CGS posts new CPAP denial aid
CGS, the DME Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) in Jurisdiction C has developed a denial aid website in an effort to clarify documentation requirements and assist suppliers in understanding denials. The website lists categories of denials for PAP devices. The categories expand to include all possible denials associated with that category. For each denial, the associated documentation requirements are listed. References, including links to complete reference documents, are also included.
AASM thanks member recruiters
Help advance sleep medicine by encouraging your professional colleagues to join the AASM. For each new member recruited, you will receive a $15 Recognition of Excellence Money (REM) Voucher that can be used toward AASM products and course registrations. Each member referral also enters you into a Grand Prize Drawing to win a complimentary 2013 AASM course registration including travel expenses.
Advanced registration for Interpreting Sleep Studies extended to 9/10 – New Scoring Manual updates
Be among the first to review the changes to The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events by attending the Interpreting Sleep Studies course at the AASM National Office in Darien, IL on Sept. 29-30. The updated manual will debut October 1st; several lectures at the course are devoted to reviewing these changes. Sleep medicine professionals interested in how to perform sleep studies to diagnose and manage patients with sleep disorders are encouraged to take advantage of the extended advanced registration date, Sept 10 (by 9am EST). This is your last chance to save $75 on registration fees!
Secure your seat for the Sleep Medicine Board Review course – Advanced registration ends 9/13
Planning to take the 2013 ABMS examination? You should also plan to attend 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. This course provides an excellent opportunity to earn up to 20.50 CME credits while participating in a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art of sleep medicine. New this year - the course has been updated to include several question-based lectures to test your knowledge using real-life cases. Complimentary access to the AASM online Sleep Medicine Practice Exam - a value of $150 - will be provided to all registered attendees following this course. Registration is only $1000 for AASM Members who register before September 13. Register today to secure your seat; this course sells out every year it's offered!
AASM Inter-scorer Reliability introduces new improvements based on user feedback
These updates include: A completely redesigned user-friendly website; free CEC for all scorers; a time measurement system for added precision; customized montages and channel settings; monthly record review videos; a Panel of Gold Standard Scorers to promote more consistent scoring; a scoring blog for users to interact with the Panel of Gold Standard Scorers; and more!
American Academy of Pediatrics publishes clinical guideline on sleep apnea in children
A new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guideline recommends that children who frequently snore should be tested for obstructive sleep apnea. The clinical practice guideline "Diagnosis and Management of Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea" was published in the September 2012 issue of Pediatrics.
Health care reform overview: changes to private insurance
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 Changes to Private Insurance.
Position open for Medical Officer at the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is accepting applications from eligible candidates for the position of Medical Officer at the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR). The Medical Officer is expected to focus on sleep disorder medicine and the development of a portfolio in sleep research training.
CMS announces one-year delay to ICD-10
On Friday, Aug. 24, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule extending the compliance date for ICD-10 from Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014.
AASM encourages members to contact UHC to become contracted providers of OCST
In early August, AASM members across the country were contacted by UnitedHealthcare (UHC) regarding their new process for Advanced Notification and Prior Authorization Requirements for Polysomnography and Portable Monitoring for Sleep Related Breathing Disorders. The new process promotes the use of out of center sleep testing (OCST) and establishes an advance notification and/or prior authorization requirement for all in-center sleep testing.
Board review course: save up to $595 when you register before Sept. 13
Save up to $595 when you register before Sept. 13 physicians who need a comprehensive review of sleep disorders and treatments or who are planning to take the 2013 ABMS examination in sleep medicine should also plan to attend 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.
Registration for this new AASM course ends Sept. 7
The AASM is hosting a new one-and-a-half-day course, Sleep Disorders for the Physician Assistant or Advanced Practice Nurses at the AASM National Office in Darien, IL on Oct. 6-7. Physician assistants and advanced practice nurses looking for an overview of normal sleep; common sleep disorders; diagnosing and treating sleep disorders; and billing and documentation are encouraged to sign up for this course on or before Sept. 7 for advanced registration savings.
Inter-scorer Reliability Testing will be down Sept. 1-5 in advance of major system upgrade
The Inter-scorer Reliability program is currently being updated based on feedback from users; the website will be down beginning at midnight (12:00AM CST) September 1st through September 5th, 2012. Participants will not be able to access the site or any records while the system is down; a notification will sent to all ISR participants when the site and September record is available.
