Academy News
Your 2016 Membership Just Got Even Better!
Your Academy is committed to helping our members meet Maintenance of Certification® (MOC®) requirements set forth by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR).
We are happy to announce that starting in 2016, Academy membership now includes:
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Fellow and Associate members: One complimentary self-assessment examination for practitioners (SAE-P) – earn 8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to meet your annual Part II requirement.
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All practice improvement projects (PIPs) are now available to all members at no cost to assist you with fulfilling your Part IV requirement.
Visit aapmr.org/renew to learn more about your enhanced member benefits and renew online. Contact your Academy at (877) 227-6799 or memberservices@aapmr.org with questions
Call for Proposals Deadline Extended to November 30
You still have time to submit your proposal for AAPM&R’s 2016 Annual Assembly, October 20-23 in New Orleans, LA. Help us Move Physiatry Forward and submit proposals that focus on innovative patient care, changes impacting the business of medicine, and how physiatrists can position themselves and the specialty for success. View complete 2016 Call for Proposals details.
Keep these clinical areas/topics in mind as you submit your proposals:
- Practice Preparedness
- Pain and Spine
- General Rehabilitation
- Neurological Rehabilitation
- Resident/Early Career
- Musculoskeletal & Sports Medicine
- Spasticity
- Cancer Rehabilitation
Access the AAPM&R online submission site here. Hurry; submit your proposal by Monday, November 30 at 11:59 pm (CT).
AAPM&R Responds to CMS’ RFI for MACRA Implementation
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 replaced the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula with a program that uses quality components as a driver of reimbursement rates, beginning January 1, 2019. On September 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for information regarding implementation of the quality drivers Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), promotion of Alternative Payment Models (APMs), and Incentive Payments for Participation in Eligible Alternative Payment Models.
Your Academy submitted recommendations to CMS on how best to implement the quality programs without significantly burdening physicians and their patients. Your Academy’s comments included recommendations on appropriate identification and exclusions of MIPS-eligible professionals, how APM eligibility should be defined, and the development of the Clinical Practice Improvement activities.
New AAPM&R Website (www.aapmr.org) Coming Soon!
Your Academy is hard at work redesigning its current website and is looking forward to the relaunch soon! Focused on improving your user experience and connecting you to all of the latest physiatry and Academy news, www.aapmr.org will soon have a new look. Keep an eye out for updates as the relaunch approaches!
Summary of Care Survey for Meaningful Use Stage 2
The American Medical Association (AMA) is assisting the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) with gathering information to improve the summary of care document that is produced to meet the transfer of care objective in Stage 2 of Meaningful Use. Here you’ll find a 5-10 minute surveythat will help ONC create a new standard that will reduce the number of pages in the summary of care, thus making it easier to find relevant information. The survey is open until November 30.
PQRSwizard® Deadline is February 26, 2016
The Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) is a quality reporting program that uses
negative payment adjustments to promote reporting of quality information by individual eligible professionals (EPs) and group practices.
One solution for your PQRS reporting needs:PQRS
wizard®, the Academy-Sponsored PQRS Registry Reporting Vendor. Similar to online tax preparation software, the PQRS
wizard® is a web-based tool to guide EPs through a few easy steps to help rapidly collect, validate, report, and submit the results to CMS.
You have until
February 26, 2016 to avoid up to a 4% penalty. Visit the Academy’s website at
aapmr.org/pqrs to learn more about the PQRS
wizard®.
Why Use the PQRSwizard®?
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Avoid penalties
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Quick, easy, and cost-effective
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Individual EP and GPRO reporting
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Data entry and file upload tools
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Real-time data validation
Check Your Mailbox for the Pain Management Supplement!
Keep an eye on your mailbox for your November PM&R Journal, which includes the new pain management supplement and self-assessment examination for practitioners (SAE-P), Current Concepts in Physiatric Pain Management.
The supplement, guest edited by Academy member Mark Tyburski, MD, includes more than 30 SAE-P questions and addresses safe opioid prescribing, includes updates on opioid medication regulations, and more. The SAE-P is now available in the mē® Catalog, offers up to 8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, and helps fulfill your American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) MOC® Part II requirement.
Free Webinar: Understanding Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) in TBI and Stroke Patient Populations
People with PBA experience episodes of uncontrollable laughing or crying that do not correspond to how they feel. Bart Brown, PharmD, senior medical science liaison with Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will help physicians learn how to develop awareness of PBA and be able to screen for and identify symptoms, and learn how to distinguish PBA from clinical depression in the acquired brain injury patient population.
