Academy News |
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Academy Letter to CMS on Medicare Shared Savings Program: Accountable Care Organizations On February 6, 2015, the Academy submitted a letter to CMS on the proposed rule Medicare Program; Medicare Shared Savings Program: Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). While the Academy supports some aspects of the proposal, there are still many concerns with the existing ACO model and its ability to achieve its twofold objective of lowering health care spending while improving patient outcomes. The Academy strongly urges CMS to adopt the suggested meaningful patient safeguards in the final rule to prevent underservice of patients. The Academy will continue to closely monitor this issue. Please click here to view the full letter.
ICD-10 Implementation – Holding Firm for October 1 ICD-10 implementation is holding firm for an October 1, 2015 launch. There has been no indication from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) or lawmakers that another delay will occur. Implementation will radically change the way medical coding is done and will require significant effort to implement. Learn how you can prepare for the anticipated change on your Academy website. Plus, check out these ICD-10 resources from your Academy to get a jump start on the implementation: -
ICD-10 Crosswalk Sheet Bundle– AAPM&R has crosswalked the top 100 ICD-9-CM codes in four different PM&R clinical areas to the latest ICD-10-CM codes so you can begin consideration for documentation and superbill changes. -
2015 PM&R Coding Companion– This one-stop resource includes the 2015 CPT code set specific to PM&R in an easy-to-use, one-page format. |
Free Member Webinar on March 5, 2015 at 7 pm CT
AAPM&R and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) are coming together to present the next webinar in the Advocacy and Health Policy Webinar Series - NIH’s National Institute of Arthritis Musculoskeletal and Skin (NIAMS) Diseases: 2015 and Beyond Priorities.
Presented by Dr. Joan A. McGowan, PhD, attendees will be able to understand the Institute’s research portfolio, learn more about the NIAMS mission and receive guidance in the exploration of scientific problems that bear on the health of the bones, joints, muscles and skin. Click here for more details and to register.
Strategic Coding Workshops
AAPM&R and Karen Zupko & Associates, Inc. (KZA) are teaming-up in 2015 to provide specialty specific coding and reimbursement workshops to you and your staff:
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Saturday, August 15, 2015: Lowes Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN
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Saturday, November 14, 2015: Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile in Chicago, IL
Click here for details and a full agenda or call (312) 642-8310.
HHS Announces Value-Based Reimbursement Goals for Medicare
On January 26, 2015, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell announced a timeline to transition Medicare reimbursement away from fee-for-service payments towards value-based payments. HHS plans to tie 30% of traditional Medicare payments to value-based payments through alternative payment models such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) or bundled payments by 2016. Furthermore, HHS plans to tie 50% of all Medicare payments to value-based payments by 2018.
First, HHS will create incentives to drive providers to deliver high quality, coordinated care and adopt alternative payment models such as ACOs, patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) or bundled payments. Second, HHS has put in place policies that it says will improve the quality and safety of care delivery by encouraging greater integration and coordination among providers. Finally, HHS aims to improve various health information technology systems for better collection of data, measurement of quality and outcomes to enhance the decision making process for providers and patients. Your Academy is concerned about how this new policy initiative will impact physiatrists and their patients and will be researching to learn more about HHS implementation plans to meet these new goals. This announcement was met with bipartisan support from Congress.
Upcoming Deadline Reminders
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Just Days Left to Report Your 2014 PQRS Data
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To qualify for the 2014 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) incentive payment and to avoid the 2% penalty in 2016, you need to submit your 2014 data by the end of February. Deadlines differ depending on which reporting method you use; please refer to the PQRS timeline for specific deadlines. Visit the AAPM&R website for a listing of reporting resources.
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Last Call to Submit Your Nominations
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Abstracts Deadline is 2 Weeks Away
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Abstract Reviewer Deadline is March 2
Formation of Health Care Transformation Task Force
On January 28, 2015, a group of major health care providers, employers and payers announced the formation of a Health Care Transformation Task Force tasked with shifting 75% of their operations to contracts designed to improve quality and lower costs by 2020. The group includes, among others, Ascension Health, Trinity Health, Partners HealthCare, Advocate Health Care, Aetna, the Health Care Services Corp. (which runs 5 state Blue Cross plans) and employers Caesars Entertainment and the Pacific Business Group on Health.
Submit Your Award Nominations
AAPM&R invites you to identify colleagues who deserve recognition for distinguished contributions to the Academy and the specialty.
Submitting a nomination can be completed in just a few steps. Clickcherecto learn more about each award and submit your nomination. Awards will be presented at the AAPM&R 2015 Annual Assembly in Boston, October 1-4. Nominations will be accepted until March 31, 2015.
Leadership Program Applications Now Being Accepted!
AAPM&R is now accepting applications for the 2015-17 Academy Leadership Program. This two-year program was developed to help identify and train future leaders with limited volunteer experience, connect participants with strong Academy leaders and immerse them in the culture of volunteerism at the Academy.
Click here for more details and an application.
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| Wednesday, February 18; 1:30-3 pm ET.CMS presents Payment of Chronic Care Management Services under CY 2015 Medicare PFS —To register,visit MLN Connects Event Registration. Space may be limited, so register early. Thursday, February 26; 1:30-3 pm ET.CMS ICD-10 Implementation and Medicare Testing MLN Connects™ National Provider Call.To register,visit MLN Connects Event Registration. Space may be limited, so register early. |
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