American Society of Neuroradiology

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ASNR CPC Standards and Guidelines Subcommittee Overview
January 13, 2012

The ASNR Clinical Practice Committee (CPC) Standards and Guidelines Subcommittee, chaired by Jacqueline A. Bello, MD, FACR, and co-chaired by John E. Jordan, MD, represents ASNR membership on guidelines and technical standards development and review.

Standards and Guidelines are educational tools developed to assist practitioners in providing appropriate care for patients. Practice Guidelines describe recommended conduct in specific areas of clinical practice, whereas Technical Standards describe technical parameters that are measureable. Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards are both based on analysis of current literature, expert opinion, open forum commentary, and informal consensus. Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards are not intended to be legal standards of care.

The ASNR Standards and Guidelines Subcommittee works closely with the ACR Neuroradiology Commission, which is chaired by Carolyn Meltzer, MD, FACR. The Standards and Guidelines Subcommittee roster is available at the following link: Standards and Guidelines Roster

The ASNR Standards and Guidelines Subcommittee have a joint meeting with the ACR Neuroradiology Commission twice a year. Web links to practice guidelines that ASNR collaborated on in 2011 is below.
Practice Guidelines adopted at May, 2011 ACR Annual Meeting and Chapter Leadership Conference (AMCLC)

In addition to the important work of this Subcommittee, the ASNR needs to maintain its voice in the AMA CPT Editorial Panel, and the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC). To do this we need to increase the number of ASNR members who are also AMA members. Please consider joining the AMA so that ASNR can retain its seat in the AMA House of Delegates. ASNR is currently at risk of losing this seat which would preclude involvement in many of the decisions on coding and reimbursement most important to membership. The AMA membership page can be found at the following link: AMA Membership Page.

"ASNR Loses Its Voice in Reimbursement Decisions"
December 21, 2011

I hope that headline is not a message that I have to deliver at the 50th Annual Meeting. However, right now we are headed in that direction. Why? Our seat in the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD) is critical to our ability to represent neuroradiology in critical work of the AMA. The Association is at the heart of the U.S. healthcare system and is integrated into coverage and reimbursement decisions. Through the CPT Editorial Panel and the Relative Value Update Committee, the AMA is instrumental in determining which studies will be paid by Medicare, and at what levels. If the ASNR loses its seat in the HOD, then we lose our input into these critical decisions. This could make important studies unavailable to patients who need them.

How could this happen? The AMA requires affiliate societies, such as the ASNR, to have at least 25% of its voting members (in our case, ASNR Senior members) also hold membership in the AMA. At the moment, the ASNR does not meet this standard.  The AMA will hold a census in April 2012, before our Annual Meeting. If we do not meet the 25% standard at that time, then we lose our seat.

How can you help avoid this outcome? Simple. Join the AMA. If you are already an AMA member, make sure your dues are up to date when you receive your 2012 renewal notice.

Some have objected that they "do not support the political orientation" of the AMA. If you feel this way, I submit that this is beside the point. Joining the AMA does not mean you agree with everything it does. Joining the AMA means you recognize its unique role in the American healthcare system, and you want the ASNR to maintain its voice.

Keep neuroradiology's seat at the table. Please join the AMA today.

To join the AMA, log onto http://www.ama-assn.org/go/join.

Sincerely, David B. Hackney, M.D., FACR
ASNR President

It’s time to start making plans for the ASNR 50th Annual Meeting in New York, NY April 21-26, 2012
December 9, 2011

Registration & Housing Information
Housing Deadline & Increase of Registration is Friday, March 9, 2012

ONLINE Registration Site is NOW available!!

3 Ways to Register for the meeting & book your hotel room:
1.) Online- NOW Available!!!
2.) Fax in your forms (Fillable pdf) to (630) 574-1740, Attention: ASNR 50th Annual Meeting
3.) Mail in your forms (Fillable pdf) to:
            American Society of Neuroradiology
            Attn: ASNR 50th Annual Meeting
            2210 Midwest Road, Suite 207
            Oak Brook, IL 60523-8205

To view the whole Registration Brochure - ASNR 50th Annual Meeting & The Foundation of the ASNR Symposium 2012 (as of 11/1/2011) , click here »

Registration Policy & Forms (Fillable pdf)

Housing Policies and Forms (Fillable pdf)

Please contact ASNR Meetings Department at (630) 574-0220 or via email at meetings@asnr.org if you have any questions regarding Registration & Housing.

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