January 27, 2010 E-News
Health Reform Would Spend $5B to Create High-Risk Pools for Uninsurable |
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Both House and Senate health reform proposals would nationally standardize the widely varied "high-risk pools" that provide health insurance to 200,000 people who, because of pre-existing medical conditions, are shut out of the individual health insurance market.
Two reports from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation released Monday describe these risk pools in detail and discuss issues that need to be considered in a national transition.
HC Pro |
Additional Information Regarding the Calendar Year (CY) 2010 |
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Annual Update for Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and Laboratory Services Subject to Reasonable Charge Payment
This article describes how clinical diagnostic laboratories should bill for certain types of tests that are covered under Medicare and paid based on the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS). Specifically, the article addresses billing of four codes (G0430, G0431, 80100, and 80101) during the period of January 1, 2010 through March 31, 2010. Further information will be provided regarding billing after March 31, 2010. Be sure billing staff are aware of these changes.
HHS.gov |
FDA Okays Morphine for Tolerant Patients |
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WASHINGTON -- The FDA has approved the first high-concentration, oral morphine sulfate solution as part of its unapproved drugs initiative. The drug is indicated for opioid-tolerant patients with moderate-to-severe acute and chronic pain, as well as end-of-life care.
Opioid tolerance was defined as a patient using 60 mg of an opioid per day, Sharon Hertz, MD, deputy director of the Division of Anesthesia, Analgesics, and Rheumatoid Products at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a conference call.
MedPage Today |
Obama Continues to Push for Health Reform |
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When President Obama steps to the podium for his State of the Union address Wednesday, he will not have a signed healthcare reform bill to hold up. But, despite a turn of events this past week in Massachusetts and signs of discontent in some parts of Congress, he still anticipates that healthcare reform legislation will prevail.
On Friday, at a town hall meeting in Elyria, OH, he put the focus on health insurance practices and affordable care. "Now, since this has been in the news a little bit this week, let me say a little something about healthcare. I had no illusions when I took this on that this was going to be hard," he said.
Health Leaders Media |
Senate Inquiry Raises Questions |
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In recent weeks, a high-ranking member of the U.S. Senate has been conducting an investigation into possible safety flaws and other problems with electronic health record systems.
What's not clear, however, is whether he bothered to ask the policymakers who should have the answers. According to reports, "Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, has asked 31 hospitals and health systems across the country in a Jan. 19 letter to advise him of any problems with their computer systems and any 'issues or concerns that have been raised by your health care providers' over the past two years.'"
Healthcare IT News |
Editorial: Workforce Needs to Expand |
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THE GLOBE'S Jan. 18 editorial presents the need to expand the physician workforce as a choice between primary care and other areas of medicine. The reality is that expansions of both are essential to the success of the health care system and health care reform. One of every three physicians is expected to retire in the next 15 years, just as more Americans need more care. While the overall shortage is worsening more quickly in primary care because of the practice environment, every medical specialty that cares for the growing number of people over 65 will be in short supply.
US medical schools are increasing enrollment, and more must be done to encourage medical students to enter primary care and general surgery through changes in reimbursement policies, care delivery, and loan incentives. But unless the freeze on federal support for physician training ends, we will not have enough doctors to meet our country's needs or be able to decrease our reliance on foreign-trained physicians, who now account for 25 percent of the nation's doctors.
Boston Globe |
5 Steps to Creating a Balanced Pain Management Surgery Center |
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Pain management can be a profitable addition to a surgery center. However, due to the nature of the specialty, balance is essential to the success of pain management.
Mike Heifferon, Ph.D, MBA, chief operating officer, and Marie Masztak, RN, BEd, vice president of nursing, of Deca Health, a management, billing and development company specializing in interventional pain management services, provide the following five steps to creating a balanced pain management practice in your ASC.
Becker's Orthopedic and Spine |
Upcoming State Society Meetings |
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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.
For a complete schedule, click HERE. |
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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