Note: New Content Noted with Asterisks*** and Highlighted
Dear KHF Providers and Practice Administrators,
We have several updates to share regarding payor updates, programs and upcoming events. There is a lot of information, and we want to make sure we are keeping our membership informed. We recommend reading through this communication in its entirety and please reach out to us with any questions you may have!
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MGMA Stat- Productivity Incentives***
Please note that the information is for sharing purposes only and KHF is not endorsing any suggestions or recommendations.
Question: How are your APPs compensated?
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CDC Launches "Bridge to Access Program" for COVID-19 Vaccines***
CDC to launch "Bridge Access Program" in Fall 2023 to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults. Many of the children served by KHF pediatricians are uninsured or underinsured, as well as their parents. This is important information to share with those parents so that they too can be protected against COVID-19 in the future.
Click here to learn more.
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Q&A for Parents: Tips For Keeping Children Safe When Temperatures Soar***
Click here to view the latest Q & A document for parents.
Q&A Resources are also posted on the KHF Intranet here.
Topics Include:
- Q & A for parents on the end of the Public Health Emergency and the unwinding of Medicaid.
- Q & A for parents about the COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Boosters from Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna for children 5 years of age and older.
- Q & A for parents on what to know about monkeypox from Kids Health First.
- Q & A for parents on Covid-19 Booster Vaccines for 5-11 years old.
- Q & A for parents on recall of Abbott formula and re-opening of plant.
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New Form I-9 and Updates to Remote Verification Rules***
On Aug. 1, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Among the improvements to the form is a checkbox employers enrolled in E-Verify can use to indicate they remotely examined identity and employment authorization documents under an alternative procedure authorized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described below. While the new Form I-9 is now available for use, it is not required to be used until November 1, 2023.
Last month, DHS announced a final rule in the Federal Register that recognizes the end of temporary COVID-19 flexibilities as of July 31 and provides DHS the authority to authorize optional alternatives for employers to examine Form I-9 documentation. At the same time, DHS also published an accompanying document in the Federal Register describing and authorizing employers enrolled in E-Verify the option to remotely examine their employees’ identity and employment authorization documents under a DHS-authorized alternative procedure.
The Federal Register document provides an alternative for certain employers to remotely examine Form I-9 documents, instead of the current requirement to examine documents in-person. To participate in the remote examination of Form I-9 documents under the DHS-authorized alternative procedure, employers must be enrolled in E-Verify, examine and retain copies of all documents, conduct a live video interaction with the employee, and create an E-Verify case if the employee is a new hire.
Employers who were participating in E-Verify and created a case for employees whose documents were examined during COVID-19 flexibilities (March 20, 2020 to July 31, 2023), may choose to use the new alternative procedure to satisfy the physical document examination requirement by Aug. 30, 2023. Employers who were not enrolled in E-Verify during the COVID-19 flexibilities must complete an in-person physical examination by Aug. 30, 2023.
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TCCN Sponsors the Children’s Annual Professional Staff Meeting
The Children’s Care Network is sponsoring the 2023 Children’s Annual Professional Staff Meeting on Wednesday, August 23 at 6:00 pm at the Children’s Support Center.
This meeting replaces the TCCN Fall Clinical Quality Forum, so your attendance at the event will count towards your 2023 meeting attendance requirement.
This networking opportunity has been requested by many of you and we strongly encourage pediatricians in particular to attend!
Please note that this meeting will not be recorded. Come and enjoy free food, beer and wine!
If you have not sent your RSVP and are planning to attend, please respond to the calendar invite that you should have received from Physician Communications or complete this online registration.
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TCCN Antibiotic Stewardship Webinar: Why It's Important For Your Practice and Patients
Join us on August 16 at 12:30 pm as we continue our 3-part virtual series 'Antibiotic Stewardship: Why it's Important for Your Practice and Patients'.
This lunchtime series presents the new Georgia Pediatric Antibiotic Stewardship website, gpas-online.org, designed to help you in your busy practices with guidelines and a new antibiogram visualization tool.
Webinar #2: August 16, 12:30-1:30
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Prescribing Guideline-The goal of this guideline is to help clinicians choose the most narrowly focused antibiotics based on the most likely bacterial pathogens and treat for the shortest effective duration
Please be sure to register in advance to receive the meeting link. Same-day registrations may experience issues with logging on.
If you missed it, click here to watch
Webinar #1: How to Access and Use the Website
Save the dates for upcoming webinars:
Webinar #3: November 1: Antibiotic Dosing
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Roadmap for Emotional Health Resources***
TCCN launched an MOC program for their subspecialty members based on the ABP’s Roadmap project designed to bring additional awareness and training to providers around emotional, behavioral, and mental health.
This training is available to all providers regardless of specialty, and you can watch the 5-minute introductory video here and review more details about the program here including instructions on how to claim MOC credit.
Additional Training Available:
Cincinnati Children’s Grand Rounds: Addressing the Emotional Health of Children and Youth with Chronic Conditions and Their Families
Tune in for a 1-hour presentation about the American Board of Pediatrics Roadmap Project as part of the Cincinnati Children's Grand Round series. This presentation includes patient and parent voices, highlights resources to support the emotional health of children with chronic conditions and their families, and discusses the impact of bias on emotional health. This recording is a must-see for anyone interested in improving the emotional well-being of children, youth, and families affected by chronic conditions.
Physicians are eligible to receive ABP MOC Part 2 credit by viewing Grand Rounds and completing a short online post-test.
View the Grand Rounds Recording Here
The Roadmap Project maintains a website (www.roadmapforemotionalhealth.org/patients-and-families) with resources that you may find useful as you manage the behavioral health needs of both well patients and those with chronic conditions, including apps to support mindfulness and emotional health that have been reviewed by Psychologists. It includes a complete description of the various apps and appropriate age ranges. You will find culturally relevant resources for patients and families choosing a therapist.
