ABCBS Reduces Reimbursement for Individual Market Plans
AMS has learned that the state's largest insurance carrier, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield will reduce reimbursements to its provider network effective January 1, 2018. The reduction applies only to the carrier's individual metallic health plans (i.e. not group health plans), which include the Arkansas Works Medicaid…
Arkansas’ Upgrade to a New Medicaid Management Information System
New MMIS Healthcare Portal Official Go-live Date is November 1, 2017. This is the new way claims will transmitted to Medicaid. In preparation for this transition, many activities leading up to November 1 will be taking place. Learn more in the October issue of the ARMedicaid Insider. The issue…
Enrollment for the Arkansas Medicaid Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Program is Open Until October 31
New requirement for enrollment eligibility: The practice must have at least 150 attributed beneficiaries at the time of enrollment. If you are currently enrolled in PCMH, you should have received an application form with a list of current participating providers. Providers who are currently enrolled with your PCMH…
ADH Health Advisory
Rifampin/Penicillin-Resistant Strain of RB51 Brucella Contracted from Consumption of Raw Milk Summary: The Texas Department of State Health Services, with assistance from CDC, is investigating Brucella RB51 exposures and illnesses that may be connected to the purchase and consumption of raw (unpasteurized) milk from K-Bar Dairy in Paradise,…
Dr. Barbe: We need more time with patients, less at the keyboard
Family physician, and AMA President David Barbe, MD, MHA, recently told a Washington audience that government can a play a role in strengthening the “almost sacred” patient-physician relationship by reducing physicians’ administrative burdens, increasing cost transparency and facilitating electronic health record (EHR) interoperability and data liquidity. “Physicians have…
Help save lives: Co-prescribe naloxone to patients at risk of overdose
Naloxone saves lives The nation’s opioid epidemic claimed more than 33,000 lives in 2015, but that figure would have been even higher if it wasn’t for the life-saving opioid overdose antidote naloxone. For more than 40 years, naloxone has been used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose.…
New Surgeon General’s motto to “create better health through better partnerships”
On September 5, Vice President Pence swore in Jerome Adams, MD, as the new surgeon general. Dr. Adams, an anesthesiologist with a master’s degree in public health, said that he is eager to start helping victims of Hurricane Harvey as the “nation’s doctor.” He also reaffirmed his commitment…
CDC Health Advisory: Increase in Reported cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis Infection, United States, Summer 2017
Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State and Local Health Departments, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating an increase in reported cases of cyclosporiasis. The purpose of this HAN Advisory is to notify public health departments and healthcare facilities and to provide guidance to healthcare…
ASMB Proposes New and Amended Rules
On Thursday, August 3, 2017, the Arkansas State Medical Board will hold public hearings on several proposed rule amendments and new rules. Comments can be submitted to the Board until the August 3rd public hearing. Among the proposals: Amendment to Regulation 2(4), listing the prescribing of excessive amounts…
Legislation Goes into Effect: What You Need to Know
AMS actively tracked and worked 342 of the 2,069 bills filed in the 2017 legislative session. The following bills represent some of more high-profile issues AMS successfully fought for, amended and/or monitored closely that we anticipate will have more of an impact on you, your patients and your practice: Physician…
CDC Health Advisory
Patients Receiving Eculizumab (Soliris®) at High Risk for Invasive Meningococcal Disease Despite Vaccination Summary Eculizumab (Soliris®) recipients have a 1,000 to 2,000-fold greater risk of invasive meningococcal disease compared to the general U.S. population. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescribing information for eculizumab includes a black box warning for…