July 24, 2026

Dear Kids Health First (KHF) Providers and Practice Administrators,

We have some important updates about payor updates, new programs, and upcoming events. There's a lot of information, and we want to keep you informed. Please read through this email carefully and let us know if you have any questions.

Important Updates

Reminder to Register Now: August Leadership Development Session

The August Practice Administrators Meeting will be held as a special in-person leadership development session on August 20. Rather than a traditional PA meeting, this program will feature Leigh Smith, MBA, MSW, CPHQ, who will share practical strategies for leading multigenerational teams, improving employee engagement, strengthening workplace culture, and increasing retention.

The session is designed for practice administrators, office managers, physicians, and practice leaders seeking practical tools they can immediately apply within their organizations.

Note: This event will not be recorded.

Date: August 20, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. – Noon

Location: Scottish Rite Hospital Auditorium

Protect Your Practice Revenue: Don't Overlook Downcoding

Most practices closely monitor denied claims—but what about claims that are paid incorrectly?

Coding consultant Mary Suhr, MBA, CPC, RCC, RCC-IR, reminds practices that payer downcoding has become increasingly difficult to identify because many claims continue to process and pay, just at lower reimbursement levels.

Rather than obvious denials, practices should watch for patterns such as:

Lower-than-expected reimbursement for the same E/M level
Gradual payment reductions without a contract change
General policy references in CARC/RARC codes
Unexpected bundling of services

Even small reimbursement reductions can create significant revenue loss over time.

Mary recommends beginning with a simple review of one payer and one service line where reimbursement seems inconsistent to determine whether changes reflect payer policy or warrant further investigation.

View the full article from Mary Suhr.

Reminder: Update Your HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

Practices should ensure their Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) reflects recent federal changes related to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) patient records.

Even practices that do not provide SUD treatment may be considered "lawful holders" of SUD records and are required to update their NPP language if they maintain these records.

Sterling Seacrest Pritchard recommends practices:

Add the required SUD privacy language
Update the NPP effective date
Post the revised NPP on your website
Make the updated notice available at check-in
Include it with new patient paperwork
Provide the revised notice to existing patients at their next visit

Practices should also remember that redisclosure of SUD records is subject to stricter federal protections than standard HIPAA requirements.

View the full client brief from Sterling Seacrest Pritchard.

Resource Spotlight: Social Media Consent Forms for Pediatric Practices

If your practice shares patient stories or photographs on social media, obtaining proper authorization is essential.

Our recently published Social Media Consent Forms for Pediatric Practices article on the SophistiPrax Resource Center outlines best practices for obtaining parent or guardian consent while helping practices reduce privacy risks.

The article includes practical guidance and downloadable consent forms that can easily be incorporated into your existing workflow.

Visit the SophistiPrax Resource Center to access the article and downloadable resources.

Summer Is the Perfect Time to Review Your Freeze Event Toolkit

While freezing temperatures may be the last thing on your mind, summer is actually an ideal time to prepare your practice for severe winter weather that may happen later this year.

When patient volumes temporarily slow, consider reviewing the SophistiPrax Freeze Event Readiness Toolkit. Use password ColdWeather to access the resource.

The toolkit provides practical guidance to help practices prepare for weather-related disruptions before the next winter season arrives.

Resources include:

Business continuity planning
Facility preparation checklists
Patient communication templates
Staffing considerations
Operational recovery planning

A little preparation now can help your practice respond confidently when severe weather returns.

View the SophistiPrax Cold Weather Toolkit. Use password ColdWeather to access.

Georgia DPH Releases Updated Form 3300

The Georgia Department of Public Health has released an updated Form 3300 – Certificate of Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition Screening.

The revised form supports recent legislative changes designed to strengthen childhood hearing and vision screening and improve school readiness and academic performance.

Practices performing school entry screenings should begin using the updated form. The revised version continues to document required vision, hearing, dental, and nutrition screenings while incorporating updated screening guidance.

Practices should ensure staff are using the current version before completing school health documentation.

Download the form here.

Reminder: McKesson Accessibility Equipment Pricing Ends July 31

If you are a participating practice, there's still time to take advantage of exclusive TCCN member pricing on ADA-compliant medical equipment through McKesson.

Special pricing is available through July 31 on:

Midmark 626 Examination Tables
Health o meter Digital Wheelchair Scales

These offers provide significant savings while helping practices prepare for evolving accessibility requirements.

Contact your McKesson representative or Barbara Douglas for more information.

Resources for Transitioning Youth to Adult-Oriented Care

Helping adolescents successfully transition from pediatric to adult healthcare can be challenging, particularly for patients with special healthcare needs.

The Georgia Chapter of the AAP recommends several valuable resources for practices, including:

Parent to Parent of Georgia Special Needs Database to help identify adult healthcare providers
Children's Medical Services (CMS), which supports eligible patients through age 21 and assists with healthcare transitions
Adult Disabilities Medical Home for patients in the Metro Atlanta area needing primary care and specialty referrals

These resources are frequently shared during GA AAP education on healthcare transitions and can help practices better support older adolescents and young adults.

Practices interested in scheduling a presentation on transitioning youth to adult-oriented care may contact Fozia Eskew, Director of Child Health at the Georgia Chapter of the AAP.

Explore the SophistiPrax Resource Center

Looking for practical tools to support your practice?

The SophistiPrax Resource Center continues to expand with articles, toolkits, compliance guidance, downloadable templates, and operational resources developed specifically for pediatric practices.

Recent additions include: