In June, the Nevada AAP learned of an opportunity for members of the public to share policy recommendations with the 2019 - 2020 Interim Nevada Legislative Committee on Health Care. A public memorandum from Assemblywoman Lesley E. Cohen, Chair, was issued regarding the Solicitation of Recommendations.

The Nevada AAP Executive Committee submitted 10 policy recommendations based on research we have been conducting in preparation for a member-wide survey to learn from you, our members, which policies you think we should prioritize for the 2021 Nevada State Legislative Session. Look for more information and a survey soon!

In the meantime, click on the image to download a PDF of the recommendations we made to the Interim Health Care Committee.

The Nevada AAP is excited to welcome Leanne Chen who is interning with our chapter to assist with planing and implementing our virtual Annual Meeting scheduled for Saturday, October 24.

Leanne is a rising sophomore at Barnard College. She is planning to major in biology and is on the pre-med track. Since her freshman fall semester, she has been part of the Women in Medicine committee of Columbia University’s American Medical Student Association (AMSA). She is an active undergraduate researcher of the USDA’S REEU unPAK Project and has collaborated with professors from the College of Charleston and other undergraduate researchers on various plant data analyses. In the future, Leanne aspires to become a physician and work with under-served communities in the United States.  

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging doctors to counsel patients, at the time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing, about the importance of self-isolation after they are tested and prior to the onset of symptoms by paying for the counseling.

Nevada AAP has confirmed with Nevada Medicaid that, per their COVID-19 billing guides which can be found at https://www.medicaid.nv.gov/providers/BillingInfo.aspx, Nevada Medicaid also reimburses for E/M visits related to COVID in the physician office, urgent care, hospital, and drive-thru testing sites. Nevada Medicaid reimburses for E/M visits that are related to COVID which includes the specimen collection, assessment, and counseling. 

Pediatricians counseling families has been shown to be highly influential. Take the time to counsel COVID-19 suspected and positive patients and family members to self isolate and be sure to properly code for payment for this critical patient care.

Developed by the National Resource Center for Patient/Family-Centered Medical Home, in partnership with the National Academy for State Health Policy, this fact sheet series discusses​ social determinants of health (SDoH) screening and referrals for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families.

The deadline for pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgeons to apply for funds from the Medicaid and CHIP distribution has been extended to August 28.

In addition, on August 10, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) will reopen the Medicare-based General distribution to pediatricians and other providers who received an automatic payment in April but did not apply for a second payment by the initial June 3 deadline. These providers will now be able to apply for a second payment. Pediatricians are eligible for the same amount of funding from the Provider Relief Fund whether they access funding through the Medicare-based General Distribution or through the Medicaid and CHIP distribution.

Other helpful resources as you apply for funds:

2-page Fact Sheet issued by HHS

AAP step-by-step application guide, and a FAQ page