Academy News
2015 Annual Assembly – Early Bird Registration Deadline is Today!
Register today for the 2015 AAPM&R Annual Assembly– you can save $310 if you register by the end of the day!
Don’t miss the excitement and education in Boston this October 1-
4. Connect with leaders in PM&R through hands-on workshops, intensive workshops, preconference courses, networking opportunities, and a variety of educational sessions.
Clinically Relevant Content for Today’s Physiatrist Networking Opportunities
Check out a
complete schedule-at-a-glanceand take advantage of member savings by
registering today! Check out our new Annual Assembly video!
CMS Issues Final Rules Outlining 2016 Medicare Payment Policies and Rates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued final rules to update fiscal year (FY) 2016 Medicare payment policies and rates. The provisions implemented for FY 2016 are summarized below.
Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities Ruling Medicare Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Ruling Inpatient and Long-term Care Hospital Ruling
As your voice in Washington, D.C, Academy staff works to advance the specialty and recognize its important contribution to the health, function, and quality of life for patients around the country, before Congress and federal agencies.
You will be receiving an email communication from your Academy on how these new rulings will affect physiatry soon. Please also watch for an article in an upcoming issue of
The Physiatrist.
PQRS Reporting Resources
PQRS Measures
Groups are now open for 2015 registration.
Visit the Academy’s websiteto learn more about the PQRS
wizard®—the Academy Sponsored PQRS Registry Reporting Vendor. You have until
February 26, 2016to avoid up to a4% penalty.
- Be Proactive– Utilize Your Academy’s PQRSwizard®Too l-Save time and report your quality data through the PQRSwizard®, the most efficient method of reporting data. This web-based approach offers an easy, step-by-step wizard to help you quickly validate and submit your quality data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for incentive payment.
- 2015 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Measures for Physiatry–this includes AAPM&R vetted PQRS Measures for 2015.
IRF QRP Data Submission Deadline: August 15
The Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) first quarter CY 2015 quality data must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm (PT) on August 15, 2015. For additional information on the upcoming IRF QRP data submission deadline, including a list of quality measure data that is due, visit the
IRF QRP Spotlights and Announcements web page.
LTCH QRP Data Submission Deadline: August 15
The Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) second quarter CY 2015 quality data must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm (PT) on August 15, 2015. For additional information on the upcoming LTCH QRP data submission deadline, including a list of quality measure data that is due, visit the
LTCH QRP Spotlights and Announcements web page.
Residents and Recent Graduates: Renew Your Dues!
Dues renewal is now open until September 15, 2015. You are eligible for renewal if you meet 1 of the following criteria:
- You are a resident.
- You are in a fellowship (fellowship application must be submitted to AAPM&R).
- You graduated from your residency program in 2014 or 2015.
- You are a medical student with aPM&Rsubscription.
All eligible members have received an AAPM&R dues invoice. You can renew your dues by submitting your payment with the invoice or
simply renew online.
Fulfill Your ABPMR MOC* Part II Requirement
Looking to fulfill part II of the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirement, set forth by the American Board of PM&R (ABPMR)? AAPM&R offers more than 10 Self-Assessment Exams for
Practitioners (SAE-Ps) to help you meet this requirement. Plus, each SAE-P is eligible for up to 8
AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Your Academy offers SAE-Ps on
regenerative medicine(
new in 2015!),
geriatrics,
sports medicine,
musculoskeletal medicine,
brain injury,
spasticity, and more! Check out our full SAE-P offerings in the
mē®catalog.
*Maintenance of Certification
®(MOC
®) was developed by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to improve patient care by ensuring continuous lifelong learning and professional development throughout a physician’s medical career. For board-certified physiatrists, the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) sets MOC requirements that are customized to the specialty and ensure compliance with ABMS Standards. Recognizing that physicians participating in that process want a variety of options to meet these requirements, your Academy has developed a series of resources that satisfy the different components of MOC. All Academy tools available to help you meet MOC requirements can be found on mē
®.
CMS Hosts National Provider Call: Countdown to ICD-10
On Thursday, August 27 from 2:30 pm-4 pm (ET), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a call with Sue Bowman from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and Nelly Leon-Chisen from the American Hospital Association (AHA) to give coding guidance and tips, along with updates from CMS including how to get answers to coding questions, claims that span the implementation date, and other provider resources.
Visit MLN Connects Event Registrationto sign up.
Meaningful Use Stage 1 and Stage 2 Attestation Guides
These resources outline the requirements for meaningful use reporting and include specific implementation guidance for physiatry.
CMS Updates the Open Payments CME Guidance
CMS updated the Open Payments
Law and Policy web page with information about the new reporting requirements for Continuing Medical Education (CME) in the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. See the
FAQ for more information.
Their Help Desk is now available by calling (855) 326-8366 or emailing
openpayments@cms.hhs.gov; Monday-Friday from 9 am-5 pm (ET), excluding federal holidays.
AboutAAPM&R Connection
This newsletter is emailed twice a month to AAPM&R members.
For submissions or questions regarding
Connection, email
submissions@aapmr.org.
To view this issue or archive issues of
Connection,
click here.