Deadline is Feb. 1 for R25 grant applications for sleep and circadian education research
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) invites the submission of Education Research (R25) grant applications focused on scientific advances in sleep health and circadian and sleep biology. The application due date is Feb. 1, 2013, by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
NIDA issues RFQ for sleep study readings
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on behalf of the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has issued a request for quotation (RFQ) for Sleep Study Readings. The total numbers of hours are 102 per annum. The period of performance is March 1, 2013 through Feb. 28, 2014 with two (2) option years. This is a small business set-aside. Performance will be in Bethesda, Maryland. The quotations are due on January 31, 2013 at 3:00PM EST.
AASM PQRIwizard available at discounted rate
Now is the time to submit for your 2012 PQRS Incentives. When you register through the AASM, the PQRIwizard program is only $225! That’s a savings of $74 compared to the retail price of $299. 2012 PQRS participants are eligible to receive a 0.5% financial incentive payment from CMS, based on your total allowed charges for Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered services. To receive your 2012 incentives, reporting must be completed by March 14, 2013.
NHLBI seeks comment on the study of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) have issued a Request for Information (RFI) for High-Priority Research Topics for Sedentary Behavior. Sedentary behavior is defined as activities that do not substantially increase energy expenditure beyond resting levels and includes activities such as sleeping, lying down, sitting, television viewing and computer use. All comments must be submitted electronically through February 15, 2013.
Health and Human Services awards $1.5 billion in grants to help 11 states establish exchanges
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced last week that it had awarded $1.5 billion in grant funding to help 11 states establish or develop their health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. A total of 49 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories have received grants to plan their marketplaces, and 34 states and the District of Columbia have received grants to build their marketplaces.
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 2013 presents the Take Me Out to the Ballgame welcome reception
Touch base with SLEEP 2013 attendees while supporting future sleep research by going to the welcome reception on Sunday, June 2, 2013 from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Baltimore Hotel. All proceeds benefit the American Sleep Medicine Foundation and the Sleep Research Society Foundation. Register for SLEEP 2013 and purchase your welcome reception tickets today!
AASM Winter Course pre-registration rates end Friday, Jan. 25
Registration is quickly filling up for the AASM Winter Course! Don’t miss your chance to attend the Emerging Clinical and Business Trends in Sleep Medicine course at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in sunny Phoenix, Arizona, from Feb. 22 – Feb. 24, 2013. Register by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, Jan. 25, to receive the advanced-rate member pricing. The hotel room block is almost sold out; don’t postpone making your accommodations.
Insurers ask HHS to impose additional penalties for individual mandate
This week Politico reported that health insurers are asking Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement additional penalties on U.S. residents who do not acquire health insurance coverage beginning in 2014. Penalties assessed under the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate begin at $95. However, insurers are worried that the fee will not be enough to motivate healthier individuals to purchase coverage. America's Health Insurance Plans, BlueCross BlueShield Association, the National Association of Health Underwriters and the American Academy of Actuaries all have urged HHS to impose late-enrollment fees to help prevent individuals from waiting to sign up for coverage until they become sick.
Health and Human Services will waive, extend deadline for exchanges
This week the New York Times reported that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will extend or waive the deadline for states interested in running their own health insurance exchange. HHS will work with states and set timelines and goals to progress toward creating an exchange. Every state is supposed to have an exchange by October.
MedPAC urges Congress to limit cuts to hospital payments
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) urged the federal government to limit cuts required by the "fiscal cliff" deal in order to leave hospitals with a 1% payment increase for inpatient and outpatient care in fiscal year 2014. The 1% payment increase would technically be a reduction from the scheduled 1.8% increase in inpatient payments and 2% increase in outpatient payments established by a pre-existing legislative formula.
Media seeks AASM input on new FDA safety announcement for sleeping pills
Last week, the NPR radio program All Things Considered interviewed AASM President Sam Fleishman, MD, for his perspective on the FDA’s decision to require lower recommended doses for sleeping pills that contain zolpidem. An AASM statement on the decision emphasized that sleeping pills can be a safe and effective treatment option for insomnia when used as prescribed by a licensed, board certified sleep medicine physician. Excerpts from the statement were quoted in broadcast reports made by numerous local NBC television affiliates, including NBC 5 in Chicago and NBC 13 in Indianapolis.
CMS warns that updated payment rates may not be posted yet
In a Jan. 3 response to enactment of the American Taxpayer Relief Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicated that some carriers may not post updated 2013 Medicare physician payment rates and limiting charges until later in the month. The new law provides for a zero percent update for claims with dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2013. Claims with dates of service prior to January 1, 2013, are unaffected. Medicare claims administration contractors will be posting the payment rates on their websites no later than Jan. 23, 2013.
New PQRIwizard: Register to begin earning incentive payments
AASM members can register for the new PQRIwizard program for only $225 – a savings of $74 compared to the retail price! The program offers eligible professionals a simple and cost-effective online tool to collect and report quality measure data under the CMS PQRS incentive payment program.
ASMF announces current grant opportunities in sleep medicine
Three grant opportunities are now available from the American Sleep Medicine Foundation. Complete details and applications for each grant are available at www.discoversleep.org.
Now available! Members save on Maintenance of Certification
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! This program will include a number of self-study modules relevant to the practice of sleep medicine to help practitioners meet Part II MOC requirements. AASM MOC – General Sleep Disorders Module is the first of these products that has been approved by the ABPN and the ABIM.
New pediatric learning modules available for $25
Created from our Fall 2012 course, Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Disorders in the Pediatric Population, these one-hour lectures review what physicians need to know in order to diagnose and treat sleep disorders in the pediatric population.
Earn CME by reading the new issue of JCSM
The January 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine is available to AASM members online. Now published monthly, each issue of the journal offers you an opportunity to earn up to 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.
One week left to save on AASM Winter Course registration
Advanced registration ends Jan. 25, 2013 for Emerging Clinical and Business Trends in Sleep Medicine. Register today for this MUST-ATTEND course!
SLEEP 2013 registration is now open – renew your membership to save!
SLEEP 2013 registration is now open for everyone! Join us in Baltimore at the Inner Harbor from Saturday, June 1 – Wednesday, June 5. Active AASM members enjoy discounted registration fees for SLEEP 2013, so be sure to renew your membership before you register!
FDA recommends lower dose for common sleeping pills that treat insomnia
The FDA issued a recent safety announcement and consumer update requiring drug makers to lower the recommended doses for products that contain zolpidem.
Deadline to request exemption from ePrescribing penalty is January 31
Physicians unable to file for a Medicare ePrescribing hardship exemption by the June 30, 2012 deadline have until January 31, 2013 to avoid a 1.5 percent payment penalty
Discover the new AASM Practice Management page
Looking for coding information on the AASM website? We’re excited to announce the launch of our new Practice Management website! The practice management page has all of the resources previously housed in the coding section and includes exciting new content as well.
Your membership supports sleep medicine research
AASM membership dues help support the advancement of sleep medicine research through the creation and revision of Clinical Practice Guidelines.
New pediatric focused online learning modules
Created from our newest Fall 2012 course, Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Disorders in the Pediatric Population, these Online Learning Modules are the easiest way for you and your colleagues to gain expertise in sleep medicine and earn CME credit.