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Medicaid manual updated to include payment codes for HIV testing
Plus free CME available on HIV testing, perinatal HIV prevention |
The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership have revised the Texas Provider Medicaid Manual to more clearly reflect routine HIV testing in health care settings. Routine HIV testing is reimbursable as a preventive or screening benefit when provided in settings such as emergency centers, urgent care, primary health, or community health centers. See this and all revisions on the Texas Medicaid and Healthcare Partnership website at www.tmhp.com/Pages/Medicaid/Medicaid_ReleaseNotes_2012.aspx. Plus, access free CME on routine HIV testing, perinatal HIV prevention, and expedited partner services through the state of Texas TRAIN website at tx.train.org.
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AAFP provides myriad immunization resources |
With flu season off to an early start, many patients are thinking about immunizations. Family physicians play an integral role in influencing patients’ decisions to be vaccinated for all vaccine-preventable diseases. To help facilitate communication between family physicians and their patients, AAFP offers important immunization resources, including annual immunization schedules for children, adolescents, and adults; resources for vaccine conversations with parents; and disease- and population-specific immunization information. Go to the immunizations page of the Clinical & Research section of AAFP’s website for more, www.aafp.org/online/en/home/clinical/immunizationres.html.
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DSHS launches campaign to reduce infant deaths |
The Texas Department of State Health Services has launched the Someday Starts Now campaign aimed at reducing the number of infant deaths and preterm births by promoting healthy lifestyles for people who may someday decide to have a baby. Part of the Healthy Texas Babies Initiative, Someday Starts Now offers resources geared toward expectant parents through the website SomedayStartsNow.com, which provides a downloadable life planning tool to help women set health goals and work toward them. Parents-to-be can create a birth plan by using a guide on the site that helps them think through decisions about the birth process. The campaign also includes interactive outreach events at college campuses and community gatherings, videos and resources for physicians and other providers, and information tailored toward new dads and dads-to-be. Go to www.SomedayStartsNow.com.
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Advance your electronic patient engagement progress with one-page guide |
New from the National eHealth Collaborative is a free one-page guide to help you engage your patients through health information technology. The Patient Engagement Framework outlines a five-phase series aligned with meaningful use to show how a practice can become even more patient-centric. Each phase builds on the one before, starting with the basics—providing printable forms and online information—through the advanced—facilitating e-visits and online community support forums. Read more and access the Patient Engagement Framework through this AAFP News Now story.
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Online PCMH resource available free to members |
Transforming into a patient-centered medical home can be a challenge, particularly for smaller practices. The good news is that AAFP has numerous resources to help, including free access to the TransforMED Delta-Exchange network. Delta-Exchange is an online network dedicated to physicians, clinical staff, office staff, and primary care-focused residency programs committed to the PCMH. Learn from and exchange information with experts and peers in an active online community available free to AAFP members. Learn more at www.aafp.org/DeltaExchange.
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