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AAPM&R Connection E-Newsletter

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Weekly Headlines from
January 20, 2016

 

Academy News 

Update Your Member Profile on the New and Improved www.aapmr.org
Have you visited the redesigned www.aapmr.org yet? With an improved user experience and enhanced content, www.aapmr.org has everything you need to positively impact your patients’ lives and advance your practice.

Don’t forget to update your contact information! Customize the information you receive from your Academy by making sure your practice and contact information in your member profile is up-to-date.

New Year, New Career – Your Academy Can Help You Take the Next Step
Looking for a new career in 2016? Start your job search with the Physiatrists’ Job Board. Your Academy’s Job Board is the premier electronic recruitment and leading job search resource for physiatrists only.

Looking for a new job? Sign in, post your CV, and view positions across the U.S.
Looking to hire a physiatrist? Post your open position, browse the resume database, and search for your ideal candidate(s). You can also access the Job Board on your mobile device. Start searching today!

 

Member Volunteerism 

Looking for ways to give back to your Academy and the PM&R specialty? Take a look at the opportunities below!

Submit Your Research for the 2016 Annual Assembly
Submit your clinical and basic scientific research findings to be considered for inclusion in the 2016 Annual Assembly, October 20-23, 2016 in New Orleans, LA. All abstracts selected for inclusion in the scientific paper and poster presentations during the Annual Assembly will also be published in PM&R—your Academy’s official scientific journal. Submissions are due March 4, 2016. Learn more about submitting your abstract.

Interested in Becoming an Abstract Reviewer?
As a member, you have the opportunity to help choose which abstracts are included in the Annual Assembly. Learn more about becoming a reviewer.
Call for Nominations. Help Choose Future Academy Leaders
As part of its annual call for nominations, your Academy is seeking potential leaders for AAPM&R Board of Governors-elected positions. Nominations are due by February 28, 2016. View position descriptions and learn more about submitting.
AAPM&R Seeks Liaison to American Medical Association’s (AMA) Young Physicians Section (YPS)
Your Academy is currently searching for a representative who is enthusiastic about policy issues, especially those of concern to young practicing physicians. The AAPM&R Liaison to the AMA-YPS will be a leader on the PM&R Section Council, as well as serve as an Alternate Delegate at the AMA House of Delegates Annual and Interim Meetings. Members must express interest by February 10, 2016. Learn more about this opportunity.

PM&R Knowledge NOW® Authors Needed

PM&R Knowledge NOW® is an evolving, dynamic online resource that highlights the breadth and depth of clinical topics in the specialty of PM&R. Participate in the development of PM&R Knowledge NOW® by applying to be an author of a 1,700-word summary of a clinical topic.

View a list of available topics and learn more about how to apply. Volunteering your time and expertise to PM&R Knowledge NOW® is a great way to get published and recognized among your peers as a participant in this ground-breaking initiative!

Annual Assembly

New for 2016! Interactive Pain Arcade
We’re introducing our Interactive Pain Arcade at AAPM&R’s 2016 Annual Assembly, October 20-23 in New Orleans!

The Interactive Pain Arcade is a self-directed, hands-on education experience, combining multimedia information areas with mobile devices to provide participants an “info-scavenger hunt” type of experience. Video clips, mini-presentations, posters, and other media will convey key clinical and management concepts related to the topic of pain.

Don’t miss this unique learning opportunity. Registration opens in late spring 2016. Visit www.aapmr.org/assembly for more information–including plenary speakers and President’s Reception details!
Why Should a Resident Attend the 2016 Annual Assembly?
Join your Academy in New Orleans on October 20-23 for an enhanced Resident Program at the 2016 Annual Assembly! You’ll network with other residents and physiatrists from across the U.S., attend the AAPM&R Job Fair—the largest PM&R job fair in the country—gain valuable education and hands-on training from leaders in PM&R, and more!

Watch our video from the 2015 Annual Assembly to learn why other residents find the annual meeting so valuable.

 

Education

Free Webinar Tonight: 2016 CPT® Coding Update
Several changes to payment policy and coding and reimbursement are set to take effect in 2016. The “2016 CPT Coding Update: What Code Changes Will Affect PM&R Practice?” webinar will focus on coding updates relevant to physiatrists starting in 2016. Learn more and register on your Academy’s website.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016
7 pm-8 pm (CT)
Speakers: Scott Horn, DO; Annie Purcell, DO; Barry Smith, MD; Matthew Grierson, MD
NEW! Acute Rehab Case Study Now Available
Visit the mē® Catalog for a new case study—Acute Rehab Case Study 1: Management of a Patient with a Left Ventricular Assist Device in Acute Rehabilitation.

After completing this activity, you should be able to:

  • Understand what is a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and understand the physiological changes associated with LVAD placement;
  • Anticipate medical complications in acute rehabilitation patients with an LVAD;
  • Understand LVAD precautions and exercises in acute rehabilitation.

Don’t forget—all case studies in the mē® Catalog are available for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ each.
2016 Coding & Reimbursement Workshop Series
Get the PM&R-specific coding help you need at one of AAPM&R’s Coding & Reimbursement Workshops, hosted in conjunction with KarenZupko & Associates, Inc. (KZA).

On Friday, attend ICD-10 Coding and Clinical Documentation Excellence, a course that builds on your existing ICD-10 knowledge and helps you take it to the next level. On Saturday, the Strategic Coding & Reimbursement 2016 course will spend significant time on all aspects of E/M coding and reimbursement. Learn more about these workshops.

