THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19, 2020
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A blood sample is prepared for analysis by a laboratory technician at Accel Research Sites on August 4, 2020 in DeLand, Florida, U.S. |
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Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Maker Identifies ‘Big Challenges’ To Mass Production |
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Moderna’s announcement earlier this week that its vaccine was more than 94% effective at preventing the coronavirus, according to preliminary trial data, raised global hopes further that a resolution to the pandemic that has killed over 1.3 million could be in sight.
The news followed on from Pfizer and BioNTech’s equally positive news that their vaccine candidate was over 90% effective. The news from Moderna was hailed as a “game changer” and Pfizer’s chief executive described the vaccine achievement as “a great day for science and humanity.”
As the market revelry at the news continued, attention quickly turned to practical matters given the unprecedented logistical challenge posed by producing and distributing vaccines, should they receive final regulatory approval, to a global population of around 7 billion.
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Assessment of Prevalence of Cervical Facet Joint Pain with Diagnostic Cervical Medial Branch Blocks: Analysis Based on Chronic Pain Model |
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In the recently published Pain Physician Journal, is a must read manuscript (2020;23;531-540) which validates cervical facet joint nerve blocks and chronic pain mechanisms.
Assessment of Prevalence of Cervical Facet Joint Pain with Diagnostic Cervical Medial Branch Blocks: Analysis Based on Chronic Pain Model
Diagnostic Accuracy Study
Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD, Radomir Kosanovic, MD, Kimberly A. Cash, RT, Vidyasagar Pampati, MSc, Amol Soin, MD, Alan D. Kaye, MD, PhD, and Joshua A. Hirsch, MD.
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ASIPP in conjunction with ASIPP state societies as well as the American Society of Neuroradiology, and the American Society of Spine Radiology this week sent seven comment letters to the following insurance providers regarding proposed rules that would hinder access of facet joint injections to patients. Click on the links below to read each letter.
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Doctors an Easy Mark for Hospital Cyberattackers |
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Fake emails from bosses, messages about COVID, PPE, vaccines: "Doctors have fallen for it multiple times" |
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As healthcare systems cope with a surge in COVID-19 patients, they're also dealing with an onslaught of ransomware attacks.
While healthcare systems have worked to strengthen their defenses against such attacks, cybercriminals are still finding a way in, often via healthcare workers who fall for sophisticated spear phishing attacks. These aren't Nigerian prince scams; fraudulent emails are targeted, going so far as to spoof a boss' email address or pretend to share information about COVID-19.
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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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According to the authors, outcomes such as adverse effects, cost, and patient preference should also be considered when selecting fibromyalgia therapy. |
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High-Quality Evidence Lacking for Most Fibromyalgia Therapies |
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The majority of treatment options for fibromyalgia are not supported by high-quality evidence, according to the findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
To assess the effectiveness of these therapies on pain reduction and quality of life improvement, study authors searched various databases for randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials that evaluated these outcomes in fibromyalgia patients. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale or numerical rating scales, while QOL was evaluated using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.
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For Osteoarthritis, NSAIDs Linked to Negative Clinical Outcomes and Higher Costs |
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Patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee who were prescribed oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) experienced an increase in negative clinical outcomes and costs, according to a retrospective study presented at the recent 2020 PAINWeek Virtual Conference.
“It is important to understand the benefits and harms of a standard therapy for osteoarthritis that is recommended in both national and international guidelines,” said principal investigator Stuart Silverman, MD, a clinical professor of medicine and rheumatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in Los Angeles.
Silverman noted that most clinicians are aware of the increase in gastrointestinal (GI) side effects with the NSAID class, but may be less aware of potential cardiovascular and renal effects
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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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Black and Latino workers had twofold increased odds of a positive test versus White workers, when adjusting for job role and patient care responsibilities. |
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COVID-19 Infection Higher Among Support Staff Than Doctors, Nurses |
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HealthDay News — Support staff in health care settings have higher COVID-19 infection rates than physicians and nurses, according to a study published online Oct. 31 in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
Emily S. Barrett, Ph.D., from Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, and colleagues screened 3,904 employees and clinicians at a major New Jersey hospital for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 positivity and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) from April 28 to June 30, 2020.