New employment opportunities available on AASM Job Board
The AASM Job Board is a quick and easy way to find new employment opportunities in sleep related fields. The job board on the AASM website features dozens of positions in sleep for researchers, physicians, technologists and managers. Currently, there are job listings for 16 states. AASM members and non-members can browse online listings and apply for jobs free of charge. Posting a job opening on the AASM Job Board is quick and easy for employers; AASM members receive a discount on each classified ad.
Hypnogram: SAFE-D and SAFE-T
As I discussed in the last HypnoGram, the AASM is continuing its commitment to awareness of sleep disorders among the public through a branding and public relations initiative set to launch this fall. I’d like to tell you about other efforts by the AASM to promote awareness of sleep disorders and their effects.
Medicare anti-fraud teams get boost from Affordable Care Act
The federal health reform law will arm Medicare anti-fraud teams with sophisticated tools and funding to better identify individuals seeking to profit from the program.
Health care reform overview: Tax changes to finance health care reform
The Affordable Care Act includes an array of tax changes affecting individuals, employers, medical service providers, drug companies, health insurers and other businesses. AASM government analysts provide a synopsis of provisions of the bill that effect taxes.
Aetna set to buy Coventry Health Care
In an Aug. 20 news release, Aetna and Coventry Health Care Inc. announced an agreement under which Aetna will acquire Coventry in a transaction which is valued at $7.3 billion. As a result of the agreement, Aetna is expected to add over 5 million total members across their commercial businesses, Medicare Part D, Medicare advantage and Medicaid. It is estimated that the acquisition will close in mid-2013.
CMS opens Round 1 of DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Recompete
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that registration is open to suppliers interested in participating in Round 1 of the Recompete of the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program. The Competitive Bidding Program was mandated by Congress in 2003. It requires that current fee schedule methodology be replaced with a competitive bid process. Under this process, suppliers operating a particular competitive bidding area (CBA) submit bids for products. View the full article to find which competitive bidding areas are included in the recomplete.
Advanced registration for Interpreting Sleep Studies course ends Aug. 31
The AASM is hosting a revamped version of its Interpreting Sleep Studies course at the AASM National Office in Darien, IL on Sept. 29-30. With the increasing use portable monitoring for the diagnosis of sleep disorders, the AASM has added sessions on interpreting out of center sleep studies. Sleep medicine professionals interested in how to perform sleep studies to diagnose and manage patients with sleep disorders are encouraged to sign up for the course on or before Aug. 31 to save on registration fees. Complimentary access to the AASM's online sleep study scoring test will be available following the course.
Applications for ABSM Behavioral Sleep Medicine Certification 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). The examination will be administered by Kryterion from Oct. 1 - Nov. 16, 2012.
Sleep medicine board exam: it’s not too early to prepare for 2013
Physicians who need a comprehensive review of sleep disorders and treatments or who are planning to take the next ABMS examination in sleep medicine in 2013 should attend the AASM's two-and-a-half-day Sleep Medicine Board Review course on Oct. 11-14 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore.
Video: New NHLBI leader holds introductory town hall
Dr. Gary H. Gibbons, the new acting director of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, hosted a recent town hall meeting to introduce himself to the scientific community. In the meeting he laid out the fiscal and scientific challenges that the NHLBI faces. Responding to those challenges,Dr. Gibbons shared his vision on how the institution can adapt to the changing environment. A video of Dr. Gibbon's presentation is available in the full story.
Qualaquin manufacturer warns against off-label use for treatment of nocturnal leg cramps
AR Scientific, Inc, the manufacturer of the malaria drug Qualaquin (Quinine), warns that misuse of the drug could result in serious or life-threatening hematologic complications. Quinine is intended to be used as a treatment for malaria. Some physicians have prescribed the drug off-label to treat nocturnal leg cramping.
NIH funding opportunity: career development program in omics of lung diseases
The NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recently issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the development of programs that would equip young investigators with the ability to apply pan-omics and integrated approaches to studying lung diseases. Letters of intent for the funding opportunity Career Development Program in Omics of Lung Diseases (K12)(RFA-HL-13-023) are due on Sept. 26. For more information, view the funding opportunity announcement on the NIH website.