FAQs

FAQs

Last Updated: 10/11/23

Health and Safety Information

As of 4/2023

  • State, Hotel and Meeting Health Guidelines, Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC):
    • Masks are now optional at the LACC regardless of vaccination status. As a personal choice, guests are always welcome to wear a mask.
    • Effective April 1, 2022, the revised LADPH Health Officers Order aligns with the California Public Health Beyond the Blueprint guidance in lifting the requirement for vaccination verification or proof of negative test at indoor mega events.
    • The LA County Department of Public Health continues to strongly recommend masking, vaccination verification or negative test screening as best practices at large events.
    • NASS will continue to monitor the health and safety requirements.
    • Los Angeles Guidelines: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/travel.htm

Registration

Attendees have the choice to register and attend the meeting in-person or can purchase the recorded sessions in our OnDemand package (will be made available within 10 business days after the conclusion of the meeting). NASS members that participate at the meeting in-person will be given access to the OnDemand package free of charge.

Member meeting registration opens on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Non-member registration opens on Tuesday. May 23, 2023. Registration can be done online via the NASS Annual Meeting website www.spine.org/AM. If you have any questions or difficulties, please email registration@spine.org.

You do not need to be a member of NASS in order to attend the meeting, though members do receive reduced registration fees. Registration will be ongoing throughout the meeting.

Dates Medical Attendee
Registration Hours
Exhibit
Registration Hours
Technical Exhibition
Hours
Monday, 10/16/2023 Closed 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed
Tuesday, 10/17/2023 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed
Wednesday, 10/18/2023 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, 10/19/2023 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, 10/20/2023 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, 10/21/2023 7:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Closed Closed

Please visit www.spine.org/am to view the registration categories, price levels and policies.

*Onsite fee will apply if you require a registration representative to process your registration at the convention center.

During the registration process, attendees will have the option to opt-in or opt-out permitting NASS to share your name, mailing address and specialty with exhibiting partners.

All attendees are required to pick up their badges on-site with photo identification. You will receive a confirmation email with barcode after you register for the meeting. Please bring the confirmation email with you to print your badge at the “Already Registered” kiosk. If registering as a student or resident in training, identification also is required to pick up your badge.

Cancellations must be submitted in writing via mail or email and postmarked on or before September 21, 2023, to receive a refund less a cancellation fee(s) of Conference $125; One-Day Registration $50; Hands-On Workshop $75; and/or Instructional Course. Registrations are not transferable and there are no substitutions. No refunds will be given after this date, regardless of cause.

Please view our additional policies here.


CME/CEU

To claim CME credit and to print certificates after the meeting, please visit www.spine.org/cme. Usernames and passwords can be requested from the login page as needed.

Please send any questions about CME/CE credit to education@spine.org.

The North American Spine Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

The North American Spine Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 22.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Note: AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM – Wednesday (7), Thursday (4.5), Friday (7), or Saturday (4) for the One-day Registrations. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The North American Spine Society designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 100.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The American Medical Association has determined that physicians not licensed in the US who participate in these CME activities are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CME CreditsTM. (Exact number of credit hours subject to change.)

The American Medical Association has determined that any physician not licensed in the U.S. (defined by the AMA as MDs, DOs, or international physicians with equivalent degrees from other countries) can be awarded AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. The requirements for awarding AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to U.S. and non-U.S. licensed physicians are the same.

Through an agreement between the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Medical Association, physicians may convert AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to Royal College MOC Section 1 credits for live face-to-face learning.

The American Medical Association has an agreement of mutual recognition of Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), the accreditation body for European countries. Physicians interested in converting AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to UEMS-European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education CME credits (ECMEC®s) should contact the UEMS at mutualrecognition@uems.eu.

In case your country does not belong to the ones benefiting from a formal recognition agreement with UEMS-EACCME, you are still encouraged to submit your CME Certificate to the national accreditation authority in your country as it may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

NASS is proud to offer continuing education units (CEUs) to accommodate nonphysician attendees’ certification requirements. The following indicates the status of CEU accreditation for nonphysician attendees. Requirements vary for other allied health and advanced practice providers; please contact your licensing organization for their requirements.

Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts Category 1 credit from AOACCME, prescribed credit from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and AMA PRA Category 1 CME CreditsTM for the Physician’s Recognition Award from organizations, such as NASS, accredited by AACME.

