Nominate Your Colleagues for AAPM&R Awards by April 30
Your Academy has an awards program to recognize members who deserve the applause of their peers. Tell the Academy who deserves recognition for their work in PM&R. Nominees chosen for awards will be acknowledged at the AAPM&R 2012 Annual Assembly in Atlanta.
It only takes one click to nominate your colleagues:
Click here to see the available awards and complete a short ballot. The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2012.
Want more information? Read the full call for nominations on the Academy Web site. Award descriptions and lists of past recipients are available on the Academy Web site.
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Congressional Opposition to IPAB Escalates
On February 29, 2012, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 17–5 to send the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act of 2011 (H.R. 452) to the House floor. The bipartisan bill would eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The bill has not been debated in the Senate.
Under the ACA, the 15-member IPAB has the unprecedented power to cut $575 billion from Medicare over 10 years through rationing and price controls.
Also, the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Wally Herger (R-CA) announced that the Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing in March to discuss how the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) will impact the Medicare program (beneficiaries and health care providers). AAPM&R plans to submit a written statement in support of the H.R. 452 for consideration by the Subcommittee.
On June 8, 2011, AAPM&R signed on a letter with other national medical specialty societies opposing the IPAB. The letter states that (IPAB) "will severely limit Medicare beneficiaries' access to care and must be eliminated." For more information, click here.
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2012 Annual Assembly Call for Abstracts Deadline This Week
There are only a few more days left to submit your clinical and basic science research findings to be considered for inclusion in the AAPM&R 2012 Annual Assembly. The deadline is March 9, 2012.
AAPM&R will be accepting abstract submissions for the 2012 Annual Assembly online only. Access the submission site at aapmr2012.abstractcentral.com.
The 2012 AAPM&R Annual Assembly will be held November 15–18, 2012, in Atlanta, GA.
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CMS Announces Proposed Rule on Stage 2 Meaningful Use
Eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals can qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs when adopting certified EHR technology as was established through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and use that technology to demonstrate "meaningful use" objectives established by CMS.
In this proposed rule, CMS proposes Stage 2 criteria that the eligible groups must meet in order to qualify for the incentives. The main focus of Stage 2 criteria is capturing health information in a structured format as well as improving the exchange of this information amongst providers. Additionally, there are some proposed adjustments to the timeline and payments.
It is important to note that CMS is proposing that all eligible groups report on clinical quality measures (CQMs) as was done with Stage 1. In the case of EPs, CMS is proposing alignment of the CQMs with those of the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS).
CMS' proposed rule can be viewed here.
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Use this section to find links to news and resources relevant to physiatrists, found on the Web.
AAN Publishes ALS Performance Measures for Public Comment
Thanks to Dr. Gregory Carter representing the PM&R perspective on this work group. The measure sets can be found here.
NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research Dr. Sally Rockey's Rock Talk blog features a post with more details on the implications of the President's budget request on NIH grants.
Read the full story here. Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Matters Special Edition Article
"2012 Physician Quality Reporting System Claims-Based Coding and Reporting Principles" has been released in downloadable format. This article is designed to provide education on claims-based coding and reporting under the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System, and includes step-by-step instructions eligible professionals should take prior to participating in the program.
MLN Matters Special Edition, "2012 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program: Future Payment Adjustments," can now be downloaded. This article provides education on future eRx Incentive Program payment adjustments for eligible professionals and selected group practices that participate in the 2012 eRx Group Practice Reporting Option, and includes information about the applicable electronic percent for payment adjustments, eligibility criteria, and how to submit a hardship request. Guidelines Published on Care of the Patient with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
The American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and Association of Rehabilitation Nurse published guidelines on AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse. They can be found here to be shared with your nursing colleagues. CMS offers IRF Patient Assessment Train-the-Train Conference
This free conference will be held in Baltimore May 1 and 2 to support implementation of the IRF Quality Reporting Program (QRP). Registration is open March 1–15. More information can be found here. DOJ Makes Healthcare Fraud Its Enforcement Centerpiece
Read full article on HHS.gov. Members of New NIH Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee Announced
Read the full article on NIH News. Hospitals Increase EHR Use
Read the full article on MedPage Today.
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