May 7, 2024

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To help transition patients from pediatric to adult neurological care, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Neurology is launching a new adult transition process. The goal is to share resources and start transition conversations around age 14 and continue the education until the teen moves to adult care between the ages of 18 and 21. Conversations will focus on topics such as becoming more engaged in daily activities and decisions, finding an adult provider, and managing medications.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact Paul Tunnell, Neurology Practice Manager, or David Wolf, MD, Division Chief of Neurology.

Please click here to view the latest newsletter.

In this issue:

• Clinical Updates: Virometer Report, New Process for Unplanned Direct Admissions
• Around Children’s: Liver Transplant Program to Temporarily Inactivate, Neurology Transition to Adult Care Program, Nephrology Program Named Center of Excellence, Emory DOP Vice Chairs of Research, Rural Health Scholars, My Special Aflac Duck, Scottish Rite Beautification, Seeking Medical Director of Ophthalmology
• Professional Development: Professional Staff Town Hall, Project ECHO, Physician Outreach Webinar, Southeastern Pediatric Research Conference
• In the News: First Look at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Arthur M. Blank Hospital

Dear Georgia Medicaid Providers:

Effective July 1, 2022, the Centers of Medicare, and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Community Health (DCH) proposed to eliminate the attestation requirements and reimburse all eligible providers at the enhanced rates for claims with dates of services beginning July 1, 2022, and after. The Department of Community Health (DCH) and Gainwell Technologies will update the Georgia Medicaid Management Information System (GAMMIS) to allow enhance rates to all eligible providers.

The mass reprocessing will include claims submitted by eligible providers with Specialty Code 161, 554, 557, 558 and 559 enrolled in the following programs and Categories of Services (COS): Health Check (COS 600), Physician (COS 430), Physician Assistant (COS 431), Nurse Midwifery (COS 480) and Nurse Practitioner (COS 740). Claims with dates of service July 1, 2022, and after will be reprocessed to pay the difference between the old rate and the new enhanced rate. No action is required on your part for this special processing.

Should you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Gainwell Technologies Call Center at (770) 325-9600 or 1-800-766-4456 or contact us at www.mmis.georgia.gov.

Members of Children’s Professional Staff are invited to attend the Children’s 2024 Professional Staff Annual Meeting on Thursday, August 15, from 6 – 8 p.m. in a very special location—Arthur M. Blank Hospital. This meeting is presented by Medical Staff Services and The Children’s Care Network (TCCN).

Join us for a casual evening of celebration and fun, featuring food and drinks, networking opportunities and tours of the emergency room, an operating room, a general patient care room and the garden at Arthur M. Blank Hospital. This event will offer a “first look” inside the new hospital before it opens in September, and we cannot wait for you to see it.

Because we want to be sure to have enough food and staff to lead the tours, we are asking that you register for the Children’s 2024 Annual Professional Staff Meeting by

Wednesday, May 1. Please register here.

Please contact professionalstaff@choa.org with questions about the meeting. We hope to see you there!

Exploring New Frontiers: Care Management

Thank you to everyone who attended the virtual Clinical Quality Forum on April 11. This module was the official kick-off for our Care Management program.

If you were not able to attend live, we highly encourage you to watch the recording via this this link (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DNS67VC) or the QR code below to receive your TCCN participation credit. 

The recording is roughly one hour. If you attended live, there is no further action needed for your practice to receive credit. As a reminder, at least one provider from each practice must participate in one educational event in 2024, and this event fulfills that requirement.

We are excited to build on last year’s momentum as we launch the 2024 TCCN Quality Program. We will continue to renew our commitment to excellence by focusing on moving the needle forward on quality improvement outcomes.

Click here to view details and requirements for this year's Quality Program.

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

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

Curi, TCCN’s Malpractice Carrier, is presenting a webinar on OIG Exclusions and what Healthcare Practice responsibilities are for monitoring clinical and billing staff members.

This very informative webinar will be held on May 9^th, 2024 at 1:00 pm and we hope you will join us.

It is open to all TCCN Practices, whether you are part of the TCCN Malpractice Program or not.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83612262373pwd=SkJmOVFINXJGZlFGdzdoRWhtV1FHQT09

Meeting ID: 836 1226 2373

Passcode: 025254

One tap mobile

+16469313860,,83612262373#,,,,*025254# US

+13017158592,,83612262373#,,,,*025254# US (Washington DC)

Please contact Barbara Douglas at Barbara.Douglas@tccn-choa.org if you have any questions.

AstraZeneca is extending FluMist prebook reservations through May 31st 2024 for the coming 2024-2025 season. Orders received on or prior to this extended date will be eligible for the same discounts, terms and conditions as other orders placed during the prebook season. Orders placed on June 1 or after will be eligible for the in-season pricing, terms and conditions.

While we are extending our prebook window for FluMist, it is important to note that with limited supply remaining, we could reach thresholds which require us to move to a waitlist status rather than prebook status. If sufficient FluMist can be made available, waitlisted customers may be moved to prebook status prior to shipping. In either case, customers will be notified of their order status.



We sincerely thank you for your partnership in contributing to healthy lives for your patients, families and communities. If you have any questions, please contact the AstraZeneca FluMist Customer Care Center at 1-800-221-1638 or your FluMist representative. Orders may be placed through our distributor partners or AZ Customer Care Center. 

The TCCN CHADIS Purchasing Program gives TCCN practices a discount on the CHADIS service with a price of $1000 per provider, the retail on this product is $1699 per provider.  CHADIS is a Questionnaire & Patient Engagement Solution that includes Clinical Process Support and incorporates Bright Futures guidelines into their process. CHADIS offers hundreds of screening, diagnostic, data collection tools and questionnaires including tools in every category advised by Bright Futures. CHADIS automatically assigns, requests, collects, scores, interprets, and graphs patient data, which makes it different from other solutions.

Please click here for more information.

The McKesson team has created another special with a discounted price just for the TCCN McKesson Medical Supplies Program!

Asthma is one of the cornerstones of TCCN quality programming. One tool in the effective management of asthma is spirometry and following Asthma Action Plans. Spirometers provide additional objective data to diagnose asthma severity and control, monitor lung function, and adjust medication. Sharing lung function readings also provides an opportunity for patient and family education around the importance of compliance.

We are excited to offer an opportunity to utilize this technology at the point of care in your

office.

Features and Benefits - EasyOne ® Air Spirometer

• Large color touchscreen for easy data entry and navigation
• EasyOne® Connect software for EMR integration and PC spirometry
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Long-lasting rechargeable battery
• Calibration-Free TrueFlow Technology for high accuracy of results
• Not made with natural rubber latex EasyOne ® Flow Tube
• Disposable mouthpiece helps reduce risk of cross-contamination
• Resistance-free testing for precise measurement
• Non-sterile
• Not made with natural rubber latex

Seasonal TCCN promotion on NDD EasyOne Air and Easy on-PC spirometry systems

• Free 2-year extended warranty ( Total of 5 Years )
• EasyOne Air: $1,950 per Unit
• Easy on PC: $1,650 per Unit

If you are not a part of this program – please reach out to your McKesson Rep about joining the

program.

You may also reach out to Barbara Douglas via email barbara.douglas@tccn-choa.org.

Thank you for your continued support of TCCN!

Topic:

Positive ANA Results - All That Glitters is Not Gold

Date:

May 14, 2024 12:00 PM via Zoom

Speakers:

Dr. Sampath Prahalad

Details:

This month Dr. Prahalad will be discussing positive ANA results and understanding when it is appropriate to refer to a specialist.

Click here to register!

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.

Utilizing the Project ECHO platform, this cohort will meet every other Wednesday at lunchtime starting May 1^st for six sessions and will cover multiple facets of caring for pediatric patients with substance related and addictive disorders. 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 May 14^th. 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:

Substance Related and Addictive Disorders cohort sessions will take place every other Wednesday from 12:00pm – 1:00pm via Zoom. This series will be facilitated by Kayla Mays, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC.

· May 1st: Introduction to Substance Use Disorders and Other Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders - Olu Osoba, MD and Gretchen Weeks, MSN, APRN, PNP-C, PMHNP-BC

· May 15th: Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorder and Other Disorders - Joe Mathias, MD

· May 29th: Legal and Social Aspects of Substance Use in Youth - Pauline Anderson, MSW, LCSW

· June 12th: Marijuana Use in Youth: Recent Epidemiology, Presentation, Treatment Strategies, and New Research - Darron Lewis, MD

· June 26th: SUD and the Impact of Trauma: Correlation Between Connection and Addiction Recovery - Tina Niziurski, LCSW

· July 10th: Conference Updates: Substance Use Disorder: A Comprehensive Review and Update 2024 Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy - John Gransbach, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC

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.

TCCN Requirements

• Effective August 1st: 2-Week Data Submission Requirement
• 2024 Quality Program Requirements

TCCN Resources

• TCCN RSV Toolkit
• 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
• TCCN Antibiotic Stewardship Webinar Series: Why It's Important for Your Practice and Patients:
• 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
• TCCN Risk Management Webinar Recording and Presentation

Community Updates

• Georgia Composite Medical Board Decisions Regarding Prescribing Via Telemedicine
• DPH Confirms Case of Measles in Atlanta Metro Area
• Moderna Pediatric COVID Vaccines Purchased on or After January 9, 2024 Now 100% Returnable
• 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
• 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
• Bilirubin Level Testing and Phototherapy Vendors
• Antibiotic Alternatives Tip Sheet

We are here for you. Please reach out to your TCCN Provider Relations Representative contact@tccn-choa.org with any questions.