We have included links to those resources below as well.
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Physician Outreach Webinar: Aerodigestive Care
Topic:
Physician Outreach Webinar Series: Pediatric Aerodigestive Care
Date:
August 15th, 2023 from 12:00-1:00pm via Zoom
Speaker:
Dr. Anita Deshpande
Description:
Join us for the monthly webinar series hosted by Children's Physician Outreach and the Physician Education department. This month, Anita Deshpande will be discussing pediatric aerodigestive care.
Click Here To Register!
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Children's Pediatrics Zero Suicide Webinar Series
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), Office of Behavioral Health Prevention and Federal Grants is pleased to announce the Pediatric Zero Suicide Webinar Series, which will target Georgia's pediatric primary care providers and their staff. This webinar series will offer training sessions that will help to uncover and care for the mental health needs of youth as well as support parents and guardians.
For more information and to register please click here.
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AAP Online Course Opportunity: Managing Acute and Chronic Pain and Substance Use Disorders in Pediatrics
This course will meet the new government-mandated requirement for all DEA-registered practitioners to complete eight hours of training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders prior to applying for or renewing their license.
Please click here to learn more.
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Recommended CME for Kids Health First Providers
The DEA recently announced that physicians renewing their DEA license from late June onward will need to demonstrate that they have completed 8 hours of training in opioid prescribing and treatment of opioid use disorder.
This training is mandated by the MATE Act. Physicians who have previously completed similar training to meet Georgia’s licensing requirements can count those courses, but they typically were not enough to fulfill the 8-hour requirement.
KHF has identified a free, online, Pediatric-specific course that satisfies the DEA requirement. This course has been vetted by Dr. Lori Desouter, KHF’s Medical Director.
Please click here to learn more and register for the class.
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PeachState***
Georgia Pathways to Coverage Program
Georgia residents can apply for the program starting on July 1, 2023, with coverage starting the 1st of the month after approval is given.
The program can potentially also impact older pediatric members (18+) before they transition out of pediatrics practices.
Included is the introduction flier, FAQ and example ID card.
Virtual Credit Card
Beginning 7/1/2023 providers not enrolled in EFT will receive claim payment through the Virtual Credit Care (VCC). Please click here to read more.
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Aetna
Aetna CPT 96160 Error
Aetna implemented a claim processing edit on 4/30/2023 causing CPT 96160 to deny in error. This edit was removed on 7/7/2023.
Aetna confirmed a project will be completed to reprocess CPT 96160. All claims within the date span of 4/30/2023-7/7/2023 will be reprocessed. There is no ETA on the project completion at this time, but KHF will continue to track this issue until it is resolved.
If you have questions, please email us at payorconcerns@khfirst.com.
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Anthem
Requests for Additional Information are now digital
Use your Attachments Dashboard to access notifications about documents needed to process your claim. Starting in June (2023) Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield began sending notifications to you through your Attachments Dashboard on Availity.com, when medical records, itemized bills, or other documents are required to process Commercial members claims.
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DCH to post Member Redetermination Date on GAMMIS
GAMMIS will now be including a member’s date of redetermination within the information posted when checking a member’s eligibility.
As shown in this screenshot, within the section Member ID Information the field titled, “Redetermination Date” is listed under the field titled “Gender” in the second column in the right-hand portion of the screen.
Currently, redetermination dates are still being updated. Please continue to check the site to see updated information.
As a reminder, a screen shot noting the child’s eligibility on the date of service will ensure payment of services provided. Additionally, practice staff can also alert families of their child’s redetermination date.
This flyer and coloring sheet from Stay Informed, Stay Covered can help explain this process to families.
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Medicaid and Chip Renewal Outreach and Educational Resources
Please visit Medicaid.gov for information on Medicaid and Chip Renewal Outreach and Educational Resources for the unwinding of Medicaid. CMS has developed resources and materials to help people with Medicaid or CHIP take steps to renew their health coverage or find other coverage options.
Want to learn more about your state’s Medicaid program? Find contact and enrollment information here.
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Georgia Department of Community Health Shares Additional Coverage Options for Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® Members as Redetermination Process Continues
As Georgia processes its first full batch of Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® eligibility redeterminations in three years, the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) is re-sharing options for Medicaid members to maintain, regain, and explore other options for healthcare coverage:
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Members who are no longer eligible for Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids® can see if they are eligible for coverage through the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program, which launched July 1, 2023 by applying at gateway.ga.gov. The new program offers Medicaid coverage to eligible Georgians ages 19-64 who have a household income of up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and who meet other eligibility requirements. Other coverage options are also available through the federal insurance marketplace.
- Members can submit eligibility paperwork up to 90 days after their termination date. If they are still eligible, their coverage will be retroactively reinstated.
- Members who feel they have been denied due to incorrect information, or for another reason, can appeal a denial up to 30 days after they receive their redetermination decision and elect to retain their coverage during the appeals process.
- Georgia Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members can update their contact information through one of three ways:
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Online at Georgia DHS’ benefits website: Gateway.ga.gov
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In person at their local DFCS office: dfcs.georgia.gov/locations
- By phone at 1-877-GA-DHS-GO or 711 for the hearing impaired
Click here to download the full press release.
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TCCN Roundup:
The TCCN Roundup is designed to be a twice weekly information hub for all things TCCN.
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Please to check out the latest issue
- Please note that the link above only accounts for some TCCN updates. In order to view the full TCCN Newsletter with your contracted payor updates please check your TCCN inbox!
TCCN Quality Steps Newsletter
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