AAPMR membership?

[SSdoc33]

Been a member for what, 8 years now. Haven't decided on whether on not to renew. 600 something bucks. Not going to the meeting this year. Not really sure what they do for me as an oupatient spine guy. They sent a certified letter to my house reminding me that my membership was abou tto expire that my wife had to sign for. This letter itself cost them 6 bucks. Very strange. I feel like a bad physiatrist, but anybody else not a member or not renew their membership?

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[Gauss]

Because a decent amount of MOC items feed directly from AAPMR to ABPMR it's probably worth it. The keep track of your CME and automatically link it to ABPMR. It feels like a racket though

 

[lobelsteve]

Sign back up or I will hunt you down.

I am a member and was lapsed for 4 years before signing back up. When they killed Passor is when I quit. THe AAPMR is now doing good things for all of us as for as pain advocacy and MOC.

And I am on the membership committee.
There is strength in numbers and AAPMR is going to bat for procedures, access, and our patients.

SML

 

[SSdoc33]

Sign back up or I will hunt you down.

I am a member and was lapsed for 4 years before signing back up. When they killed Passor is when I quit. THe AAPMR is now doing good things for all of us as for as pain advocacy and MOC.

And I am on the membership committee.
There is strength in numbers and AAPMR is going to bat for procedures, access, and our patients.

SML

damn you and your guilt, lobelsteve. i'll renew

 

[RUOkie]

I agree with Steve. I do not believe that the AMA represents physicians, so I refuse to join.

On the whole, the AAPMR does try to look out for the best interests of physiatrists and of physicians as a whole. I pay my dues for the advocacy alone (although the US courses are excellent).

 

[lobelsteve]

damn you and your guilt, lobelsteve. i'll renew

Tell them I sent you (call Chicago) and give them the discount code Lobel5 for a 5% off on renewal.

😀

 

[SSdoc33]

maybe you can tell them to save the 6 bucks on certified/registered mail. i had already received 10 reminders on line and several via snail mail. not the wisest utilization of resources

 

[Disciple]

They're obviously putting alot of emphasis on member retention. Looks like they don't want to lose anybody because that person didn't see the renewal notice.

 

[Prof Moriarty]

Interesting, since I have practically had to beg them to take my $ (and maintain my membership). The website could not handle the transition from a student membership to a resident membership, and I had to call/email 6-7 times over the course of several months to make it happen. Anyone else been underwhelmed by their customer service?

 

[dc2md]

I also agree with Steve. The AAPM&R has changed a lot and is doing a ton for both PM&R, but also has a some good pain resources now too.

The thing I disagree with is their policy of charging members that let their membership lapse a $75 fee to re-join. I know they want to retain all their members and not have the members only sign up during years they plan to attend the national conference, but penalizing the re-joining of our national organization isn't a good PR move. I think a better idea (if they want to penalize docs who don't maintain their membership) is to charge a slightly higher amount for "new members" and less for "renewal dues"...and maybe even less for automatic withdrawal from a bank account. Those late fees just don't sit well with me.

 

[lobelsteve]

I also agree with Steve. The AAPM&R has changed a lot and is doing a ton for both PM&R, but also has a some good pain resources now too.

The thing I disagree with is their policy of charging members that let their membership lapse a $75 fee to re-join. I know they want to retain all their members and not have the members only sign up during years they plan to attend the national conference, but penalizing the re-joining of our national organization isn't a good PR move. I think a better idea (if they want to penalize docs who don't maintain their membership) is to charge a slightly higher amount for "new members" and less for "renewal dues"...and maybe even less for automatic withdrawal from a bank account. Those late fees just don't sit well with me.

Ai has spent the last 2 years getting that fixed and this should be done during this cycle. The board for the AAPMR moves slower than molasses.

 

[dc2md]

That's great! Ai rocks. I see they also finally made med student memberships free.

 

[ctts]

Ok, you got me too...I'll just go ahead and continue to renew my AAPMR membership also, without agonizing over the decision to pay or not.

Was curious how you all feel about other organizations out there? Specifically pain organizations? For example, ASIPP, ISIS, AAPM, etc. Been ignoring renewal requests from AAPM and not sure if I want to continue or not.

I am also boarded in sports medicine so there is a large number of organizations relevant to me. Ideally I would just join everything, but all the membership fees add up, so I really want to be as selective as possible.

Tried searching the forum for this topic and didn't see a thread title that seemed to address this.

Thanks!

 

[RUOkie]

Ok, you got me too...I'll just go ahead and continue to renew my AAPMR membership also, without agonizing over the decision to pay or not.

Was curious how you all feel about other organizations out there? Specifically pain organizations? For example, ASIPP, ISIS, AAPM, etc. Been ignoring renewal requests from AAPM and not sure if I want to continue or not.

I am also boarded in sports medicine so there is a large number of organizations relevant to me. Ideally I would just join everything, but all the membership fees add up, so I really want to be as selective as possible.

Tried searching the forum for this topic and didn't see a thread title that seemed to address this.

Thanks!

