THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 12, 2020
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Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s C.E.O., was in occasional contact with President Trump on the vaccine’s timeline. “Every time I spoke with the president I told him that he should not worry about us compromising safety or efficacy, but that we would do it as quickly as science allows us,” said Dr. Bourla. |
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Pfizer’s Early Data Shows Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective |
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Pfizer announced positive early results from its coronavirus vaccine trial, cementing the lead in a frenzied global race that has unfolded at record-breaking speed. |
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The drug maker Pfizer announced on Monday that an early analysis of its coronavirus vaccine trial suggested the vaccine was robustly effective in preventing Covid-19, a promising development as the world has waited anxiously for any positive news about a pandemic that has killed more than 1.2 million people.
Pfizer, which developed the vaccine with the German drugmaker BioNTech, released only sparse details from its clinical trial, based on the first formal review of the data by an outside panel of experts.
The company said that the analysis found that the vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing the disease among trial volunteers who had no evidence of prior coronavirus infection. If the results hold up, that level of protection would put it on par with highly effective childhood vaccines for diseases such as measles. No serious safety concerns have been observed, the company said.
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Findings showed a higher proportion of patients remained on treatment with erenumab compared with topiramate, demonstrating superior tolerability. |
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Comparative Efficacy of Erenumab and Topiramate for Chronic Migraine Prevention |
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Novartis announced positive results from a phase 4 study comparing treatment with erenumab (Aimovig), a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist, to topiramate in patients with episodic and chronic migraine.
The randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, HER-MES study included 777 adult patients suffering from at least 4 migraine days/month and who were naïve to, not suitable for, or had previously failed up to 3 prophylactic treatments. Patients were randomized to receive either erenumab 70mg, 140mg, or the highest tolerated dose of topiramate (50-100mg daily) for 24 weeks.
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ABIPP Exams Will Be Held Online Starting December 5 |
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The ABIPP Part I Examinations for ABIPP Part I, Written Examination for ABIPP Board Certification, and ABIPP Competency Certification Will Now Be Held Online. |
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The first opportunity to take the exams will be Saturday, December 5 at 10 am CST. If you are interested in appearing for either of these exams, you must submit an application. All candidates must be approved prior to signing up for the examination. Qualifications are listed in the applications linked below:
Four (4) hour exam beginning at 10 am CST
Two (2) hour exam beginning at 10 am CST
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS NOVEMBER 18
We will post an announcement for future examinations as they are set. If you have question about the exam or eligibility, you may contact Melinda Martin at mmartin@asipp.org
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ABIPP Information | abipp.org |
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What’s Causing Your Leg Pain?
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Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
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With this condition, your limbs -- typically your legs -- don’t get enough blood. It usually happens because your arteries have narrowed. Your legs may feel weak or numb or cramp when you walk. They might feel cold and be an odd color. Some people can manage PAD with habit changes, like quitting smoking. If that doesn’t work, your doctor might give you medicine to treat the problem or help with pain. But some people need surgery. |
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This Is One Of Sixteen Conditions That Can Cause Leg Pain |
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Study Finds CRPS Follows Children, Adolescents Into Adulthood |
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One of the first long-term, follow-up studies of its kind has concluded that the majority of children and adolescents treated for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) still suffer some degree of related pain as adults. Interestingly, the study also found that with each subsequent year from CRPS diagnosis, the odds of pain in adulthood increased by 61%.
These findings, the researchers said, should help pain clinicians set realistic expectations for young CRPS patients regarding the expected trajectory of the condition.
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Live Webinar
Attendees Price
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Controlled Substance Management |
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Documentation, Coding, Compliance,
and Practice Management
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"The goal of this work is to ensure the American public is protected against outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats," FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, MD stated. |
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FDA Identifies Most Needed Meds to Address Urgent Medical Conditions |
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This action was in response to an executive order issued on August 6, 2020 aimed at protecting the public against outbreaks of emerging diseases and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. In addition to these products, the Agency has identified 96 devices for inclusion, such as diagnostic kits, personal protective equipment and ventilators, among others. According to FDA Commissioner Stephen M Hahn, MD, the essential items included on the list were those that would be needed by patients in US acute care medical facilities to address severe injuries and urgent medical conditions.
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Lego Training Helps Improve Regionalists’ Spatial Manipulation |
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A team of British anesthesiologists has developed what they describe as an “inexpensive, reproducible” method for improving anesthesiology students’ visuospatial abilities as they learn to perform various tasks.
The surprising new method: use of the decades-old toy, Lego.
“We believe this type of training in anesthesia is completely novel,” one of the developers, David W. Hewson, MBBS, a consultant anesthetist at Nottingham University Hospitals and an honorary assistant professor, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, in England, said in an interview. “Our team consists of experts in regional anesthesia and health psychology, and we were able to work together to design a training system to help improve patient safety.”
