HHS unveils $1B program to fund second round of health care innovation awards
The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department announced that it will fund a second round of grants for health care innovation projects designed to lower costs and improve care delivery and outcomes.
Survey finds most employers plan to keep full-time workers’ health benefits
According to an International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans survey, most employers expect to continue providing full-time workers with health insurance benefits after the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented.
Most physicians believe health IT will drive up costs
Most physicians think that the use of health IT systems ultimately will result in higher costs, according to a report from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.
More physicians adopting new business models, practice techniques because of changing health care system
Kaiser Health News reports that more doctors are experimenting with new business models and practice techniques as they face falling reimbursement rates and rising demands from the federal government and insurers to boost quality and lower costs.
AASM actions to ensure sleep services are covered in state exchanges
The creation of the new state exchanges presents a number of potential opportunities and challenges for the AASM. In the last few months, the AASM has contacted various stakeholders to ensure sleep services are covered in each state exchange.
AASM requesting members complete private payer preauthorization survey
Recently private payers have changed coverage policies for sleep services to include stipulations for utilization management review and preauthorization. These changing requirements have created concern among sleep medicine physicians as these implemented preauthorization policies result in increased administrative work associated with ordering sleep studies.
ISR to switch to AASM Scoring Manual v2.0 rules June 1
In October 2012, the AASM published its first major update to the AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules Terminology and Technical Specifications. In preparation for the effective compliance date of October 1, 2013, AASM Inter-scorer Reliability will begin requiring use of the scoring rules found in the AASM Scoring Manual Version 2.0.
SLEEP 2013 Postgraduate Courses available
Missed your chance to register for SLEEP 2013 Postgraduate Courses? We have you covered! Visit the SLEEP 2013 registration desk on Saturday, June 1st to purchase your course tickets.
Apply for the 2013 ASMF Humanitarian Projects Award
The American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF) is pleased to announce the 2013 cycle of the Humanitarian Projects Award. The primary objective of this award is to provide support to projects that address sleep problems in disadvantaged populations.
Study shows that insomnia may cause dysfunction in emotional brain circuitry
A new study provides neurobiological evidence for dysfunction in the neural circuitry underlying emotion regulation in people with insomnia, which may have implications for the risk relationship between insomnia and depression.
Parent and teacher support protects teens from sleep problems and depression
A new study suggests that disturbed sleep in adolescents is associated with more symptoms of depression and greater uncertainly about future success. However, perceived support and acceptance from parents and teachers appears to have a protective effect.
Hypnogram: Sleep study coverage policies
In recent months, I’ve received numerous comments from members regarding changes to their regional insurance coverage policies, which typically have involved new preauthorization requirements and utilization management review. While similar billing and reimbursement procedures have been common in other medical specialties for many years, their implementation for sleep study coverage has been a dramatic change for sleep physicians
AASM demands that MVP contract with qualified local OCST providers
In June 2012, New York payer MVP announced a new Sleep Study Benefit program that requires preauthorization for sleep testing and encourages the use of out of center sleep testing (OCST) in many patients. Recently, MVP announced a revision to its medical policy for OSA.
New Learning Modules: Emerging Clinical and Business Trends
Were you not able to attend the AASM Winter course, Emerging Clinical and Business Trends in Sleep Medicine, in February? No problem! We have all 22 lectures, case-based discussions and pro/con debates in our easy-to-access Online Learning Module format.
2013 Board Review Course and Prep Materials
On October 16, 2013, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABIM) will administer the sleep medicine certification examination, will you be prepared? As the leader in sleep medicine education, the AASM has the essential Sleep Medicine Board Review materials and courses to prepare you for success!
Pre-registration for SLEEP 2013 ends May 20
May 20, 2013 is the last day for you to pre-register for SLEEP 2013. Individuals wanting to register after this date must register on site, will not have access to download postgraduate course materials, may experience long lines and will pay a registration fee that is $25 more than the pre-registration rate.
Latest sleep research to be presented June 2 – 5 at annual meeting in Baltimore
Sleep clinicians and scientists from around the world will discuss current practices in sleep medicine and the latest findings in sleep research at SLEEP 2013, the 27th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS), which will be held June 2-5 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Study links diet with daytime sleepiness and alertness in healthy adults
A new study suggests that your level of sleepiness or alertness during the day may be related to the type of food that you eat, reports Discovery News.
Study shows that bedtime regularity predicts CPAP compliance
A new study suggests that regularity of bedtime prior to initiation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is an important factor that may influence treatment compliance in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
NHLBI announces intent to publish FOA for novel point-of-care technology
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute posted a notice (NOT-HL-13-177) of its intent to publish a new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that will encourage applications for research in support of the development of novel point-of-care (POC) and implementation of existing technologies specifically for practical clinical applications that can guide diagnostic and therapeutic efforts in the heart, lung, blood, and sleep clinical research settings.
Senators Baucus and Hatch ask for advice on replacing SGR
In a recent letter to health letter to health care providers, Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) sought input on how to permanently replace the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. Congress routinely has passed legislation to delay cuts called for by the SGR, but physicians face substantial reductions in their Medicare reimbursements each time the "doc fix" expires. The most recent doc fix delayed the cuts until January 1, 2014, at which time physicians face about a 25% reduction to Medicare reimbursement rates.
Poll finds half of small businesses believe ACA will negatively affect their business
According to a new Gallup poll, forty-eight percent of small businesses believe that the Affordable Care Act will negatively affect their business. The poll found that just 9% of employers said the law would be good for their businesses.
Health and Human Services announces $150M exchange enrollment initiative
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a $150 million initiative aimed at helping community health centers enroll uninsured patients in the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges, which open for enrollment on October 1, 2013.
Congratulations New Fellow Members of the AASM!
Fellow status in the AASM is a unique honor which recognizes special competency in sleep medicine and significant contributions to the field. We are pleased to welcome new Fellow Members.
Attend the 2013 AASM General Membership Meeting and Section Meetings
All AASM members are invited to attend the General Membership Meeting at SLEEP 2013 on Monday, June 3, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. in Room 343 of the Baltimore Convention Center. President Samuel Fleishman, MD, will discuss current AASM initiatives and review the accomplishments of the past year, and President-Elect Safwan Badr, MD, will share his vision for the year ahead.