Find the organizations that represent your practice. I used to be an ISIS member, but no nonger do intervetional spine, so I dropped it. I am a member of AANEM, AAPMR, as well as AA of Disabiltiy Examiners. I go back and forth every few yrs on NASS (depending on if I'm going to the meeting😎)

 

[ampaphb]

I let mine lapse. I know Steve, Chris, and Ai are active, but as an outsider, all I ever see them advocate for is PT and inpatient rehab.

SDV/MDV - AAPM&R is silent
Noridian tries to stop paying for facet injections - AAPM&R is silent.
State of Washington tries to stop paying for all pain procedures? AAPM&R is silent.

Now they may be doing something, but unless they tell me, all I get is the paternalistic "trust us, we have your best interests at heart" BS.

ISIS generates the studies to keep us paid. That is the only membership I think is worth the money. I also keep AAPM, NASS, and ASIPP, but am less and less likely to continue to keep paying for all 4 memberships.

 

[101N]

I let mine lapse. I know Steve, Chris, and Ai are active, but as an outsider, all I ever see them advocate for is PT and inpatient rehab.

SDV/MDV - AAPM&R is silent
Noridian tries to stop paying for facet injections - AAPM&R is silent.
State of Washington tries to stop paying for all pain procedures? AAPM&R is silent.

Now they may be doing something, but unless they tell me, all I get is the paternalistic "trust us, we have your best interests at heart" BS.

ISIS generates the studies to keep us paid. That is the only membership I think is worth the money. I also keep AAPM, NASS, and ASIPP, but am less and less likely to continue to keep paying for all 4 memberships.

1+, but for ASIPP.

 

[ctts]

Ok, thanks for everyone who shared.

My practice is currently interventional spine...so maybe I'll do ISIS and ASIPP. I'd like to keep AAPM too, but will probably let it go since it's a lot of money to pay dues for multiple organizations. I think I'll still keep AAPM&R for now, but I will keep RUOkie's comments in mind for the future.

 

[Eilat87]

So inconvenient to get a free med student membership..

You need your Dean's signature. Might as well give us a discount instead.

 

[axm397]

@ Eilat87, am going to have them look into the membership application process to try to simplify it so it's not such a burden to get the dean's signature, etc.


@ ampaphb: from http://www.aapmr.org/advocacy/healt...ice-Partnership-Federal-Trade-Commission.aspx

"Scope of Practice Partnership and the Federal Trade Commission"
March 12, 2012​
Since 2006, the Academy has participated with the Scope of Practice Partnership (SOPP) Steering Committee. SOPP is a national cooperative effort of leading national medical societies and state medical associations established to focus the resources of organized medicine to oppose expansions of scope of practice by allied health professionals that threaten the health and safety of patients. SOPP traditionally focuses on individual state activities regarding scope of practice issues which have potential national implications. However, recently, the Steering Committee discussed the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) engagement with state medical boards and legislatures regarding their prohibitions of non-physicians from performing interventional pain procedures. The FTC claims state medical boards and others are engaging in anti-competitive behavior and asserts that non-physicians should be able to perform these procedures. Meetings are scheduled in March and April with FTC Commissioners and senior staff to discuss these issues.

Your Academy’s efforts through the SOPP resulted in a significant victory when on January 19, 2012, the Superior Court of New Jersey reversed the trial court on all issues in a case involving a physician assistant who, acting under a physician’s supervision, performed needle electromyography (EMG) testing. The Superior Court ruled unanimously that physician assistants are precluded by statute from performing EMG needle tests. The Academy successfully persuaded the Medical Society of New Jersey and the Litigation Center of the American Medical Association, to file an amicus brief to the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division. As an active member of the SOPP Steering Committee, your Academy financially supports and helps govern actions taken by the SOPP.

Please log on to www.aapmr.org for future updates on these activities.​​"

 

[ampaphb]

@axm397

I can't believe what i heard from the AAPM&R.

"currently we (AAPM&R) do not have a position opposing the proposed changes"

(referring to the recent CMS position on CRNAs performing pain management procedures )

 

[Gauss]

FTC is involved? How does FTC have jurisdiction over who provides medical care? I would've thought HHS with FSMB

 

[lobelsteve]

See my post in the pain forum. 2 issues in current federal register at play.

1 is pricing of CRNA for anesthesia services in opt out. AAPMR has no joy in this.
2 is CRNA encroaching on Pain and AAPMR is against this. They just need to get out and let you know they are doing this. But they are.

 

[axm397]

see my post on pain forum also

 

[rehab_sports_dr]

I do think the AAPMR can do a lot for advocacy, and as more MSK people rise into leadership positions, we will have more opportunities for advocacy

I am going to be more involved in the MSK council in the next few years, so if anyone has agendas they would like me to help push through, please let me know

 

[ampaphb]

Gary, Ai, and Steve:

I look forward to seeing results. I, for one, will rejoin when I see concrete accomplishments, not just good intentions.

 

[lobelsteve]

Gary, Ai, and Steve:

I look forward to seeing results. I, for one, will rejoin when they I see concrete accomplishments, not just good intentions.

We will discuss at the next board meeting. But so far Chris, Russ, Ai, Sharon, and I are willing to chip in to get you signed up for AAP. wonkwonk.