Buy the print version of the AASM Scoring Manual today
The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications Version 2.0 print edition is now available for purchase. The AASM Scoring Manual is now offered as a print edition add-on to the online subscription. To purchase the print version, you must first purchase an online subscription.
Sleep Medicine Board Review Course + Cram Course savings
Planning on taking the 2013 ABMS exam in sleep medicine? Prepare yourself with the expert faculty of basic researchers, academicians and clinicians at the forefront of the field at this year’s Sleep Medicine Board Review Course.
SLEEP 2013 early bird registration ends April 17
Only three weeks remain to register for SLEEP 2013 using early bird registration pricing. Early bird registration not only gives you the lowest registration rate, but it also gives you early access to download postgraduate course books prior to arriving in Baltimore, first pick for the ticketed sessions you want to attend and exclusive use of the ExpressPass® check-in, allowing you to save valuable time at the registration kiosks. Register today to secure your savings for SLEEP 2013!
DME course to be offered again in the fall
Seats for the AASM’s spring course Implementing DME in Your Practice are sold out. Members who missed the opportunity to attend this course in April should be aware that the AASM plans to offer the course again in the fall. Course dates and details will be posted soon on the AASM website.
Hypnogram: National contractors for OCST
Last month I joined 300 colleagues in attendance at the AASM’s sold-out winter course in Phoenix on “Emerging Clinical and Business Trends in Sleep Medicine.” The challenge issued to all attendees was that sleep centers must make plans immediately to integrate OCST as health care policy makers continue to focus on cost containment and efficiency. The way this is done will vary depending on your sleep center’s business model. Some sleep center directors will determine that the best option for their center is to outsource specific OCST services to a national contractor. These sleep centers will benefit from the AASM’s new program to recognize national contractors offering OCST services that meet AASM accreditation standards.
CMS to implement edits on ordering-referring providers
Effective May 1, 2013 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement edits that will result in claims denial if the ordering or referring provider is not enrolled in Medicare. To prevent denials, claims submitted on or after May 1 must include the name and national provider identifier (NPI) of the practitioner who ordered or referred the service.
Visit the recently updated AASM Practice Management page
This week, the practice management section of the AASM website was expanded to include new frequently asked questions (FAQs) about coding and billing. New FAQ categories include out of center sleep testing and actigraphy. For updated content, please visit the AASM Practice Management website.
Browse employment opportunities on AASM Job Board
The AASM Job Board is a useful tool to help you find new employment opportunities in sleep related fields. The job board on the AASM website features numerous positions in sleep for physicians, technologists and managers.
Some parents may ignore sleep advice from their child’s doctor
In January 2013 the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital’s National Poll on Children’s Health asked a national sample of parents of children 0-8 years about the extent to which they follow the advice of their children’s health care provider. Results show that the majority of parents reported following this advice most or all of the time.
Registration is underway for the 2013 sleep medicine board certification exam
The board examination for subspecialty certification in sleep medicine will be offered Oct. 16, 2013, by six member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
MedPAC recommends $30B in medicare savings, calls for SGR repeal
In its annual report, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) asserted that Medicare could reduce its spending by $30 billion over the next five years through provisions in the Affordable Care Act and if Congress follows MedPAC’s recommendations.
MOC discount ends April 1
The AASM is committed to helping our members maintain their specialty and subspecialty certifications, which is why we’ve created AASM MOC: Assessment for Sleep Medicine with special member pricing!
Federal government preparing to operate insurance exchanges if states are not ready by Oct. 1 deadline
The Obama administration is developing contingency plans that would allow the federal government to step in and assume operational control of 17 states' health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act if state exchanges are not ready for enrollment by the October 1 deadline.
Consumers with self-purchased individual plans could experience high premium rate hikes
Individuals who purchased individual health plans could see their premiums increase between 20% and 100% in January 2014 because of certain provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will take effect next year.
Only a few spaces left for the AASM Spring Course
This one-and-a-half-day course is nearly sold out. To register, please fax your registration form to the AASM. Physicians and their support staff will learn the clinical and practical guidelines associated with providing durable medical equipment (DME) to patients at the AASM Spring Course: Implementing DME in Your Practice.
SLEEP 2013 sessions quickly selling out
Many SLEEP 2013 add-on sessions have already sold-out; have you purchased your tickets yet? In order to attend meet the professor sessions, lunch debates or postgraduate courses, you must be registered for the SLEEP 2013 general session.
Children’s Report of Sleep Patterns is found to be a valid and reliable measure
A new study presents the preliminary psychometrics of the Children’s Report of Sleep Patterns (CRSP), a self-report measure for children. The CRSP demonstrated good reliability and validity, providing support for children 8 years and older reporting information about their own sleep patterns, sleep hygiene and sleep disturbances.
Study evaluates a stepped care model for chronic insomnia
A study in the March 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine evaluated a consecutive series of 50 adult patients who participated in a stepped care model for chronic insomnia, in which non-responders to a less intensive therapy received a more intensive intervention.
Nocturia may worsen insomnia symptoms in older adults
A new study suggests that nocturia may worsen the already poor sleep of older adults with insomnia. Published in the March 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, results show that 54 percent of all log-reported nocturnal awakenings were associated with nocturia.
Most large companies plan to provide benefits, some may shift part-timers, retirees to exchanges
Most large U.S. employers expect to continue providing full-time workers with health insurance benefits after the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, according to the latest employer and health care trends study. However, some employers indicated that they might shift some part-time workers and retirees to government insurance exchanges. For the annual study, researchers surveyed more than 500 companies with at least 1,000 employees between November 2012 and January.
One in 50 health plans currently cover all benefits required by ACA
Just one out of every 50 health plans in the private insurance market currently meets the minimum coverage or essential health benefit standards that will be required in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act.
HHS vows to make health IT a major priority in 2013
Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it would make the adoption of health information technology a major priority in 2013. The agency also noted that the adoption rate of electronic health record systems tripled to 44 percent over the last three years.
New article provides sleep professionals an overview of the Affordable Care Act
In the March issue of Sleep Review, an article by AASM Sr. Health Policy and Government Affairs Analyst Ted Thurn provides an overview of the Affordable Care Act. The article gives sleep professionals a broad analysis of key provisions in the ACA including the individual mandate, health insurance excise tax, and State Exchanges. Members also can find answers to frequently asked questions about State Exchanges on the AASM website.
Now available: AASM Coding Education Program (A-CEP)
Last week, the AASM announced a new Coding Education Program (A-CEP) for sleep center coding and billing staff.
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.