FTC activity at the state level regarding scope of practice and state licensure
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is increasing its antitrust examination of state medical board and state legislative actions, particularly those concerning scope of practice.
Lawmakers working on Sustainable Growth Rate
After numerous failed attempts to replace the sustainable growth rate (SGR), the formula that annually determines physician reimbursement rates under Medicare, lawmakers have again begun to discuss solutions to the SGR issue.
CMS announces release of Comparative Billing Reports on Evaluation and Management Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will release a Comparative Billing Report (CBR) addressing Evaluation and Management Services on June 4.
Health care costs stem from price increases
Health care spending by privately insured individuals increased by 3.3 percent between 2009 and 2010. Spending has increased primarily because prices of services increased, according to a study by the Health Care Cost Institute. The findings are based on claims data from Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare, which cover about 20 percent of residents with employer-sponsored health plans.
Use social media at SLEEP 2012 for a chance to win
The APSS is introducing new opportunities for SLEEP 2012 attendees to stay connected through social media and to discuss sleep and share their experiences in Boston. Attendees will have a number of chances to win Visa gift cards and other AASM prizes just by using Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare
Get a sneak peak at proposed changes to the ICSD at SLEEP 2012
Join the AASM International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) Revision Task Force members on Tuesday June 12 from 2:45-4:45pm at SLEEP 2012 for the discussion "Developing ICSD-3: Work to Date and Future Directions." The discussion group is chaired by Dr. Michael Sateia, chair of the ICSD Revision Task Force.
Hypnogram: A pivotal year in sleep
Boston – what a fabulous city! They have great tea parties, sports teams, restaurants and historic sites. And this year, Boston will be hosting the premier sleep meeting in the United States – SLEEP 2012. It is shaping up to be our best and biggest meeting ever, so you won’t want to miss it.
Study finds insurers would lose a trillion in revenue if health reform law is struck down
U.S. health insurers would lose nearly a trillion dollars in new revenue between 2013 and 2020 if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the federal health reform law, according to a study by Bloomberg Government.
Visit the AASM PAC booth at SLEEP 2012
Please help support our advocacy efforts by contributing to the AASM Political Action Committee (AASM PAC) booth at SLEEP 2012. Over the last few months the AASM has been meeting with federal lawmakers and agencies to increase the AASM’s presence in Washington, D.C.
AAST conducting SLEEP 2012 workshop addressing legislative/regulatory activity for 2011-2012
Please join government relations specialists from the American Association of Sleep Technologists (AAST) on Monday, June 11 at 3:15pm at SLEEP 2012 to learn about legislative/regulatory activity for 2011-2012.
ASMF announces Strategic Research Award for research on improving health care delivery
The American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF) recently announced a request for proposals (RFP) for the planning or research grants aimed at improving the quality of health care delivery in the field of sleep medicine. Applications for the grants are due August 15, 2012.
AASM congratulates recipients of 2012 AASM Awards
Each year the AASM Awards recognize several leaders in sleep medicine who have made significant contributions to both the AASM and the sleep field. The AASM congratulates recipients of the 2012 AASM Awards.
Online pre-registration for SLEEP 2012 ends May 30
Wednesday, May 30, is the last day to register online for SLEEP 2012, the 26th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC (APSS). After May 30 attendees will have to wait to register onsite at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston. Visit www.sleepmeeting.org to register and to learn more about SLEEP 2012.
ABSM Registered Sleep Technologist Certification Examination to be offered August 11-17
Sleep technologists and trainees will have the opportunity to obtain the Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) certification August 11-17. This year the American Board of Sleep Medicine will offer the Sleep Technologist Registry Examination at hundreds of testing locations across the United States.
Latest sleep research presented in Boston, June 11-13 at annual meeting
Sleep clinicians and scientists from around the world will be in Boston on June 11 – 13 for SLEEP 2012, the premier event for sleep and circadian science that blends the most current sleep research with the best clinical practices. Embargoed press releases and press credentials available in advance for SLEEP 2012
NIH announces Funding Opportunity for development of obesity interventions
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and several other components of the NIH have issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the development of obesity prevention programs. The FOA "Exploratory/Development Clinical Research Grants in Obesity (R21)" encourages grant applications from institutions that propose clinical studies that will accelerate the development of interventions for the prevention or treatment of overweight or obesity in adults and/or children. The open date for the funding opportunity is May 16.
House lawmakers to release details of new bipartisan proposal for “Doc Fix”
U.S. Representatives Joe Heck (R-Nev.) and Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) will release details of a new proposal that aims to repeal the sustainable growth rate formula that sets Medicare physician payment rates.
AASM to attend upcoming Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board (SDRAB) meeting
Members of the AASM Government Relations team will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the May 30-31 meeting of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board (SDRAB). The AASM and the SDRAB will discuss the sleep and circadian research developments and the NIH sleep research plan and provide updates.
CMS delays implementation of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act
In a blog post on May 3, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a delay to implementation of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. Referred to as the Sunshine Act, the provision was developed to require physicians to disclose any financial compensation worth more than $10 from pharmaceutical or medical device companies.
The AASM thanks its top April member recruiters
Member recruiters help advance sleep medicine by encouraging their professional colleagues to join the AASM. For each new member recruited, these individuals receive a $15 Recognition of Excellence Money (REM) Voucher that can be used toward AASM products and course registrations. Each member referral also enters recruiters into a Grand Prize Drawing to win a complimentary 2013 AASM course registration including travel expenses. Learn how to participate in the AASM Member-Get-A-Member Campaign.
SLEEP 2012 discussion spotlight: Organization and Structure of Academic Sleep Centers
Clinicians involved in sleep at an academic medical center should plan on attending the discussion group "D04: Organization and Structure of Academic Sleep Centers", at 8:00am-12:00pm on Tuesday, June 12. The discussion group will highlight examples of successful academic sleep program structures, and discuss challenges and solutions for academic development of the field.
Review the CPT Guidelines for Sleep Medicine with the experts at SLEEP 2012
Join the AASM coding and compliance experts at SLEEP 2012 on Tuesday, June 12 from 10:15am-12:15pm for the session "Changes to the CPT Guidelines for SLEEP Medicine Services: How Will They Affect My Practice?" The two-hour session will walk attendees through the new Sleep Medicine Testing Guidelines included in the CPT codebook in 2012.
Longer sleep times may counteract genetic factors related to weight gain
Sleeping more may help you fight a genetic predisposition to gain weight, according to a study in the May issue of SLEEP. Researchers at the University of Washington examined sleep and body mass index (BMI) in 1,088 pairs of twins. They found that sleeping more than nine hours a night may actually suppress genetic influences on body weight. Sleeping less than seven hours a night was associated with both increased BMI and greater genetic influences on BMI.
AASM attends Oklahoma Sleep Society meeting
The AASM presented at the Oklahoma Sleep Society meeting conducted on Saturday, April 28.
Maryland Bill to amend Polysomnography Practice Act
Maryland House Bill 827 (HB 827) & Senate Bill 776 (SB 776) have been submitted to Governor Martin O'Malley for signature.