November 28, 2023

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We are excited to present to you our newly developed TCCN RSV Toolkit! 

The RSV Toolkit is designed to guide practices through the necessary steps in providing support to your staff and your patients/families. The information will be changing as we learn more from our respected partners in clinical practice, compliance/risk, billing/coding, and reimbursement, as well as the AAP, CDC, and FDA.

Note: This toolkit will continually evolve so check back frequently for updates and changes. This preventative treatment protocol has many layers for how a practice should develop its own processes. The guidelines are not meant to be advisory in nature but rather a guideline for how you adapt the framework and timelines to your individual practice needs.

As the healthcare system our community trusts to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow, Children’s is known for providing education and advice to help parents raise healthy, resilient kids. That’s one reason we are excited to share our revitalized Parent Resources Hub on choa.org with a new feature—educational handouts (formerly called teaching sheets), available to all at www.choa.org/educationalhandouts.

These resources can help patients and caregivers navigate conditions, diagnoses and treatments. All of the materials are downloadable and printable and cover topics ranging from Allergy and Immunology to Urology. Please visit the webpage and share these resources with patients and caregivers who could benefit from them. Contact Erica Ailes, Patient Experience Learning Specialist, with questions.

The deadline date to revalidate your enrollment has been extended to December 31, 2023.

Federal regulations require State Medicaid Agencies to revalidate the enrollment of all providers, regardless of provider type, at least every five years. The revalidation process requires an enrolled provider to confirm the accuracy of its enrollment information and to make corrections where appropriate. Providers that have not complied with federal regulations are required to complete the revalidation process by December 31, 2023. The deadline date has been extended to allow additional time to complete the revalidation process.

The Department has identified several providers that have not revalidated their enrollment in accordance with federal regulations. A complete listing of the providers who have not submitted a revalidation application can be found online on the GAMMIS website at www.mmis.georgia.gov. Once you reach the landing page, select the “Provider Information” tab at the top of the page. Then select “Reports for Public Access.” Select the report titled “Provider Revalidation Past Due by Provider Type.”  Providers who are listed on this report will be suspended if they do not revalidate their enrollment by December 31, 2023.   

Effective January 1, 2024, DCH will suspend the enrollment of those providers who have failed to revalidate their enrollment.  As a result, suspended providers will not be able to participate in the Georgia Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids programs. The suspension will apply to providers serving Traditional Fee-for-Service Medicaid members, PeachCare for Kids members, and the Georgia Families and Georgia Families 360 managed care programs which are administered by Amerigroup, CareSource, and Peach State Health Plan. Claims with dates of service on or after January 1, 2024 will not be paid. 

Upon successfully completing the revalidation process, your suspension will be lifted. However, your effective date will be the date that you submit your revalidation application. Retro-enrollment is NOT applicable in this instance. Should you fail to revalidate your enrollment within thirty (30) days of receipt of the suspension letter, you will receive a notice of termination from DCH. The notice of termination will outline your appeal rights.

The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding revalidation can be found on GAMMIS at www.mmis.georgia.gov. Click on the Provider Information tab at the top of the screen. Select FAQ from the drop-down menu. Providers may also contact Gainwell Technologies for assistance at 800-766-4456.

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. 

A recent update to Georgia AAP Board members stated: “Insurance plans not covering mental health services: Commissioner Tanner (and Reps. Oliver and Jones too) reported that the Insurance Commissioner has received no complaints about this happening. So members 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, or report it to the Rick at the Chapter office. ” 

The Insurance Commissioner’s website is https://oci.georgia.gov/insurance-resources/complaints-fraud. DCH’s mental health parity portal is at https://dch.georgia.gov/how-do-i/mental-health-parity-information. Rick Ward at the Georgia Chapter of AAP can be reached at rward@gaaap.org. 

Join us on November 29 at 12:30 pm as we continue our 3-part virtual series 'Antibiotic Stewardship: Why it's Important for Your Practice and Patients'.

Webinar #3: November 29, 12:30-1:30

• Antibiotic Dosing: Maximize antibiotic adherence, limit wastage, and promote antibiotic stewardship

If you missed it, click here to watch previous webinars: 

Webinar #1: How to Access and Use the Website

Webinar #2: Prescribing Guide

Click here to view the latest issue!

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

Barbara Douglas, TCCN Associate Director of Programs at Barbara.douglas@tccn-choa.org.

Resources available for practices who participate in the TCCN GSK Program: 



• Quick Guide to GSK Flu Delivery
• Ordering Information with GSK Flu
• 2023-2024 Price Sheet

Please reach out to Barbara Douglas at barbara.douglas@tccn-choa.org or your GSK Rep if you have any questions.

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.

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! Click here for more program details

On November 30 through December 1, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), in collaboration with the University of Maryland Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (M-CERSI), will hold a hybrid public workshop entitled Advancing the Development of Pediatric Therapeutics (ADEPT) 8 Workshop on Drug Dosing in Pediatric Patients with Renal Impairment.

The purpose of this public workshop is to discuss the current landscape of drug dosing in pediatric patients with renal impairment, understand the gaps in knowledge, and consider innovative approaches to improve the current paradigm for dosing in pediatric patients with renal impairment. 

Date/Time of the Workshop:

Date: November 30, 2023 - December 1, 2023

Day 1: Thursday, November 30, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET

Day 2: Friday, December 1, 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM ET

This hybrid event is open to the public with no cost to attend; however, registration is required. More information about this event can be found at the event web page.

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 January 10^th for six sessions and will cover multiple facets of caring for pediatric patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. 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 now through January 23^rd. 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:

Pediatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Cohort sessions will take place every other Wednesday from 12:00pm – 1:00pm via Zoom. This series will be facilitated by Rebecca Schneider, PhD.

· January 10th: Diagnosis and Assessment of OCD - Eric Storch, PhD 

· January 24th: Detecting OCD Across Developmental Stages - Natasha Daniels, LCSW

· February 7th: Common Comorbidities and Differential Diagnosis - Joseph McGuire, PhD

· February 21st: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) - Lisa Coyne, PhD

· March 6th: Medication Management - John Lee, DMSc, PA-C

· March 20th: Parent Guidance - Eli Lebowitz, PhD   

This series will be limited to 35 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.

Free virtual training for TCCN primary care physicians in 2024!

This is an excellent opportunity for TCCN members to get free training in pediatric mental health. An Atlanta donor has granted the REACH Institute an opportunity to allow free training for the Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) program,

The PPP Program trains clinicians to diagnose and treat pediatric mental health conditions including ADHD, anxiety, depression and other common disorders seen in everyday practice.

Upcoming dates for this training in 2024 are:

• January 19-21, 2024
• February 2-4, 2024

For More Information About the Program Click Here.

Participants will earn a maximum of 29.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM for completing this program.

Click Here to Submit an Online Application for the Program

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. 

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

• Top 5 Cyber Mistakes Medical Practices Must Avoid
• TCCN Seizure Action Plan
• Endocrinology Referral Guide
• Nephrology Referral Guideline
• 2023 TCCN OSHA Webinar Recording and Slides and Bloodborne Pathogens Test
• TCCN Webinar: New AAP Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity
• TCCN Pediatric Coding Seminar- Webinar Recording and slides
• Children's November Professional Staff Town Hall Meeting (password: xSsHuPA8)

Community Updates

• Important Information About the Correct Dosage and Administration of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (2023-2024 Formula) for Individuals 6 Months Through 11 Years of Age
• FDA Notice: Recall on 4.2% Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP and 1% and 2% Lidocaine HCl Injection, USP by Hospira Products
• FDA Provides Updated Recommendations for Certain O&M Halyard Surgical N95 Respirators, Surgical Masks, and Pediatric Face Masks
• Georgia Smoke-free Air Act
• Children’s to Decommission Physician Portal: Explore Frequently Used Links
• Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
• DEA Requirement for All Providers - MATE Act FAQ and Resources
• Resilience and Emotional Wellness – Healthcare Training | Strong4Life
• The InFLUence of Vaccine Technology on Pediatric Influenza Outcomes
• URAC Clinical Integration Accreditation Announcement
• FDA Updates Prescribing Information on all opiod pain medicines
• ED and Outpatient Volume Surge, Fever Teaching Sheet, and Jan 2023 Update
• 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 contact@tccn-choa.org with any questions.