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News and Alert Archives
 
 
12-27-07
New anesthesiology performance measure proposals for ASA Member review and comment.
   
12-19-07
Congress passes “skinny” Medicare payment bill and averts SGR cut through June 2008
   
12-17-07
Important information about CPT code 93503, Insertion and placement of flow directed catheter (eg, Swan-Ganz) for monitoring purposes.
   
12-05-07
ASA Appoints New Executive Vice President
   
12-04-07
ASA and AMA Conducting Physician Practice Information Survey
   
12-3-07
Conference on Practice Management – Additional Hotel Rooms Available.
   
11-26-07
UPDATE: 2008 Medicare anesthesia conversion factor: $17.82 unadjusted.
   
11-21-07
The DEA finalized its September 2006 proposal to amend its regulations to allow practitioners to provide individual patients with multiple prescriptions, to be filled sequentially, for the same schedule II controlled substance. 
 
11-15-07
ASA Produces Patient Awareness Under Anesthesia Informational DVD.
 
11-15-07
Patient Awareness - What Is It?
 
11-08-07
Letter to Grey's Anatomy encouraging the use of ASA as consults to writers.
   
11-06-07
FDA MedWatch: Welch Allyn AED 10 Automatic External Defibrillators manufactured between 3/29/07 and 8/9/07 - Class 1 Recall
   
11-06-07
FDA MedWatch: Trasylol (aprotinin injection) - FDA requests marketing suspension and Bayer Pharmaceutical Corp. has agreed, pending a detailed review of preliminary results from a Canadian study that suggested an increased risk for death
   
11-06-07
UPDATE: 2008 Physician Fee Schedule: 32 percent increase to anesthesia work!
   
11-05-07
US Senators claim they haven’t heard from physicians about looming SGR cuts! Call your senators soon!
   
11-02-07
2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule includes 32 percent increase to anesthesia work value
   
11-01-07
Mark your calendar: ASA Legislative Conference June 9-11, 2008
   
10-25-07
FDA MedWatch: Aprotinin Injection (marketed as Trasylol)- Patient Enrollment In The Aprotinin Treatment Group Arm of BART Study Stopped
   
10-25-07
Update: CMS issues more information about NPI implementation
   
10-23-07
1st Named APSF/ASA Endowed Research Grant Awarded
   
10-22-07
CHIP reauthorization fails in House of Representatives; Medicare physician payment reform uncertain
   
10-16-07
ASA Annual Meeting 2007 News Releases
   
10-15-07
The Cost Survey for Anesthesia Practices 2007 Report Based on 2006 Data is available now!
   
10-09-07
Virginia Paper Retracts Erroneous Lethal Injection Information
   
10-09-07
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) releases work plan for FY 2008
 
10-05-07
ASA President Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D., testifies before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee
 
10-01-07
UPDATE: President signs bill delaying tamper-resistant prescription pad requirement
 
10-01-07
Update: BCBS Settlement Deadline is October 19
   
09-27-07
American Society of Anesthesiologists Immediate Past President Orin F. Guidry, M.D., Receives International Honor
   
09-27-07
ASA Provides Tools to Patients Who Want to Quit Smoking Around the Time of Surgery
   
09-24-07
Norepinephrine May Increase Chances of Survival in Hemorrhagic Shock
 
09-24-07
Study Raises Questions Regarding FDA's Warning on Droperidol
   
09-20-07
NPI registry and downloadable file now available
   
09-19-07
FDA MedWatch: Haloperidol Marketed As Haldol, Haldol Decanoate, And Haldol Lactate Get New Warnings And Revised Prescription Information
   
09-18-07
FDA MedWatch: MRL/Welch Allyn AED 20 Automatic External Defibrillators
Class I Recall Due To Error Message On Device Display
 
09-18-07
Rockefeller introduces Senate Teaching Rule legislation. Ask your Senator to cosponsor S. 2056
   
09-17-07
FDA MedWatch: Normal Saline Flush Syringes Manufactured By B. Braun Medical Inc. Recalled Due To Presence Of Medical Grade Silicone
 
09-17-07
ASA submits comments to CMS regarding proposed changes to hospital Conditions of Participation
   
09-13-07
FDA MedWatch: Fentora (fentanyl buccal tablet) and the occurrence of serious adverse events, including deaths as a result of improper patient selection, improper dosing, and/or improper product substitution
 
09-12-07
UPDATE: Thousands of ASA members submitted comments to CMS supporting proposed Medicare payment increase (Members Only)
 
09-10-07
Medicare payment cuts loom for 2008: Speak up now for a positive Medicare update! Ask your Senators to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate formula (SGR)
   
9-06-07
Action alert: Urge Your Representative to Co-Sponsor H.R. 2053. New Medicare Anesthesiology Teaching Rule legislation for 2007!
 
08-31-07
ASA submits comments to CMS regarding proposed Medicare payment increase
 
08-31-07
AMA Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement (PCPI) is accepting comments on physician performance measures
 
08-31-07
Possible payment scenarios
 
08-31-07
Proposed rule excerpt related to anesthesia payment
 
08-31-07
Proposed rule
 
08-29-07
Recall Notification - The manufacturer of the Pyxis Anesthesia System 3500 has determined that this system may lock-up under certain circumstances, delaying access to medications.
 
