CDC confirms 594 cases of enterovirus in 43 states.
Coverage of the enterovirus outbreak continues, with all three of last night’s national news broadcasts discussing the virus for a total of nearly four-and-a-half minutes. Coverage primarily focused on the death of a four-year-old New Jersey boy, the first confirmed death from enterovirus. ABC World News (10/6, story…
Ebola Confirmed on US Soil: The Facts for Physicians and Patients
From "AMA Wire," 9/30/2014, 7:37 PM The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Tuesday Sept 30 that the first case of Ebola has appeared in the United States. The virus is spread through contact with bodily fluids of a person who is sick with or has…
Hydrocodone Reclassification: What physicians need to know
Recently, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a final rule rescheduling hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) into Controlled Substance Schedule II, effective October 6, 2014. Rescheduling issues directly related to Arkansas: Under Arkansas law, physician assistants and advance practice registered nurses are not authorized to write prescriptions for…
Latest Edition of AMS NewsBriefs Released
Articles from our latest newsletter and other news items can now be viewed in the news section. This edition’s articles include Technical Error Involving PCP Supplemental Payments Yelvington Named New AMS Board Chairman CMS Grants Relief for Stage 3 Meaningful-Use Hydrocodone Drugs Moving to Schedule II Oct 6
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…