The webinar, sponsored by Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., will be held twice on Wednesday, December 9:
AAPM&R is pleased to allow these sponsored webinars that may be of interest to AAPM&R members. Please note that AAPM&R does not endorse the content, company or its products. This webinar will not be recorded.
Enrollment Period to Change Participating or Non-Participating Status
The 2016 Annual Provider and Supplier Open Enrollment Period is now open through December 31, 2015. The open enrollment period allows Medicare suppliers to revisit their choice to accept Medicare assignment for claims payment. The participation status only affects how you are reimbursed from Medicare. Changing your status to non-participating does not terminate your Medicare billing privileges. If you do not wish to make any changes to your participation status, it is not necessary to respond during this period.
- Non-Participating Provider: To change your status to participating, mail form CMS-460 signed by provider, authorized, or delegated official of the National Provider Identifier (NPI) requesting the change. The form should be dated and contain your legal name, legal business name, address, and all credentials (PTAN, NPI, and TIN/EIN/SSN). The CMS-460 participation agreement can be downloaded from the CMS website.
- Participating Provider: To change your status to non-participating, send a written notice on a provider letterhead to include all credentials (PTAN, NPI, TIN/EIN/SSN) of intent to change your status to non-participating. This request should be signed by a provider, authorized or delegated official for the NPI requesting the change.
Please note: If you are currently enrolled in the Medicare program other than as a Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) supplier, you may only change your participation status with one carrier, as the status will be the same with all Medicare contractors.
2015 Annual Assembly Photos Now Available for Purchase
The photos from the 2015 Annual Assembly are now available online. Visithttp://www.wheresmyphotograph.com to view the AAPM&R 2015 Assembly gallery. Photos are grouped by name and day. Both print and digital file formats are available. Users will need to set up an account in order to purchase materials through this site. Happy browsing!
November 2015 AMA Interim Meeting – Two Great “Wins” for PM&R
Your Academy advocates for the PM&R specialty by serving on numerous task forces and committees, including the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates—the principal policy-making body of the American Medical Association. In November, several Academy members and staff traveled to Atlanta to participate in the 2015 AMA House of Delegates Interim Meeting to advocate on public policy issues related to persons with disabling conditions.
During the meeting, two PM&R-related resolutions were brought forth for testimony, and ultimately, a vote to adopt, amend or reject. View the notes from the meeting to learn more.
Young Investigators Urged to Apply for USBJI Grant Mentoring Program
Your Academy is a founding member of the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) and Bone and Joint Canada. USBJI is dedicated to increasing research of musculoskeletal diseases and has developed a grant mentoring program to provide early-career investigators an opportunity to work with experienced researchers to assist them in securing funding and other survival skills required for pursuing an academic career.
The spring workshop will be held April 29-May 1, 2016 in Chicago. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2016. Learn more and apply today.
In the News: UNESCO Charter Emphasizes Support for People with Impairments
UNESCO Member States have adopted a revised International Charter for Physical Education, Physical Activity, and Sport recognizing the importance of sport for development and peace and strongly emphasizing support for people with impairments. The Charter is important for the Paralympic Movement because National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) function in the context of the national sport and physical education system. The updated Charter can be used by NPCs and their national partners to influence for improvements to sport, physical education, and physical activity opportunities for people with impairments. Read the full story.
AAPM&R Members in the News
- Segun Dawodu, MD, MBA, physician at WellSpan Physiatry, led an informative discussion on understanding, preventing, and delaying further nerve damage in diabetics. Learn more.
- David Lowry, DO, has joined the Erlanger Health System as its interventional physiatrist. Congratulations, Dr. Lowry! Learn more.
- Jeffrey North, MD, physiatrist and section chief of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Einstein Montgomery Hospital, discusses the differences between sprains and strains in the article, “Sprain vs. strain: Labeling your pain correctly.” Learn more.
- Luga Podesta, MD, has joined St. Charles Hospital as a sports medicine physiatrist. Congratulations, Dr. Podesta! Learn more.
- Anna Serels, MD, has joined University Hospitals Geauga and Geneva Medical Centers as a PM&R physician. Congratulations, Dr. Serels! Learn more.
- Lisa Snyder, MD, medical director of OSF Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, received the “Rock Doc Award” at Illinois CancerCare Foundation’s annual CUREageous fundraiser on Friday, November 13. Congratulations, Dr. Snyder! Learn more.
About AAPM&R Connection
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