08-29-07
GAO report confirms payment disparity between Medicare and commercial payments for anesthesia services
   
08-24-07
'Alzheimer's Gene' Linked to Increased Risk of Postoperative Delirium
   
08-24-07
Deep Local Anesthetic Infusion Shortens Recovery after Colorectal Cancer Surgery
 
08-16-07
FDA - MedWatch - Updated Warfarin (Coumadin) labeling includes new genetic information that may help providers improve initial dosing estimates of anticoagulant for individual patients
 
08-16-07
ASA speaks out against new requirement of “tamper resistant” Medicaid prescription pads
 
08-10-07
NEW DEADLINE: CMS urges providers to update National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) data by August 20
 
08-03-07
Senate passes CHIP reauthorization, defers action on Medicare physician payment reform
 
08-02-07
House votes to halt Medicare SGR cuts for two years-
 
08-01-07
UPDATE: U.S. House of Representatives considering SGR reform TODAY 
 
07-30-07
FDA - MedWatch - Baxter Healthcare Corp. Recalls Baxter COLLEAGUE And FLO-GARD Volumetric Infusion Pumps Because Of Falsification Of Service And Repair Data
   
07-24-07
Red Cell Substitute Shows Promise as Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease
   
07-24-07
Standard Definitions Urged for Anesthesia Outcomes
 
07-23-07
FDA - MedWatch - Baxter Healthcare Corp. and FDA notified healthcare professionals and consumers of a Class I Recall of Baxter Upgraded COLLEAGUE Triple Channel Volumetric Infusion Pumps, Model numbers 2M8153, 2M8163, and
2M9163.
 
07-12-07

ASA invites AAAA, AANA to offer support for anesthesia work value increase in CMS Proposed 2008 Physician Fee Schedule
AAAA Response

 
07-10-07
Announcing the APSF/American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Endowed Research Award
 
07-06-07
FDA - MedWatch - Merck Recalls 3 Lots Of Invanz (ertapenem sodium) Injection Because The Product May Contain Broken Glass Pieces In The Reconstituted Solution For Injection
 
07-03-07
Pennsylvania Legislators Withdraw Support for Nurse Anesthetist Scope of Practice
 
07-03-07
Louisiana Society of Anesthesiologists, ASA, successfully block legislative effort to expand nurse anesthetist scope of practice
 
07-03-07
FDA News FDA clears first filtering facemask respirator for public use in emergencies such as flu pandemic.
 
07-02-07
ASA’s efforts lead to CMS Base Unit Value correction for code 00797
 
06-29-07
North Carolina General Assembly Passes AA Licensure Bill
 
06-29-07
CMS urges providers to update National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) data by July 16
 
06-29-07
Journal Web Site Relaunched with New Features
 
06-28-07
ASA joins AMA, other specialty societies, in opposing proposed changes to Medicaid GME payments
   
06-25-07
Anesthetics in Newborns
   
06-25-07
Protein C Predicts Risk of Death in ICU Patients
 
06-22-07
Worksheets for coding PQRI measures are available now
 
06-19-07
ASA opposes Louisiana S.B. 322, which would authorize nurse anesthetists to practice pain medicine.
 
06-15-07
FDA Alert! Febrile illnesses reported in patients who have been sedated with propofol for endoscopic procedures
 
06-13-07
ASA strongly opposes H.R. 1932, legislation that equates student nurses with anesthesiology resident physicians
 
06-06-07
58 Members of Congress sign letter to CMS regarding the under-funding of anesthesia payments
 
06-04-07
Dr. Mark Lema and ASA join with the Pain Care Coalition in calling for improved pain care throughout the military and VA health care systems.
 
05-31-07
Update: ASA and AMA Conducting Physician Practice Information survey
 
05-30-07
CDC Alert!  Propofol adverse events reported, prompting aseptic technique reminder.
 
05-30-07
CDC Alert! – Several clusters of cases involving suspected propofol contamination have been reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (05-30-07)
 
05-24-07
PQRI - Test your billing system with a PQRI code now.
 
05-24-07
ASA supports “Health Care Truth and Transparency Act of 2007”
 
05-23-07
ASA responds to May 14 LA Times article on anesthesia.
 
05-21-07
ASA sends letter to AANA regarding Medicare anesthesiology teaching rule reform legislation.
 
05-16-07
UPDATE! Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)
   
05-14-07
Action alert -Take action toward fair Medicare anesthesia payment—Ask your Representative to sign the McCollum/Weldon letter to CMS (New cosigners!)
 
04-30-07
Action alert: Urge Your Representative to Co-Sponsor H.R. 2053. New Medicare Anesthesiology Teaching Rule legislation for 2007!
 
