AAPM&R Connection E-Newsletter

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Calling Volunteers to Choose Research for the 2015 Annual Assembly

Help choose which abstracts are included in Assembly program. If you’re interested in being a volunteer, click here to learn more.


Nominate Peers for 2015 AAPM&R Elected Positions

To participate in your Academy’s nomination process for elected positions, complete the ballot and please note the following:

  • You do not need to nominate someone for every position.
  • You are encouraged to bring your name forward for consideration.
  • Please include your name.
  • Please remember to click "Submit" at the bottom of the ballot when you're finished with your nominations.

Academy News


Updated Response from AAPM&R to MEDPAC's Post-Acute Care Site-Neutral Payment Proposal

On January 14, the Academy sent comments to MedPAC and provided verbal testimony at MedPAC’s January 15-16 meeting citing clinical examples to support our opposition to specific medical conditions being included on the list for site neutral payment. The Academy has repeatedly recommended that MedPAC postpone this policy until appropriate measures are in place to ensure patients are not negatively impacted. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, MedPAC voted in favor of its recommendation. The Academy will continue to closely monitor this issue.

 


Modifier -59 Could Impact Your Reimbursement: Be Sure Your Billing Staff is Aware of the Modifier Changes

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is establishing 4 new HCPCS modifiers to define subsets of the -59 modifier, a modifier used to define a “Distinct Procedural Service.” For more information, clickhere.

 

Holding of 2015 Date-of-Service Claims for Services Paid Under the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

On November 13, 2014, the CY 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule was published in the Federal Register. In order to implement corrections to technical errors discovered after publication of the MPFS rule and process claims correctly, Medicare Administrative Contractors will hold claims containing 2015 services paid under the MPFS for the first 14 calendar days of January 2015 (i.e., Thursday, January 1 through Wednesday, January 14). The hold should have minimal impact on provider cash flow as, under current law, clean electronic claims are not paid sooner than 14 calendar days (29 days for paper claims) after the date of receipt. MPFS claims for services rendered on or before Wednesday, December 31, 2014 are unaffected by the 2015 claims hold and will be processed and paid under normal procedures and time frames. For more information, click here.


CMS ICD-10 Clinical Documentation Improvement Webinar Recording Available

CMS recently collaborated with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to present a webinar on clinical documentation improvement. Watch the recording, click here. For more ICD-10 resources, go to me.aapmr.org.


New Year, New Codes. Take Advantage of PM&R-Specific Coding Resources

  • 2015 PM&R Coding Companion. This one-stop resource includes the 2015 CPT®code set specific to PM&R in an easy-to-use, one-page format.

  • ICD-10 Crosswalk Sheet Bundle. AAPM&R has crosswalked the top 100 ICD-9-CM codes in 4 different PM&R clinical areas to the latest ICD-10-CM codes so you can begin consideration for documentation and superbill changes, and get a jump on the 2015 implementation.

  • Strategic Coding and Reimbursement for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Course. This course delivers the information you need to select codes accurately, document them appropriately, and optimize revenue and cash flow. Registration is now available. Course locations and dates are as follows:

    • Las Vegas: February 20, 2015

    • Nashville, TN: August 15, 2015

    • Chicago: November 14, 2015


PQRS Reporting Deadlines Less Than 1 Month Away!

To help you submit your data easily so that you can qualify for the 2014 PQRS incentive payment and/or to avoid the penalty in 2016, AAPM&R offers members a host of resources:

  • PQRSwizard®- a web-based approach that provides an easy, step-by-step wizard to help you rapidly validate and submit you quality data to CMS for incentive payment under the PQRS program.

  • 2014 PQRS Measures for Physiatry – Academy-vetted PQRS Measures for the 2014 program year.


Registration Opening Soon for the 2015 Diagnostic and Interventional Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of the Upper Extremity Course

Designed to take the integration of ultrasound in your practice to the next level, the 2015 Diagnostic and Interventional Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of the Upper Extremity course is taking place June 26 – 28, 2015 in Tampa, FL. The course director is Evan Peck, MD. Registration information will be available soon. Visit www.aapmr.org for more details.


New Year, New Career – AAPM&R Can Help You Make Your Next Step

Looking for a way to jump start your next career move? AAPM&R is a member of the National Healthcare Career Network (NHCN), an alliance of over 170 trade and professional associations that serves job seekers seeking careers in a specialized talent pool in the healthcare industry. When you post a resume to the Physiatrists’ Job Board, you can choose to include your resume on other relevant NHCN job boards for maximum exposure! Just looking to browse opportunities? Set your profile to private!

Check out all of the wonderful opportunities available to you on the Job Board.


Taking the ABPMR on February 9th? Prepare with Academy Resources!

Your Academy offers a host of resources to help you prepare for the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) examination taking place in just a couple of weeks. Visit me.aapmr.org and click on ‘MOC|3 Study Tools’ in the Catalog for applicable resources.


Seeking Speakers for 2015 Annual Assembly Summit for Innovations in Spine Care

Is your practice implementing a spine care delivery model that addresses such issues as patient satisfaction; patient-centered, team-based care; access to care; and cost effectiveness—among others? If so, this could be your opportunity to engage your colleagues and showcase the innovative models you are using to deliver exceptional spine care to patients. The inaugural Spine Summit will take place in conjunction with the 2015 AAPM&R Annual Assembly. Learn More.


Call for Abstracts for the 2015 Annual Assembly

AAPM&R invites you to submit your clinical and basic science research findings to be considered for inclusion in the AAPM&R 2015 Annual Assembly, October 1-4, 2015, in Boston. Abstract submissions will be accepted by your Academy online only. All application material must be submitted online by Saturday, March 7, 2015, 11:59pm CT. Learn More.

March ISIS Lumbar Spine Course Registration Now Open

Your Academy’s partnership with the International Spine Intervention Society (ISIS) provides AAPM&R members access to the ISIS Lumbar Procedures Bio-Skills Lab courses, which ISIS offers multiple times throughout the year, at the ISIS member rate. The next course is being held March 27-29, 2015 in Phoenix, AZ. Register now.


Announcing the 9thWorld Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

The 9th World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine will be held from June 19 – 23 in Berlin. Early bird registration is now open until February 15, 2015. Learn More.

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