April 28, 2010
Medicare Pay Cut Stopped Again; Doctors Decry Lack of Permanent Fix |
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Washington -- Congress may have stemmed most of the damage from the latest 21% Medicare payment reduction by reversing the cut before any physicians actually could feel it. Still, physician organizations say the harm caused by lawmakers once again bringing doctors to the brink before pulling them back is another major reason why the next solution must be a permanent one.
Legislation to reverse the cut and postpone it until June 1 was signed into law by President Obama late on April 15. The cut technically had gone into effect April 1 as lawmakers fought over how to pay for the bill, which also extends various unemployment and health assistance programs. But the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had instructed contractors to hold off on processing claims for 10 business days to give lawmakers more time to act -- a window that closed at the end of the day on April 14.
American Medical Association |
Patient Safety, Quality Experts Hope Health Reform Delivers Substantial Improvements in Care |
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Most of the attention given to the health reform law has focused on its sweeping changes to the insurance system. But the law also could dramatically change the way that care is delivered, according to experts on patient safety and quality.
For example, the overhaul uses pay bonuses and penalties to physicians and hospitals to incentivize the care coordination and safety interventions that can help prevent nosocomial infections and unnecessary hospital readmissions. It also requires an unprecedented level of public reporting on hospital and physician quality performance, and could hasten implementation of care improvement practices, experts said.
American Medical News |
Register Today to Attend the Most Exciting ASIPP Annual Meeting Ever! |
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Mark your calendars now to attend ASIPP's 12th annual meeting will be held June 26-30,2010 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.
We are offering three separate sessions focused on the Future of Interventional Pain Management: Evidence-Based Medicine, Comparative Effectiveness, and Practice Management. We are building on the information presented last year, while encompassing the changes in the legislation and political environment. We have several prominent speakers in the line-up, such as, Dr. Roger Chou; Dr. Gabor Racz; Medical Economist CEO, J.D. Kleinke; Founder and President of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review; Deputy Assistant Administrator, and many others. \
In addition to the information-packed presentations on EBM and Comparative Effectiveness, we will also offer a practice management series of presentations, which will cover the essential coding and compliance lectures. This series is ideal for physicians and is invaluable for their staff. You could easily consider sending your staff to this meeting as an investment. They will walk away armed with the information they need to better understand the billing and coding issues they face on a daily basis.
Since last year's gala celebration was such a success, we decided to reprise this event with a celebration in the theme of An Evening in the Windy City. The evening will start with a cocktail mixer and move right into dinner, a brief business meeting, awards, and then entertainment from comedian and hypnotist, Flip Orley. After this, we will crank-up the fun and begin an evening of socializing, dancing and celebrating.
New this year, the North American Neuromodulation Society and the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians are joining forces to bring to you the 12th Annual Legislative Session. On Monday, June 28, we will prepare for our Capitol Hill visits. Tuesday morning, June 29th, we will once again go as a group to Capitol Hill and make our voices heard. This is your opportunity to speak with your representatives and senators about the legislative issues that affect you and your practice.
For more information, click HERE for the brochure.
Mark your calendar today! |
Recorded ASIPP Webinars Are Now Available |
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If you missed a previous ASIPP Webinar, you can still view it online or order the CD at http://asipp.peachnewmedia.com/store/provider/provider09.php?. If you had previously registered for the webinar and missed it there will be no additional charge and you can view it at your convenience. The pdf document of the powerpoint presentation is also available. If you need help to access the recorded version you can click here to contact our customer support team or call us at 1-866-702-3278.
If you did not register previously, you may order the recorded webinar and view it online at your convenience or order the CD. The pdf document of the presentation will be available, as will the CME and/or CEU credit certification.
Each new webinar will be archived for future reference or purchase. Current webinar topics available are:
- Staying Ahead Of Government Enforcement Efforts. Speaker: Vicki Mykowiak, JD
- Evidence-Based Interventional Techniques: An Algorithmic Approach To Keeping It Simple, Safe, and Successful. Speaker: Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD, ASIPP CEO and Chairman of the Board
- Coding: Be Prepared for 2010. Speaker: Joanne Mehmert CPC, CCC-PM, ACS-PM
Order Webinar |
Join Us in Chicago in August: 3 Courses, One Location |
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Make plans now to attend of one ASIPP's comprehensive courses to be held in the Windy City August 9-14. Meetings will be held at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel.
Comprehensive Pain Medicine and Interventional Pain Management 2010 Board Review Course August 9-13, 2010 - Chicago, IL Register | Brochure
Comprehensive Review in: Controlled Substance Management August 9-10, 2010 - Chicago, IL Coding, Compliance, and Practice Management August 12-13, 2010 - Chicago, IL Register | Brochure
Register today |
Abstract Deadline Extended |
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The Online Abstract Submission (see step-by-step procedures below) for the 12th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) is now open. The meeting will be held June 26- June 30, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA.
