BSM Certification Exam application deadline extended to Oct. 5
The deadline to submit an application for the fall 2012 testing window for the behavioral sleep medicine certification examination administered by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM), has been extended to Friday, Oct. 5, 2012.
Prepare for the Sleep Medicine Board Exam
The AASM's two-and-a-half-day Sleep Medicine Board Review course Oct. 11-14 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland is the best way to start your preparation. With a mixture of didactic sessions on basic sleep mechanisms and evaluation of polysomnograms, case-based lectures on the entire range of sleep disorders in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Second Edition and question-based presentations the Sleep Medicine Board Review course is the best way to prepare for the exam.
Purchase the new AASM Scoring Manual online
The AASM is pleased to announce another landmark event in sleep scoring—we’re going digital! The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications will become an exclusively digital publication. What does this mean for you? You get an ever-evolving document in an easy-to-access formats for Smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Hypnogram: Affordable Care Act Advocacy and Education
Over the past few weeks I have shared several new initiatives the AASM has undertaken to help promote and advance the sleep medicine and your clinical practice, including efforts to brand sleep medicine among the public and establish a Safe Harbor for sleep medicine. In light of the Affordable Care Act, the AASM has been providing members with regular news items in the Weekly Update that highlight provisions within the legislation that affect patient care. I encourage you to read through the healthcare reform overview articles found in this archive in the Legislation section of the AASM website. In addition to education, the AASM is advocating for members on areas related to the Affordable Care Act.
Health care reform overview article directory
With the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, there is much speculation on how this legislation will change clinical practice. While the unknowns are greater than what we currently understand about the ACA, the AASM has been analyzing what is in store for sleep medicine. The AASM has provided synopses of certain provisions in the bill.
Office of Management and Budget report outlines reductions under 2011 Budget Control Act
In 2013, roughly $11 billion in total spending would be cut from Medicare and millions more from programs under the Affordable Care Act if automatic cuts outlined in the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA) take effect as scheduled on January 2, 2013 according to a White House Office of Management and Budget report.
Eight states will be most affected by Affordable Care Act reductions
The $716 billion in Medicare cuts in the Affordable Care Act will be felt disproportionately by insurers and providers in eight heavily populated states, according to a white paper published by the University of Minnesota.
Delaware governor signs sleep technologist licensure bill
Senate Bill 194 (SB 194), which establishes licensure for polysomnographic technologists, was recently passed by both legislative chambers was signed into law by Governor Markell on Wednesday, Sept. 12. The law requires that on July 1, 2014, any person who is engaged in the practice of Polysomnography in the state of Delaware must be properly trained and licensed.
Health care reform overview: Prevention and wellness
The AASM has provided continuing analysis of the Affordable Care Act and what it means for sleep medicine. The latest entry in the ongoing series addresses coverage of preventative services. AASM government analysts also review the national components for prevention, wellness and public health activities. The health care reform includes additional provisions for employee wellness programs. The AASM examines these provisions in the full article.
Upcoding of office visits – reported trends spark CMS audit
Two new reports from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and The Center for Public Integrity show that billing trends over the past 10 years reflect a steady increase in billing Medicare for higher paying services. This trend was shown to be particularly prevalent in the billing of established patient office visit codes.
Applications for ABSM Behavioral Sleep Medicine Exam due Sept. 28
Applications are now being accepted for the Fall 2012 testing window of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Certification Examination, which is administered by the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM). Applications must be submitted by September 28, 2012. The BSM examination is open to applicants who possess a valid license and doctoral degree in psychology, nursing or social work, and meet the outlined training/experience requirements.
Attend the Sleep Disorders for the Physician Assistant or Advanced Practice Nurse course on Oct. 6-7
Physician assistants and advance practice nurses who want to begin seeing patients with sleep disorders can gain a background in sleep medicine by attending the AASM course Sleep Disorders for the Physician Assistant or Advanced Practice Nurse on Oct. 6-7 at the AASM National Office in Darien, IL. The course will provide an overview of sleep and sleep disorders, diagnosis and treatment guidelines for sleep disorders and billing and documentation issues that impact PAs and APNs. Register for the course today, fees have been significantly reduced to help accommodate the needs of PAs and APNs.
Last chance to register for Interpreting Sleep Studies course
The new The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications will be a central topic in the upcoming Interpreting Sleep Studies course. The course will be held on Sept. 29-30 at the AASM National Office in Darien IL. Sleep medicine professionals interested in how to perform sleep studies to diagnose and manage patients with sleep disorders are encouraged to register.
