2010 AAHPM & HPNA Annual Assembly
Register now for the 2010 AAHPM & HPNA Annual Assembly, March 3-6, 2010 in Boston. Learn from experts in the field about best practices and current research in hospice and palliative care. Click here for more information.

Social Media in Palliative Care Communities: Developing and Maintaining Your Online Presence
New session at Annual Assembly. Understanding the importance of social media to hospice and palliative care as a field is valuable in spreading information consistent with our professional values; dispelling myths; and educating professionals, patients, and families. Complete the needs assessment survey so the presentation can be tailored to your expectations.

Free Download of Communication Session
Download session 516 for FREE, "Discussing Prognosis with Patients and Caregivers" presented by Ronald M. Epstein, MD, and Timothy Quill, MD from the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.  Hear data-driven information about patients' expectations for information and support; preferred methods and formats for delivering information, and approaches for checking understanding. For session handout, click here. For more information on how you can purchase all of the MP3 downloadable recorded sessions from the 2009 AAHPM & HPNA Annual Assembly, click here.  

Earn CME with PC-FACS (Fast Article Critical Summaries for Clinicians in Palliative Care)
Read the article, take the posttest, complete the evaluation form and you can earn up to 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. The PC-FACS second quarter posttest for April, May, and June 2009 is now available for only $15. Click here for more information.

FDA Approves Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution
On January 26, the FDA approved Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution (100 mg /5 mL and 20 mg/mL) for the relief of acute and chronic pain. This form and concentration of morphine was not previously approved by the agency. AAHPM leaders have shared concerns related to transitioning the unapproved product off the market and provided FDA with data from the Academy's November 2009 member survey to assess patient access to opioids. Members are encouraged to report to the FDA any shortages they experience. 

AAHPM Encourages Members to Help People of Haiti
AAHPM expresses its sincere sympathy to the people of Haiti and encourages its members to help where they can.  The AMA has compiled and provides up-to-date information for healthcare professionals who would like to provide support and assistance.

Consultation Services vs. Other Evaluation and Management (E/M) Visits
Effective January 1, 2010, the consultation codes are no longer recognized for Medicare Part B payment. Physicians should code patient evaluation and management visits with E/M codes that represent where the visit occurs and that identify the complexity of the visit performed. Click here to learn more.

Revised Hospice Payment System Fact Sheet Now Available
This fact sheet provides general information about the Medicare hospice benefit including coverage of hospice services, certification requirements, election periods, how payment rates are set, patient coinsurance payments, caps on hospice payments, and additional reporting required on hospice claims. Click here to view the fact sheet.  

CMS Eliminating Payment for Consults
Effective January 1, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer pay Medicare claims for inpatient or outpatient consultation using codes in the 99241-99245 or 99251-99255 series, except in the context of initial visits for telehealth services. Learn more.