Technical Error Involving PCP Supplemental Payments
It has come to the attention of AMS that many Medicaid primary care physicians were not fully reimbursed for their quarterly Medicaid PCP Supplemental Payments that processed in July. To address the issue, Medicaid is generating payments to the physicians in the amounts they are due. The payment…
Yelvington Named New AMS Board Chairman
Dennis Yelvington, MD, of Stuttgart was elected Chairman of the AMS Board of Trustees at the August Board meeting. Dr. Yelvington has served as a district trustee since 2007. He has been a member of the Society since 1985.
CMS Grants Relief for Stage 3 Meaningful-Use
CMS recently finalized a rule allowing eligible providers more flexibility in how they meet the third stage of meaningful-use requirements for the electronic health-record incentive program. The rule would grant providers a longer timeline and more flexibility in meeting the incentive goals laid out by the stimulus program…
Hydrocodone Drugs Moving to Schedule II Oct 6
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published a final rule Aug. 22 that changes the controlled substance scheduling of hydrocodone combination products (HCP) from Schedule III to Schedule II. The change is scheduled to take effect Oct. 6. The new rules include these requirements: HCP prescriptions issued on or…
CDL-Medical Examiner Training from the Comfort of Your Home or Office
As of May 21, 2014, CMV drivers must have medical exams performed by a certified medical examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.The Arkansas Medical Society (AMS) is prepared to assist you in the certification process. We are a registered NRCME training provider for health…
Can a simple 24-hour diet history save BIG health care bucks?
Published on Jun 26, 2013 Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, MD, highlights how spending time asking patients a few questions about their diet can lead to simple solutions for health ailments -- and save health care dollars. Finding out that a pregnant woman doesn't eat vegetables can help prevent spina bifida…
New restrictions on hydrocodone to take effect
Article below from USA Today Online. Read more at federalregister.gov. WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is finalizing new restrictions on hundreds of medicines containing hydrocodone, the highly addictive painkiller that has grown into the most widely prescribed drug in the U.S. The new rules mean that drugs…
AMS Welcomes 28 New Members
By joining the Arkansas Medical Society, the physicians listed below have illustrated their commitment to improving health care in this community and our state by joining the Arkansas Medical Society. “As society members, these physicians are part of a statewide network of over 4,300 Arkansas physicians, residents and…
Hospitals’ data loss touches 4.5 million, includes Arkansans
Article from Arkansas Online. Community Health System said Monday that information belonging to patients in Arkansas was stolen when its systems were hacked and records of 4.5 million patients were compromised. Some nonmedical identification data from patients of doctors affiliated with eight of the 10 CHS hospitals in…
Third Annual Prescription Drug Abuse Summit
Join the U of A's Criminal Justice Institute for their third annual summit to help reduce the number of deaths and addictions caused by prescription drug misuse and abuse. The event hopes to raise public awareness of the epidemic through partnerships with educational, medical, prevention and treatment entities.…
Medicaid enrollment grows even in states that have not embraced expansion.
The New York Times (8/12, Sanger-Katz, Subscription Publication) reports that “even in states that haven’t changed their Medicaid programs, nearly a million people signed up for Medicaid this year.” Health experts say that the “reason is a phenomenon” called the “welcome mat effect” or “woodwork effect,” the idea…