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Register to View ASIPP 2020 Annual Meeting Recordings |
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Free Access Window Closed |
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Free access for live meeting registrants was limited to 30 days following the close of the September 4-6 meeting. Please select the appropriate option under the payment section on the registration form if you want to extend your access to the meeting recordings. A significantly reduced add-on fee is available for those who pre-registered for the live meeting, as well as for fellows, residents and medical students.
If you did not register for the ASIPP Virtual Annual Meeting in September, you may still register to view the recorded version. All sessions from the September 4-6, 2020 meeting are available through June 2021 for a reduced fee. On-demand registration also provides access to all of the great resources available in the exhibit hall.
You will receive your new login credentials soon after completing the registration form.
CME Statement
Recorded sessions for this meeting are not eligible for CME credits.
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MedPAC Mulls Time Limits on Some Telehealth Payments |
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Could ease pressure on CMS to make all telemed expansions permanent |
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Telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries that have been expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic should be continued -- but with an expiration date until a long-term telehealth strategy is established, a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) said Monday at the panel's virtual meeting.
"Decisions made now might be inappropriate for telehealth of several years from now" because technology is changing so fast, said Bruce Pyenson, a MedPAC commissioner and consulting actuary at Milliman in New York City. "Is it practical to say, 'Here's some suggestions for a limited period of time -- say 1 year or 2 years but not beyond that?' Because as others have said, once a policy is set, it's very hard to undo that."
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COVID-19: What Makes 'Waves' During a Pandemic? |
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This isn't the 1918 flu, and it's not behaving
like it either
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Are we in a second "wave" of COVID-19 or still in the first wave? Even now, epidemiologists aren't entirely sure.
The 1918 H1N1 "Spanish flu" pandemic is described as having several "waves," but Stephen Morse, PhD, of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City told MedPage Today that a "wave" is a biological phenomenon, and it's not clear how to determine if a wave has transpired.
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Controlled Trial Shows Turmeric Effective in Alleviating Pain of Knee OA |
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From the treatment of digestive issues to reducing pain and inflammation in rheumatologic conditions, the root of the flowering plant turmeric (Curcuma longa extract) has long been a staple of traditional medicine. Now, a well-designed trial has shown that turmeric—best known in the United States as a ginger-like cooking spice—could potentially serve as a clinical alternative to existing pain treatments in conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA).
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has been studied extensively for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties in both animal and human trials. Given the efficacy seen and a side effect profile that compares favorably to existing pain medications, the authors of a clinical review of the data stated that turmeric “could be a possible candidate for consideration for use as a stand-alone analgesic, or in analgesic combinations as part of opioid-, NSAID- [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs] or paracetamol (acetaminophen)-sparing strategies” (J Clin Pharm Ther 2018;43[4]:460-466).
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The Swinging Pendulum of PSA Screening |
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Tide of opinion turning again |
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In 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) -- a powerful, voluntary group that sets guidelines for primary care physicians -- came out against the mass screening of healthy men with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests for the early detection of prostate cancer.
That statement, which was somewhat reversed in 2018, has lived on and continues to fuel hot debates over the use of screening and whether the guidelines themselves caused more harm than benefit. And there likely will be more arguments in the years ahead as medical groups conduct uptakes on guidelines and new studies appear.
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Electroacupuncture treatment was linked to statistically and clinically significant reductions in back-pain specific disability. |
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Electroacupuncture May Improve Chronic Low Back Pain-Associated Disability |
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No significant reduction in pain severity was found with electroacupuncture vs sham therapy for chronic low back pain in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Network Open. There was, however, a greater reduction in back-specific disability in study participants who were randomized to receive electroacupuncture.
Patients with chronic low back pain (N=121) with a pain intensity of at least 4 on a 0-10-point scale and had received no acupuncture during the previous 3 years were recruited. Patients were randomized to receive either electroacupuncture (n=59) or sham (n=62) treatment that consisted of 12 sessions over 6 weeks in which patients received 30 minutes of either active or sham electrical stimulation after needle placement while in a prone position.
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What Are the Most Popular COVID-19 Tests? |
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A roundup of the most commonly used diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 |
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The FDA has authorized nearly 230 diagnostic tests for COVID-19, but which ones are most commonly used? Through interviews with companies, lab directors and pathologists, MedPage Today has compiled a list of key players.We've grouped them by molecular versus antigen tests. Molecular tests identify viral RNA (frequently, but not always, through PCR testing), while antigen tests detect viral surface proteins. Either type can yield "rapid" tests, but antigen tests are inherently faster.
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6 Reasons Why Trigger Point Injections Aren’t Helping Your Fibromyalgia |
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By Celeste Cooper, RN
Some people with fibromyalgia tell me that trigger point injections (TPIs) put them in a tailspin, making them physically ill and their body-wide pain worse. Yet, others hail the value of TPIs for the pain relief they bring. So, why is there such disparity?