Dates and Locations:

  • February 12-13: Las Vegas, NV
  • April 29-30: Chicago, IL
  • August 12-13: Nashville, TN
  • November 11-12: Chicago, IL

 

Health Policy/Advocacy

PQRSwizard® Reporting Deadline is 1 Month Away
February 26, 2016 is the deadline for reporting your 2015 data using the PQRSwizard®, the Academy-Sponsored PQRS Registry Reporting Vendor. Take advantage of this reporting tool to help you avoid up to a 4% penalty. Learn more about the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and utilize the PQRSwizard® for your reporting needs.
CMS Announces the PQRS Web-Based Measure Search Tool
CMS developed a Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) web-based measure search tool located here and via the PQRS Measures Codes web page. This tool will assist eligible professionals (EPs) and PQRS group practices with easily identifying claims and registry measures that may be applicable, and help find measures that meet satisfactory reporting requirements for the 2016 PQRS program year. Users may search measure-related keywords as well as search and filter important measure-related information such as:
  • Measure Number
  • Reporting Methods
  • National Quality Strategy (NQS) Domain
  • Cross-Cutting Measures
  • Measure Steward
2015 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Data Reporting Deadlines
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the following 2015 PQRS data submission timeframes:
  • EHR Direct or Data Submission Vendor (QRDA I or III) – 1/1/16 - 2/29/16
  • Qualified clinical data registries (QCDRs) (QRDA III) – 1/1/16 - 2/29/16
  • Group practice reporting option (GPRO) Web Interface – 1/18/16 - 3/15/16
  • Qualified registries (Registry XML) – 1/1/16 - 3/31/16
  • QCDRs (QCDR XML) – 1/1/16 - 3/31/16

Submission ends at 8 pm (ET) on the end date listed. An Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) account with the “Submitter Role” is required for these PQRS data submission methods. Please see the EIDM System Toolkit for additional information. Eligible professionals who do not satisfactorily report quality measure data to meet the 2015 PQRS requirements will be subject to a negative PQRS payment adjustment on all Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) services rendered in 2017.

For questions, please contact the QualityNet Help Desk at (866) 288-8912 or email Qnetsupport@hcqis.org from 7 am-7 pm (CT). Complete information about PQRS can be found here.
Funding Opportunity: National Centers on Health Promotion for People with Disabilities
The National Centers on Health Promotion for People with Disabilities will fund up to 3 National Centers on Disability to help develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate non-research activities aimed at reducing health disparities and improving the health of people with mobility limitations and/or intellectual disabilities across their lifespans. Applications are due February 6, 2016. Learn more.
CMS to Release a Comparative Billing Report on Electrodiagnostic Testing in February
On February 1, 2016, CMS will issue a national provider Comparative Billing Report (CBR) on Electrodiagnostic Testing (EDX). The CBR will focus on providers that perform nerve conduction studies (NCS) and needle electromyography (EMG). Approximately 4,500 Medicare providers of electrodiagnostic tests will receive a CBR. Each CBR will be unique to you and contain a statistical analysis of billing practices for EDX testing. It will provide you with a comparison of your billing practices with those of your state peers and with the national average. No data attributable to any specific provider will be made publicly available.

If you receive a CBR and have questions, please contact the CBR Support Help Desk at (800) 771-4430 or visit the CBR website. On Wednesday, March 2, 2016 from 3 pm–4:30 pm (ET), eGlobalTech and Palmetto GBA will also host a free webinar that will allow providers the opportunity to interact with the content specialists and submit questions about the report. More information is available here.
CMS Updates Medicare Enrollment Guidelines for Ordering/Referring Providers Fact Sheet 
A revised Medicare Enrollment Guidelines for Ordering/Referring Providers fact sheet is available. Learn about:
  • The 3 basic requirements for ordering and referring
  • How to enroll in Medicare as an ordering/referring provider
IMPACT Act: Connecting Post-Acute Care Across the Care Continuum Call — Register Now
The Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014 requires the reporting of standardized patient assessment data by Post-Acute Care (PAC) providers, including skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term care hospitals. During this call, CMS subject matter experts and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT will discuss the implications of the IMPACT Act for health information exchange across the care continuum. The session is on Thursday, February 4 from 1:30 pm-3 pm (ET).

To register, visit the MLN Connects Event Registration web page.

AAPM&R Members in the News


  • Eric Altschuler, MD, associate professor of PM&R at Temple University Hospital, used mirror therapy with a patient whose leg was amputated and suffered from “phantom pain.” Learn more.

  • Brent Bevard, DO, was recently welcomed back to Hattiesburg Clinic Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Congratulations, Dr. Bevard! Learn more.

  • Seth Kaufman, DO, is now practicing with the Heart of Florida Physician Group Interventional Spine & Pain. Congratulations, Dr. Kaufman! Learn more.

  • Sarah Narayan, MD, physiatrist at Pioneer Spine and Sports Physicians, joined WAMC Northeast Public Radio for their weekly “Medical Monday” show. Learn more.

  • Jonathan Simhaee, MD, physiatrist at the Center for Pain Management, participated in a Q&A session focusing on his practice and interventional pain management. Learn more.

Physiatry in the News: Nia Frazier, star of "Dance Moms," was featured in the February issue of Seventeen Magazine stating she wants to study ‪‎physiatry. Learn more.