Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – Dec. 8, 2018
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. HHS includes sleep in Healthy People 2030 The Sleep Health topic area and objectives [...]
Coding FAQ: Billing for telemedicine services in sleep medicine
Question: Can we bill for telemedicine services in sleep medicine (consults, follow-up encounters)? What is the code for that? Answer: Coverage of telemedicine services is payer specific. Providers should contact private payers directly for information regarding coverage of telemedicine [...]
CMS aligns hospital outpatient reimbursements with physician fee schedule
In the 2019 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) capped payment for clinic visits provided in all off-campus provider-based departments (PBDs) at a rate equivalent to the Physician Fee [...]
HHS includes sleep health in Healthy People 2030 proposal
The Sleep Health topic area and objectives that were in Healthy People 2020 have been included by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the proposed structure for Healthy People 2030. Healthy People focuses on critical health [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – December 1, 2018
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 hosts SDB Collaboration Summit Earlier this month the AASM hosted 35 representatives from [...]
Use the AASM MIPSwizard for 2018 MIPS reporting
The AASM has partnered with Premier, Inc, to provide the MIPSwizard, an online tool that helps eligible clinicians participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) by reporting for the 2018 calendar year. The tool allows eligible clinicians to [...]
Light pollution may cause insomnia in older adults
DARIEN, IL – A new study is the first population-based investigation to report a significant association between artificial, outdoor light exposure at night and insomnia, as indicated by older adults’ use of hypnotic drugs. Results show that increasing nighttime [...]
Collaborative summit explores models to improve patient care for sleep apnea
DARIEN, IL – In Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 10, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) hosted 35 representatives from 14 medical societies, nurse practitioner associations and patient advocacy groups for a one-day Sleep-Disordered Breathing Collaboration Summit to discuss [...]
Reimagine physician leadership at Sleep Medicine Trends 2019
Attendees of Sleep Medicine Trends 2019, Feb. 15 - 17, have a unique opportunity to register for an add-on course about physician leadership on Thursday, Feb. 14. Professor Jay Conger of the Center for Effective Organizations at USC’s Marshall School [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 24, 2018
Renew now for FREE member resources Renew your AASM membership for 2019 for ongoing access to essential resources, including FREE subscriptions to the online AASM Scoring Manual, Case Study of the Month, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine and SLEEP. [...]
CMS releases Quality Payment Program performance results for year one
In a Nov. 8 announcement, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released data summarizing the year one payment adjustment results and highlighting the overall success of the Quality Payment Program (QPP). In year one, more than [...]
President’s message: Thankful for the support of our AASM members
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I’m thankful for another opportunity to spend the holiday with my family and friends. Though many folks consider the holiday to be about finding time to “unwind and relax,” most of the time away from [...]
Complete analysis of the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule
The AASM provides this analysis to help members understand the changes to the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and the final policies for year three of the Quality Payment Program (QPP), which were published on Nov. 1 by [...]
Template policy on OSA diagnostic testing is a reference for private payers
In order to provide payers with a resource to help align their policies with evidence-based guidance, the AASM Payer Policy Review Committee (PPRC) recently finalized a Template Policy on Diagnostic Testing for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This template policy gives [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 17, 2018
Renew now for FREE member resources Renew your AASM membership for 2019 for ongoing access to essential resources, including FREE subscriptions to the online AASM Scoring Manual, Case Study of the Month, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine and SLEEP. [...]
Sleep physician compensation survey final report is now available
The 2018 AASM Physician Compensation Survey is the largest national salary and compensation survey of sleep physicians and advanced practice providers. The final report, which includes a foreword from AASM President Dr. Douglas Kirsch, is now available online as [...]
AASM and Super Bowl champion Aaron Taylor team up to tackle sleep apnea
DARIEN, IL - The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and former NFL offensive lineman Aaron Taylor have partnered to launch two new public service announcements (PSAs) urging television viewers to “Defend Your Sleep” by talking to a doctor [...]
Insufficient sleep in children is associated with poor diet, obesity and more screen time
DARIEN, IL – A new study conducted among more than 177,000 students suggests that insufficient sleep duration is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle profile among children and adolescents. Results show that insufficient sleep duration was associated with unhealthy dietary habits [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 10, 2018
Last day to renew for your chance to win Early renewal has its benefits! Today is the last day to renew your AASM membership for 2019 to be entered in our Sleep Medicine Trends 2019 drawing for one of [...]
BCBS of Michigan now accepts AASM-recommended hypopnea scoring criteria
Due to communication between the AASM Payer Policy Review Committee (PPRC) and representatives from Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network of Michigan, the payer has updated its policy and now accepts the AASM RECOMMENDED hypopnea scoring criteria. [...]
CMS finalizes removal of two sleep apnea measures from MIPS for 2019
Despite the submission of AASM comments urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to retain all four of the AASM-stewarded sleep apnea measures in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), CMS finalized the removal of two measures for [...]
Midterm elections present both challenges and opportunities for sleep medicine
Results from the Nov. 6 midterm general election present a complex legislative scenario at both the federal and state level. The United States Congress will be split in 2019, with the House of Representatives controlled by Democrats, and Republicans [...]
AASM announces 2019 “Sleep Works for You” High School Video Contest
Please share the following information with your teenage patients and encourage them to enter the 2019 AASM “Sleep Works for You” High School Video Contest! The American Academy of Sleep Medicine invites U.S. high school students to enter the [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 3, 2018
2019 Physician Fee Schedule final rule On Thursday, Nov. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule, which finalizes changes to the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and determines policies for year three [...]
CMS releases 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule
On Thursday, Nov. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule, which finalizes changes to the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and determines the final policies for year three of the Quality Payment [...]