AAPM&R Connection E-Newsletter

AAPM&R has an awards program to recognize members who deserve the applause of their peers. Each year, Academy members are asked to submit awards nominations to recognize lifetime achievement, distinguished membership, public service, and pioneering physiatrists, clinicians, and researchers who have made significant contributions to both the specialty and to people with disabilities.

Please join AAPM&R and the Nominating Committee in congratulating this year’s AAPM&R awards recipients, who will be honored at the AAPM&R 2016 Annual Assembly.

The systematic changes happening in health care are impacting daily practice life. There is increasing pressure to show your value and the quality of care you provide. The stakes are high, and the demand on physicians equates to fulfilling multiple roles simultaneously.

Beyond advocating and being the voice of the specialty during these times of change, AAPM&R wants to evolve the way it supports physiatrists in all practice settings. Whether you are in private practice, employed with a hospital or an academic setting, AAPM&R wants to fine-tune its support to meet your specific needs.

Take a moment to complete this survey. The insights gained will support the prioritization and creation of offerings to better serve you. Please complete this survey by Sunday, July 31. Thank you in advance for your time and valuable insights!

We want to know—how would you describe physiatry to your friends and family? Take your answer and turn it into a short video (which doesn’t need to be fancy!) and submit it to pressinquiries@aapmr.org.

Check out our most recent submission, submitted by Tracey Isidro, MSY4, UTMB School of Medicine.

Creator(s) of the winning video will be featured at #AAPMR2016 and will receive complimentary tickets to the President’s Reception. Hurry; learn more and submit your videos by July 31, 2016!

Help PM&R patients find you by keeping your Academy profile up-to-date. The Find a PM&R Physician resource is a searchable database (linked to your member profile information) that allows patients to locate a practicing physician anywhere in the U.S. Log in to your profile and update your contact information, as well as your “Professional Details” and “Practice Profile” to ensure that patients can quickly and easily find you.

P.S. Your member profile information is also part of our Member Directory, which helps connect you to other Academy members. Keep it current, so you’ll be seen!

AAPM&R’s 2016 Annual Assembly is your destination for peer-to-peer networking. With 4 days of unlimited networking opportunities—in the hallways between sessions, during our prestigious President’s Reception at the National World War II Museum or reconnecting with peers at the Welcome Reception—there’s never a shortage of ways to connect with your colleagues. Learn more.

Through Member Councils, you can interact with other Academy members who share your clinical interests, provide input directly to Academy leadership on everything from educational content to legislation, and receive tailored resources relevant to your practice. The Member Council Gatherings are designed to help YOU connect with your peers. Get together with your Member Council onsite during the Assembly—view the dates and times.

Are you interested in bringing your social or clinically-specialized community group together at the Annual Assembly? Then take advantage of our Community Network Lounge! This dedicated space is the perfect place to hold an impromptu meeting or a host a more private gathering (reserved by appointment). Get your group together and meet face-to-face to ask advice, share your current situation, needs, and thoughts on topics surrounding your clinical interests. Learn more and reserve a time.

All Academy fellows are invited and encouraged to attend the Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, October 22 during #AAPMR2016 to vote on the slate of elected positions, the membership roster, and a proposal to amend the Academy’s Bylaws. The Annual Business Meeting also includes a review of 2016 activities, a preview of 2017 Academy initiatives, and reports from Academy Leaders including your incoming president. Review the 2016 Nominating Committee slate and Bylaws update here.

The Resident Physician Council (RPC) is seeking resident members to nominate themselves for the ACGME-RC Resident Liaison. Submit your application by July 22, 2016. Learn more about this position and apply today!

Want to get involved with the Academy on a national level? Share your thoughts and ideas to help influence the future of physiatry—nominate yourself for a position on the Resident Physician Council (RPC) Board! Any current resident members (PGY1-3) may apply. Take this opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience, insight into the PM&R specialty, and serve on behalf of the Academy’s resident membership.

All nominations, including personal statements and CVs, must be received no later than August 1, 2016 for Executive Committee (officer) positions or August 15, 2016 for committee/liaison positions. View the position descriptions and submit your nomination.

On June 28, 2016, the AAPM&R Board of Governors approved a new position statement on Physiatrists' Role in Skilled Nursing Facilities. The position statement is designed to complement advocacy and education efforts with payers and policy makers, as well as facility and accountable care organization (ACO) administrators, at the federal, state, and regional levels. Learn more.

The 2016 Coding Companion is the go-to resource for all of your coding and billing questions. Watch the video below from Dr. Hoppe to learn more and order your copy today.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a Q&A explaining Medicare order requirements. It is essential to correctly enter an order for therapeutic or diagnostic services to avoid denials. Learn more.

AAPM&R is actively seeking support and co-sponsors from members of the House Ways & Means Committee for H.R. 1906, bipartisan legislation to count recreational therapy towards the “intensity of therapy” requirement in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). Learn more.

AAPM&R signed on to a letter urging support for S. 3130, the “Independence at Home Act of 2016” introduced by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Michael Bennett (D-CO) and Rob Portman (D-OH). This bipartisan legislation expands the highly successful Independence at Home (IAH) demonstration project (1866E of the Medicare Act) that has been providing home-based primary medical care to nearly 10,000 elders with severe chronic illness and disability over the last 4 years. Learn more.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, will stop pushing for a vote on a slate of medical innovation bills before the extended congressional recess. AAPM&R—along with the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC)—championed advocacy efforts for the Enhancing the Stature and Visibility of Medical Rehabilitation Research at NIH Act (S. 800), which unanimously passed the committee earlier this year and is part of the legislative package under consideration and awaiting a full Senate vote. Learn more.

The House Appropriations Committee is proposing a $1.25 billion increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a $525 million increase to address the opioids crisis in fiscal year 2017. In total, the NIH would receive $33.3 billion under the bill. Due to the strong bipartisan support for research this figure could come closer to the Senate increase of $2 billion for NIH when and if the bill goes to conference for reconciliation. Learn more.

“Fit to a T” is the United States Bone and Joint Initiative’s (USBJI) response to the Surgeon General’s first-ever report on bone health and osteoporosis. In partnership with the Public Library Association and the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, this educational program’s goal is to significantly increase the number of Americans who are better educated about how weakened bones can lead to osteoporosis. “Fit to a T” is a 1-hour program, aimed at the general public, which focuses on bone health, osteoporosis, how to avoid fragility fractures, and provides information needed to make informed decisions on bone health. Take a look at this 6-minute animated video, which demonstrates the connection between weak bones, the risk of breaks, and osteoporosis. Learn more and spread the word!