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2021 Texas Workers' Compensation Conference Going Virtual

 

New Dates: Four-Day Virtual Conference

The 2021 Texas Workers’ Compensation Conference is happening virtually June 28 - July 1. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we do business, but human connections are more important than ever.

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Medicare News from Novitas Solutions

Medicare News for: 02/09/21


 Frequently asked questions


Medicare secondary payer (MSP) educational series

The questions and answers have been updated from the educational series. Please carefully review the information. 
 

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BREAKING NEWS!

Breaking news!

Texas Pain Society is excited to release its very own Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses, courtesy of the Texas Pain Foundation. 

 As part of a TPS membership, CME hours are now available at little or no cost, compliments of Texas Pain Foundation. This is just one of the ways we are working to support our members.

Access our new CME Resource Page HERE

Interested in more free CME and benefits from TPS – consider joining today!

Congrats Dr. Mehta!

Pain Specialists of America appoints chief medical officer

Austin, Texas-based Pain Specialists of America named Pankaj Mehta, MD, as its chief medical officer, according to a Feb. 2 news release.

Dr. Mehta is a board-certified anesthesiologist who gained national recognition for his contributions to interventional pain medicine, the release said. He is a leader in pain management with a focus on spine pain, headaches, spinal stenosis, abdominal and pelvic pain. He trained at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, both in Boston, before completing a fellowship at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Mehta is also the medical director at Killeen, Texas-based PSA Ambulatory Surgical Center and director of research and clinical training for PSA's ASCs, the release said.

Now you can earn CME credits from Dr. Mehta's panel about Indirect Compression from the 12th Annual Scientific Conference. Head over to our CME page to learn more!

Scams Targeting Health Professionals

ALERT Reminder –

Scams Targeting Health Professionals

We remind licensees to be on the alert for scammers impersonating the Texas Medical Board and other state and federal agencies.

 In some instances scam callers may claim to be employees with the TMB, DEA, FBI or other law enforcement entity and may even attempt to spoof agency phone numbers or send documents on official-looking letterhead demanding money. 

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Medical Quality Review Panel Members Needed

Medical Quality Review Panel Members Needed

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Experts Needed for the Medical Quality Review Panel

DWC is looking for board certified doctors and health care practitioners to serve on the Medical Quality Review Panel (MQRP). MQRP members are paid to help DWC's Medical Advisor ensure that injured employees in the workers’ compensation system receive medically necessary and appropriate health care.

DWC needs doctors and health care practitioners who are board certified, preferably in the areas of:

  • Family practice
  • Pain management
  • Occupational medicine
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Orthopedics
  • Internal medicine
  • Infectious disease
  • Neurological surgery

Learn more on the TDI website.

TDI DWC Releases Website Resources Video

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DWC Releases Website Resources Video

This video shows how to find information and resources on the TDI website for health care providers who participate in the Texas workers’ compensation system.

Living Systematic Review on Cannabis and Other Plant-Based Treatments for Chronic Pain

Living Systematic Review on Cannabis and Other Plant-Based Treatments for Chronic Pain

Introduction

In an effort to address the opioid epidemic, a prominent goal of current research is to identify alternative treatments with equal or better benefits for pain while avoiding potential unintended consequences that could result in harms.

A systematic review assessing the effectiveness and harms of plant-based treatments for chronic pain conditions is underway. The review will be "living" in the sense that it will identify and synthesize recently published literature on an ongoing basis. For the purposes of this review, plant-based compounds (PBCs) included are those that are similar to opioids in effect and that have the potential for addiction, misuse, and serious adverse effects; other PBCs such as herbal treatments are not included. The intended audience includes policy and decision makers, funders and researchers of treatments for chronic pain, and clinicians who treat chronic pain.

The quarterly progress reports present the accumulating evidence and are updated on a regular basis. They include a description of the available studies and an appraisal of study quality. 

January 2021 Update

Overview

This is the first progress report for an ongoing living systematic review on plant-based treatments for chronic pain. The systematic review will synthesize evidence on the benefits and harms of plant-based compounds (PBCs) such as cannabinoids and kratom used to treat chronic pain, addressing concerns about severe adverse effects, abuse, misuse, dependence, and addiction.

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TMA Article Same Old Hurdles: Pharmacy-Mandated Obstacles to Filling Opioid Scrips

Same Old Hurdles: Pharmacy-Mandated Obstacles to Filling Opioid Scrips

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The roadblocks for prescribing pain medicine are still there. Even after the state introduced a safeguard to help physicians spot illicit prescription use and doctor-shopping, barriers remain.

Those hurdles, set up by large, mostly national pharmacy chains, are frustrating physicians. As for their patients, it’s not uncommon for them to feel suspected of drug abuse, stigmatized, and driven to tears.

Pain physicians aren’t the only doctors saying their scrips are being held up. Nacogdoches obstetrician-gynecologist Benjamin Thompson, MD, who performs C-sections and other gynecologic surgeries, says Walmart pharmacies often deny a prescription unless they receive a written diagnosis or clinical data supporting the prescription’s legitimacy.

“These aren’t high volumes of medication coming out, either,” Dr. Thompson said. “They’re low doses, low tablet count. Usually, I prescribe 15 tablets for my postoperative patients.”

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NEW Informed Consent Pain Management Agreement



We are excited to announce a new Informed Consent Pain Management Agreement is now available! Take advantage of this free resource for members! 

A Spanish update will be released soon. Stay Tuned. 

It's also available for Non-Members for only $50!



