Reprocessing Targeted Medicare Claims for Portions of 2010
New legislation and recent corrections to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) call for reprocessing of a large volume of Medicare fee-for-service claims. Given this large workload, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking steps to ensure that new claims coming into the Medicare program are processed timely and accurately, even as the retroactive adjustments are being made.
HHS to Offer Free Compliance Training Sessions in 2011
The training sessions are aimed at curbing fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and features presentations from government experts from the OIG, CMS, United States Attorney’s Offices and State Medicaid Fraud Control Units.
The AASM Recognizes Its Top Member Recruiters for February 2011
Congratulations to the AASM’s top Member-Get-A-Member Campaign recruiters for the month of January. These individuals are contributing to the growth of the organization by reaching out to their professional colleagues and encouraging them to join the AASM.
Congratulations New Fellow Member of the AASM
Fellow status in the AASM is a unique honor which recognizes special competency in sleep medicine and significant contributions to the field. We are pleased to welcome new Fellow Member Rene Sanchez-Borrero, MD, FAASM.
Member Discounts Offered on AASM Patient Education Brochures
The offer for a free sampler pack of brochures must be redeemed through the AASM Online Store and must be accompanied by an order for another product; shipping and handling charges apply and the discount may not be combined with any other offer or applied to a previous order.
Courses and Sessions at SLEEP 2011 Projected to Sell Out
Members are encouraged to take advantage of the members-only registration period and register for SLEEP 2011 early while all sessions are available. With limited space in several postgraduate courses, meet the professor sessions and lunch and learn sessions, it is projected that several of these courses and sessions will sell out quickly.
Office of the Inspector General to Require Fraud and Abuse Compliance Programs
The HHS Office of the Inspector General issued a regulatory announcement on February 2 of its intent to finalize new Medicare and Medicaid enrollment standards that will establish procedures to better police fraud and abuse in these programs.
Earn CME Credit Online: February Issue of SLEEP
You also can earn continuing medical education (CME) credits online by reading designated articles and taking the online CME exams within one year of the date of publication.
Call for Nominations: Sleep Medicine Fellowship Training Directors Council
Volunteer committee members provide an invaluable service to the organization and its membership by contributing to initiatives and projects that are critical to the continued development of the field. Members also gain professional enrichment through the diverse activities of a committee. The deadline to apply for the SMFDC Steering Committee is February 16, 2011.
Escape the Winter Weather – Attend AASM Courses in San Diego
Registration for the AASM’s Current Topics in Sleep Medicine and The Business of Sleep Medicine courses will end on Monday, February 14, 2011. Individuals interested in attending one or both of these courses, which will be held at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, must do so on or before this date; on-site registration will not be accepted.
Contractors Revise Local Coverage Determinations for Sleep Studies
Recently, four Medicare Part B Contractors – National Government Services, Palmetto, Highmark, and Wisconsin Physicians Service – revised local coverage determination (LCD) policies for sleep studies.
HHS Announces Recovery of $4 Billion Stolen from Federal Health Care Programs in 2010
On Monday U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli announced a new report showing that the government’s health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered more than $4 billion in 2010.
New Tools Available to Help with Registration for EHR Incentive Programs
Earlier this week the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that new tools are available online to help providers register for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.
Apply for Recognition as an AASM Comprehensive Academic Sleep Program of Distinction
AASM Comprehensive Academic Sleep Programs of Distinction recognizes academic sleep programs that have demonstrated excellence though compliance with rigorous standards in the areas of clinical service, educational mission and research accomplishments.
The Transition to ICD-10: Version 5010
Effective Oct. 1, 2013, diagnostic coding in all health-care settings will change from ICD-9 to ICD-10. To accommodate the changes to the code structure resulting from this transition, CMS is requiring an update to the transaction standards used for electronic health-care claims. The current standards, Version 4010/4010A, must be upgraded to Version 5010 by Jan. 1, 2012.
CMS Approves AASM Request for a Medicare Physician Specialty Code for Sleep Medicine
Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) notified the AASM that it will be establishing a Medicare physician specialty code for sleep medicine. The letter noted the important work that sleep medicine physicians provide for Medicare beneficiaries and stated that the request submitted by the AASM met all of the criteria for approval.
AASM Accepting Applications for AASM DME Supplier Accreditation
Facilities interesting in earning AASM DME supplier accreditation can visit the AASM website to view and download the standards and application for this program.
ABSM Announces Sleep Technologist Certification Examination
AASM Special Update: ABSM Announces Sleep Technologist Certification Examination
Physician Reimbursement Amendment Added to Health Care Reform Replacement Resolution
The amendment directs relevant House committees to draft legislation that would permanently change the formula for determining Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians.
ABIM Foundation Offering Grants to Advance Medical Professionalism
The ABIM Foundation will award up to five grants of $20,000 each in 2011. Grant recipients will participate in a learning network through quarterly teleconferences. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2011.
NIH Offers Grants for Novel Technologies and Scholarly Works
One of the appropriate topics listed in the funding opportunity announcements is, “Devices to monitor and facilitate sleep health.” The next application due date for both grants is May 19, 2011.
AASM Acknowledges January Contributions to the ISR Testing Program
For the January ISR Testing Program, the AASM gratefully acknowledges Embla Systems for contributing software, St. Luke's Hospital of St. Louis for providing sleep records, and Dr. Shahriar Shahzeidi for serving as the second gold standard.
Expert Faculty to Lead New AASM Course for Sleep Center Managers
The AASM will host a Sleep Center Manager Boot Camp at the AASM national office in Darien, Illinois on April 4-7, 2011.
Advanced Registration Deadline for Two Popular AASM Courses is Friday, Jan. 21
Register on this date to save $300 on registration fees when you register for both courses to be held at Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif., from Feb. 18 -21, 2011.
Oregon Introduces Bills Punishing Drowsy Drivers with Fines, Imprisonment
Under both bills, drivers could face hefty fines and even prison time for accidents due to driving while fatigued.