Academy News
Annual Assembly Early Bird Registration Ends Today
This is your last chance to save up to $310 on the Annual Assembly.
There’s only 6 weeks remaining before we meet in Boston, October 1-4. Don’t miss the learning, networking, and fun!Early bird discounts also apply to preconference courses and limited-attendance workshops. Check out our lineupof all the great educational sessions and networking opportunities we have planned for you.
Plus, don't miss our Fundamentals of Ultrasound preconference course on Tuesday, September 29 and Wednesday, September 30. If you're new to ultrasound or just need an ultrasound refresher, this course is for you! Our experts will teach you how to perform a diagnostic ultrasound of various body parts in both upper and lower limbs in this interactive, hands-on course.
We’ll also have a special advocacy update sessionthat will focus on an introduction to Medicare physician payment reform, RAC audits, CMS’s potentially misvalued codes initiative, and more.
Register todayand join us in one of the most historic cities in the U.S.
CMS Issues New and Revised Place of Service (POS) Codes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a new Place of Service (POS) code and revised another POS code effective January 1, 2016.
In order to differentiate between on-campus and off-campus provider-based hospital departments, CMS is creating a new POS code (POS 19) and revising the current POS code description for outpatient hospitals (POS 22).
POS code 22 is currently the appropriate POS code for services provided in any hospital outpatient environment. Starting January 1, 2016, it will only be used for services provided in an outpatient hospital setting that is part of the main campus. For services provided in an outpatient hospital setting that is located off-campus, the new POS code will be 19, starting January 1, 2016.
Congratulations to 2015 AAPM&R and Foundation for PM&R Award Recipients
Your Academy presents awards annually to recognize lifetime achievement, distinguished membership, and pioneering physiatrists, clinicians, researchers, dedicated volunteers, and public servants who have made significant contributions to both the specialty and people with disabilities. AAPM&R and the 2015 Awards Committee are pleased to present this year's slate of award recipients: 2015 AAPM&R Award Recipients.
You can also check out the2015 Foundation for PM&R Award Recipients.
IRC Survey: Complete to Win!
AAPM&R is dedicated to building collaborative, long-term relationships with companies in order to address emerging issues of shared concern in a mutually beneficial, compliant way. To achieve this goal, your Academy has an active AAPM&R Industry Relations Council (IRC). The revenue received from this program supports the mission of AAPM&R.
The Academy is conducting a survey on behalf of some of our IRC members.Participants who complete the survey will be entered to win 1 of 10 $25 mē®certificates that can be used for education of your choice!
Click here to begin the survey.
Data gatheredfrom this survey will be used by IRC companies to better serve the PM&R community and the patients you serve.Please note that individual responses will remain confidential; only aggregated data will be released to IRC participants. We ask that you take a moment and complete the survey, which will take about 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!
Free PQRS Webinars!
CECity, the Academy’s registry partner, will host the following2015 PQRS Program webinars:
Plus, take a look at your Academy’s archived webinarfrom July 17 highlighting the 2015 PQRS reporting requirements.
Don’t forget – you have untilFebruary 26, 2016to avoid up to a4% penalty. Watch these helpful webinars and take advantage of the PQRSwizard® for your reporting needs – AAPM&R members receive discounted access, too!
Did you know some 2014 PQRS quality measures will be publicly reported on Physician Compare later this year?
Learn more about how your measures may be publicly reported onPhysician Compareat the upcoming Public Reporting Information Sessions, hosted by CMS.
Visit the Public Reporting Information Session registration web page for details.
Are You Taking the MOC Examination this November?
Prepare for the American Board of PM&R Maintenance of Certification (MOC*) examination on November 16 with AAPM&R resources!
Your Academy has study resources to assist you:
-
MOC|3 Online Mock Examination–recently enhanced!Featuring more than 800 questions and 12 PM&R core topics, this resource covers the breadth of the exam and provides immediate feedback with explanation.
-
MOC|3 Online Review Courses– Nine courses are available that cover topics found on the ABPMR MOC exam. These also offer 1.25-2.25AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™!
Visit the mē®catalog for a complete listing of your Academy’s MOC resources.
*Maintenance of Certification®(MOC®) was developed by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to improve patient care by ensuring continuous lifelong learning and professional development throughout a physician’s medical career. For board-certified physiatrists, the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) sets MOC requirements that are customized to the specialty and ensure compliance with ABMS Standards. Recognizing that physicians participating in that process want a variety of options to meet these requirements, your Academy has developed a series of resources that satisfy the different components of MOC. All Academy tools available to help you meet MOC requirements can be found on mē®.
Save the Date: Coding and Reimbursement Virtual Workshop on September 17
Do you have a particularly hard-to-code PM&R case? Are you unclear on how to document and bill evaluation and management (E/M) services? Get information you can trust from your Academy’s coding experts.
Our experts will host a 30-minute Fast & Furious Coding Virtual Workshop on September 17. They will be available to answer your coding and reimbursement questions and can provide advice on E/M Coding and Documentation, E/M modifiers, diagnostic testing, and injections and other therapeutic procedures. Look for more information coming soon!
Please submit your question(s) by September 2 to codingquestions@aapmr.org for appropriate review and to ensure all questions can be answered.
Reminder: Claim Your CME for Past AAPM&R Events
Have you claimed your continuing medical education (CME) credit for recent AAPM&R live events? If not, you need to do so on the mē®site within 1 year:
Some live events you may still claim CME credit for include:
-
2014 Coding and Billing Workshop
November 11-12, 2014
-
Introduction to Diagnostic and Interventional
Ultrasound Applications in Physiatry
November 11-12, 2014
-
Regenerative Medicine: Current Concepts in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Conditions
November 12, 2014
-
AAPM&R 2014 Annual Assembly
November 13-16, 2014
-
Diagnostic and Interventional Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of the Upper Extremity
June 26-28, 2015
AboutAAPM&R Connection
This newsletter is emailed twice a month to AAPM&R members.
For submissions or questions regardingConnection, email submissions@aapmr.org.
To view this issue or archive issues ofConnection, click here.