·  Changes to CPT-2009 for IPM Physicians

·  ASIPP To Offer ABIPP Part II Exam

·  Last Chance for Your '09 Tax Deduction - Become a Corporate Sponsor Today

·  Two Ways the Senate Bill Will Pay for Healthcare Reform

·  Patient Safety at Ten: Unmistakable Progress, Troubling Gaps

·  Aetna Prepares for Loss of 600,000 Members as it Raises 2010 Prices

·  Patient Safety Surveillance: Keeping Watch in Hospitals, from Sinks to Surgery

·  County Takes Next Step in Bid to Curb Pain Clinics

·  Some Prescription Medications may not be Covered under Part D In 2010

·  CCHIT Certifies First EHR Programs under Federal Standards

·  Don't Lose Out on a Minute of ASIPP Membership

·  Upcoming State Society Meetings

·

Changes to CPT-2009 for IPM Physicians

CPT-2009 has some relevant information for interventionalists. Changes are as follows:

Click Here to see CPT changes

CPT code changes

ASIPP To Offer ABIPP Part II Exam

For the first time, ASIPP will be offering the ABIPP Part II practical examination in September 2010. Make plans now to participate in the prep course and examination.

Preparation for the ABIPP Part II practical examination will be offered during the April 23-25, 2010 meeting in Memphis, TN.

ABIPP will accept the World Institute of Pain's (WIP) Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) certification as fulfillment of the ABIPP Part II for certification through 2010 ONLY IF the FIPP certification was received PRIOR to September 2009.

A revised application indicating this change is now available on the ABIPP Web site.

Register Today!

Last Chance for Your '09 Tax Deduction - Become a Corporate Sponsor Today

As a not-for-profit organization, ASIPP depends on corporate sponsors. Becoming an ASIPP sponsor is not only an investment in the preservation and growth of patient access to quality, cost-effective interventional pain management services, but also a marketing opportunity to expand your corporate growth. ASIPP sponsorship puts you in direct contact with those at the forefront of this rapidly-growing specialty.

Your company can become a Sponsor today! For more information call: 270.554.9412

or Click HERE for more information.

Two Ways the Senate Bill Will Pay for Healthcare Reform

While discussion in the Senate during the past few days has focused on how health insurance premiums will be impacted under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, another area expected to gets its fair share of attention on the Senate floor is how the $848 billion reform bill-through savings and taxes-will be paid for over the next decade.

Health Leaders Media

Patient Safety at Ten: Unmistakable Progress, Troubling Gaps

December 1, 2009, marks the tenth anniversary of the Institute of Medicine report on medical errors, To Err Is Human, which arguably launched the modern patient-safety movement. This Health Affairs publications states that the research pipeline is maturing, but funding remains inadequate.

Health Affairs

Aetna Prepares for Loss of 600,000 Members as it Raises 2010 Prices

Back when it was the largest private health plan in the country, Aetna downsized its membership by millions but boosted profits during an overhaul of its business several years ago.

Now it looks to be making a similar -- but smaller -- move with a planned price increase for many of its customers in 2010.

American Medical News

Patient Safety Surveillance: Keeping Watch in Hospitals, from Sinks to Surgery

Maryland gets federal stimulus funds for "secret shoppers" to monitor health professionals' hand hygiene. A Rhode Island hospital will videotape surgeries. Some worry about Big Brother.

Doctors in Maryland hospitals soon may find themselves the targets of covert surveillance. That stranger in the corridor reading Newsweek or texting on his iPhone actually may be taking notes on whether physicians and other health care workers wash their hands after leaving patients' rooms.

American Medical News

County Takes Next Step in Bid to Curb Pain Clinics

WEST PALM BEACH - Palm Beach County commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday to consider a moratorium that would prevent any new pain-management clinics from opening in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Commissioners directed the county attorney's office to begin researching rule changes that would allow the county to stop issuing occupational licenses to new pain clinics while new rules are considered for those already doing business in the state. The office will present its findings to the commission next week.

Palm Beach Post

Some Prescription Medications may not be Covered under Part D In 2010

ALEXANDRIA, VA - Some common prescription drugs usually covered by Medicare Part D may not make the cut in 2010, due to a new policy being implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Starting Jan. 1, CMS is scheduled to begin enforcing its non-matched National Drug Code list policy. At that time any medication not appropriately registered with the Food and Drug Administration will no longer be covered under Part D.

Healthcare Finance News

CCHIT Certifies First EHR Programs under Federal Standards

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology today announced the first group of four electronic health records programs certified under its two programs-CCHIT Certified 2011 Comprehensive and Preliminary ARRA 2011.

Both programs inspect EHR technology for the first time against proposed federal standards to support providers in qualifying for 2011-2012 incentives under the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Health Leaders Media

Don't Lose Out on a Minute of ASIPP Membership

Make plans today to bring your ASIPP membership up-to-date.

The New Year is right around the corner and you don't want to miss being a part of our organization. We are actively contacting Congress on your behalf, negotiating with insurance companies for continued coverages, offering training sessions, cadaver workshops, and new in 2010 --the ABIPP Part II exam.

Three ways to pay: Click HERE to renew dues. or you can send in a check to ASIPP, 81 Lakeview Drive, Paducah, KY 42001. Or call 1-270-554-9412 or fax 1-270-554-5394 in credit card

or Join Us today!

If you are not sure of your current dues status, please contact Cindy Rogers at 1-502-554-9412 with your questions.

Renew Dues Today

Upcoming State Society Meetings

WVASIPP 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

Featured faculty includes: Timothy Deer, MD, course director; Ken Alo, MD, Giancarlo Barolat, MD, Ricard Bowman, MD, Christopher Kim, MD, Matthew Ranson, MD, Lou Raso, MD, Harold Cordner, MD, Nagy Mekhail, MD, Sudhir Diwan, MD, Raj Patel, MD, John Schmidt, MD, Stan Golovac, MD, Lora Brown, MD, Richard Weiner, MD, Salim Hayek, MD, Leo Kapural, MD and cochairs Richard Rauck, MD, Robert Levy, MD, PhD, and David Caraway, MD, PhD.

Session fees discounted for WVSIPP and ASIPP members. For more information call 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. http://www.flsipp.org/FSIPPFlyer2010.pdf

Keynote speakers and topics include:

·  Mary Lee Jensen, MD Vertebroplasty, the History, Evolution of Evidence, and Present Day Position

·  Gabor Racz, MD - Epidural Lysis and Facet Radiofrequency Ablation with Innovations in Pain Management

·  Rick Derby, MD - Discography and Intradiscal Therapies including Development of Stem Cells

·  Deborah H. Tracy, MD, MBA - Legislative Update, Healthcare Reform

·  Harold Cordner, MD - Regulations Regarding Pain and Controlled Substances

·  Spinal Cord Stimulation and More