Get your copy here. 

Novitas Comments re Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation (PVA) for Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF) (DL35130) due 2/27/21

Novitas Comments re Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation (PVA) for Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF) (DL35130) due 2/27/21

View the article here. A Synopsis of Changes is below. 

Have feedback or comments to submit? Send to us and we'll submit on behalf of TPS Membership. Let us know here

 Leave Comments

Synopsis of Changes

CHANGESFIELDS CHANGED
In the Covered Indications section - T5-L5 was changed to T1-L5 based on symptom onset, and documented by advanced imaging demonstrating bone marrow edema. Removed “confirmed by recent (within 30 days)”. These changes were made based on Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Stakeholder input.

In the Limitations section – added active surgical site infection under Absolute contraindication. Deleted “greater than three vertebral fractures” from Absolute contraindication. Added “greater than three vertebral fractures per procedure” as a Relative contraindication.

In the Summary of Evidence section – added a summary of the evidence to support changes made.

In the Analysis of Evidence section – added an analysis of the evidence.

In the Associated Information section – changed the wording from “Please refer to the Local Coverage Article: Billing and Coding: Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation (PVA) for Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF) (A57752) for documentation requirements that apply to the reasonable and necessary provisions outlined in this LCD” to “Please refer to the Local Coverage Article: Billing and Coding: Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation (PVA) for Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF) (A57752) for documentation and utilization requirements as applicable.
Coverage Indications Limitations and/or Medical Necessity
Associated Information

Congrats Dr. Bruel!

Congrats to our Immediate Past President, Dr. Brian Bruel, for your installment on the Harris County Medical Society as Vice President! Watch the event live at 6:30pm on Friday, January 22nd. 

Houston Chapter CME Event

 

The Texas Pain Society is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Texas Pain Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1tm credits. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation in this activity.

NarxCare Survey

TPS Member NarxCare Survey
We appreciate your input on the following survey. 
Complete it here
 

Local Chapter Nominations- Due 1/31/21!

Local Chapter Nominations

It is time to nominate local chapter Presidents and Vice Presidents! 

When nominating, consider that these individuals will be the leaders in navigating what topics are important to your local area, TPS membership, and our industry. They will promote networking and lead the dialogue on various topics. Topics may include: Medicine/ Legal/ Pharmacy/Federal and State Legislative and Regulatory Updates, as needed. 

 To be eligible, nominees must be current TPS members. Visit the directory to see if they are a member. 

 Please use the link below to submit your nominations for President and Vice President.

 Nominations are due by January 31, 2021.



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TDI DWC Extends COVID-19 Data Call

 

DWC Extends COVID-19 Data Call

DWC extends the data call for information related to COVID-19 exposures and injuries reported to selected insurance carriers until June 2021.

For other updates including guidance to the workers’ compensation industry visit our coronavirus resource page.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Opioid Treatment Programs 2021

CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Opioid Treatment Programs: New for 2021

The calendar year 2021 Physician Fee Schedule final rule includes information for Medicare-enrolled Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs):

  • New covered services include FDA-approved opioid antagonist medications, specifically naloxone, for emergency treatment of opioid overdose, as well as overdose education provided in conjunction with opioid antagonist medication
  • New codes for nasal and injectable naloxone
  • Medicare Part B coverage of hospital outpatient or free-standing institutional OTP services; these providers will submit claims using the institutional claim form (837i electronically or CMS-1450 paper claim)

We updated the OTP webpages and the Enrollment (PDF) and Billing & Payment (PDF) fact sheets with this and other new information. 

Texas Launches Opioid Misuse Prevention Website to Fight Addiction, Overdoses

Texas Health and Human Services

Texas Launches Opioid Misuse Prevention Website to Fight Addiction, Overdoses

AUSTIN – Texas Health and Human Services is launching a new website featuring videos, the latest information and helpful resources to promote Texas Targeted Opioid Response (TTOR), which is a statewide public health effort to fight against opioid addiction and overdose.

The new website, TXopioidresponse.org, is available in English and Spanish and provides tips for safe opioid use, as well as information about the dangers of misusing prescription opioid medications.

“One in five Texans has experienced an opioid overdose or know someone who has,” said Kasey Strey, TTOR Director at Texas Health and Human Services Commission. “We are dedicated to preventing prescription opioid misuse, overdoses and opioid use disorder. With awareness of the risks and how to take medications safely, Texans can prevent opioid misuse and help put an end to the opioid crisis.”

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TMB EPCS Rules Finalized

At its December 4, 2020 meeting, the Texas Medical Board adopts rule changes. Specifically: 

CHAPTER 170. PRESCRIPTIONS OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES New Subchapter D, and new §170.10, entitled Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances, sets forth requirements and exceptions related to controlled substance e-prescribing. Further, the rule sets forth the process and circumstances in which a physician may obtain a waiver from controlled substance e-prescribing requirements, in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code §481.0756, as set forth by H.B. 2174 (86th Leg. (2019)). 

New §170.10 rule found here! 

Find the press release for all new rules adopted on December 4th here.

Input Needed for Development of the Medical Quality Review CY 2021 Annual Audit Plan

DWC Asks for Input on Medical Quality Review Audit Plan

DWC is seeking input for the 2021 Medical Quality Review Annual Audit Plan. The annual plan sets the priorities for the Medical Quality Review Panel audits during the upcoming year. This includes the scope, methodology, selection criteria, and program area responsibilities described in the Medical Quality Review Process.

More information is on the TDI website.