| ASIPP Future Meetings |
June 21-25, 2008
- ASIPP 10th Annual Meeting Celebration
- Practice Management for Interventional Pain Physicians and Professionals
- Interventional Techniques
- Gala Celebration
- Abstract Presentations
- Legislative Session and Capitol Hill Visits
July 28-August 2, 2008
- Board Review Course
- Coding, Compliance and Practice Management
- Controlled Substance Management
- ABIPP Competency Examinations
- ABIPP Part I Examination
October 24-26, 2008
- Review Course and Cadaver Workshop
December 5-7, 2008
- Review Course and Cadaver Workshop In Spinal Cord Stimulation
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ASIPP 10th Annual Meeting - June 21 - 25 |
Register today for the ASIPP 10th Annual Meeting on June 21-25, 2008 and help us celebrate 10 years as "The Voice of Interventional Pain Management." This year we are featuring a special course in Practice Management for interventional pain physicians and professionals.
This year's highlights include:
- ASIPP 10th Annual Meeting Gala Celebration
- Practice Management for Interventional Pain Physicians and Professionals
- Abstract Presentations
- Awards
- Congressional Speeches
- Legislative Session and Capitol Hill visits
We encourage you to register soon as we must begin making Capitol Hill appointments. This year it is our desire to have representation for each state. We encourage to plan today to attend. If you have never visited Capitol Hill before, don't miss this opportunity. For those of you who have participated in the past, we don't have to tell you what a wonderful experience this will be.
Brochure and online registraion are now available.
Register Online Today! |
Contact Congress on pending Medicare reimbursement legislation |
Congress is currently discussing a Medicare reimbursement legislation to address the pending cuts. AIt is clear a decision will be made soon which means they need to hear form their constituents immediately. Senator Jim Bunning and Rep. Ed. Whitfield has created ASC language that if added on the the Medicare legislation, would save interventional pain management from the drastic cuts we currently face. We can not afford to put this off until a later date. This issue will affect your future as well as the future of your patients.
Read more... |
Did you recieve a Physician Practice Information Survey? |
ASIPP, AAPM, ISIS, the American Medical Association (AMA), and more than 70 other medical specialty societies are conducting a comprehensive multi-specialty survey of America's physician practices. Approximately 1,000 interventional pain management physicians have received survey packets from the survey company, Dmrkynetec.
If you received a survey ASIPP encourages you to participate.We need at least 100 surveys to be completed and returned. To date only 44 surveys have been returned.
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. Of particular importance is the section of the study pertaining to practice expenses and the amounts that are attributable to you. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has indicated that it will use the results of this study to help determine physician payment.
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 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.
For more information |
FDA debates new version of OxyContin |
The government is evaluating a new version of OxyContin designed to be harder to abuse. A plastic- like coating fuses to the tablet, making it harder to crush - and turning into a gooey mess if abusers try to inject it, maker Purdue Pharma LP said in documents released by the Food and Drug Administration Thursday.
MSN |
ASIPP to hold Board Review and Competency Review Course |
ASIPP will offer a Comprehensive Pain Medicine Board Review Course for physicians seeking board certification or re-certification for the ABMS Pain Medicine examination or for the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP) Part I examination. The review course will be held on July 28 - August 1 in St. Louis. This five-day intensive Board Review Course is a CME activity geared to prepare physicians for their pain boards but can also serve an in-depth review of the specialty of pain medicine.
ABIPP Part I To Be Administered in August
ABIPP Part 1 exam will be administered in St. Louis on Aug. 2, 2008 at the Chase Park Plaza. You must submit an application to determine eligibility to sit for this exam. The minimum requirements for eligibility are:
- A Primary ABMS or AOA board certification
- An active license to practice medicine in the United States
More information and application are avaiable on the ABIPP Web site.
ASIPP Competency Review Course and Exams
Online registration is now open for the 2008 Competency Review Course and Examinations in Coding, Compliance, and Practice Management & Controlled Substance Management.
The course will be held at the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis on July 28 - August 2, 2008. This intensive review course is planned as a CME activity to prepare physicians seeking competency certification and to provide Interventional Pain Management Specialists and other healthcare providers an in-depth review of multiple areas of interventional pain management.
The Controlled Substance Management course will be held on July 28 - 29 with an optional exam on July 30. The Coding, Compliance, and Practice Management section will begin on July 31- Aug. 1. The examination for this section will be held on Aug. 2.
Brochures, Registration and Hotel Information |
Doctors still can try for bonuses as Medicare expands quality reporting |
It's not too late for physicians to begin participating in Medicare's pay-for-reporting program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has implemented a number of changes aimed at enticing more doctors to give the program valuable quality information while striving for a 1.5% bonus on their Medicare payments. (Glendinning, Amednews.com, May 23 issue)
The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative was in effect for only the last six months of 2007 but runs for the entire year in 2008. In addition, the list of quality measures has expanded from 74 to 119. CMS has added two structural measures -- one that rewards the use of electronic medical records and the other for e-prescribing.
amednews.com |
Doctor cited for prescribing too many painkillers |
A Mantorville doctor, who works in the Mayo Health System, has been disciplined by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice for inappropriately prescribing pain medications.
The Minnesota family medicine physician, was cited for "unprofessional and unethical conduct, improper management of records (and) prescribing a drug or device for other than medically accepted therapeutic purposes." A complaint filed in December 2005 alleged Angstman "had inappropriately prescribed controlled substances which contributed to the deaths of two patients." A formal complaint triggered an investigation by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office.
One requirement of the Minnesota Board was that within a year the physician take pre-approved courses in pain management, chemical dependency awareness, medical-records management and professional boundaries training.
Read more |
Balance billing leaves patients feeling ill |
Consumer advocates say many patients may be unnecessarily paying bills because of a controversial practice known as "balance billing" used by a growing number of healthcare providers who say insurers are shortchanging them. Balance billing occurs when doctors and hospitals claim they've been underpaid by insurers and ask patients to pay the rest. Some patients assume that such bills are cleared by their insurer. For example, a doctor may charge $2,000 for a procedure, but the health plan pays $1,500. Under balance billing, the hospital would ask the patient for $500 even though a patient had paid his or her full share of the service.
Los Angeles Times |
Online Dues Payment Now Available |
Take advantage of ASIPP's online payment method to renew your dues. It's quick and easy just click on the link below and submit.
No password is required to renew. If you have questions or need assistance contact the ASIPP office at 270-554-9412 Ext. 208
Renew Membership |
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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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