AMS NEWS
Important Drug Warning from Amylin
An important FDA-approved Drug Alert for Bydureon affecting Family/General Practice, Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants was published on August 1, 2012. This PDR® Drug Alert was delivered electronically to all Arkansas Medical Society members within these specialties who are registered with PDR® Network. To ensure…
Important Drug Warning Recently Issued
An important FDA-approved Drug Alert for BRILINTA (ticagrelor) affecting Interventional Cardiologists, Clinical Cardiologists, Emergency Medicine Physicians, Internal Medicine Physicians and Primary Care Physicians was published on July 19, 2012. This PDR® Drug Alert was delivered electronically to all Arkansas Medical Society members within these specialties who are registered…
Medicaid Set to Mail “Sample” Reports
Initial Set of Episodes: Acute Upper Respiratory Infections, ADHD, and Pregnancy Episodes Within the next couple of days, physicians and other providers who have been identified as principal accountable providers (PAP) for the first set of episodes will begin receiving reports on their cost of care for 2011. …
Medicaid Implements “Preventable Condition” Rule
Effective July 1, 2012, Arkansas Medicaid will be implementing 42 CFR 477.26 (c)(1); which requires that all state Medicaid plans prohibit payment for "provider-preventable conditions." The umbrella term "provider-preventable conditions" (PPCs) includes two separate categories: "healthcare-acquired conditions" (HCACs) and "other provider-preventable condition" (OPPC). HCACs apply to Medicaid inpatient…
CPCI Application Period Open Now
Primary care practices considering applying for the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative pilot program have until July 20 to submit applications. AMS has learned that currently there are approximately 84 clinics that have begun the process of application. The first step for interested practices is to complete the short…
Medicaid Releases Episode Thresholds
The Arkansas Medicaid program has released the cost threshold targets for its initial set of treatment episodes under the episode of care payment model. Those thresholds are: Non-specific Acute Ambulatory Upper Respiratory Infection $46-67 Acute Pharyngitis $60 - $80 Acute Sinusitis $68 - $87 Perinatal Care $3394 -…
US Supreme Court Upholds Mandate
On Thursday, June 28, the US Supreme Court issued its much anticipated ruling on the Obama health reform law. In a 5-4 decision the Court upheld the controversial individual mandate while negating a provision related to the Medicaid expansion. The Court ruled that Congress can enact laws that…