Summary The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety communication warning about the use of Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare® analyzers (LeadCare, LeadCare II, LeadCare Ultra and LeadCare Plus) with venous blood samples because they might result in falsely low test results. FDA is now advising that Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare® analyzers should no longer be used with venous blood samples. The safety alert does not apply to capillary blood lead test results collected by fingerstick or heelstick. The purpose… Read More

The AMS office has received several calls over the past couple of weeks about Act 820, which mandates checking the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program prior to prescribing certain medications. Apparently, some hospitals are incorrectly telling… Read More

In April, intense storms and subsequent flooding ravaged parts of our state. The aftermath left Arkansans picking up the pieces. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield wants to help members and is waiving prescription costs… Read More

When neurologist Robert L. “Lee” Archer, MD, finished his residency in 1986, there were no disease modifying treatments for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). When the first treatment came out in 1994, demand was so… Read More

Journal of the American College of Surgeons study authors report that, after implementation of the publicly funded state trauma system, preventable mortality rate decreased by 48 percent CHICAGO (March 8, 2017): Implementation of a statewide… Read More

AMS group member, NEA Baptist Clinic, recently announced the NEA Baptist Center for Good Grief, as part of the NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation’s continued commitment to the needs of the community. The NEA Baptist Center… Read More

AMS group member, Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock, recently began offering weight-loss surgery as a way to fight heart disease and rising obesity rates in Arkansas. The newly formed Bariatric & Metabolic Institute at the Arkansas Heart Hospital… Read More

Arkansas is recognized nationally as a leader in value-based healthcare payment innovation. In 2012 the state launched an episodic payment model and was also selected for the original Comprehensive Primary Care initiative (CPC). Arkansas’s efforts… Read More

USA Today (3/20, Groppe) reports that Republicans released a modified bill Monday night “in an attempt to shore up support among both conservatives and moderates.” The revised bill would allow states “to require able-bodied Medicaid… Read More

By Casey L. Penn The Information Superhighway. It can be a conduit to reliable, user-friendly health resources for patients (e.g., the Mayo Clinic’s easy-to-navigate website, with facts and information written with laypersons in mind), or… Read More

The article below from the AMA Morning Rounds (2/24/17) brings new light to this national epidemic. Make sure you are registered and utilizing the Arkansas Prescription Drug Program to help fight drug abuse in your… Read More