AAPM&R Connection E-Newsletter

Keep an eye on your mailbox for a special edition of The Physiatrist. The Fall 2016 bonus issue is all about Visioning PM&R Bold! You’ll find an update on our efforts, where we’ve been, what we’ve heard from thousands of our members, and interviews with your peers.

The President’s Citation Award has been announced for the highest-rated research abstract submitted for the AAPM&R 2016 Annual Assembly—Gerold Ebenbichler, MD, Vienna Medical University for his abstract, Long-Term Outcome of Ultrasound Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder: Results of a RCT. Congratulations, Dr. Ebenbichler! Learn more.

Tomorrow is your last chance to submit a session proposal and/or abstract for AAPM&R’s 2017 Annual Assembly, October 12-15 in Denver, CO. ALL submissions are due December 1. Late submissions will not be accepted. Click on the links below to learn more—please read this information carefully as there are several changes to the submission process.

• Submit a session proposal
• Submit an abstract
  

AAPM&R is seeking 5 volunteer representatives who are enthusiastic about state policy issues and advocacy. The Academy is working to implement a new state advocacy strategy to create a formal system to monitor and respond to advocacy issues that arise at an individual state level and have potential implications at the national level.  Read more about this volunteer opportunity and send in your application by TODAY, November 30, 2016.

Volunteers are needed for the Academy’s expert item writing committee, which is charged with the development of educational resources for practicing physiatrists and residents. Committee members will receive question writing orientation, and ongoing development and coaching to become expert question writers. Learn more about this opportunity and indicate your interest by December 16.

As 2016 comes to a close, it’s time to take care of some important year-end tasks. Sign in to mē^® to:

• Participate in the REMS Playbook for Opioid Prescribing—helps you earn up to 3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
• Complete an SAE-P—helps you earn up to 8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and fulfills your ABPMR MOC|2 requirement.
  • Stroke Rehabilitation—recently launched!
  • Sports Medicine—new in 2016!
  • Concussion and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
  • And more
• Earn PM&R Journal CME—included with your membership and helps you earn 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ each.
• View Case Studies—earn 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ each.
• Claim CME for the 2016 AAPM&R Annual Assembly if you did not get a chance to while onsite in New Orleans.
  

The Comprehensive Sports Medicine Update and Board Review Course is a one-of-a kind course designed to provide a comprehensive review of all subjects contained in the sports medicine board examination. The course faculty includes internationally-recognized experts in the field of sports medicine. Mark your calendar for the 2017 course, held June 21-24 in Minneapolis, MN. Learn more.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has contracted with Mathematica Policy Research and its partners to develop, electronically specify, test, and maintain electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) for potential opioid overuse. Mathematica is recruiting ambulatory practices and hospitals to participate in testing 5 eCQMs that may be used in federal quality reporting programs, such as the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Learn more about participating.

If you have any questions regarding the status of your 2015 Physician Quality Reporting System reporting (PQRS—a CMS-mandated quality reporting program) or are concerned about potentially receiving the PQRS downward payment adjustment in 2017, please do not hesitate to submit an informal review request.

Note: Any EP or group that is awaiting a response or resolution of a QualityNet Help Desk ticket to access their PQRS Feedback Report or QRUR may still submit an informal review after November 30, 2016. Learn more.

The United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) and Bone and Joint Canada are dedicated to increasing research of musculoskeletal diseases and have 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 7-9, 2017 in Chicago, IL. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2017. Learn more and apply for this program.