Pandemic, Innovation Present Opportunities for Sleep Medicine
What does disruption mean to sleep medicine? It’s perhaps taken on new meaning and new urgency in 2020, as clinicians have had to adapt to new methods of work and patient care. However, the coronavirus isn’t the original disruptor [...]
Sleep Medicine Education Thriving Despite Pandemic
In a year when health care providers are under an enormous amount of stress, and uncertainty is the norm, it’s reassuring to know that the field of sleep medicine has a bright future. New fellows are preparing to enter [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – December 12, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. New webcasts explore sleep telemedicine Visit the new AASM telemedicine video library to view [...]
CMS releases proposed rule on prior authorization and patient access to electronic health information
On Dec. 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule citing potential reductions in provider and patient burden by improving prior authorization processes and increasing patient access to electronic health information. The rule includes [...]
In memoriam: Sleep scientist and RLS expert Richard P. Allen, PhD
The AASM regrets to announce the passing on Dec. 9 of longtime member, clinician, and sleep scientist Richard P. Allen, PhD. Dr. Allen was a licensed psychologist, fellow of the AASM, diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine [...]
New webcasts explore telemedicine implementation in sleep medicine
Visit the new AASM telemedicine video library to view a two-part webcast recorded by the AASM Telemedicine Presidential Committee. Members of the committee discuss telemedicine implementation while focusing on navigating the frequent changes occurring during the COVID-19 public health [...]
Case Study of the Month – December 2020
The AASM Case Study of the Month for December is about a 25-year-old male who presented to the sleep clinic with difficulty falling asleep, difficulty waking in the morning, and EDS for the past 10 years. His sleep schedule [...]
FDA authorizes emergency use for PortPatch CPAP mask filter
On Nov. 23 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the ventilator accessory PortPatch, which is intended to reduce the spread of airborne particulates through the exhalation ports, anti-asphyxia valves, and carbon dioxide vents on [...]
CMS releases final rule for 2021 Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program
On Dec. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule that includes final changes to the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and final policies for the Quality Payment Program (QPP). While the AASM [...]
FDA authorizes emergency use for Lumin on N95 respirators
On Dec. 3 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the Lumin LM3000 device for bioburden reduction of compatible N95 respirators that are contaminated or potentially contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 or other pathogenic microorganisms. The Lumin [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – December 5, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. CMS posts Physician Fee Schedule final rule On Dec. 1, CMS released the final [...]
Transparency in coverage final rule sets requirements for health insurers
The “Transparency in Coverage” final rule was posted on Oct. 29 and published in the Federal Register on Nov. 12 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor, and the Department of Treasury in [...]
AASM establishes Congressional Sleep Health Caucus
DARIEN, IL — The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has established a Congressional Sleep Health Caucus to emphasize the necessity of healthy sleep for optimal health and to promote high quality, patient-centered care for the millions of Americans who [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 28, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. CMS finalizes changes to the Stark Law On Nov. 20, CMS released a final [...]
CMS final rule implements changes to the Stark Law
On Nov. 20, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule to modernize and clarify the regulations that interpret the Medicare physician self-referral law (often called the “Stark Law”). According to CMS, the final rule [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 21, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. Respond to COVID-19 pulse survey - round 2 The AASM needs your help as [...]
AASM advocates for reimbursement of COVID-19 practice expenses
The AASM and more than 100 other medical societies are working in collaboration with the AMA to advocate for immediate implementation of a new CPT code to facilitate reimbursement of additional practice expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In [...]
Hypopnea scoring initiative: Current activities and future plans
The AASM Hypopnea Scoring Rule Task Force was commissioned by the AASM board of directors to create strategies for the adoption and implementation of the AASM Scoring Manual RECOMMENDED adult hypopnea scoring rule (≥3% oxygen desaturation or arousal)1 among [...]
Reasons to be thankful during these challenging times
The holiday season provides us an opportunity to celebrate; it also allows time for us to self-reflect. Many of you know the story of how Thanksgiving in America started sometime in the 1600s when the first harvest of the [...]
Web searches for insomnia surged at height of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders
DARIEN, IL – A study found a significant increase in the number of online search queries for “insomnia” between April and May 2020, when governments across the U.S. and around the world implemented stay-at-home orders in response to the [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 14, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. New! Clinical practice guideline for insomnia Now available as an accepted paper in JCSM [...]
Case Study of the Month – November 2020
The AASM Case Study of the Month for November is about a 19-year-old college sophomore who plays football at a Division II school, who presented to a sleep center with symptoms of daytime sleepiness, excessive energy in the late [...]
Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider – November 7, 2020
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine Weekly Insider keeps members informed about current AASM initiatives and the latest developments in the field of sleep medicine. SLEEP 2021 abstracts & session proposals The submission site is now open for SLEEP [...]
CMS shares preliminary 2019 performance year Quality Payment Program results
On Oct. 27, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted an infographic and blog post by Administrator Seema Verma to share preliminary participation data from the Quality Payment Program (QPP) in 2019. CMS reports that clinicians [...]
HHS extends COVID-19 public health emergency
After consulting with public health officials, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar signed a renewal of determination that extended the current COVID-19 public health emergency by 90 days, effective Oct. 23, 2020. The original [...]