AASM News Archive

Government & Health Policy News Archive: 2008

American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Wednesday, December 31, 2008

• Jan. 11: Payment Issues for Physicians Being Resolved by CMS
• Jan. 11: CMS Delays Application of Expanded Anti-Markup Rule
• Jan. 11: Portable Monitoring: How You Can Get Involved
• Jan. 18: AASM Comment to CMS & Comprehensive Portable Monitoring Information
• Jan. 25: California Sleep Medicine Society Meeting This Weekend
• Jan. 25: Reminder: Dates for NPI Compliance Around the Corner
• Jan. 25: Medicare Physician Payments on the Agenda for State of the Union Address

• Feb. 1: Sleep Technology Update: Legislation Introduced in New Mexico; California Sleep Society Meets
• Feb. 8: President Bush Proposes Large Cuts to Medicare in FY 2009 Budget
• Feb. 13: Florida Self-Referral Act of 1992
• Feb. 15: Cuts to Payments for Medicare Services Loom: Contact Your Representative Today
• Feb. 22: New Mexico Senate Bill 269 Goes to Governor for Signature
• Feb. 22: Reminder: NPI Deadline is March 1
• Feb. 22: Update on CPT Code for Actigraphy
• Feb. 28: Health Policy Update: Legislation in California Introduced
• Feb. 29: Congress May Use Budget Reconciliation Process to Pass Medicare Bill

• March 6: TrailBlazer Releases Draft LCD Policy for Polysomnography and Sleep Studies
• March 6: New Tech Legislation Signed Into Law in New Mexico
• March 6: MedPAC Recommends Payment Update for Medicare Services
• March 14: CMS Releases National Coverage Determination Policy for CPAP Therapy for OSA
• March 21: Ensure Compliance with New NPI Rules
• March 21: Save Medicare Act of 2008 Introduced in Senate
• March 28: Print Version of Medicare Physician Fee Fact Sheet Now Available Online
• March 28: Health Policy News: Updates on Legislation in Louisiana and Maryland
• March 28: Highmark to Issue Draft LCD for Portable Monitoring

• April 3: New York Legislation for Sleep Technologists
• April 4: New LCD Released by Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation
• April 10: National Government Services Releases Revised LCD
• April 10: Legislative Update: Resolution in Michigan to Tie Accreditation and Reimbursement
• April 25: Health Policy Update: California Sleep Technology Legislation and Federal "Save Medicare Act"
• April 25: RUC Heard AASM Application for Actigraphy Code

• May 9: CMS Announces New A/B MAC Carrier for Jurisdiction 2
• May 16: NPI Deadline: Insurers Won't Pay Claims with Old IDs after May 23
• May 16: Clock Ticking on Medicare Payments; Call Your Representatives and Encourage Action
• May 23: Senate Bill Would Require Drug, DME Companies to Report Payments and Gifts to Physicians
• May 23: Health Policy Update: AASM Working on Local Coverage Determination Policies, Codes
• May 29: Regional Medical Directors by State
• May 30: CMS Extends Deadline for DMEPOS Accreditation
• May 30: Learn More About the Health Care Platforms of 2008 Presidential Candidates
• May 30: Medicare Introduces Recovery Audit Program for Claims

• June 4: Health Policy Update: AASM Comments on NCCI Coding Changes and WatchPat Code
• June 4: Health Policy at SLEEP: Sessions Address Incorporation of State Societies and Legislative Issues
• June 9: TrailBlazer Publishes Revised LCD for Sleep Studies
• June 9: Legislative Update: Senate Approves Budget Resolution; Plan to Delay Payment Cuts
• June 27: Senate Vote on H.R. 6331 - Cuts to Physician Payments
• June 27: Pinnacle Awarded MAC Contract for Jurisdiction 7
• June 27: Palmetto GBA Introduces Draft LCD
• June 27: AASM Supports Increase to Budget for NIH

• July 3: Congress Fails to Act on H.R. 6331; Physician Payment Legislation to be Considered Next Week
• July 3: CMS Issues Proposed Rule for Payment Policies, Includes CPAP Administration
• July 10: CMS Assigns Values to G Codes for Portable Monitoring
• July 10: Information Detailed for Upcoming DMEPOS Accreditation 101 Audio Conference
• July 10: Senate Passes H.R. 6331, Prevents Scheduled Cuts to Medicare Physician Payments
• July 15: President Bush Vetoes Medicare Legislation
• July 18: More Information about H.R. 6331 and Medicare Payments to Physicians
• July 18: CMS Offers Two Educational Products for Physician Quality Reporting Initiative
• July 24: Additional Funding for NIH Proposed
• July 24: Local Coverage Determination Policies Released by Four DMACs
• July 24: Updated Seminars Hosted by Local Medicare Carriers Online
• July 28: TrailBlazer Releases New LCD Policy

• Aug. 8: Important Update on Sleep Technologist Legislation in New York
• Aug. 8: NCCI Responds to AASM Inquiry Regarding HCPCS Codes
• Aug. 21: CMS Proposes Transition to Expanded ICD-10 Code Sets by October 2011
• Aug. 21: Submit Comments for DME LCD by Friday, Aug. 29
• Aug. 21: Carriers Announce Delayed Implementation for PAP Device LCD
• Aug. 29: Deadline for Comment on OSA Measurement Set is 3 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, Sept. 2
• Aug. 29: Comment Period for DME LCD Ends Friday, Aug. 29
• Aug. 29: Sleep Technologist Legislation Introduced in Washington, D.C.
• Aug. 29: Get State Technologist Licensure Information Online from the AASM

• Sept. 12: Trailblazer Issues G-Code Reimbursement Rates for Portable Monitoring
• Sept. 19: Physicians Exempt from New DME Requirements
• Sept. 19: CMS Announces FCSO as Part A and B Contractor
• Sept. 23: Medicare Coverage for Oral Appliances for Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Sept. 26: NIH Director Announces Resignation
• Sept. 26: DME Carriers Publish Revised LCD for CPAP Coverage

• Oct. 3: DME Carriers to Host Public Meetings on OAT LCD
• Oct. 3: Sleep Technology Legislation Stalled in California
• Oct. 6: HHS Office of Inspector General to Investigate Sleep-related Services
• Oct. 13: Cahaba Issues Draft LCD Policy
• Oct. 16: Mental Health Parity Legislation Signed into Law
• Oct. 16: Palmetto Issues Draft LCD Policy
• Oct. 24: CMS Announces Revision to NCD 240.4 CPAP Therapy for OSA

• Nov. 10: CMS 2009 Physician Fee Schedule on Display
• Nov. 17: CIGNA Launches Medicare Minutes Video Series
• Nov. 17: CIGNA Medical Private Health Plan Releases Coverage Policy for Sleep Apnea
• Nov. 21: CMS Publishes 2009 Physician Fee Schedule

• Dec. 4: CMS Awards MAC Contract
• Dec. 4: Institute of Medicine Releases Report on Fatigue and Medical Resident Duty Hours
• Dec. 19: Last Call for the Physician Practice Information Study: Act Now to Help the Profession