American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians | February 1, 2017
American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians | July 27, 2017
 

November Courses in Las Vegas: 3 Choices

More information COMING SOON!


     BROCHURE                     REGISTRATION
     BROCHURE                        REGISTRATION 
  Optimizing Your CMS Reporting with ASIPP®
Learn how the NIPM-QCDR can help you succeed under MIPS   The National Interventional Pain Management – Qualified Clinical Data Registry (NIPM-QCDR) is the only CMS-approved quality reporting tool custom-built with measures for interventional pain physicians. In this webinar, ASIPP and ArborMetrix will share how you and your practice can use NIPM-QCDR to fulfill the 2017 requirements of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).  

 

  By participating in the webinar, you will:
  • Learn the most important elements of MACRA/MIPS CMS quality reporting to you and the benefits of using a QCDR
  • Get details on the specialty specific (non-MIPS) measures included in NIPM-QCDR, as well as the general MIPS measures
  • Receive a live demo of the NIPM-QCDR, highlighting key reports and features
  • Learn how to avoid 2017 MIPS penalties by participating in the NIPM-QCDR

 

  By participating in NIPM-QCDR, you will:
  • Meet MIPS reporting requirements for Quality and Improvement Activities, and receive credit toward Advancing Care Information
  • Optimize future reimbursements from CMS
  • Report on new non-MIPS QCDR measures specially designed by ASIPP for interventional pain management, as well as general MIPS QCDR measures
  • Receive documentation and assistance with compiling the needed data for quality improvement
  • Have access to real-time reports and performance updates on an ongoing basis, as new data is available from your practice
  • Review and select measures to report prior to submission

  Presenters:
  • Spencer Heaton, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Medical Officer, ArborMetrix (above right)
  • Lukasz Paszek, M.B.A., Senior Vice President, ArborMetrix (above left)
  Date and Time:
  • Tuesday, August 1. 11am - 12pm CST
    60 minutes (one-hour presentation including Q&A)
  Register: http://asipp.peachnewmedia.com/store/seminar/seminar.php?seminar=97782

2017 ASIPP Washington Legislative trip

Set for Sept 12-13, 2017 


At no other time in the history of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians has it been more important for you, as members, to get involved in our advocacy efforts. Our specialty has been gravely affected by drastic and severe coverage cuts. These cuts so radical, they have hurt more than just our bottom lines; some practices and surgery centers have been forced to close their doors.  

The election of President Trump and his appointment of Representative Tom Price as Health and Human Services Secretary and Seema Verma to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have given us some hope and an opportunity to achieve some of our goals, and possibly reverse these cuts retroactively and reinstate the previous reimbursement or even improve reimbursement for 2018. 

Now is our chance! Let your voices be heard! 

We have scheduled a legislative conference September 12 and 13. To participate in this conference, you must to be in Washington on Tuesday, September 12 in order to attend the preparation session. Wednesday, September 13, we will head to Capitol Hill to hear speeches and meet with Senators and Representatives. Some appointments may continue through Thursday. If you would like to leave on Wednesday, please do not plan on leaving before 6 pm.  

Each member is expected to visit two senators and one member of Congress for a total of three visits.  

ASIPP will be booking a block of rooms for those who choose to attend. You will be responsible for travel expenses.  

Please let us know as soon as possible if you will be attending so that we can begin making the appointments. Contact Kasi Stunson kstunson@asipp.org.


Senate GOP’s Fallback Plan Gains Support After Vote to Repeal Health Law Fails

 

WASHINGTON—Senate GOP leaders picked up support Wednesday for their plan to pass a scaled-back bill to repeal a handful of elements in the current health law, and then open negotiations with House Republicans to try to bring together their two very different bills.

Republican senators said they recognized passing a “skinny repeal” would essentially postpone tough decisions on health care until later, but they seized on it as potentially their best option as the Senate this week began considering and rapidly discarding other plans, with no alternative appearing likely to attract the 50 Republican votes needed to pass.

A measure to repeal most of former President Barack Obama’s 2010 health law, with a two-year expiration date to allow lawmakers to craft a replacement, failed in a 45-55 vote on Wednesday, as seven GOP senators joined all Democrats in voting against it. That came after the latest version of the broader Senate Republican bill was defeated 43-57 on Tuesday, leaving the leaders with few options.

 

 

Wall Street Journal

Access to this article may be limited.

DOJ News

Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Charges for Role in $192 Million Compounded Medication Scheme; Pharmacy Marketer Also Pleads Guilty

The Pharmacist in Charge of a Hattiesburg, Mississippi compounding pharmacy pleaded guilty today to health care fraud charges for his role in a scheme that defrauded TRICARE and private insurance companies out of at least $192 million in payments for medically unnecessary compounded medications.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Harold Brittain of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze of the FBI’s Jackson Division, Special Agent in Charge Jerome R. McDuffie of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation’s New Orleans Field Office and Special Agent John F. Khin of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service Southeast Field Office made the announcement.

May, 40, of Lamar County, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering before U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett of the Southern District of Mississippi. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 17 before Judge Starrett.


