August 2015
|
Vol. 2, Issue: 3 |
| |
|
-RSL Matters-
ICD-10 Is Coming! ICD-10 Is Coming!
Is your practice ready for the conversion to ICD-10 on October 1? The change from ICD-9 to ICD-10 is going to happen. If you have not been preparing, now is the time. Below are several resources from the AAAAI. Here are some other helpful hints:
- Register for the AAAAI's "Countdown to ICD-10" webinar on August 25. Find more information under the Practice & Policy Matters section of this issue.
- Start "practice coding" with ICD-10 now.
- Put copies of your most frequently used ICD-10 codes in each exam room.
- Make sure your electronic health record (EHR) provider and clearing houses are ready for the change to ICD-10.
- Don't rely on your EHR provider to make the changes from ICD-9 to ICD-10 for you.
- Buy an ICD-10 book for each of your offices.
- Make sure your medical record documentation supports the more specific ICD-10 codes used. Start now to improve your documentation if needed.
- Don't panic. This will be a change, but the world won't end.
Access to Care for Veterans
If you are providing medical care to veterans via referrals from the VA be aware that some changes have occurred. Non-VA employed physicians providing care to veterans must be credentialed through Health Net Federal Services as a member of the Patient-Centered Community Care (PCCC) network or a member of Veteran's Choice in order to see VA patients. This change has not been communicated very clearly to physicians providing our veterans care and not all veterans are aware of these changes.
Epinephrine Laws Passed in Texas and Georgia
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 66 into law on May 28, allowing unbranded epinephrine to be administered in the school setting. This law does not mandate epinephrine in schools but provides the crucial liability protection for prescribing physicians and those trained to administer on school campuses and events. Meanwhile in Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal signed Senate Bill 126 on May 5, which provides the legal framework for placing epinephrine autoinjectors in restaurants, malls, camps, and other public establishments. The bill provides the necessary Good Samaritan immunity for trained individuals who administer the drug in good faith. The Georgia bill also provides for the prescription of stock levalbuterol sulfate and albuterol sulfate for use in schools when a child is suffering severe respiratory distress such as wheezing, shortness of
breath, or difficulty breathing. Many thanks to the A/I physicians, nurses, medical organizations and others who were instrumental in getting these laws passed and signed.
-Advocacy Matters-
AAAAI Supports Bill to Put Epinephrine on Airplanes
AAAAI recently issued a press release to announce its support of the Airline Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (S. 1972). Introduced by U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Il) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), with co-sponsors Mark Warner (D-VA) and Ben Cardin (D-Md), the bill would require airlines to maintain a supply of epinephrine autoinjectors on commercial aircrafts and train flight crews on proper administration in the event of a systemic allergic reaction. Illustrating the need for this legislation is the story of AAAAI member Patricia Leonard, MD, who helped a young girl showing signs of anaphylaxis on an international flight.
|
 |
|
Practice Changers
We have partnered with the editors of JACI: In Practice to bring you monthly "Practice Changers" from recently published journal articles.
Highlighting cutting-edge information keeps you current and assists you in educating patients and physicians who rely on the expertise of our specialty!
Predictors of Repeat Epinephrine Administration for Emergency Department Patients With Anaphylaxis. By Ronna L. Campbell et al.
A study by Campbell et al. of 582 patients presenting to the emergency department with anaphylaxis found that 8% of patients required more than one dose of epinephrine. By multivariable analysis, factors associated with the need for repeat doses of epinephrine were a history of anaphylaxis (odds ratio [OR], 2.5 [95% CI, 1.3-4.7]; P = .005), the presence of flushing or diaphoresis (OR, 2.4 [95% CI, 1.3-4.5]; P = .007), and the presence of dyspnea (OR, 2.2 [95% CI, 1.0-5.0]; P = .046). These findings support the current guidelines that patients with anaphylaxis should be prescribed and carry more than one epinephrine autoinjector.
Markers of Differential Response to Inhaled Corticosteroid Treatment among Children with Mild Persistent Asthma. By Joe K. Gerald et al.
This study identifies a limited number of characteristics that consistently identify children with asthma who obtain substantial benefit from treatment with inhaled corticosteroids. They include children who have markers of allergic inflammation such as positive aeroallergen skin tests or elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. They also include children who have markers of high asthma burden including poor asthma control and prior exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids. Male children and non-white children tend to obtain substantial benefit, as they are more likely to have poor asthma control and frequent exacerbations than female or white children. Additional study of children who do not respond to inhaled corticosteroids is needed.
|
|
|
JACI Publishes Report from NIAID Workshop on Drug Allergy
In 2013, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) sponsored a workshop on drug allergy where international experts in the field discussed the current state of drug allergy research. These experts were joined by representatives from several National Institutes of Health institutes and the Food and Drug Administration. The participants identified advances that make new research directions feasible and made suggestions for research priorities and for development of infrastructure to advance knowledge of the mechanisms, diagnosis, management, and prevention of drug allergy. Now, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) has published the resulting report from the workshop.
-Practice & Policy Matters-
Are You Ready for ICD-10 on October 1? Webinar on August 25 Provides Last Chance to Prepare Your Practice
Is your practice ready for the conversion to ICD-10 on October 1? Check in with AAAAI coding expert Teresa Thompson, CPC, CMSCS, CCCC, during the AAAAI's "Countdown to ICD-10" webinar on August 25 at 8:00 pm CDT. This interactive session will leave you with final tips and a timeline for successful implementation. Registration for this webinar is free and a member benefit; no CME or CE credit will be provided. Staff from member practices can also attend for free.
2015 Practice Management Workshop Finds Success, Stay Tuned for Workshop Pearls in Practice Matters
Over 215 allergists, fellows-in-training (FITs), and allergy practice managers/administrators were in Denver, Colorado, July 17-19 for the 2015 Practice Management Workshop. The exhibit area was also completely sold-out. This marked the tenth anniversary of the AAAAI Practice Management Workshop and there was no better way to celebrate than to hear the latest practice updates directly from the experts – and be able to implement key advice right away. If you were not in Denver, make sure to read future issues of Practice Matters for pearls from select sessions. Mark your calendar now for the 2016 Practice Management Workshop, which is scheduled for July 22-24 in Washington, DC.
Completing School Forms for Patients
Are you seeing so many pediatric patients with food allergies and asthma that filling out their school forms is becoming an overwhelming task? An AAAAI member described that scenario, commenting it was taking at least 6 hours each week to fill out forms and questioning if there is any way to recoup some compensation. AAAAI coding expert Teresa Thompson explained that insurance plans do not reimburse for your time spent filling out forms. However, Thompson did note that some allergists have taken the following approach:
- If the patient/parent brings in the forms when the child is being seen for a re-evaluation or a new issue, there is generally not a charge for filling out the forms for the school.
- If the patient/parent asks to have forms filled out without an appointment with the physician, there is usually a charge to cover the cost of the physician's time for filling out the forms. The charges seem to have a range depending on the length of the forms and the time it takes to fill them out for the patient. If you do adopt this kind of approach, you may want to post a policy notice in your waiting room or at the front desk before enacting it so all your patients know in advance.
Looking for past issues of Practice Matters? An archive is available at: aaaai.org/practicematters
|