04-24-07
CMS releases new information about National Provider Identifier (NPI) implementation
 
04-19-07
Action alert: Ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1866--Anesthesiology Rural Pass-through legislation
 
04-18-07
ASA submits letter to MedPAC addressing Medicare payment inadequacies and urging CMS to support a new practice expense survey.
 
04-17-07
MSN Health & Fitness Features “Reality Check” on Anesthesia Awareness, including comments from ASA President Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D.
   
04-16-07
Myths and Facts About Awareness
 
04-26-07
ASA offers clarification to Capitol Hill about Teaching Rule legislation
 
04-16-07
Myths and Facts About Awareness
 
04-10-07
ASA responds to media stories about awareness case.
   
04-06-07
Voluntary Drug Recall Hospira recalls certain lots of 1% lidocaine HCl Injection, USP, due to reports of particulate in some vials. (04-06-07)
 
04-02-07
Revised Guidelines Issued for Anesthesia, Pain Relief During Labor and Delivery
 
03-30-07
ASA Background on Safety & Effects of Pediatric Anesthesia
 
03-29-07
Doctors Day 2007 Promotes Importance of Quitting Smoking Before Surgery.
 
03-28-07
ASA submits joint comment letter to the FDA Anesthetic and Life Support Drugs Advisory Committee (ALSDAC) regarding pediatric anesthesia.
 
03-28-07
FDA MedWatch - Smith & Nephew Radio Frequency (RF) Denervation Probes: class 1 nationwide recall due to mislabeling as sterile (03-28-07)
 
03-23-07
Doctors Day 2007
   
03-22-07
In-Training Examination Update
 
03-21-07
Call for ABA/ASA Joint Council Editors
 
03-20-07
Updated document explains payment and reporting policy for fluoroscopic guidance of spinal injections
 
03-19-07
FDA MedWatch: Zyvox (linezolid) - Clinical trial showed higher chance of death in the treatment of seriously ill patients with intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infections (03-19-07)
 
03-13-07
Help increase ASA representation in AMA House of Delegates
03-07-07
MEDMARX® Data Report Analyzes Medication Errors Affecting Surgical Patients
 
03-07-07
ASA invites its members to participate in National Patient Safety Awareness Week through March 10 and to encourage patients and their families to use the Anesthesia and Me © Checklist to organize the information that patients should provide to their anesthesiologist in case surgery is needed.
 
03-05-07
CMS letter to MedPAC confirms projected 10% payment cut in 2008
 
03-02-07
FDA - MedWatch - Medical Device Safety - Change in Daylight Savings Time May Affect Medical Equipment in Unpredictable Ways (03-02-07)
 
03-02-07
FDA - MedWatch - Unapproved Ergotamine Products - Twenty Companies Ordered to Cease Marketing Unapproved Drug Products Containing Ergotamine tartrate (03-02-07)
 
02-28-07
Update! FDA MedWatch - Custom Ultrasonics Endoscope Washer/Disinfectors: Safety Alert of Feb 7 updated with new recommendations. (02-28-07)
 
02-20-07
Urge Congress to take early action against the looming 10% SGR cut.
 
02-20-07
2007 ASA Survey of Fees Paid by Commercial Carriers. Please download and return the questionnaire by March 20. 
 
02-14-07
AMA and ASA to Conduct Physician Practice Information Survey
 
02-08-07
"Anesthesia Awareness” Rates May Be Much Lower Than Previously Reported
 
02-07-07
FDA - MedWatch: Use of Skin Products Containing Numbing Ingredients (Topical Anesthetic Drugs) for Cosmetic Procedures and Potential Life-Threatening Side Effects (02-07-07)
 
02-06-07
ASA Member Beverly K. Philip, MD, appointed to CMS Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Groups
 
02-05-07
ASA Included in Parade Magazine Article on “TV Docs”
 
02-05-07
ASA President Dr. Lema Addresses Aetna Sedation Policy
 
02-02-07
2007 President Update at Practice Management Conference - 21st Century Anesthesiology - Preparing for the Future Paradigm, Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D.
 
02-02-07
FDA - MedWatch - Vapotherm 2000i [Respiratory Gas Humidifier] System
 
01-19-07
Order MGMA-ASA Cost Survey for Anesthesia Practices: 2006 Report Based on 2005 Data at discounted price for ASA members
 
01-18-07
Anesthesia Ranked in Top Five of Greatest Medical Milestones Poll
 
01-16-07
ASA and component societies prevent opt-outs in 2006
 
01-10-07
ASA applauds Louisiana Court of Appeal for nullifying Nursing Board “statement”
 
01-03-07
Psychological Effects of “Anesthetic Awareness” May Linger, But Need Not Be Traumatic
 
01-03-07
Family-Centered Surgical Preparation Improves Children’s Recovery After Surgery
 
01-03-07
New Study Assesses Relationship Between Dreaming and Anesthesia
 

President's Updates 2005
 
September 28, 2005
September 8, 2005
July 12, 2005
 
President's Updates 2003
   
February 24, 2003
June 27, 2003

January 10, 2003

 

January 3, 2003

   

President's Updates 2002

President's Updates 2001
   

November 27, 2002

June 21, 2002

April 3, 2002