Abstract submission deadline will be May 21, 2010. Those selected will be notified and will receive free registration to the annual meeting.
Selected abstracts will be presented along with posters at the annual meeting on Saturday June 26 or Sunday June 27.
Submit your abstract today! |
Americans Still Divided, Confused on Healthcare Reform |
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MENLO PARK, CA - More than half of Americans say they're confused about the new health reform law and don't yet have enough information to understand how it will affect them, according to last month's Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.
The April poll finds that the public supports many of the provisions of health reform that will be implemented in the short term, but remains divided on the law. Of those polled, 46 percent view it favorably, 40 percent view it unfavorably and 14 percent are undecided.
Healthcare Finance News |
HHS: HIPAA Regulations Will Come Next Month |
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The timing of the release of proposed HIPAA regulations per the HITECH Act became a little more clear this week.
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released its semi-annual regulatory agenda in the Federal Register Monday and wrote that modifications to the HIPAA privacy, security and enforcement rules will be coming in May.
HealthLeaders Media |
Temporary High-Risk Insurance Pools to Start in July |
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Washington -- A provision in the health reform law soon will provide new coverage options for people with preexisting conditions, but the cost of these high-risk insurance pools could pose problems.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes $5 billion to start new temporary coverage programs for people with preexisting medical conditions who have been uninsured for at least six months. The programs would supplement existing ones in 34 states that covered about 200,000 people at the end of 2008, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis released in January.
American Medical Association |
Pharmaceutical Giant AstraZeneca to Pay $520 Million for Off-label Drug Marketing |
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AstraZeneca LP and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP will pay $520 million to resolve allegations that AstraZeneca illegally marketed the anti-psychotic drug Seroquel for uses not approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services' Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) announced today. Such unapproved uses are also known as "off-label" uses because they are not included in the drug's FDA approved product label.
The Wilmington, Del.-based company signed a civil settlement to resolve allegations that by marketing Seroquel for unapproved uses, the company caused false claims for payment to be submitted to federal insurance programs including Medicaid, Medicare and TRICARE programs, and to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program and the Bureau of Prisons.
Department of Justice |
Next in Health Care War: Applying the Law |
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WASHINGTON - The debate in Congress over President Obama's health care law is done. The battle over how to carry out the law is just getting started.
Dozens of special-interest groups that helped shape the 10-year, $938 billion health care measure over the past year - from insurance companies to patient advocates - are gearing up for a second wave of lobbying as the Obama administration prepares to implement the law.
USA Today |
To Reduce Spending, American College of Physicians Will Advise Doctors What's Too Costly and Useless |
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This summer, the organization representing 130,000 internists will publish of a series of papers that will tell America's doctors what they should and should not order in diagnostic tests and therapies, a guideline that strives to lower cost while it eliminates unnecessary care.
"We feel it's our responsibility to be developing some recommendations as to what our physicians should be doing to keep costs down," says Steven Weinberger, MD, deputy executive vice president of the American College of Physicians. While the organization will be looking at diagnostics as well as therapies, its first target will be the former.
HealthLeaders Media |
Upcoming State Society Meetings |
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WVSIPP Plans Annual Meeting June 11-13, 2010
Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend West Virginia Society of Interventional Pain Physician annual meeting at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, June 11-13, 2010.
Featured topics include SCS for Angina, Facial Pain, Peripheral Nerve Pain, Epigastric and Abdominal Pain, Pelvic Pain, Pulsed Radiofrequency, Minimally invasive techniques for spinal disease and much more. Session fees discounted for WVSIPP and ASIPP members. For more information email Michelle Byers, Director of Education: michellebyers@roadrunner.com To Register
Save the Date: CASIPP Annual Meeting in May
Mark your calendar for the California Society of Interventional Pain Physicians Annual Meeting May 14-16, 2010 in Santa Barbara.
Join Your CASIPP Colleagues On The American Riviera:
- Earn CME hours with distinguished faculty
- Stay at the storied Biltmore Four Seasons
- Book Now! Special Room Rate for early
- For more information or to register contact sbcme2010@aol.com or by phone at 661-435-3473
FSIPP Annual Meeting Dates Set for May
The Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (FSIPP) has scheduled it's annual meeting for May 22 and 23, 2010 at Gaylord Palms on Orlando.
NJSIPP Annual Meeting June 9
The New Jersey Interventional Pain Society will be holding its annual meeting on June 9th at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ starting at 6:30 PM. Lectures will include Diagnostic Radiology Training on reading MRI's for Extremities and the Use of Ultrasound for Diagnosis and procedures in the office. Legislative updates on the future of ASCs, PIP, and out of network insurance status Non Members Invited to attend and join Society. Call 732-297-2600 and ask for Lisa.
Mark Your Calendar for Georgia State Chapter Meeting
The Annual GSIPP meeting will be August 6-8 at the Lake Oconee Ritz-Carlton at Reynold's Plantation. For more information, contact Laurel Smith @ lsmith@centersforpain.com. |
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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