comprehensive report on Kentucky’s Prescription Monitoring Program, prepared by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on March 29, 2006. This report provides significant guidance in the development of a new program as well as information for existing programs.

http://www.chfs.ky.gov/oig/kasper/

For more information on NASPER go to the KASPER Web site: http://www.chfs.ky.gov/oig/KASPER.htm

Drug Use in Older Adults Still on Rise

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced that while illicit drug use among youth ages 12-17 continues to decline, use in older adults is still on the rise. Among adults aged 50 to 59, the rate of current illicit drug use increased from 2.7 percent to 4.4 percent between 2002 and 2005, reflecting the aging into this age. This initial report from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released at the annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month Observance, focuses on significant trends in substance abuse and mental health problems since 2002.

See the SAMHSA report at: http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/060907_nsduh.aspx

ASIPP Joins Reprints Desk for Streamlined Reprint and ePrint Services

Los Angeles, California (September 20, 2006) --  Reprints Desk announced today that it has reached an agreement with the American Society for Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP), the publishers of Pain Physician, to offer streamlined, customer-focused Reprint and ePrint services.

“Reprints and ePrints are important methods of scholarly communication and information dissemination and we are pleased to provide a full service web-based reprint service bureau to an organization of the stature and value of ASIPP,” said Jan Peterson, Head of Publisher Relations at Reprints Desk. “ASIPP can concentrate on editorial and content matters while Reprints Desk focuses on servicing their readers’ reprint needs.”

Reprints Desk will offer paper reproduction services of ASIPP’s Open Access peer-reviewed journal Pain Physician, as well as PDF distribution options for customized ePrints, protected by DRM (digital rights management). In addition Reprints Desk will provide ASIPP with a co-branded web site for placing orders, requesting quotes and tracking orders, as well as an outsourced phone, e-mail, and web-based customer service functions.

See full press release

Aetna Joins National Move to Reward Docs for Good Care

Aetna is now the second health insurance company operating in the mid-Atlantic to join a national program that gives financial rewards to doctors who meet national standards for patient care and running their practices efficiently.

The Connecticut-based health insurer plans to begin a voluntary program next year in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas. The program will pay doctors $80 yearly for each diabetic patient and $160 for each heart patient treated according to national standards for high-quality care.

Aetna has not limited how much money it will spend. A doctor that treats 100 diabetic patients according those the standards could earn an extra $8,000.

The program, dubbed “Bridges to Excellence,” spans 12 states and incorporates 3,500 doctors nationwide. It was started April 2003 by large employers looking for cost-effective ways to improve care.

The idea behind the program is that better health care will ultimately reduce costs, especially among patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease. The federal government also has embraced the concept of rewarding doctors for the quality of health care they provide, an idea known as "pay for performance."

Read more in the Baltimore Business Journal