Long COVID Initiative Updates: September 1, 2021

Members & Publications

September 1, 2021

AAPM&R will provide consistent updates on our advocacy outreach efforts, the Multi-Disciplinary PASC Collaborative and other relevant information on our Long COVID initiative.

Dr. Jonathan Whiteson Discusses the Value of PM&R on the Doctor Radio Show

At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, SiriusXM partnered with NYU Langone Health to provide the public with the latest information regarding the pandemic on the "Doctor Radio" show, all while addressing day-to-day health concerns. Jonathan Whiteson, MD, FAAPMR, Vice Chair of Clinical Operations and Medical Director of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Health, Rusk Rehabilitation, is one of the hosts on Doctor Radio and regularly discusses PM&R each week. 

During his July 26 segment, Dr. Whiteson discussed PM&R's role in Long COVID, why physiatrists are essential in treating patients with Long COVID and why AAPM&R's leadership in its COVID-19 call to action is so important. Dr. Whiteson interviewed a Long COVID patient who shared her story as well as fellow physiatrists Benjamin Abramoff, MD, FAAPMR, who is a co-leader of our PASC Collaborative, Talya Fleming, MD, FAAPMR and Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD, FAAPMR, who are PASC Collaborative members. The show is broken into two segments - listen to part one and part two on our Online Learning Portal.

Plus, if you haven't read Dr. Whiteson's member story from last year, check it out! He talks about working on the frontlines during the pandemic and how he helped reshape his department.

Doctor Radio is managed by Rusk Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Health and broadcasted on Sirius XM Radio.

Explore Our Long COVID Dashboard

On August 24, we released the first dashboard that shows how many millions of Americans are estimated to be experiencing Long COVID symptoms by state, county and nationally. View the full announcement and explore the dashboard.

Legislation Introduced to Alleviate Impact of Conversion Factor Cut for 2021

Nov 09, 2020

Last month, two bills were introduced in the House proposing solutions to the estimated 10.6% Physician Fee Schedule conversion factor cut expected to go into effect January 1, 2021.  The bills offer some relief to the cut, but do not reflect a comprehensive or long-term solution.  AAPM&R has therefore chosen to remain neutral regarding these bills. 

Your Academy continues to advocate for a permanent solution to the conversion factor cut while maintaining the important payment increases to office and outpatient evaluation and management services.