Practice Support Newsletter

September 2024

Measure of the Month: Weight Assessment and Counseling for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children/Adolescents (WCC)

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. As kids head back to school this fall, take some time to help raise awareness about childhood obesity. Helping children, parents and caregivers learn more about the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity can positively impact health for years to come. When children and teens develop healthy habits, they are creating the building blocks to life-long well-being. This month’s measure includes all children ages 3–17 years of age who have had an outpatient visit with a primary care or OB-GYN visit during the calendar year. The measure calculates the following:

• Numerator: For inclusion in the numerator the visit must include BMI percentile documentation, counseling for nutrition and counseling for physical activity.
• Denominator: Patients 3–17 years of age with at least one outpatient visit with a primary care physician (PCP) or obstetrician/gynecologist during the measurement year.

Suggestions for improvement:

• Run monthly reports
• Use appropriate coding to capture BMI percentile, nutritional and physical counseling
• Avoid missed opportunities – document BMI and counsel for nutrition and physical activity not only at well visits but also at sick visits or sports physicals if it has not previously been addressed during the measurement year
• Use checklists in the EHR
• Provide resources to patients to address healthy eating and physical activity
• When appropriate make nutritional referrals
• Work with a South Piedmont AHEC Practice Support Coach

For additional resources, check out: Preventing Childhood Obesity: 6 Things Families Can Do and Tips to Support Healthy Routines for Children and Teens. 

Coding Corner: Updated Codes for Influenza

The American Medical Association (AMA) updated its CPT® code set to reflect the vaccines currently available for the 2024–2025 influenza season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the updated 2024–2025 flu vaccines will all be trivalent and will protect against an H1N1, H3N2 and a B/Victoria lineage virus. The Medicare flu season payment allowances and effective dates for the 2024-2025 season aren’t published yet, but two new flu vaccine codes effective July 1, 2024, are:

• 90637 Influenza virus vaccine, quadrivalent (qIRV), mRNA; 30 mcg/0.5 mL dosage, for intramuscular use
• 90638 … 60 mcg/0.5 mL dosage, for intramuscular use

Additionally, this code descriptor change is effective Jan. 1, 2025.

• 90661 Influenza virus vaccine, trivalent (ccIIV3), derived from cell cultures, subunit, preservative and antibiotic free, 0.5 mL dosage, for intramuscular use

For the full text, and details of other vaccine changes/updates, visit the American Academy of Professional Coders.

Regulatory Reminders: Use of Templates

The North Carolina Medical Board offer a variety of position statements to help providers navigate the healthcare environment. Medical records have become more robust with metrics, integrated billing, shared communication with patients and workflows. One area that has become an anchor of medical records are templates. Templates help to standardize communication and helps to ensure elements are not missed. In their position statement:

“The Board cautions against overuse of template content or reliance on EHR software which pre-populates, carries forward, or clones information from one encounter to the next, or from different licensees, without the licensee carefully reviewing and updating all information. Documentation of clinical findings for each patient encounter must accurately and contemporaneously reflect the actual care provided. The use of “copy-and-paste” should only be employed in circumstances when the totality of copied material from prior interactions is pertinent to the current situation.”  

To read and reference the full position statement, visit the North Carolina Medical Board Professional Resources.

Declination of Vaccination

Are you currently documenting declination of vaccination? 

When parents/caregivers decline vaccinations for their children, it’s important to ensure they have been provided information outlining potential risks associated with the decision. The signed declination form serves as a document demonstrating that parents have received this information. Immunize.org has recently posted an updated declination form to include RSV preventative antibody. 

Vaccination is a team effort in a practice. The CDC offers free on demand web-based training to offer practices information on creating a “culture of immunization”. This webinar can help your team address parent/caregiver questions and reinforce best practices for improving vaccination rates. To access Fostering a Culture of Immunization in Your Practice, register at Train.org.

Telehealth Infrastructure Grant Program Application Deadline through September 29th

The North Carolina Office of Rural Health through the General Assembly is offering competitive grants to rural healthcare providers to support and improve Telehealth access. Grant monies can be used for:

• Equipment
• High-speed internet access
• Telehealth-related training to staff and patients
• Technology equipment to patients
• Internet service support for patients to help facilitate telehealth access*
• Other infrastructure needed to establish telehealth services

To review the details of the grant and to check eligibility, read the full announcement. 

South Piedmont AHEC Class Spotlight

2024 – 2025 HEROES Health Careers Connection H²C² A Teen Health Careers Club | Grades 9 – 12

H²C² is a teen health careers club for 9th – 12th grade students who are interested in learning more about careers in healthcare. Students will thoroughly enjoy health science workshops, health careers speakers, games and more! Our goal is to expose teens to a variety of careers in healthcare in a fun and exciting way. We believe in funrichment (fun+enrichment).

This program is October 2024 – May 2025. To learn more and to register, please visit South Piedmont AHEC.

All applications must be received by close of business on September 27, 2024.

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: