House and Senate put forward amendments to SGR legislation
The U.S. House and Senate put forward new amendments regarding the sustainable growth rate “SGR” legislation. The most recent short-term "doc fix" is set to expire March 31, after which physicians would face a 24 percent cut to their Medicare reimbursement rates.
Enrollment into ACA ends on March 31
The enrollment period allowing individuals to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ends on March 31. Under the ACA, individuals must be covered this year or face a penalty of $95 per person or 1 percent of the individuals income, whichever is higher.
CMS accepting volunteers for end-to-end ICD-10 testing
Last month the AASM announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) agreed to conduct end-to-end testing for ICD-10 claims submission.
Free media relations toolkit with membership
Take full advantage of your AASM membership and utilize the free Media Relations Toolkit. This toolkit will guide you through the process of promoting your sleep medicine practice to local print and broadcast media. Make the AASM Media Relations Toolkit your key to building relationships with the media and reach potential new patients
Participate in a webinar with Dr. Badr
Join Dr. Badr for an online discussion about the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s current and upcoming initiatives on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm CDT.
New Sleep Care Paradigm a must-attend session at SLEEP 2014
The SLEEP 2014 session “A New Sleep Care Paradigm” will help physicians better understand the changing model for the diagnosis and management of patients with sleep disorders.
AASM streamlines Standards for sleep center, OCST accreditation
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has revised and reformatted its standards for accreditation to ensure that they are aligned with current models of clinical practice.
Study finds increased risk of death in people with narcolepsy
A study in the March issue of SLEEP is the first to identify increased mortality in narcolepsy. Results show that narcolepsy is associated with approximately 1.5-fold excess mortality relative to those without narcolepsy.
Study of Gulf War vets finds link between sleep quality and brain volume
A study in the March issue of SLEEP found an association between poor sleep quality and reduced gray matter volume in the brain’s frontal lobe among a sample of Gulf War veterans.
SGR repeal bill would cost $138B over 10 years
A bipartisan, bicameral measure (HR 4015, S 2000) that would repeal and replace Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula would cost $138.4 billion from 2014 through 2024, according to a recent Congressional Budget Office estimate.
ICD-10 implementation – October deadline won’t be delayed
ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes will be required on all claims for services provided on and after October 1. In her keynote address at a recent healthcare convention, CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner indicated that the implementation date has been delayed several times and that it’s time to move forward.
Insomnia Awareness Day is Monday, March 10
The AASM has declared that Monday, March 10, 2014, is Insomnia Awareness Day. As many as 10 percent of adults have a chronic insomnia disorder, which is associated with increased risks for depression and hypertension, as well as impaired daytime alertness, mood, memory and performance.
FDA panel recommends approval for Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation System
On Feb. 20, 2014, the Anesthesiology and Respiratory Therapy Devices Panel of the FDA Medical Devices Advisory Committee convened to review an application for premarket approval from Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. for the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) System.
Limited time only: $150 off the 2013 Winter Course module bundle
The 2013 Emerging Clinical and Business Trends in Sleep Medicine online learning module bundle has been discounted 50 percent off the normal price of $300.
SLEEP 2014 Meet the Professor sessions selling out fast
Many SLEEP 2014 Meet the Professor Sessions are nearly sold out. Buy your tickets today to secure your seat at one of these limited-seat sessions featuring leading medical professionals.
Inter-scorer Reliability version 4.0 out now
AASM Inter-scorer Reliability is now easier to use than ever. Earlier this week, the AASM released a series of updates to the subscription-based assessment system to improve the functionality and make scoring record exams easier than ever. Version 4.0 of AASM Inter-scorer Reliability includes numerous improvements.
Novitas requires facility accreditation in revised Medicare LCD for sleep studies
Novitas Solutions, Inc., a Part A and Part B Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), has posted a revised local coverage determination policy (LCD) for outpatient sleep studies (L27530) in Jurisdiction L, which comprises Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, and New Jersey. The revised criteria for coverage, which apply to outpatient sleep studies performed on or after March 27, 2014, require all non-hospital based facilities to be accredited.
Saving daylight, losing sleep: Insomnia Awareness Day is March 10
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is declaring Insomnia Awareness Day on Monday, March 10, reminding those who suffer from chronic insomnia that help is available from the sleep team at a local AASM accredited sleep center. As many as 10 percent of adults have a chronic insomnia disorder, which involves ongoing difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or regularly waking up earlier than desired, despite an adequate opportunity for sleep. Complications of persistent insomnia include increased risks for depression and hypertension. Effective treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI), which can significantly improve overall well-being and quality of life.
Study links poor sleep quality to reduced brain gray matter in Gulf War vets
A new study of Gulf War veterans found an association between poor sleep quality and reduced gray matter volume in the brain’s frontal lobe, which helps control important processes such as working memory and executive function.
Congressman Paulsen to speak at AASM PAC breakfast at SLEEP 2014
Register today to attend the AASM Political Action Committee (AASM PAC) breakfast at SLEEP 2014 on Tuesday, June 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The keynote speaker for this event will be Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN), who serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee.
Join colleagues in signing the Seniors Sleep Pledge
The AASM thanks our members who signed the Seniors Sleep Pledge at the recent Emerging Clinical and Business Trends in Sleep Medicine course. The Seniors Sleep Pledge is a new program that connects members with legislators to build support for Seniors Sleep 2014, a bill that would expand the "Welcome to Medicare" initial preventative visit to include sleep apnea screening.
Depression may reduce adherence during APAP titration trial
A study in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found a significant independent association between depression and poor treatment adherence during an average of six nights of home-based autotitrating positive airway pressure (APAP) titration. According to the authors, depression may be a potential target for clinicians aiming to enhance adherence to APAP therapy among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
New Hispanic Community Health Study data book includes sleep-related findings
New findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) have been compiled and published as the Hispanic Community Health Study Data Book: A Report to the Communities.
NIH announces availability of new genetic data in online database
On Feb. 26 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that researchers will now have access to genetic data linked to medical information on a diverse group of more than 78,000 people, enabling investigations into the potential genetic underpinnings of a variety of diseases that affect people in adulthood, including depression and insomnia.
ACGME accreditation system to include allopathic and osteopathic medicine
On Feb. 26 the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) announced that they have agreed to a single accreditation system for graduate medical education (GME) programs in the U.S.