MAKE ARRANGEMENTS NOW!
3rd Annual PA Neurological Society Conference October 24, 2009! Click here for more details.
CALLING ALL LEADERS!
We will hold elections for all Executive Board positions during this meeting. If you are interested in running for any position, including: President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, or one of 3 Members-at-Large, Chair of the Residents and Fellows Section, please contact us at email@pns.aan.com
Some highlights of the
PA Neurological Society
over the last 2 years:
(AKA, what have we done...)
MCare Fund Elimination Insurance Pre-certification for imaging Anti-Epileptic Drug Generic substitution issue 3. Testified in a large hearing during a legislative session regarding anti-epileptic drug substitution. We were successful to bring it out of the Health & Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives of the PA Legislature 4. Met with the Executive Director for Pharmacists Association in addition to lobbyist 5. NO GENERIC DRUG MAY BE SUBSTITUTED IN A REFILL SITUATION BY CURRENT PHARMACY CODE, more information may be found under PA advocacy link on the left Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee 6. Maintaining a strong voice for neurologists across the state to ensure appropriate reimbursement for services provided by neurologists via meetings held throughout the year as well as Medicare policy. Electronic Newsletter 7. Published quarterly, providing practice management content, updates across the state, and other education areas of interest Annual Conferences 8. Held 2 annual conferences in Philadelphia & Pittsburgh, our 3rd planned for Harrisburg on October 24th, 2009. CME credits given for all conferences, including patient safety credits. Courses included latest clinical updates, practice management, and billing techniques, amongst others. Interim Meetings 9. Held 3 interim meetings at the AAN to discuss future advocacy and organization
10. Represent the interests of PA neurologists on multiple levels within the American Academy of Neurology as well as and national legislative issues
1. Advocating for elimination of the MCare fund
2. We continue to work on eliminating or expediting precerts for imaging studies. We met in person with the Chief Medical Officer of Independence Blue Cross in Pennsylvania, in addition to Senator Daylin Leach, discussions and negotiations remain ongoing.
National Meetings
Welcome to the Pennsylvania Neurological Society website. We encourage you to peruse our site and learn more about our organization.
All adult and child neurologists are eligible for membership.
Still not a member of the Pennsylvania Neurological Society? Click "members" to learn about membership.
If you are a member and not on our list serve, please let us know.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at email@pns.aan.com.
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Click here to download introductory letter sent to all Pennsylvania neurologists.*
AAN News & Events
TheBrainMatters.org Informs Patients, Caregivers on Neurologic Disorders
TheBrainMatters.org, the AAN Foundation’s redesigned patient and caregiver website, now features in-depth, easily searchable information on a host of disease states from NINDS, including such supporting materials as AAN patient guideline summaries, patient stories from Neurology Now®, and AAN Press Books, and a video on Parkinson’s disease. Users can get tips on how to prepare for an office visit, contact information for voluntary health agencies, and information on the importance of research and how to support the future of neurology.
Visitors to the site are encouraged to participate in the Buy a Brain fundraising campaign at www.TheBrainMatters.org/buyabrain. For each $5 brain purchase, you will receive a “virtual brain” icon that will appear on the site, displaying your name and the name of someone you choose to honor. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to support research into neurologic disorders.
2009 AAN Annual Meeting Programming
The 2009 Virtual Annual Meeting products still available. Products include Webcast-On-Demand and on DVD, Syllabi on CD, Audio MP3s-On-Demand and on DVD, and Practice CD. Order today!
Important Dates and Events!
2009 AAN Fall Conference in Las Vegas Turns Spotlight on Neurology
November 6 - 8, 2009
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Las Vegas, NV
Early registration deadline is October 5, 2009
Audio Conferences Take Confusion Out of Coding
• August 18: Avoid Coding Pitfalls and Reduce Claim Denials / Mary McDermott, MBA, CPC
• October 13: ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Coding for Neurologists and an Introduction to ICD-10-CM / Laura B. Powers, MD, FAAN
• November 17: E/M: Minimize Mistakes, Maximize Reimbursement / Peter D. Donofrio, MD, FAAN
For more information, visit www.aan.com/codingcme.
Apply for the 8th Annual Donald M. Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum
Apply today for the Donald M. Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum taking place January 7–10, 2010 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Application deadline is September 20, 2009.
Apply Online for Clinical Research Training Fellowships
Applications open on July 31 for 2010 Clinical Research Training Fellowships. Learn more about the application process and the six types of fellowship opportunities.
Highlights
The PNS thanks PA Representative Bill Adolph and PA Senator J. Costa for sponsoring bills in the PA House and Senate, respectively, that prevent anti-epileptic drug substitution without prior authorization from the physician. Contact your representatives and tell them to support and pass this important legislation:
PA House of Representatives Bill: HB98
PA Senate Bill: SB119
Click here (pdf file) to view the AAN's position paper from 2006 on AED substitution.
