April 25, 2023

Note: New Content Noted with Asterisks* and Highlighted.

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As a physician working with Children’s, you have a unique perspective into the work we do. You see firsthand what is working well, and you likely have suggestions about ways we can do even better. We value your insights and want to hear from you.

That’s why we have extended the deadline for the Children’s Engagement Survey. If you have not shared feedback with us yet, you have until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 28, to do so.

You should have received instructions and a survey link from Press Ganey. If you cannot find your personal link from Press Ganey, you can use this general link to access the survey. If you use the general link, you will need to enter a password (which is the first initial of your first name, the first initial of your last name, and your 8-digit birthdate).

Please know that the time you spend on this survey is meaningful. That said, it is a quick survey. It will take less than 5 minutes to complete. The information you share will help us continue to support a meaningful work experience at Children’s, one focused on People First, Children Always.

If you have questions about the survey, please email [email protected].

Due to President Biden’s decision to terminate the National Emergency Declaration, the Nurse Advice Line team sent letters last week to notify contracted practices that beginning April 11, 2023, charges for use of the Nurse Advice Line services will resume under current contract terms. Practices will be invoiced for all Nurse Advice Line services provided from April 11, 2023 onward.

As mentioned in prior correspondence, during the Federal Public Health Emergency issued in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, CMS issued Stark Law waivers which permitted waiving all call charges for use of the Nurse Advice Line during the Federal Public Health Emergency. The government has formally declared an end to the National Emergency Declaration which caused the Stark Law waivers to end. The Nurse Advice Line, therefore, must immediately resume charging contracted practices for these services, to remain in compliance with the Federal Stark Law. Beginning April 11, 2023, they will resume charging your practice for the Nurse Advice Line services at the charge-per-call rate set forth in your current contract ($13.50 per call). Please refer to your current contract for all terms.

The Nurse Advice Line team is available to answer any questions you may have with respect to the Nurse Advice Line services and resumption of charges. Please contact them by sending an email to the Nurse Advice Line Director, Carie Watt, at [email protected].

The FDA is requiring several updates to the prescribing information for both immediate-release (IR) and extended release/long acting (ER/LA) opioid pain medicines. This includes stating for all opioid pain that the risk of overdose increases as the dose increases.



Click Here For Additional Details and Recommendations

TCCN is pleased to announce that the network will be making Quality Performance Distributions in accordance with the Incentive Funds Flow models approved by the Board of Directors.

In 2022, TCCN received Incentive Funds from both Anthem and Amerigroup.

Practices will begin receiving notifications of these incentive funds in mid to late April which will include reports detailing the payments. In some cases, checks and reports may be mailed separately.

As in prior years, the Board of Directors has approved the application of membership dues to the

incentive funds and no invoicing of 2022 membership dues will be necessary.

The state of Georgia has begun reinstating eligibility verifications for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members, which were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Georgia Department of Human Services and Georgia Department of Community Health are asking Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members to confirm their contact information as soon as possible before Medicaid redeterminations which were re-started on April 1. Practices can assist by notifying your patients and members that it is very important for all members to update their contact information. Members may update their contact information online, by phone, or in-person at a local DFCS office. 

Federal law requires all states, including Georgia, to check who is still eligible to receive Medicaid coverage within 14 months.

This will be the first time many of Georgia’s 2.7 million Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids members will be required to go through redetermination, which was a routine process prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.



It is operationally critical for all practices to ensure they are conducting benefit verification during this time.

The state of Georgia has initiated a Request for Proposal process to re-contract with CMOs for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids.

TCCN is aware that many practices are receiving requests to sign Letters-of-Intent (LOIs) from insurers interested in responding to the state’s RFP.

These entities include incumbents (Peach State, Amerigroup, and CareSource) as well as multiple additional plans (Aetna Better Health, UnitedHealthcare, Molina, etc.)

Please be aware that TCCN is conducting negotiations on behalf of our delegated providers with these payer entities with the intent of completing negotiations with plans that are awarded a contract with the state.



The state has provided a timeline anticipating that awards will be announced in the summer of 2023 with start dates after July 1, 2024.

Thank you to everyone who attended our virtual Clinical Quality Forum. We had 140 attendees, which is one of our highest turnouts and a great start to our programming for the year!

If you were not able to attend live, we highly encourage you to watch the recording and complete the attestation via this link or the QR code to receive your TCCN participation credit.

The recording is roughly 1 hour. If you attended live, there is no further action needed for your practice to receive credit. One least one provider from each practice must view this program or the upcoming Fall Clinical Quality Forum. In addition, each practice must view the short DEI educational video that was at the beginning of the module, so your participation for this program will fulfill two of your 2023 requirements.

We are excited to build on last year’s momentum as we launch the 2023 TCCN Quality Program. We will continue to renew our commitment to excellence by focusing on moving the needle forward on quality improvement outcomes. Our network objectives for this year are to improve well child visit compliance rates, appropriate treatment for asthmatics, and appropriate screenings.

This year, we are asking that all practices commit to quality improvement activities listed on the required practice attestation which will need to be completed ASAP.

Click here to read the full communication

TCCN is pleased to announce the signature of a contract with CareSource. 

The comprehensive agreement includes base contract terms for delegated primary care members and a value-based program for all TCCN members. The agreement will have an effective date retroactive to January 1, 2023. More details will be forthcoming as we implement this new agreement.

Amerigroup Virtual Training Sessions

Amerigroup is offering webinar training sessions on two topics:

• Trauma Informed Care
• Pregnancy HEDIS measures

These webinars are suitable for providers, billers, coders, and office staff.

