Live events in April

The misuse of extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) opioids is a major public health problem. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the following:

• From 2000 to 2015 more than half a million people died from drug overdoses.
• 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.

The CO*RE/ASAM Opioid Prescribing: Safe Practice, Changing Lives course addresses the opioid public health crisis. This comprehensive course was developed by renowned experts from Collaborative for REMS Education (CO*RE) and incorporates all six units outlined in FDA blueprint for safe opioid prescribing. The updated course also provides necessary context for safe opioid prescribing by discussing biopsychosocial aspects of pain, the newest clinical guidelines on the treatment of chronic pain, and state policies about prescribing opioids.

Learners will be able to:

• Accurately assess patients with pain for consideration of an opioid trial
• Establish realistic goals for pain management and restoration of function
• Initiate opioid treatment (IR and ER/LA) safely and judiciously, maximizing efficacy while minimizing risks
• Monitor and re-evaluate treatment continuously; discontinue safely when appropriate
• Counsel patients and caregivers about use, misuse, abuse, diversion, and overdose
• Educate patients about safe storage and disposal of opioids
• Demonstrate working knowledge and ability to access general and specific information about opioids, especially those used in your practice.

CME Information and Disclosure Listing

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This course has been designated as an approved CME Activity by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). Physicians enrolled in the ABAM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program can apply a maximum of 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to the CME requirement for Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment.

In accordance with the disclosure policies of ASAM and the ACCME, the effort is made to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all educational activities. These policies include resolving all conflicts of interest between the CME Committee, Planning Committee and faculty, and commercial interests that might otherwise compromise the goal and educational integrity of this activity. All CME Committee, Planning Committee and faculty participating in the activity have disclosed all relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. The CME Committee has reviewed these disclosures and determined that the planning committee and faculty relationships are not inappropriate in the content of their respective presentations and are not inconsistent with the educational goals and integrity of the activity.

ASAM CME Committee

Program Planning Committee

Course Faculty

ASAM CME Committee Reviewers

Acknowledgement

Presented by ASAM, a member of the Collaborative on REMS Education (CO*RE), 10 interdisciplinary organizations working together to improve pain management and prevent adverse outcomes.

RPC Commercial Support Disclosure Statement

This educational activity is supported by an independent educational grant from the ER/LA Opioid Analgesic REMS Program Companies. Please see this link for a listing of the member companies. This activity is intended to be fully compliant with the ER/LA Opioid Analgesic REMS education requirements issued by the US Food & Drug Administration.

This course is not intended to advocate for the use of ER/LA Opioids, but to ensure proper education about safe prescribing practices should a medical provider determine that ER/LA Opioids are the best course of treatment.

This webinar helps build knowledge of The ASAM Appropriate Use of Drug Testing in Clinical Addiction Medicine document, which guides provider decisions about drug testing, as no universal standard exists today. It will allow providers, patients and their families, healthcare administrators, and payers determine clearly what is appropriate practice and what is considered outside the realm of appropriate practice in regard to drug testing in clinical addiction medicine. This webinar is primarily intended for addiction specialists and all providers utilizing drug testing in the context of the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients with, or at risk for, addiction. It will also be useful for physicians and other providers concerned about the possibility of addiction in their patient population.

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
-Recognize the importance of the guidance needed around drug testing today
-Identify the fundamental components of drug testing in a clinical setting
-Summarize the document's recommendations and discuss how they should be used in practice
-Address common clinical questions around drug testing in a clinical setting

ASAM is part of a collaboration that made this course possible.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

Part 1

• Describe the prevalence of substance use and prescription drug misuse among adolescents
• Explain why adolescents are at high risk of developing a substance use disorder and how clinicians can help prevent it
• Demonstrate strategies to build trust with adolescent patients and ensure confidentiality when addressing substance use and prescription drug misuse
• Summarize ways to identify substance use and prescription drug misuse in adolescent patients, including determining their level of risk

Part 2

• Discuss strategies to address substance use and prescription drug misuse in adolescent patients based on their level of use
• Summarize when and how to follow up with adolescent patients who use substances or misuse prescription drugs

Physician Continuing Medical Education

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and the National Institute for Drug Abuse. The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Continuing Education

Credit Designation

This educational activity for 1.0 contact hour is provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine.

Accreditation Statement  

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited with distinction as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

American Dental Association CERP Recognition

This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) through joint sponsorship efforts between Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and the National Institute for Drug Abuse.

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education.  ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of the credit hours by boards of dentistry.

