AAPM&R Connection E-Newsletter

The Academy launched several initiatives in 2017 requiring member support and expertise. None would have been successful without your engagement. Your support of AAPM&R means that together, we can continue to advocate on behalf of the specialty and the patients you serve. The 2017 Report to Membership features detailed information about the Academy's work over the past year and highlights plans for 2018. Have you ever wondered: “What do my AAPM&R dues support?” Read this report. 

Last week, Academy staff volunteered their time to serve members of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and their families at their annual holiday luncheon at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, IL. For the sixth year, this volunteer opportunity was chosen for its relevance to PM&R, and it was a great chance for Academy staff members to spread good will with an organization that is served by the Academy’s mission.

Our corporate supporters allow us to enhance the medical specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation, carry forth the Academy’s mission and goals, and improve patient care. We are very grateful for their support!

• Industry Relations Council (IRC)—dedicated to building collaborative relationships with industry to reach goals of mutual concern, including improved patient care.
• Institution Partners Council (IPC)—developed as a way to formalize engagement between institutions and the Academy so that together we can help “transform the focus of health care to value function.”
• Corporate Supporters—these companies demonstrate their commitment to the Academy and the PM&R community by supporting various activities.
  

Let us know! We’re looking for speakers who have expertise in physiatry-focused topics. If that’s you or if you would like to recommend a speaker, please complete this survey. We want to provide you with the best educational experience from the faculty that you want to hear from, so your recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Got coding questions? Your Academy has the answers. Each month we feature a member’s question with an answer provided by AAPM&R’s Reimbursement and Policy Review Committee (RPRC).

Q: Can incident-to billing be used in the inpatient or skilled nursing facility setting?

Find the answer here.

Do you have a coding or billing question? Contact AAPM&R at codingquestions@aapmr.org for assistance.

 Ready to sign in to the Quality Payment Program for Performance Year 2017?

Good news! You can now:

1. Use your Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) credentials to sign in to the Quality Payment Program.
2. Verify your account information. If needed, update your account information in the CMS Enterprise Portal.

Sign in to the Quality Payment Program to report data when the submission window opens on January 2, 2018. Learn more.

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has launched a major initiative to define the future of certification.

Continuing Board Certification: Vision for the Future is a collaborative process that brings together multiple stakeholders including physicians, professional medical organizations, national specialty and state medical societies, hospitals and health systems, the general public and patients, the 24 Member Boards of the ABMS, and others.

Board certification and continuing certification are important parts of professional self-regulation and professional identity. In a transparent and open process, the Vision Initiative is designed to assess the current state of continuing board certification and envision its framework for the future.

To do this, the initiative’s Planning Committee has issued a Call for Nominations seeking 21 to 25 individuals to serve on the Commission. Read the full details here and nominate yourself by January 8.

On December 11, 2017, Sanofi Genzyme initiated a voluntary product recall for a single lot of Synvisc-One® (hylan G-F 20) lot 7RSL021 due to an ongoing investigation which revealed the presence of microbial contamination. The microbe is a common airborne organism and is a rare cause of human infections in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. 

Use of this voluntarily recalled lot may result in a risk of infection. This lot was distributed October 25, 2017 through November 7, 2017 only in the US market. The most frequently reported adverse events in association with this lot are consistent with documented adverse events in the product label. This voluntary recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the US Food and Drug Administration. Learn more.