CMS final rule implements changes to the Stark Law
On Nov. 20, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule to modernize and clarify the regulations that interpret the Medicare physician self-referral law (often called the “Stark Law”). According to CMS, the final rule [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 21, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. Respond to COVID-19 pulse survey - round 2 The AASM needs your help as [...]
AASM advocates for reimbursement of COVID-19 practice expenses
The AASM and more than 100 other medical societies are working in collaboration with the AMA to advocate for immediate implementation of a new CPT code to facilitate reimbursement of additional practice expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In [...]
Hypopnea scoring initiative: Current activities and future plans
The AASM Hypopnea Scoring Rule Task Force was commissioned by the AASM board of directors to create strategies for the adoption and implementation of the AASM Scoring Manual RECOMMENDED adult hypopnea scoring rule (≥3% oxygen desaturation or arousal)1 among [...]
Reasons to be thankful during these challenging times
The holiday season provides us an opportunity to celebrate; it also allows time for us to self-reflect. Many of you know the story of how Thanksgiving in America started sometime in the 1600s when the first harvest of the [...]
Web searches for insomnia surged at height of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders
DARIEN, IL – A study found a significant increase in the number of online search queries for “insomnia” between April and May 2020, when governments across the U.S. and around the world implemented stay-at-home orders in response to the [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 14, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. New! Clinical practice guideline for insomnia Now available as an accepted paper in JCSM [...]
Case Study of the Month – November 2020
The AASM Case Study of the Month for November is about a 19-year-old college sophomore who plays football at a Division II school, who presented to a sleep center with symptoms of daytime sleepiness, excessive energy in the late [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 7, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. SLEEP 2021 abstracts & session proposals The submission site is now open for SLEEP [...]
CMS shares preliminary 2019 performance year Quality Payment Program results
On Oct. 27, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted an infographic and blog post by Administrator Seema Verma to share preliminary participation data from the Quality Payment Program (QPP) in 2019. CMS reports that clinicians [...]
HHS extends COVID-19 public health emergency into January 2021
After consulting with public health officials, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar signed a renewal of determination that extended the current COVID-19 public health emergency by 90 days, effective Oct. 23, 2020. The original [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – October 31, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. Match Day: Record number of sleep fellows A record-breaking 165 physicians were matched with [...]
Sleep medicine training programs welcome record number of fellows
A record-breaking 165 physicians were matched with a sleep medicine fellowship training program on Oct. 28 during “Match Day” for the 2021 appointment year. The number of matched fellows is an 11.5-percent increase over last year. Each fellow will [...]
AASM invites public comment on draft guideline for surgical consultation for OSA
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is inviting public comment on drafts of a clinical practice guideline on the Referral of Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea for Surgical Consultation and accompanying systematic review. The public comment period is [...]
AASM seeks nominees for 2021 – 2022 Board of Directors
The AASM invites qualified members to nominate themselves or encourage others to be considered for seats that will open in 2021 on the AASM Board of Directors. To qualify for service on the AASM Board of Directors, nominees must [...]
AASM seeks nominees for the Nominating Committee
The AASM invites qualified members to nominate themselves to be considered for at least one position that will be opening in 2021 on the AASM Nominating Committee. There will be at least one opening for a two-year term as [...]
CMS is accepting applications for MIPS exemptions
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is accepting applications for a Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Promoting Interoperability Hardship Exemption or Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exemption for the 2020 Performance Year of MIPS until Thursday, Dec. 31, [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – October 24, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. AASM seeks Board of Directors nominees The AASM invites qualified members to nominate themselves [...]
Untreated sleep apnea is associated with flu hospitalization
DARIEN, IL – As we approach flu season, adults with obstructive sleep apnea may want to take extra precautions. A study published online as an accepted paper in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine is the first to find [...]
FDA approves expanded use of Wakix for narcolepsy
Harmony Biosciences announced on Oct. 13, 2020, that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Wakix (pitolisant) for the treatment of cataplexy in adult patients with narcolepsy. The FDA previously approved Wakix for the treatment of excessive daytime [...]
Read the Fall 2020 issue of Montage
Welcome to the latest edition of the AASM member magazine, Montage. In this issue, we explore why the Academy is calling for an end to daylight saving time, review activities from our first-ever Student Sleep Health Week and learn [...]
AASM calls for end to daylight saving time
Twice a year, most Americans change their clocks. Twice a year, they also debate whether we should continue the ritual of “spring forward and fall back.” The American Academy of Sleep Medicine supports eliminating daylight saving time for the [...]
Narcolepsy leads to rewarding career in sleep medicine
Luis Ortiz, MD, is a sleep physician in the Sleep Center at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Diagnosed with narcolepsy type 1 as a young adult, Dr. Ortiz is an advocate for the early diagnosis [...]
AASM’s first Student Sleep Health Week observance a success
Healthy sleep is vital for students to prepare for success in school. Yet, according to more than half of American parents surveyed by the AASM, students are not getting enough sleep. To highlight the importance of healthy sleep for [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – October 17, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. FDA expands approval for Wakix Harmony Biosciences announced that the FDA has approved Wakix [...]