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this activity for 1.0 continuing education credit.

Education Coalition

This activity was developed by an education Coalition of experts and medical professional organization representatives. The Coalition comprises the following organizations and experts:

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest (COI) they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified COI are thoroughly vetted and resolved according to PIM policy.  PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

The Education Coalition members reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Marc Fishman, MD discloses the following: Consulting Fees: US World Meds; Contracted Research: Media Rez, US World Meds

Ownership Interest: Maryland Treatment Centers

The following Education Coalition members have nothing to disclose: Cynthia Kear, Jennifer Butchart, Penny Mills, Arlene Deverman, Stephanie Townsell, Marla Kushner, Anne Norman, Renee Jarrett, Daniel Pace, Marie-Michele Leger, Sara Evans, Vincent DiFabio, Jan Schultz, Dan Alford, Sharon Levy, Jeff Baxter, Marc Fishman, and Carol Havens

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

The following PIM planners and managers, Trace Hutchison, PharmD, Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD, CHCP, Judi Smelker-Mitchek, RN, BSN and Jan Schultz, RN, MSN, CHCP, hereby state that they or their spouse/life partner do not have any financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months.

The following National Institute on Drug Abuse planners and managers, Elisabeth Davis; Carol Krause; Josie Anderson; Jack Stein, hereby state that they or their spouse/life partner do not have any financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months

The following JBS International, Inc. planners and managers, Candace Baker; Susan Hayashi; Laura Nolan; Bethel Arya; and Veronica Junghahn, hereby state that they or their spouse/life partner do not have any financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interest related to the content of this activity of any amount during the past 12 months

For Physicians, Registered Nurses and Dentists, please follow the instructions below:

PIM supports Green CME by offering your Request for Credit online. If you wish to receive acknowledgment for completing this activity, please follow the steps below:

1. Go to CME University at: www.cmeuniversity.com and register or login
2. Once logged in, click on “Find Post-test/Evaluation by Course” at the top of the page
3. Type in 11118 (for Part1) or 12614 (for Part 2) in the box; hit enter
4. Click on the activity title
5. Complete the online posttest and evaluation and obtain your CME certificate to download and/or print for your files.

Upon completion of the online posttest and evaluation form, you will have immediate access to a certificate of attendance to print or save for your files. You can save your certificate by selecting the “Save” option on the print screen. 

For any questions relating to the physician, nursing or dentist accreditation, please contact PIM via:  inquiries@pimed.com

For Nurse Practitioners follow the instructions below:

• Visit the AANP’s Website (coming soon) to take the course for AANP credit.

For Physician Assistants follow the instructions below:

• Visit the AAPA’s Website to take the course for AAPA credit.

For Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine follow the instructions below:

      Visit the AOA’s Website (coming soon) to take the course for AOA credit.

Internet activity

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners.  Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. 

The 60-minute webinar will provide insights into current addiction treatment gap and how physicians can close this gap by becoming board-certified in addiction medicine certified through the upcoming American Board of Preventive Medicine addiction medicine exam

This webinar is targeted toward clinicians, physicians, academicians and other addiction medicine professionals looking to learn more the addiction treatment gap and the new addiction medicine subspecialty under the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). 

The purpose of the webinar is to emphasize the need to close the current treatment gap and increase the addiction medicine workforce. There will be a key focus on the new addiction medicine subspecialty and the pathways for certification. There will be a live question and answer session during the webinar to address any concerns and foster conversation around this monumental development in the field. 

• Addiction medicine specialists
• Opioid treatment program providers
• DATA-waived provider
• Public health management services providers

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

•  Demonstrate the importance of the need for an expanded workforce.  
•  Describe the different hurdles patients faces when seeking treatment for addiction treatment.
•  Identify different demographics that are uniquely affected by the treatment gap.
•  Diagram the different learning methods physicians can take to educate themselves in addiction medicine.
•  Construct an outline of the different pathways physicians can take to become eligible to sit for the addiction medicine exam.
•  Identify certain criteria physicians have to uphold in order to become an addiction specialist. 

ACCME Accreditation Statement The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.

 AMA Credit Designation Statement: The American Society of Addiction Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ASAM 2017-2018 CME Committee Disclosure Information:

April 7, 2017 – April 2018

This free CME webinar series is designed to prepare physicians and their billing staff for the basics of modern healthcare payment models and methods of incorporating these models into addiction treatment practice. Presented by a healthcare reimbursement expert, viewers will learn the language used by health payers to improve understanding of billing and coding techniques. Some tips about determining patient coverage for services, handling prior authorization requests, and submitting claims to payers will be included.