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Register to View The Recorded Version Of The ASIPP 2020 Annual Meeting |
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The Free Access Window For Live Meeting Registrants 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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AMA: Cautious 'Yes' to Public Option;
'No' to Legal Cannabis
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Public option health insurance shouldn't require blanket participation from docs, group says |
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The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates gave a thumbs up to a "public option" -- with caveats -- but a thumbs down to marijuana legalization at the final day of its virtual special meeting.
The delegates first debated a report from the AMA Council on Medical Service about ways to maximize health insurance coverage for lower-income people. The report said that "The Council is aware of the growing interest within the House of Delegates for our AMA to support a public option" for those who can't afford health insurance coverage. "However, the term 'public option' has several different meanings, and blanket support for a public option without safeguards in place could have negative consequences for physicians and their practices."
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CDC Urges Against Thanksgiving Travel |
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This isn't the 1918 flu, and it's not behaving like it either |
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The CDC weighed in Thursday on the latest burning issue related to the COVID-19 pandemic: Thanksgiving travel.
Just stay home, agency officials said in a press call.
The agency already had recommendations for Thanksgiving on its website, but held the call to highlight a few notable updates. Now the federal public health authority strongly recommends against any and all travel for Thanksgiving.
When asked by a reporter what was at stake if people chose not to follow the CDC's advice, the agency's COVID-19 Incident Manager Henry Walke, MD, did not mince words: "An increased chance of your loved ones being sick or hospitalized and dying."
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Stiff Penalties Common When Physicians Found Guilty of Opioid-Related Crimes |
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Physicians from a variety of clinical specialties are increasingly being prosecuted for opioid-related offenses, according to a study (abstract 3457, PAIN MEDICINE-22) submitted to the canceled 2020 annual meeting of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).
Principal investigator Guohua Li, DrPH, a professor of anesthesiology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York City, and Julia Berman, an undergraduate research intern from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H, were inspired to undertake the study because of the numerous class action lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies and distributors filed by state and local governments.
The Nexis Uni database was searched for news media reports of physicians who had been arrested, indicted or criminally charged for illegally prescribing opioids in the United States between January 1995 and December 2019.
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Polypharmacy is defined as taking 5 or more medications. |
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Geriatric Polypharmacy: When and How to Deprescribe Medications |
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The number of Americans over the age of 65 years is increasing. According to the Census Bureau, people older than 65 years will outnumber those younger than 5 years sometime in 2020. By 2050, the number of people older than 65 years will be double the number younger than 5 years.1
With an aging population comes an increase in comorbidities and polypharmacy, defined as taking 5 or more medications.2,3 Polypharmacy can include appropriate pharmacology, in which medicine usage is evidence based, as well as use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) that do not have an evidence-based indication, have the potential to interact with other medications the patient is taking, are continued beyond therapeutic benefit, or are given in place of less expensive options.4,5
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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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The California Society of Interventional Pain Physicians is providing a unique, townhall type webinar on health policy and advocacy of both state and national issues that are of interest to CALSIPP members as well as pain physicians across the country.
The webinar consists of two separate sessions, each with a moderator and three expert panelists on state and national issues. The webinar will be 90 minutes. The first session will be 30 minutes focused on issues in the state of California that may have an impact on pain physician's practices and patients. After a 10 minute break, the next 30 minute session will focus on larger national issues related to recent actions of the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), national coverages, as well as ongoing concerns regarding prescription medications and physician autonomy.
The webinar is intended to provide discussion and different perspectives from experts. Following each session there will be a brief question and answer period that will bring additional viewpoints from attendees. The objective of this webinar is to provide focus on healthcare policies and advocacy issues that are of interest to CALSIPP members and America's pain community.
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Please join us for this complimentary webinar and join the
discussion on health policy and advocacy.
If you can't make the live webinar, you will be able to view the
recorded version any time you desire at no extra charge.
Register Today!
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This live webinar and recorded version is brought to you free of charge by:
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25131 Narbonne Avenue | PO Box 2072 | Lomita, California 90717-8777
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