May 2, 2023

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TCCN member group, Children’s Neurology, has been awarded a 1998 Society grant for a quality improvement project aimed to reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations for patients with breakthrough seizures. 

Why? 

Epilepsy is the most common neurologic condition. Compared to other pediatric hospitals, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta was seeing more patients in the Emergency Department with breakthrough seizures.

What are they trying to accomplish? 

Decrease ED visits and hospitalizations for breakthrough seizures, identify barriers to successful self-management, and cultivate a culture of support and empowerment for patients, families, and members of their care team. By decreasing ED visits and hospitalizations for breakthrough seizures, this project aims to decrease unnecessary utilization and improve the quality of life for epilepsy patients and families.

What changes can they make that will result in improvement? 

Grant interventions are designed to facilitate consistent patient and family education across the care continuum and to empower patients and families to improve epilepsy self-management. Interventions include identification of high risk patients to receive targeted outreach and prioritization of follow up needs, implementation of programs to provide enhanced epilepsy education, and collaboration with TCCN to facilitate consistent messaging for patients and families across the care continuum.

TCCN has developed the following video in support of this grant. The video provides an overview of the self-management education and resources provided to patients and families as well as coordination of care documents for providers and how to locate them in accessCHOA. Teaching sheets utilized by the neurology team are also included.

Click Here to View the Seizure Action Plan Video

Resources: 

• Tip Sheet on locating Care Coordination documents in accessCHOA
• Teaching Sheets for 2 rescue medications: Diazepam Spray, Diazepam Gel
• Children's Department of Neurology contact sheet and additional resources

For questions about the Seizure Action Plan video or resources, please contact Melissa Yeager at [email protected].

Join us on May 17 at 12:30 pm as we launch 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 #1: May 17, 12:30-1:30

• How to access and use the website

Please be sure to register in advance to receive the meeting link. Same-day registrations may experience issues with logging on.

Save the dates for upcoming webinars:

Webinar #2: August 16: Prescribing Guide

Webinar #3: November 1: Antibiotic Dosing

Register Now!

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 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 and McKesson are pleased to announce a special buying program for the Welch Allyn SPOT Vision Screener. This program is only available to TCCN Members through McKesson. Please see the brochure here for additional information.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR THE CHILDREN’S CARE NETWORK

• Offer valid April 1^st, 2023 - September 30^th, 2023
• $500 Rebate + 5-Year Warranty (Valued at $1,736)
• $2,236 in Total Savings!!!
• Eligible devices for trade in include: Welch Allyn SureSight Vision Screener, Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener (2.0 model), PediaVision, GoCheck Kids, Plusoptix, MTI, Topcon, Retinomax, Titmus V Series, Stereo Optical Vision Screeners, Canon, Reichert, Marco and/or iScreen brands

DID YOU KNOW?

• 12.5 million children in the U.S. have an undiagnosed vision problem
• 26% expected growth in children with vision problems by 2060
• 7 out of every 10 pediatricians have yet to adopt automated vision screenings
• The AAP, AAPOS, AACO, and AAO recommend instrument-based vision screening for children who are unable to perform a visual acuity chart test. Instrument-based vision screening is especially useful for:
• All children ages 1-3 years, as they are usually unable to read a visual acuity chart
• Some children ages 3-5 years who are unable to read a visual acuity chart
• Other children with developmental disabilities who are unable to read a visual acuity chart

Please contact your McKesson Rep for any questions.

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 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])

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

FDA is warning consumers to not purchase or use Nose Slap and Soul Slap products, which are unapproved drugs marketed to promote alertness and boost energy.

These products are inhalants and primarily contain ammonia. Inhaling ammonia can quickly lead to eye, nose, and throat irritation; coughing; and airway constriction.

FDA has received reports of adverse events such as shortness of breath, seizures, migraines, vomiting, diarrhea, and fainting from consumers after using the Nose Slap or Soul Slap products. These products may have been purchased online through the Nose Slap website.

On April 24, 2023, FDA issued a warning letter to Nose Slap LLC for marketing these unapproved drugs in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. These products have not been demonstrated to be safe or effective for their intended uses. Failure of the company to promptly correct violations may result in legal action without further notice, including, without limitation, product seizure and injunction.

Click Here For More Information

As pediatricians increasingly play a critical role in “whole-child” care, they consistently identify a need to learn more about how to care for children with Behavioral and Mental Health (BMH) needs. Specifically, learning how to screen, when and how to treat, understanding the referral options and when it is appropriate to refer for specialty care. Providing BMH education to pediatricians stimulates confidence in their abilities to deliver care while allowing them to become more perceptive and resourceful in the process. By educating just one pediatrician, we can positively impact the lives of hundreds of kids needing BMH care.

Utilizing the Project ECHO platform, Children's has been providing Behavioral and Mental Health education in multiple cohorts since March 2021. This cohort will meet every other Wednesday at lunchtime starting July 19th for six sessions and will cover multiple facets of caring for patients who would benefit from coordination between medical and education systems. Upon the conclusion of this cohort, we will offer additional cohorts through 2025 covering new behavioral and mental health topics.

Project ECHO uses the online platform, Zoom, and participation in Project ECHO is free of charge. Participants will have the opportunity to earn CME and MOC Part II credits for their participation.

Registration is open to primary care providers in the state of Georgia only. Active participation is required and participants are expected to present at minimum one case during the series.

Event Details:

Coordination Between Medical and Education Systems Cohort sessions will take place every other Wednesday from 12:00pm – 1:00pm via Zoom. This series will be facilitated by Laura Dilly, PhD, ABPP.

• July 19^th: Language, Laws, and Customs of Schools: Visiting a Foreign Country - Laura Dilly, PhD, ABPP
• August 2^nd: Multi-tiered System of Supports: What Pediatricians Need to Know - Jody Drum, MTSS Regional Coach, Georgia Department of Education
• August 16^th: 504 Plans and IEPs: Who Needs What and How to Get It - Latasha Woods, PhD, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Psychologist
• August 30^th: Psychological Evaluations, Eligibilities, and IEP Plans - Tom Owen, Director of Psychological Services, Gwinnett County Public Schools
• September 13^th: Discipline and Manifestation Determination Reviews - Gretchen Walton, JD, Compliance, Legal & Legislative Officer, Cobb County School, and Jessica Coleman, Director of Special Education Compliance
• September 27^th: Getting Kids What They Need: District Level Supports, Tips, and Tricks - Laura Dilly, PhD, ABPP

This series will be limited to 25 participants due to the time constraints of case presentations. There will be an active waitlist so please add your name if the course is full and you will be contacted if you are able to join.

To register for this series, click here.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is accredited by the Medical Association of Georgia to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Children's designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 6.0 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

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

• FDA Updates Prescribing Information on all opiod pain medicines
• 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.