The first in the series created to examine some of the basic and advanced issues that many may face when working with insurance companies and other health payers. The second webinar will be held on March 7th, and the third session will be a panel discussion held at the Annual Conference with ASAM members employed by health insurers.

This webinar is primarily intended for addiction medicine specialists; medical office billing staff; opioid treatment program providers; DATA-waived providers

At the conclusion of the webinar, participants should be able to:

• Recognize health care reimbursement models and common terms used by most health care payers
• Explain how health care payers make coverage decisions and discuss how that relates to their practice
• Explain recent or upcoming policy changes and identify implications or areas for provider involvement
• Assess the importance of utilization management requests, appeals, and compliance protections to make informed decisions in their practice
• Synthesize information to assist patients and staff with coverage questions and appeals
• Evaluate billing best practices to appropriately bill for tasks performed in basic or advanced situations
• Create a set of resources/list of best practices that can be used to support the participant's practice
• Analyze information about payers/reimbursement models to develop a plan for personal engagement with payer to positively impact their practice.

ACCME Accreditation Statement
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.

 AMA Credit Designation Statement:
The American Society of Addiction Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA
PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This free CME webinar series is designed to prepare physicians and their billing staff for the basics of modern healthcare payment models and methods of incorporating these models into addiction treatment practice. Presented by a healthcare reimbursement expert, viewers will learn the language used by health payers to improve understanding of billing and coding techniques. Some tips about determining patient coverage for services, handling prior authorization requests, and submitting claims to payers will be included.

The first in the series created to examine some of the basic and advanced issues that many may face when working with insurance companies and other health payers. The second webinar will be held on March 7th, and the third session will be a panel discussion held at the Annual Conference with ASAM members employed by health insurers.

This webinar is primarily intended for addiction medicine specialists; medical office billing staff; opioid treatment program providers; DATA-waived providers

At the conclusion of the webinar, participants should be able to:

• Recognize health care reimbursement models and common terms used by most health care payers
• Explain how health care payers make coverage decisions and discuss how that relates to their practice
• Explain recent or upcoming policy changes and identify implications or areas for provider involvement
• Assess the importance of utilization management requests, appeals, and compliance protections to make informed decisions in their practice
• Synthesize information to assist patients and staff with coverage questions and appeals
• Evaluate billing best practices to appropriately bill for tasks performed in basic or advanced situations
• Create a set of resources/list of best practices that can be used to support the participant's practice
• Analyze information about payers/reimbursement models to develop a plan for personal engagement with payer to positively impact their practice.

ACCME Accreditation Statement
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.

 AMA Credit Designation Statement:
The American Society of Addiction Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA
PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ASAM, AANP and AAPA have formed a collaborative to provide the 24-hour waiver training for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Educational content has been identified and/or created to satisfy the 24-hour requirement as described in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA).

To qualify to prescribe medications for Opioid Use Disorder, NPs and PAs must:

• Be licensed under state law to prescribe Schedule III, IV, or V medications for pain
• Complete not less than 24 hours of appropriate education through a qualified provider
• Through other training or experience, demonstrate the ability to treat and manage OUD
• If required by state law, be supervised or work in collaboration with a qualifying physician (physician must be waivered) to prescribe medications for the treatment of OUD

**The content was originally developed for the 8-hour DATA2000 training for physicians. This content is now offered to NPs/PAs and appropriate provider language will be changed as content continues to evolve.

This training is presented in two parts. Part I is the 8-hour training for physicians, NPs and PAs. Part II is the additional 16 hours for NPs/PAs required by CARA. In Part II, you will see the topics listed in CARA with specific content under those topics.

Before you begin and to receive AANP CE Credit, you must register through the AANP CE Center. Click here to register. 

Once registration is complete on the AANP CE Center, return to the ASAM e-Learning Center to begin and/or continue the content.

The collaborative of ASAM, AANP and AAPA identified and reviewed this content to provide the NP/PA training required by CARA.

The NP/PA 24-Hour Waiver Training is available for free through 2017 in part by an unrestricted educational grant from Indivior.

The 16-hour product developed includes all additional education required by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) for nurse practitioners to successfully apply for a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for office-based treatment of opioid use disorders.

This activity is approved for 24.0 contact hour(s) of continuing education (which includes 18.0 hours of pharmacology) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Activity ID 16122474. This program was planned in accordance with AANP CE Standards and Policies and AANP Commercial Support Standards.

