Practice Support Newsletter

January 2024

Regulatory Reminders – Medication Errors Can be Prevented

Errors in medication administration can happen, even to experienced professionals. Here are some common errors and strategies to prevent them: 

Administering the wrong vaccine due to similarities in vaccine names – generic or trade names often look or sound alike; common examples being DTap and Dtap, PPSV23 and PCV12, or Epi and Epi with Lidocaine. 

How to prevent these errors: Clearly identify medications that are look alike/sound alike. Store them in separate trays that are clearly marked. Check the vial multiple times next to the order to verify the correct medication is being drawn. 

Administering a vaccine after the expiration date – since the efficacy for medications is only guaranteed to the expiration, it’s important to know when that day is. 

How to prevent these errors: Use labels that prompt staff to mark the opened/expiration/initials on multiuse vials. It is also helpful to post a 28-day calendar in the medication area so staff can easily date opened vials. Keeping the medication area organized to ensure older vaccines are used first will also prevent waste. 

For additional tips, read “Managing Multi-dose Vials for Injectable Medication.”  

January is Cervical Cancer Screening Awareness Month

The American Association for Cancer Research highlights the progress in decreasing cancer deaths for women by screening and preventions.

"Cervical cancer was once a leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States. Today, screening and prevention have greatly reduced the impact of this form of cancer. Still, approximately 13,960 women in the United States are projected to receive a diagnosis of cervical cancer in 2023 and approximately 4,310 will die from the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.” 

The details of the measure focus on screening women 21-64 years of age for cervical cancer. Here are some ideas of how your practice can improve screening rates:

• Include a question on patient intake/history forms related to PAP’s and HPV testing
  – Have the care team review the answers with the patient
• Utilize your EHR to identify patients who are due for screening
• Let patients know that preventative health screenings are part of standard care
• Send reminders to patients that are due for screening via the patients preferred method of communication (phone, text, portal message):
  – If possible, offer opportunities to patients to be seen by a female provider for screening
• Work with a South Piedmont AHEC Coach to create an approach that works for you

South Piedmont AHEC Compliance Series

Safety Stuff That Matters! A Compliance Webinar Series

This FREE series is a monthly, 1-hour session which will educate clinical and leadership staff about clinical compliance concerns at the practices that could affect patient safety. This monthly series will be held on the third Wednesday of each month starting January 17, 2024, from 12 PM – 1 PM. Topics include:  

• OSHA is Here! No Need to Fear
• Who’s on First: The Role of the Infection Control Coordinator
• TIME OUT!! Management of a Blood Exposure
• No Wet Packages: Instrument Processing Done Correctly and Efficiently
• One Needle, One Syringe: Safe Injection Practices

Register now with South Piedmont AHEC

End of Year Practice Checklist – Start 2024 Right!

Are you ready for the New Year? It is here! NC AHEC has developed an End of Year Checklist to support practices closing out 2023 and starting 2024 on the right foot. The checklist has been previously shared on the South Piedmont AHEC listserv but is also available here. If you’ve started, GREAT! If you would like help finishing it or reviewing your progress, contact your South Piedmont AHEC coach. The checklist dives into administrative, personnel and financial aspects of the practice.  

Requirements for Filling Prescriptions for Medicaid Beneficiaries: Reminder for the Expansion Population

As Medicaid expansion launches on Dec. 1, 2023, NC Medicaid reminds providers that prescriptions written by non-Medicaid enrolled providers will not be reimbursable by NC Medicaid due to federal requirements. NC Medicaid requires that all providers whose NPI will be used on a pharmacy claim be enrolled with NC Medicaid. There are no exceptions to this requirement. This bulletin applies to NC Medicaid Direct and NC Managed Care. Read more on how this could impact you and your practice.

Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: New CPT Codes for RSV Vaccine Administration

If your patient doesn’t have Medicare Part D, we’ll pay for vaccine administration but not the vaccine under Part B. CMS retroactively added 2 new CPT codes for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine administration to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule effective for dates of service on and after October 6, 2023: 

1. 96380 – Short descriptor: Admn rsv monoc antb im cnsl
2. 96381 – Short descriptor: Admn rsv monoc antb im njx

Your Medicare Administrative Contractor will adjust claims you bring to their attention. Read more from mlnconnect.

CDC Health Advisory – Urgent Need to Increase Immunization

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert healthcare providers to low vaccination rates against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

Low vaccination rates, coupled with ongoing increases in national and international respiratory disease activity caused by multiple pathogens, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), and RSV, could lead to more severe disease and increased healthcare capacity strain in the coming weeks. In addition, a recent increase in cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) following SARS-CoV-2 infection in the United States has been reported. 

Healthcare providers should administer influenza, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations now to patients, if recommended. Healthcare providers should recommend antiviral medications for influenza and COVID-19 for all eligible patients, especially patients at high-risk of progression to severe disease such as older adults and people with certain underlying medical conditions. 

Healthcare providers should also counsel patients about testing and other preventive measures, including covering coughs/sneezes, staying at home when sick, improving ventilation at home or work, and washing hands to protect themselves and others against respiratory diseases. Read the full advisory for more details.

South Piedmont AHEC Practice Support – Helping you meet the challenges!

In this time of great transition in health care practices need to position themselves for new payment models, incentive programs, and other health care reforms while refocusing on patient-centered care. South Piedmont AHEC is currently able to provide these direct, individualized services at no cost.

Additional Resources: