WMS celebrates big win, as Director Bush receives prestigious award

Each year the Wyoming Business Report seeks nominations to honor the most influential women across the state, and this year WMS Director Sheila Bush was awarded Most Influential Woman in WY in the Nonprofit Sector.

We have known for a long time that Bush's unmatched networking skills, ability to build important relationships, outstanding leadership strengths, and critical lobbying efforts are extremely important to the advocacy work she does on behalf of WMS members each day, but we are very excited to see her hard work and dedication to WMS and Wyoming healthcare receive the recognition it deserves!

Congratulations, Sheila!

WMS is so proud of you!!

Claim your CME before it's too late

If you attended the 2023 WMS Annual Meeting, please don't forget to claim your CME as soon as possible! Attendees are able claim up to 11 hours of CME for participation at this year's conference. 

If you need assistance, please contact the WMS office at 307-635-2424 or email whitney@wyomed.org. 

Wyoming Medicaid to cover RSVP Vaccination for adults 60+ and pediatric trauma screening

Wyoming Medicaid is pleased to cover RSV vaccination for adults 60 years of age and older. RSV has become an important cause of respiratory disease in older adults. The CDC estimates 60,000–160,000 hospitalizations and 6,000–10,000 deaths annually due to RSV among adults age 65 years and older. Accordingly, the CDC recommends adults aged 60 years and older receive a single dose of RSV vaccine using shared clinical decision making (SCDM) with their healthcare provider. SCDM allows providers to consider factors such as risk for severe RSV disease, the safety profile of the RSV vaccine and patient preferences (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/older-adults-faqs.html).

Additionally, Wyoming Medicaid is pleased to cover the Pediatric Traumatic Stress Screening Tool (PTSST). The Pediatric Traumatic Stress Screening Tool (PTSST) is a 15-item questionnaire. It includes two trauma exposure questions, one suicide screening question, and 12 traumatic stress symptom questions. The PTSST may be used as part of the Care Process Model (CPM) for pediatric traumatic stress. The CPM includes the brief screen and a response protocol to traumatic stress in children.

(https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/interventions/cpm_general_030121.pdf).

If pediatricians or family physicians have interest in CPM training they can contact: Brooks.Keeshin@hsc.utah.edu or

Lindsay.Shepard@hsc.utah.edu. Both the PTSST and the Pediatric ACEs and Related Life-events Screener (PEARLS) can be billed using G9920 (negative) or G9919 (positive) codes. Medicaid will reimburse this code only once per client annually.

Governor to advance opportunities for mental health improvements with Town Hall meetings starting in Powell & Worland

Governor Mark Gordon continues to work on solutions to improve mental health care in Wyoming. To further explore community perspectives on this important issue, the Governor is launching a series of Town Hall meetings.



The discussions are open to the public and aimed at fostering open conversations with community members and partners about efforts underway to increase awareness of available resources and improve access to care. Representatives of the executive, legislative and judicial branches are expected to attend, as well as local elected officials.

Governor Gordon is prioritizing improving access to mental health resources. The Health Care Task Force is working to identify barriers, opportunities, and gaps in the network of mental health and substance abuse care in the state.

The Governor encourages active participation from residents, urging them to join these meetings and contribute to this vital conversation.

Powell Mental Health Town Hall

October. 25th, 10 am-Noon

Northwest College

Fagerberg Building, Room 70 

231 W 6th Street, Powell

Worland Mental Health Town Hall

October 25th, 3-4:30 pm **UPDATED TIME**

Wyoming Boys School Auditorium

1550 US-20, Worland

NARCAN 4 mg Nasal Spray is now available over-the-counter and no longer requires a prescription or standing order

The Wyoming Department of Health currently has federal funding that allows us to provide NARCAN for free to  agencies, businesses and organizations in Wyoming, including but not limited to education institutions, governmental agencies, first responders, community organizations, and businesses for free.

This NARCAN program provides free NARCAN to agencies, businesses and organizations in Wyoming that may be in position to help individuals experiencing an opioid overdose. Approved orders will be shipped directly to you. With the potency of many fentanyl products, it is suggested to keep two, 2 packs (4 vials in total) in each location or with each individual that will be carrying the product. 

DEA and HHS issue a second temporary extension of COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities for prescription of controlled medications

This action further extends exceptions to the existing DEA regulations through December 31, 2024. These telemedicine flexibilities authorize practitioners to prescribe schedule II-V controlled medications via audio-video telemedicine encounters, including III-V narcotic-controlled medications approved by FDA for treatment of opioid use disorder via audio-only telemedicine encounters.

DEA is continuing to evaluate the feedback received during the comment period for the proposed rule and during the listening sessions held in September. They intend to promulgate new standards or safeguards by the fall of 2024. 

Help us help YOU to update medicare physicians payment

Thousands of U.S. physicians will be getting a short patient-care hours survey from either their practice directly or from Mathematica. The input from physician practices and individual physicians that are randomly selected to participate in this study is critical for its success. Participation will ensure that practice expenses and patient-care hours are accurately reflected.

The aim of the Physician Practice Information (PPI) Survey is to better understand the costs faced by today’s physician practices to support physician payment reform. The study will rely on financial experts in physician practices to complete the online financial information survey, but doctors’ input on their patient-care hours is equally essential.

Practices will be contacted by mail and email.

The subject line for the PPI Survey invitation email will read, “American Medical Association requests your input on physician practice expense and patient care hours.” The subject line for the Physician Hours Survey invitation email will read, “Please help to update accurate physician payments.”

We urge you to complete this two-minute survey. 

Help us help YOU to update Medicare physician payment!