- Trigger point injections treat trigger points.
- Trigger points and tender points are not the same.
- Trigger points and tender points are affected by different parts of the nervous system.
- Confusion over terminology and abbreviations.
- Misconceptions that FM and MPS are the same thing.
So, are trigger point injections helpful for fibromyalgia pain? No! Are trigger point injections helpful for someone who has fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome? Yes, when the right protocol is used.
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Feds Charge New Jersey Physician In $24.6M Billing Fraud Case |
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A New Jersey physician has been charged with healthcare fraud, wire fraud and mail fraud for his alleged role in a long-standing billing scheme, the Department of Justice announced Nov. 9.
Prosecutors allege that Morris Antebi, MD, who owned and operated pain management clinics, fraudulently billed Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance companies for services that were provided on dates he was out of the country.
Prosecutors further allege that Dr. Antebi billed insurance plans for more than 24 hours' worth of services for one-day periods of time on more than 900 occasions. Patients interviewed during the federal investigation said Dr. Antebi commonly didn't perform any medical exams or evaluations during their visits, according to the Justice Department.
From 2014 through 2020, Dr. Antebi allegedly billed more than $24.6 million for services he purportedly prvided.
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Some Docs Will Pay Separately to Use CPT Codes Next Year |
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AMA licensing fee won't be included in Practice Fusion EMR in 2021 |
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Physicians who use the Practice Fusion electronic medical record (EMR) will have to pay separately for CPT code licensing fees next year -- and there has been confusion over the price.
CPT codes are owned and managed by the American Medical Association, and licensing fees are typically wrapped up into the cost of the EMR itself, so physicians rarely see them.
But for reasons that neither the AMA nor Practice Fusion (through its parent company Allscripts) would discuss with MedPage Today, the EMR vendor is passing on the cost to the user for 2021.
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ASIPP® Partners with Fedora Billing And Revenue Cycle Management Company
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ASIPP is now offering our members the benefit of a unique revenue cycle management/billing service. We have received a tremendous amount of interest in the ASIPP billing and coding program. One question we continue to receive is what the negotiated rate is for practices. The rate is 3% for ASIPP members and includes all the following services:
- Reporting
- Credentialing
- Charge and Payment Posting
- Credentialing
- Pre-certification/Prior Authorization
- Denials and A/R Management
- And more!
Fedora is a company known to many of our board members and others. ASIPP has reached an agreement with Fedora to provide exclusive discounts on billing or revenue cycle management that will decrease practice costs and promote growth, or at least stop deterioration. It is not just a billing company; they streamline the billing and receivable process and constantly update payor regulations keeping your practice up to on date on a daily basis.
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The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) is pleased to announce a partnership with Willow Risk Advisors to create an exclusive policy available to ASIPP members. In an effort to further increase value to its physician members, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) has endorsed Willow Risk Advisors as their professional liability insurance broker. Teaming up with the NORCAL group, Willow Risk has developed an exclusive Medical Malpractice Insurance Program tailored specifically to serve interventional pain physicians. This new program will offer necessary benefits including risk management, premium discounts, consent to settle, aggressive claims handling, and administrative defense. |
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Join The Group Purchasing
Organization Today
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ASIPP® has formed a partnership with Henry Schein and PedsPal, a national GPO that has a successful history of negotiating better prices on medical supplies and creating value added services for the independent physician. Working with MedAssets, PedsPal provides excellent pricing on products like contrast media that alleviate some of the financial pressures you experience today. While the cost of contrast media has skyrocketed due to the single dose vial issue, because we have partnered with Henry Schein, this could enable you to purchase Omnipaque 240mg/50mL for slightly above $4.50.
Click on “view our discounted supplier prices” (Username: ASIPPmember and Password: Save) or click on the words "join for free now" and begin saving today!
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Essentials of Regenerative Medicine in Interventional
Pain Management
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Essentials of Regenerative Medicine in Interventional Pain Management is a book to bring concise, collective, and comprehensive information to interventional pain physicians practicing regenerative medicine in managing chronic pain. Regenerative medicine is an integral part of interventional pain management within the definitions of interventional pain management and interventional techniques.
Each chapter contains an introduction of the subject, historical context,pathophysiology, applicability of regenerative medicine with its evidence base, indications, anatomy, technical aspects, complications, and precautions for each topic when available and applicable. This comprehensive book consists of 35 chapters, more than 350 figures, and 50 tables.
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| ORDER | Essentials of Regenerative Medicine in IPM
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Take Control Of Your Waiting Room TV With ASIPP-TV |
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Customized waiting room TV exclusively for ASIPP® members. Create your own ad-free television broadcasts using our videos, custom informational slides and your own YouTube videos. Even add local weather reports, news and live messages.
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In addition, PainExam has now collaborated with ASIPP and offer 2 new programs:
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STATE SOCIETY MEETINGS AND WEBINARS |
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