A Light at the End of the Tunnel |
It’s officially been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across Kentucky and the world. In many ways, March 2020 feels like just yesterday. In others, it may as well have been a lifetime ago.
While all of lives changed dramatically, the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine has provided a light at the end of the tunnel and some semblance of normalcy feels like it could be right around the corner. However, there’s still work to be done, and I’m proud to share with you some of the contributions of the KMA, through public health and advocacy, that are helping return Kentucky patients and physicians back to their lives.
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“Take It From Me”: KMA, KFMC Launch New COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign with Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Kentucky Hospital Association, Kentucky Primary Care Association |
Adults who are hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine may be more likely to do so if they know someone who has received it. That’s the premise of the new “Take It From Me” campaign, launched last week by the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA), Kentucky Foundation for Medical Care (KFMC), the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky (FHKy), the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA), and the Kentucky Primary Care Association (KPCA) to encourage residents to receive the shot when it’s their turn.
“Take It From Me” includes social media advertisements as well as a series of video and print public service announcements that the partner groups will be asking media outlets and health providers across the state to share, particularly as vaccine eligibility in Kentucky now has been expanded to include all adults ages 50 and older. The PSAs feature a diverse group of residents reassuring others to “take it from me” that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective.
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Register for CGS Medicare Discussion on the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program |
Over 26% of Kentucky adults age 65 and older have diabetes—the largest percentage of any demographic group in the state. To help prevent the progression of type 2 diabetes in the Medicare population, CGS Medicare is hosting an open discussion on the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) on Wednesday, April 21 at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. The discussion will provide information on diabetes resources available to physicians and their Medicare patients through the MDPP.
Registration is available here.
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CMS Issues Temporary Claims Hold Pending Congressional Action to Extend 2% Sequester Reduction Suspension |
In anticipation of possible Congressional action to extend the 2% sequester reduction suspension, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services instructed the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to hold all claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, for a short period without affecting providers’ cash flow. According to the CMS, this will minimize the volume of claims the MACs must reprocess if Congress extends the suspension; the MACs will automatically reprocess any claims paid with the reduction applied if necessary. |
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KMA Mourns the Passing of Naren James, M.D.
Naren James M.D., 59, of Stanford, Kentucky, passed away on Sunday, March 28, 2021, surrounded by his wife and daughter. He was born on February 12, 1962 in Port Mourant, Guyana to the late Reuben Atchan James and Gauri Persaud James. Dr. James practiced family medicine for 24 years in Lincoln, Boyle, and Casey counties. He was a dedicated KMA member, having served on KMA's board of trustees for 15 years, and was a longtime contributor to the Kentucky Physicians Political Action Committee (KPPAC). In 2017, Dr. James was named the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians (KAFP) Citizen Doctor of the Year. His obituary is available here.
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Kentucky Hospital Association COVID-19 Dashboard
The latest update of the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) COVID-19 Dashboard is now available here. The dashboard is an effort to provide current information about hospitalizations and ICU bed usage rates due to the novel Coronavirus.
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'Wake-up call': Kentuckians need to talk to their doctors about diabetes
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Drs. Hedges, Briones-Pryor and Schulz Named Business First "Health Care Heroes"
KMA members Scott Hedges, M.D., Seven Counties Services, Valerie Briones-Pryor, M.D., UofL Health Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, and Paul Schulz, M.D., Norton Healthcare, were named 2021 "Health Care Heroes" by Louisville Business First.
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Stewart Joins Baptist Health Medical Group
KMA member Aaron Stewart, M.D., has joined Baptist Health Medical Group. Dr. Stewart specializes in women’s health during pregnancy and childbirth; diagnosis and treatment of disease of the female reproductive organs; and treatment for other women’s issues.
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9300 Shelbyville Road Suite 850
Louisville, Kentucky 40222
502.426.6200
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Kentucky Health eNews is sponsored by:
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The exclusively endorsed medical malpractice insurer of the KMA |
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