Nurses: For the purpose of recertification, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 CME CreditTM issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Nurse Practitioners: The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 CME CreditsTM from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Chiropractors: Please contact education@spine.org at least two months prior to the meeting to request that NASS apply for credit approval in your state.

Physical Therapists: Please contact education@spine.org at least two months prior to the meeting to request that NASS apply for credit approval in your state.

* Please note that NASS will assess each request individually, considering factors like time constraints and state requirements, which might affect application and approval.

Requirements vary for other allied health and advanced practice providers; please contact your licensing organization for their requirements.


Instructional Courses

Coding Update 2023: Mastering the Coding Maze will be offered at NASS 2023 and is available to all attendees. The course, which is a separate fee, will be held at the convention center. Please check your registration confirmation letter for specific course/room locations.

Coding Update 2023: Mastering the Coding Maze
Monday, October 16 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 17 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The North American Spine Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 14 AMA PRA Category 1 CME CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This program meets AAPC guidelines for CEUs. Can be used for Core A, CANPC, CASCC, CEMC, CDEO, CPCO, CPMA and COSC for continuing education units. CEU hours will be based on final course agenda.


Accommodations

**OnPeak is the official housing partner for the 2023 NASS Annual Meeting**

Meeting registration MUST be completed in order to secure housing for the Annual Meeting. Participants will not be permitted hotel reservations until their meeting registration is complete. NASS will monitor the housing reservations list to make sure that all individuals with reservations also are officially registered for the Annual Meeting. NASS reserves the right to cancel reservations that do not meet these criteria.

NASS Annual Meeting registration and housing can be obtained online via the NASS Annual Meeting website. Members can register beginning Tuesday, May 16, 2023; non-members can register beginning Tuesday, May 23, 2023. www.spine.org/AM

For a list of the hotel names, room rates, and distance to the convention center click on this link: www.spine.org/AM/Housing

By reserving within the NASS contracted block, our attendees are guaranteed the lowest room rate sold directly by the hotel. A small portion of the guaranteed lowest room rate is rebated to the NASS to help offset meeting costs.


Transportation

Shuttle service will be provided from select NASS contracted hotels. View hotels included. View shuttle schedule.


Faculty

Trained staff will be available to assist with any audiovisual needs. Course, symposia, and special presentations speakers may upload presentations at the Speaker Information Center (SIC) in Los Angeles Convention Center.

Days Hours
Wednesday, October 18 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 19 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 20 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 21 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Instructional Course/Symposia faculty and Special Presentation speakers should bring their presentations to the Speaker Information Center (SIC) in the Los Angeles Convention Center at least one hour prior to the start of the session. Speakers will not be permitted to use their own laptops for presentations.

Podium and ePosters Presentations: Presentations must be uploaded in your Speaker Portal (https://s6.goeshow.com/nass/annual/2023/speaker_portal.cfm) between July 13 and August 24. Required changes from the Content Review process will be forwarded by email to Presenting Authors.

ePoster presentations must be uploaded in The Learning Toolbox between July 13 and August 24. Required changes from the content review process will be sent by email to presenting authors.

Changes to Podium and ePoster Presentations will NOT be permitted after August 24, unless required by the content review process. Symposia and instructional course presentations may be uploaded or amended at any time during the meeting.


International Attendees

To assist our international attendees with their visa request, you may print a letter of invitation to attend NASS 2023 by clicking here. Those traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program now need to obtain approval through the USA’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before traveling.

A letter of invitation does NOT guarantee the issuance of a visa. The decision to issue a visa is the sole judgement of the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The Society is unable to assist with the actual visa processing. Unfortunately, the Society cannot provide any financial support for travel, registration fees, or local expenses.

To protect against COVID-19, there may be additional travel requirement for non-U.S. citizens travelling to the United States by air. Please view the CDC Website to stay up to date with the latest information regarding travel requirements and restrictions.


Exhibitors

Rick Bacon, Associate Executive Director – Association Services, is able to provide the information you need at (630) 230-3662 or rbacon@spine.org. The Promotional Advertising Kit is posted under the Exhibits tab.

Contact Heidi Boehmke, Senior Exhibit Manager, for information on exhibiting at (630) 230-3667 or hboehmke@spine.org. The Exhibitor Prospectus is posted under the Exhibits tab.