Get the newly revised AASM Scoring Manual on Oct. 1
The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications Version 2.0 is almost here. The revised publication contains new rules for scoring respiratory events, updated content intended to answer common scoring questions and all new figures. The AASM Scoring Manual will be a digital exclusive available through the AASM website. By going digital, we'll be able to provide you with an ever-evolving document that you can access anywhere. Available in multiple formats for your convenience, the publication has been optimized for your smartphone, tablet and desktop.
Premiums for family plans increased by 4.5 percent in 2012
Annual premiums for employer-based family health insurance increased by 4.5 percent in 2012, down from a 9 percent increase in 2011, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust'sannual employer health benefits survey. However, the report also found that such premiums have increased by 97 percent since 2002, which is three times faster than wages and inflation.
Health policy positions for 2012 Presidential Elections
The outcome of this important election may significantly affect the health care profession in general and specifically to sleep medicine practitioners. The fate of many essential health policy issues, including the Affordable Care Act and the Sustainable Growth Rate, could be determined by the outcome of this election. Because of the election’s significance, the AASM is providing members links to the health policy positions for Governor Romney and President Obama so members can review where they stand on the issues that impact your practice.
Health care reform overview: improving quality/health system performance
With the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, there is much speculation on how this legislation will change clinical practice. While the unknowns are greater than what we currently understand about the ACA, the AASM has been analyzing what is in store for sleep medicine. Over the next several weeks, the AASM website will provide a synopsis of certain provisions in the bill. This week will focus on improving quality/health system performance.
CMS publishes stage 2 meaningful use criteria
In late August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule specifying the stage 2 criteria for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) incentive program. The incentive program provides substantial incentive payments to health care professionals and hospitals that adopt and meaningful use certified EHR technology.
It is not too early to begin studying for the 2013 sleep medicine exam
The AASM's two-and-a-half-day Sleep Medicine Board Review course on Oct. 11-14 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland is a great head start on your preparation. With a mixture of didactic sessions on basic sleep mechanisms and evaluation of polysomnograms, case-based lectures on the entire range of sleep disorders in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Second Edition and question-based presentations the Sleep Medicine Board Review course is the best way to prepare for the exam. Registration is only $1,000 for AASM Members who register before September 13.
Take advantage of the AASM Inter-scorer Reliability 30-day free trial
AASM Inter-scorer Reliability assessment system is the easiest, most cost-effective way to meet the inter-scorer reliability requirement in the AASM Standards for Accreditation. A panel of AASM Gold Standard scorers replaces the need for the board certified sleep specialist to serve as an active gold standard for the facility. The system also simplifies the process of demonstrating inter-scorer reliability by collecting and comparing records. You simply need to indicate the use of the AASM Inter-scorer Reliability Assessment System in your policy and procedure manual. Our staff will do the rest! If you haven’t tried the AASM’s Inter-scorer Reliability assessment system, now is a great opportunity to take advantage of our Free 30-day Trial to see how ISR can help your center fulfill this Standard for accreditation.
AASM Scoring Manual to be a digital exclusive
The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events: Rules, Terminology and Technical Specifications will become an exclusively digital publication. You will get an ever-evolving document in an easy-to-access formats for smartphones, tablets and computers. The digital format will include links to quickly take you to areas of interest, features standardized structure and terminology throughout, includes the scoring manual FAQs and contains updated figures. Look for the option to add the scoring manual to your membership renewal, between October 1 & December 31, and gain exclusive access to the online scoring manual, Version 2.0, before anyone else!
NHLBI soliciting contract for evaluating compliance for oral appliances
The NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Institute announced an SBIR/STTR contract funding opportunity for programs that integrate oral appliances and electronic monitoring technologies. The contract solicitation aims for the development of oral appliances devices capable of tracking adherence to satisfy regulatory requirements and facilitate future research and clinical trials.
Hypnogram: Safe Harbor
As the present health care system is transformed by policy and technology, the AASM is spearheading efforts to foster a comprehensive sleep health care model for our patients. As I announced, the Board of Directors has approved a public relations plan that brands the sleep team, promotes longitudinal care for patients with sleep disorders, and heightens awareness of sleep among the general public. A concurrent initiative to create a Safe Harbor is launching this month.
Health care reform overview: Cost containment
With the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, there is much speculation on how this legislation will change clinical practice. While the unknowns are greater than what we currently understand about the ACA, the AASM has been analyzing what is in store for sleep medicine. Over the next several weeks, the AASM website will provide a synopsis of certain provisions in the bill. This week will focus on Cost Containment.
AASM encourages members to contact UHC to become contracted OCST providers
Last month, AASM staff contact UHC regarding their new process for Advanced Notification and Prior Authorization Requirements for Polysomnography and Portable Monitoring for Sleep Related Breathing Disorders. In discussions with the AASM, UHC has confirmed details of the process.