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September 6, 2013


First MPPG Issued
Yesterday the first Medical Physics Practice Guideline (MPPG) titled: AAPM Medical Physics Practice Guideline 1.a.: CT Protocol Management and Review Practice Guideline was published in the Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics (JACMP).

This marks the first of many anticipated MPPGs. The goal of the MPPGs is to help advance the practice of clinical medical physics in the United States by defining the minimum level of medical physics support that the AAPM would consider to be prudent in all practice settings for specific clinical services. Existing medical physics practice guidelines will be reviewed for the purpose of revision or renewal, as appropriate, on their fifth anniversary or sooner.

Each medical physics practice guideline has undergone a thorough consensus process in which it has been subjected to extensive review, and requires the approval of the AAPM’s Professional Council. The medical physics practice guidelines recognize that the safe and effective use of radiation for diagnostic and therapeutic applications requires specific training, appropriate processes and sufficient resources, as described in each document. Further information will be available on the AAPM website.

This Issue

New APS/AIP Science Policy Fellow at the Department of Education: APS and AIP are pleased to announce a new jointly-sponsored science policy fellowship in which a PhD-level member of one of the AIP Member Societies will spend up to two years working on STEM education policy and programs at the US Department of Education

AAPM REPORT
Absolute calibration of optical power for PDT: Report of AAPM TG140

AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY (AHRQ)
AHRQ Electronic Newsletter

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY (ACR)
Computed Tomography QC Manual FAQs to the CT Accreditation page

CONGRESS
ASTRO Applauds Self-Referral Legislation
Bill Introduced to Equalize Cancer Care Payment in Hospital and Physician Office
Bill To Scrap Stark Law In-Office Ancillary Services Exception Opposed

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)
Latest Literature
Latest News
Upcoming Events

MEDICARE
CMS Seeks To Reverse Congress’ Cut To Gamma Knife Pay
CMS Proposes Packaging Ancillary Services under HOPPS
GAO Report on Higher Use of Costly Prostate Cancer Treatment by Providers Who Self-Refer

MEETINGS
Horizons 2013: Connecting AAPM & PS-OCs - Registration & Abstract Submission Available
• AAPM Annual Meeting & Exhibition:
       • Online Evaluation System Available
       • Pictures available on Flickr
       • Videos available from the Charging Station Kiosks
Academy of Radiology Research - "Uncovering Connections: Imaging Advances in Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Alzheimer’s Disease"
AAPM Member Benefit - RSNA Annual Meeting: Your AAPM membership entitles you to free registration for RSNA 2013. General Registration Now Open.
Chapter Meetings
Endorsed/Sponsored Meetings

WEBSITE UPDATES
Webcast of the Month : Medical Physics Practice Quality Improvement Guidelines
Comments Requested ACR-AAPM Collaborative Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards This is a members only link.
Available in the Virtual Library from 2013: Spring Clinical Meeting, Summer School, 3rd CT Dose Summit, CRCPD
2014 AAPM Annual Meeting (Austin TX · July 20 - 24) - Request for Proposals (RFP) for Symposia
AAPM Spotlight Session at the World Molecular Imaging Congress 2013
Featured interviews from the AAPM Annual Meeting
Website Editor Report, August 2013 This is a members only link.
The AAPM WG on Standardization of CT Nomenclature and Protocols receives the CDRH Director’s Special Citation Award
Awards & Honors Committee - Call for Nominations
IOMP announces International Day of Medical Physics
 

CONGRESS

ASTRO Applauds Self-Referral Legislation
Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) recently unveiled the "Promoting Integrity in Medicare Act of 2013," which would close the self-referral loophole by excluding radiation therapy, anatomic pathology, advanced imaging and physical therapy from the law’s in-office ancillary services exception.

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Bill Introduced to Equalize Cancer Care Payment in Hospital and Physician Office
Representatives Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act (H.R. 2869), a bill that would establish Medicare payment parity for ambulatory cancer care services provided in the hospital outpatient department and the physician office setting.

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Bill To Scrap Stark Law In-Office Ancillary Services Exception Opposed
A bill to restore the original intent of the Stark Law, which would dissolve the in-office ancillary services exception, making it illegal for physicians to refer Medicare patients for services in which there is a financial interest, has some in the medical community concerned about both the financial and patient impact.

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MEDICARE

CMS Seeks To Reverse Congress’ Cut To Gamma Knife Pay
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking steps to reverse a controversial reduction in reimbursement for Cobalt-60 (Gamma Knife) brain cancer radiosurgery as part of a Congressional "physician payment fix" offset wrapped into the January 2013 fiscal cliff deal.

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CMS Proposes Packaging Ancillary Services under HOPPS
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed packaging seven new categories of supporting items and services in payments for primary services, according to the 2014 proposed rule for hospital outpatient services and ambulatory surgical centers released on July 8th.

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GAO Report on Higher Use of Costly Prostate Cancer Treatment by Providers Who Self-Refer
On August 1, Congress released an investigative report on self-referral in radiation oncology. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report "Medicare: Higher Use of Costly Prostate Cancer Treatment by Providers Who Self-Refer Warrants Scrutiny" concludes that providers substantially increased the percentage of their prostate cancer patients they referred for IMRT after they began to self-refer.

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The AAPM E-News is a collection of news and information that affects the field of Medical Physics.