Each topic has multiple sessions available; please read the linked PDFs for dates, times, and details. 

Read the December 21st edition of our Quality Steps newsletter!

For questions regarding TCCN Value Added Services, please reach out to

Barbara Douglas, TCCN Associate Director of Programs at [email protected].

TCCN Value Added Services is pleased to announce the renewal for Seqirus, a vaccine manufacturer who produces Flucelvax, a cell-based flu vaccine manufactured to match to WHO-selected influenza strains. 

Flucelvax is approved for patients 6 month plus and is available through VFC.

• Click here to view additional information regarding contract terms
• Online instructions for vaccine returns can be found here

To set up an account with Seqirus and order – please click on the link below:

Influenza Vaccine Business & Healthcare Solutions | CSL Seqirus flu360

Please feel free to reach out to any of the Seqirus team members for questions or assistance:

• Will Page, Senior Regional Account Manager (404-642-2860, [email protected])
• Sarika Arora, Metro Atlanta Territory - Vaccine Solutions Specialist (404-641-2231, [email protected])
• McKenna Smith, East & South Atlanta Territory - Vaccine Solutions Specialist (678-232-5764, [email protected])

The TCCN Value Added Services Team is excited to announce a new Medical Supplies Purchasing Program with McKesson! TCCN and McKesson have entered into a multi-faceted program for all TCCN Community practices!

Immediate Available Benefits:

• 2 – 5% Estimated savings with special pricing on top 100 items 
• Free Next Day Shipping – waived shipping minimums and fuel surcharge
• .5% prompt pay 15 days, net 30-day payment terms

Click here for more program details

TCCN FluMist Purchasing Program offers practices upfront discounts for FluMist purchases. To receive the highest discount amount, practices must place their prebook orders by April 30, 2023 to lock in 14% prebook discount. If you prebook by April 30, 2023, then all future orders for this season will reflect 14% discount.

Click here for full FluMist program details

Drs. Victoria Statler and Gary Marshall will discuss available influenza vaccines, including new indications for use in different groups of children, their efficacy and safety, and the benefits and limitations of different vaccine technologies. They will also provide expert guidance for interpreting real-world evidence regarding the use of pediatric influenza vaccines and how this information can be applied to clinical practice.

This is a free online activity supported by an educational grant from Seqirus USA Inc. Participants can earn up to 0.75 CE credit.

Click Here to Access the Educational Activity

The Resource for Advancing Children’s Health (REACH) Institute is offering its Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) Program May 19 – 21 in Columbus.

The course builds skills and confidence treating pediatric behavioral health problems. Resilient Georgia is covering the cost of training (a $2,000 value). We encourage you to sign up for this unique opportunity.  Participants can earn up to 29.75 CME points for completing the course!

Learn more about the training and see the event flier here.

Clinicians are seeing firsthand a rise in children with behavioral and mental health needs. The Strong4Life Resilience Training is designed to address growing patient needs by helping clinicians engage in consistent, intentional conversations about emotional wellness and providing information on making behavioral and mental health referrals. This training also provides resources and materials to empower parents and caregivers to build resilience in their children starting at birth.

Click here to register: Resilience and Emotional Wellness – Healthcare Training | Strong4Life

If your practice wants to participate as a group, but is unavailable at the scheduled training times, you can email [email protected] to request a time that works for your practice.

HB458 was passed into Law in 2021 and was effective January 1, 2022 and requires that each physician complete a 2 hour course in “professional boundaries and sexual misconduct in medical practice” before renewing their GA medical license (this is a one-time requirement).  

TCCN’s Malpractice Carrier, Curi, has two 1 hour CME courses on “Sexual Misconduct” that fulfills the new GA license requirement for HB458. Please see instructions below on how to access.

Instructions:

• Login in to your Curi account at www.curi.com
• Click on your initials at the far top right of your screen. (Your initials will appear with a yellow circle around them)
• Select CME webinars
• There you will find two new CME activities- Patient Harassment and Sexual Harassment

If you are not part of TCCN’s Malpractice Program with Curi, please reach out to your malpractice carrier as they may have a class available as well. 

We encourage you to check out Curi’s Learning Center for other CME offerings.

In Case You Missed It (please use the links below to review)

TCCN Requirements

• 2023 Primary Care Quality Program Attestation
• March 23rd Clinical Quality Forum Recording and Attestation - DEI Education and Meeting Attendance Requirement
• Effective August 1st: 2-Week Data Submission Requirement

TCCN Resources

• TCCN COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit
• TCCN COVID-19 Diagnosis and Isolation Algorithm
• Endocrinology Referral Guide
• Nephrology Referral Guideline
• OSHA Training Webinar Link, Meeting Slides, and End of Course Test
• 2023 Pediatric Coding Seminar Recording and Slides (Color and Black & White)

Community Updates

• MedBytes Community Newsletter- April 7, 2023
• ED and Outpatient Volume Surge, Fever Teaching Sheet, and Jan 2023 Update
• UpToDate Registration Tip Sheet
• Bilirubin Level Testing and Phototherapy Vendors
• Formula Shortage Resources
• Children's Urgent Care Locations, Hours, and Scope Updates
• COVID-19 Ag Test Recall Notice
• DPH Letter re: Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine Requirement
• FDA MedWatch: Do Not Use Infant Head Shaping Pillows
• FDA Update to Medical Device Shortage List
• Antibiotic Alternatives Tip Sheet
• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Continuing Medical Education Platform

We are here for you. Please reach out to your TCCN Provider Relations Representative [email protected] with any questions.