Please ensure that your state regulations allow you to prescribe buprenorphine and other medications to treat OUD before you apply for the waiver.  Some states may have overriding state legislation that will prevent NPs and PAs from prescribing these medications even if Federal law allows it.

Apply

• Fill out the Waiver Notification Form on SAMHSA’s website.
• Submit copies of your training certificate(s) to SAMHSA by email: infobuprenorphine@samhsa.hhs.gov or fax: 301.576.5237.

SAMHSA reviews waiver applications within 45 business days of receipt. If approved, you will receive a letter via email that confirms your waiver and includes your prescribing identification number.

Waiver applications are forwarded to the DEA. DEA regulations require your prescribing identification number to be included on all buprenorphine prescriptions for opioid dependency treatment, along with your regular DEA number.

If you have not received confirmation of receipt of your application, or if it has been more than 45 business days since submitting it, contact CSAT by email: infobuprenorphine@samhsa.hhs.gov or call 866.287.2728.

Qualify 

To qualify for a waiver to treat patients with Opioid Use Disorder, NPs and PAs must: 

• Be licensed under state law to prescribe schedule III, IV, or V medications for pain
• Complete no less than 24 hours of appropriate education through a qualified provider or through other training or experience, demonstrate the ability to treat and manage OUD
• If required by state law, supervision or working in collaboration with a qualifying physician (physician must be waivered) to prescribe medications for the treatment of OUD may be required.
  

Download this helpful FAQ for technical issues.

To qualify, NPs and PAs must:

• Be licensed under state law to prescribe schedule III, IV, or V medications for pain
• Complete not less than 24 hours of appropriate education through a qualified provider or through other training or experience, demonstrate the ability to treat and manage OUD
• If required by state law, be supervised or work in collaboration with a qualifying physician to prescribe medications for the treatment of OUD

**The content was originally developed for the 8-hour DATA2000 training for physicians. This content is now offered to NPs/PAs and appropriate provider language will be changed as content continues to evolve. 

This training is presented in two parts. Part 1 is the 8-hour training for physicians, NPs and PAs. Part 2 is the additional 16 hours for NPs/PAs required by CARA. In Part 2, you will see the topics listed in CARA with specific content under those topics.

If you have not already taken the 8-hour course, please begin with Part 1. If you have already taken the 8-hour course, you may begin with Part 2.

Click the "Content" tab to get started!

Click here to return to the main waiver training page on the ASAM e-Learning Center.

The collaborative of ASAM, AAPA and AANP identified and reviewed this content to provide the NP/PA training required by CARA.

The NP/PA 24-Hour Waiver Training is available for free through 2017 in part by an unrestricted educational grant from Indivior.

The 16-hour product developed includes all additional education required by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) for physician assistants to successfully apply for a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for office-based treatment of opioid use disorders.

Download this helpful FAQ for technical issues.

All other questions, contact ASAM Education.
education@ASAM.org | 301.656.3920

Please ensure that your state regulations allow you to prescribe buprenorphine and other medications to treat OUD before you apply for the waiver.  Some states may have overriding state legislation that will prevent NPs and PAs from prescribing these medications even if Federal law allows it.

Apply

• Fill out the Waiver Notification Form on SAMHSA’s website.
• Submit copies of your training certificate(s) to SAMHSA by email: infobuprenorphine@samhsa.hhs.gov or fax: 301.576.5237.

SAMHSA reviews waiver applications within 45 business days of receipt. If approved, you will receive a letter via email that confirms your waiver and includes your prescribing identification number.

Waiver applications are forwarded to the DEA. DEA regulations require your prescribing identification number to be included on all buprenorphine prescriptions for opioid dependency treatment, along with your regular DEA number.

If you have not received confirmation of receipt of your application, or if it has been more than 45 business days since submitting it, contact CSAT by email: infobuprenorphine@samhsa.hhs.gov or call 866.287.2728.

Qualify 

To qualify for a waiver to treat patients with Opioid Use Disorder, NPs and PAs must: 

• Be licensed under state law to prescribe schedule III, IV, or V medications for pain
• Complete no less than 24 hours of appropriate education through a qualified provider or through other training or experience, demonstrate the ability to treat and manage OUD
• If required by state law, supervision or working in collaboration with a qualifying physician (physician must be waivered) to prescribe medications for the treatment of OUD may be required.
• For PAs in a state that gives them "full prescribing authority," then the supervising/collaborating physician does not have to be waivered