Department of Justice

 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/pharmacist-pleads-guilty-health-care-fraud-charges-role-192-million-compounded-medication

 



Maintenance of Certification Program Does Not Result in Performance Improvement  

The medical community relies on intellectual improvement in physician practices in order to stay current with new clinical knowledge. However, ways of implementing improvement in clinical performance, recertification processes, and patient outcomes are debated in a recent opinion piece published in JAMA.1 The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) established the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, which was comprised of key factors such as professionalism, lifelong learning, self-assessment, and quality improvement.  It is reported that MOC has conflicting data supporting whether their program does indeed result in performance improvement. MOC stated it has an 80% improvement rate and 38.9% outcome measure. However, 2 inclusive studies consisting of 2000 internal medical physicians did not exhibit an uptick in  professional improvement.    

Yellen Says Opioid Use Is Tied to Declining Labor Participation  

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, making her most expansive remarks on an opioid epidemic that’s ravaging American communities, indicated the problem is so pervasive it is holding back the nation’s labor market. “I do think it is related to declining labor force participation among prime-age workers,” Yellen said of the opioid epidemic while answering questions during testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. “I don’t know if it’s causal or if it’s a symptom of long-running economic maladies that have affected these communities and particularly affected workers who have seen their job opportunities decline.”  


Survey Elucidates Chronic Pain Patient, Household Member Perceptions of Long-Term Opioid Therapy

 

The vast majority of patients on long-term opioids who began therapy after surgery, an accident or an injury believe that the drugs reduce their pain at least somewhat. And more than half said they do so very effectively, according to a joint survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and The Washington Post(http://kff.org/?report-section/?the-washington-post-kaiser-family-foundation-survey-of-long-term-prescription-painkiller-users-and-their-household-members-executive-summary/?).

Furthermore, 57% said their quality of life is better than it would have been without opioids, but 24% said it’s worse. Two-thirds of patients said they were concerned that efforts to crack down on abuse of painkillers could interfere with their access to the medications.

 

Pain Medicine News




Dos and Don'ts of Online Profiles for Medical Professionals  

In a technologically advanced society, physicians need to take advantage of the internet to reach patients and exercise caution in their online presence, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.1 At a recent education session, 2 physicians discussed the need for physicians to be visible online. They emphasized that physicians need to improve  information available online, including on HealthGrades, Yelp, and ProPublica, as well as other sites. Information should be accurate and up-to-date. When physicians update their profiles, they should remember that inaccurate information reflects on the physician; that physicians don't have control over comments; and that a professional profile that looks great does not provide control over what patients write. Physicians must exercise caution with sharing online and responding to patient comments. The best policy can be found from the Mayo Clinic, which includes not misrepresenting yourself, being transparent about who you are, not violating patient privacy, not revealing too much personal information, and remembering that once information is out there, it is out there.  

JULY ISSUE NOW AVAILABLE!

Interventional Pain Management Reports is an Open Access online journal, a peer-reviews journal dedicated to the publication of case reports, brief commentaries and reviews and letters to the editor. It is a peer-reviewed journal written by and directed to an audience of interventional pain physicians, clinicians and basic scientists with an interest in interventional pain management and pain medicine.  

We would like to invite you to submit research case reports, brief commentaries and reviews to Interventional Pain Management Reports Journal. Your article will be published FREE’ of charge.  

Led by Editor in Chief: Kenneth Candido, MD, Chairman and Professor, Department of Anesthesiology , Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, IPM Reports focuses on the promotion of  excellence in the practice of interventional pain management and clinical research.  

Interventional Pain Management Reports is an official publication of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) and is a sister publication of Pain Physician. Interventional Pain Management Reports Interventional Pain Management Reports is an open access journal, available online with free full manuscripts.    

The benefits of publishing in an open access journal that has a corresponding print edition journal are:  
  • Your article will have the potential to obtain more citations.
  • Your article will be peer-reviewed and published faster than other journals.
  • Your article can be read by a potentially much larger audience compared with traditional subscription-only journals.  
  • Open Access journals are FREE to view, download and to print.
So submit today your:
Case Reports
Technical Reports
Editorials
Short Perspectives

  Click HERE to read the Instructions for Authors for article submission    

Click HERE to submit a manuscript

State Society News  

 

Send in your state society meeting news to Holly Long, hlong@asipp.org


  The NIPM-QCDR, a new offering from ASIPP®, is specifically tailored for interventional pain physicians. Your practice can use the NIPM-QCDR to fulfill the 2017 requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).  
  • Meet CMS MIPS mandates for Quality and Improvement Activities
  • Receive credit toward Advancing Care Information
  • Report on specialty-specific measures developed by ASIPP
  • Understand and adjust your 2017 performance to optimize future CMS reimbursement with real-time reports available on-demand
  • Be better prepared for CMS quality reporting in future years when penalties and incentives get even larger
  • Improve the quality of patient care in the specialty of interventional pain managementLearn more and get started with 2017 reporting by visiting ArborMetrix.com/NIPM-QCDR.

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