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AAPM&R’s Health Policy & Legislation Committee Presents Sports Medicine Legislation in Washington Your Academy’s Health Policy & Legislation Committee made a visit to the Hill during their recent meeting in Washington, DC this past February and one of the items that the committee members presented to Congressional representatives has now helped lawmakers introduce a new bill to provide licensure clarity for sports medicine professionals. U.S. Senators John Thurne (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced a bill, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act, on March 10, 2015, which stipulates that health care services provided by a covered sports medicine professional to an athlete, athletic team, or staff member of an athlete or athletic team in a secondary state outside the state of licensure will be covered by the professional’s medical malpractice insurance provider. In the bill’s press release, AAPM&R Board of Governors member Jonathan Finnoff, DO, discusses how this legislation would positively affect sports medicine professionals.
Meaningful Use Attestation Deadline Extended to March 20 The extended deadline for physicians to attest to meaningful use for the 2014 reporting year is coming up this week at 11:59 pm (ET) on March 20. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the deadline to allow physicians extra time to submit their meaningful use data. Physicians must attest to meaningful use every year to receive an incentive payment and avoid a penalty. Note that CMS is only extending the attestation period, not the reporting period, so physicians must have concluded their reporting by Dec. 31, 2014, in order to attest to meeting requirements now. To attest, physicians should submit their data to the Registration and Attestation System, which includes 2014 Certified EHR Technology Flexibility Rule options. To speed the attestation process, physicians should attest during off-peak hours, such as evenings and weekends, and start now to check that their information is up-to-date and begin entering 2014 data. |
Call for Awards Ends March 31
AAPM&R invites you to identify colleagues who deserve recognition for distinguished contributions to the Academy and the specialty.
Submitting a nomination can be completed in just a few steps. Click here to learn more about each award and submit your nomination. Awards will be presented at the AAPM&R 2015 Annual Assembly in Boston, October 1-4. Nominations will be accepted untilMarch 31, 2015.
Free Preview Webinar for 2015 MSK US Course
Thinking about attending the Diagnostic & Interventional Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of the Upper Extremity coursein Tampa, FL? Then you’ll want to attend this free informational webinar on April 7, 2015 at 7 pm (CT).
Led by Course Director Evan Peck, MD, this preview webinar will give attendees a sneak peek of the lectures and hands-on demonstrations. Register today!
Check Out the New Quality Tool Boxes
The Performance Metrics Committee, in collaboration with the Councils, has been working to develop Quality Tool Boxes (QTBs) for specific health conditions. The QTBs are a web-based resource for Academy members that include existing tools specifically tailored for physiatric practice.
The first 2 QTBs have been published to the Academy’s website: The Pediatric Council’s QTB on spina bifida, and the CNS Council’s QTB on mild traumatic brain injury. Click here to access the QTBs, and be sure to check back frequently as QTBs will be published on an ongoing basis.
Regenerative Medicine Supplement and SAE-P Coming Soon!
Members have ranked regenerative medicine as a critical educational topic. That’s why AAPM&R is excited to announce the Regenerative Medicine Supplement, which is included with the AprilPM&R journal.
The supplement offers insight into regenerative medicine, and you can preview the 25 Self-Assessment for Practitioners (SAE-P) questions to assess your knowledge on the topic.
The Regenerative Medicine SAE-P, which will be available for purchase, offers up to 8AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and will help fulfill part II of your American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirement. Stay tuned to themē®websitefor this exciting new SAE-P, coming soon!
Be Part of an Exciting New Vision for Physiatry at AAPM&R’s 2015 Annual Assembly
Are you ready for this year’s exciting Annual Assembly? We’ll be gathering in the bustling city of Boston, October 1-4 to discuss the latest advancements in physical medicine and rehabilitation. In these new health care frontiers, transforming your practice can be a challenge. Your Academy will help develop the know-how to address these challenges and achieve success.
At the 2015 Annual Assembly, you will engage in innovative learning that will help you be positioned for success. Features include:
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Our Presidential Address keynote speaker, Doris Kearns Goodwin, PhD.
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Targeted sessions focused on transforming, diversifying, and/or managing your practice, designed to provide knowledge physiatrists need to lead their teams through a rapidly changing health care environment.
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Plus, a live SAE-P opportunity!
Meeting registration will open in early May. Stay tuned to the Academy's website for the latest announcements.
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