December 22nd, 2023


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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!


RSV, Flu & COVID Updates

DCH Update on RSV Administration Code***


The Department of Community Health (DCH) advised that the new administration codes for Beyfortus (CPT codes 96380 and 96381) are expected to be loaded in GAMMIS in March 2024 with a January 1, 2024 effective date.


Until all systems updates are completed, health check providers should code the Beyfortus product (CPT codes 90380 or 90381 w/EP modifier) and report the administration of Beyfortus with code 96372.

CDC Update- Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV***


December 14, 2023- The CDC released a health advisory to alert healthcare providers to low vaccination rates against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV. Low vaccination rates, coupled with ongoing increases in national and international respiratory disease could lead to more severe disease and increased healthcare capacity strain in the coming weeks. CDC recommends that healthcare providers should administer influenza, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations now to patients, if recommended.


Click here to view additional details on CDC recommendations.


Missed it? Check out recent updates here:


Important Updates

Georgia ranked third worst in nation for kicking kids off Medicaid***



December 18, 2023- Georgia is disenrolling children from Medicaid in greater numbers than most other states, many of whom may actually be eligible for coverage, according to information released Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


The news came on the same day Georgia announced a new allocation of $54 million to bolster and repair the understaffed effort to requalify the state’s Medicaid recipients. Georgia officials made the decision one month after an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report documented a processing system so broken that enrollees are often given instructions that are impossible to follow, or information on a cell phone screen that contradicts what they see on a desktop screen for the same Medicaid account.


Click here to view Medicaid and CHIP renewal data report.

PPMA STAT Poll Results- Patient Portals***



PPMA released their weekly poll results regarding patient portals. Click here to view the results.


Please note that the information is for sharing purposes only and KHF is not endorsing any suggestions or recommendations.

HR Question of the Week***


Question: Can we store completed Forms I-9 electronically?


Answer: Yes, you can store completed Forms I-9 electronically. However, per U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, any electronic storage system must include specific control and systems. Click here to view the full answer from Vxtra

Update on Mental Health Parity Act


The 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (federal) and the 2022 Mental Health Parity Act (state) require that health insurance plans not impose more restrictive benefit limitations on mental health and substance use disorder benefits than on medical and surgical benefits. 


The Georgia AAP recently noted that the Georgia Insurance Commissioner has received no complaints about this happening. Practices are encouraged to report instances in which you see a private insurance company not observing mental health parity in their coverages. 


You can do so via the Insurance Commissioner’s website at https://oci.georgia.gov/insurance-resources/complaints-fraud or send the information to Rick Ward at the Georgia AAP Chapter who can be reached at rward@gaaap.org


DCH’s mental health parity portal is at https://dch.georgia.gov/how-do-i/mental-health-parity-information

Quality Programs

December Issue of Quality Steps***


Check out the December issue of Quality Steps here!

TCCN Antibiotic Stewardship Webinar: Antibiotic Dosing


Thank you to all who joined us for 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


Please follow the links below to view the recordings for all three webinars:


Webinar #1: How to Access and Use the Website


Webinar #2: Prescribing Guide


Webinar #3: Antibiotic Dosing: Maximize antibiotic adherence, limit wastage, and promote antibiotic stewardship

Community Education

6th Annual "Let's Talk Compliance" Conference- January 18-19, 2024***


Kick off the new year with PYA and Foley & Lardner LLP as we present the sixth annual Let’s Talk Compliance virtual conference. Panelists include members from Foley’s Health Care & Life Sciences Sector as well as PYA’s healthcare consulting, compliance, and cybersecurity experts. Each day features two sessions that cover relevant and trending topics in healthcare and life sciences compliance. 


Click here to learn more and register.

CME Opportunity for Kids Health First Providers


Click here to learn more and register for a free, online, Pediatric-specific course that satisfies the DEA requirement mandated by the MATE Act. 

KHF Payor Updates

Check out the November issue for the latest updates!***


*If you did not receive the latest newsletter, please be sure to also check your spam folder.

In Case You Missed It

2024 Immunization Schedule Approved by the AAP


DEA Regulation on Pharmacy to Pharmacy Rx Transfer

Click here for the DEA site as well as an article by Holland & Knight on this new rule.


Risk Management Q & A: Patient Dismissal

Click here to view a sample patient termination letter and guidance on patient termination


TCCN Webinar: New AAP Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity

Click here for the recording


TCCN OSHA Webinar Replay

Click here for the video presentation, slides and bloodborne pathogens test


TCCN Pediatric Coding Seminar Recording

Click for the recording and slides


Updated Resources on Screen Time and Social Media for Children


The "AAP's Bold Stance on the Value of Pediatrics" 


From Chip Hart: 2023 Telemedicine Requirement Grid


Developed by Jan Blanchard. Click on the link to download the pdf.

Communications


TCCN Roundup:


The TCCN Roundup is designed to be a weekly information hub for all things TCCN. 

  • 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!

 

Resources

Practice Administrator Contact List


Kids Health First Who to Call List


Kids Health First Intranet Page