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| President's Perspective
KAAP News Alert: Unprecedented Identity Theft in Kansas
by Kristie Clark, MD, FAAP
In the last month, many Kansans have received a 1099-G from the Kansas Department of Labor for unemployment compensation that was neither applied for nor received by that individual. This is a form of identity theft because someone applied for unemployment compensation using another's name, address and social security number. Unfortunately, due to various security breaches, many social security numbers are available on the dark web.
It is important to open and read all of your mail. Be on the outlook for mail from the Kansas Department of Labor. If you have been a victim of unemployment claim fraud, there are steps that you should take:
- Visit the KS DOL website at https://www.dol.ks.gov/fraud to file an online report. Their email is kdol.fraud@ks.gov and their hotline is 785-291-6059.
- To request a corrected 1099-G (so that you are not liable to pay tax on that income that was not received), fill out the Kansas Department of Labor's Unsworn Declaration of Payments Not Received/Identity Theft and mail to the address on the form.
- File an online report with the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.identitytheft.gov/
- File an Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039) with the IRS https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039.pdf. This form may be returned by fax or by mail. Unfortunately, individuals filing tax returns fraudulently, in an attempt to collect tax refunds, is on the rise. The IRS Fraud hotline is 800-908-4490.
- Place a fraud alert with at least one of the three credit bureaus (generally that credit bureau will alert the other three):
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| Executive Director Update
by Melissa Hudelson
On this exceptionally cold February, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, I wanted to let you know how much KAAP loves having you as a member and how important you are in your role in your practice, your community, and in our work at the state level. KAAP is stronger in our work to advocate for pediatricians and child health when we work together, so I want to thank you for being a part of this organization.
I was on an AAP leadership call recently where a chapter was sharing a legislative victory, and a handful of votes changed from one side to the other overnight before the vote. One of the legislators talked about hearing from his grandchild's pediatrician, who convinced him to change his vote. I loved hearing this story, but I was not at all surprised. You are a trusted expert in child health, and your legislators want to hear from you when they are making difficult decisions. I encourage you to reach out, introduce yourself, and offer to become a resource to your legislators. You can find contact information for your legislators at www.openstates.org. I hope you will take advantage of some of the many educational opportunities we are offering this spring. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to me if there is something KAAP can do to support you in your work at mel.hudelson@kansasaap.org.
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| KAAP Legislative Update
by Dena K. Hubbard MD, FAAP
Advocacy...to change "what is" into "what should be"
We are quickly approaching the middle of the legislative session in Kansas. After next week, most bills that don't receive a hearing are dead, unless exempt. That means there is a lot going on right now! Perhaps a silver lining of tragic events and injustice of 2020 is that more pediatricians are excited to participate and engage in legislative advocacy! If you are interested in learning more, joining our committee, and/or providing written or oral testimony, let us know! Thank you to those that have sent us information regarding upcoming bills and concerns on how it affects you, your patients, and your practice. Please keep it up! Legislators must hear from physicians at local, state, and national level! Let us know if you have questions as we can help you with scripting emails, letters, op-eds, and testimony.
Key legislative issues thus far include newborn screening, foster care, telemedicine, vaccines, tobacco age restrictions, suicide hotline, medical marijuana, gun safety, APRN Scope of practice, and ensuring care and support for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents. You can read more about specific bills in our weekly legislative updates . Stay tuned for member calls to action as we need your voice! Continue Reading
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
by Kelly Kreisler, MD, MPH
and Tyler K. Smith, MD, MPH
Winter greetings from the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion! It has been a busy few months for our new committee as we held our first webinar on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Identity and Its Role in the Workplace presented by Rachel McCommon, M.A.Ed., Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Initiatives at the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine. Future webinars are being planned and we finalized our vision, mission, and goals. Our vision: For KAAP to lead the way and be a role model for pediatricians, patients and families, and the community in diversity, equity, and inclusion. The vision, mission and goals can be found on the KAAP website.
Each quarter we would like to highlight a few observances related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. January 27th marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day set aside to memorialize the six million Jews and 11 million others killed by the Nazi regime. During the month of February, we celebrate and honor Black History Month, which was developed by Carter G. Woodson, Ph.D., an author and historian known as the "Father of Black History." Dr. Woodson earned his Ph.D. in 1912, making him the second African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard. Dr. Woodson, whose parents were enslaved, recognized the need for widespread education about the accomplishments of African Americans throughout history. He founded "Negro History Week," the precursor to Black History Month, hoping in time this event would not be necessary as the importance of African Americans accomplishments and contributions to society would be integrated into all teaching of history. Continue Reading
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| Learn About the COVID-19 Vaccine and Communities of Color
The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has continued to highlight health care disparities for people and communities of color. Despite the fact that more people of color have died from COVID-19, far fewer are being vaccinated.
Join Dr. Barbara Pahud, an infectious disease specialist at Children's Mercy Kansas City, as she presents a timely webinar to help us better understand this topic.
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 12 noon.
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| Pediatric Payment Corner
2021 has brought a complete overhaul of how we bill E/M services. Before visits would be based on coding levels determined by how many specified history and examination elements we addressed at each visit. Now E/M coding is based on either medical decision making or time. This brief update won't attempt to educate totally on how to go about this but remember a couple of tips - document each condition managed at a visit and a plan, remember to include if a separate historian was used (such as a parent), and time now includes time used to review outside documents and charting time as long as it is performed on the same day of service.
A couple of updates on what the Pediatric Council has been working on: - Many payers are now including payment for sick visits on the same day as well visits. A modifier will need to be used. Other payers are discussing it this spring to add in 2022.
- Medicaid MCOs should be paying for maternal depression screens billed on an infants insurance. There is still discussion on how to code this but please consider doing some type of depression screening for mothers and billing appropriately for it. The new policy supports reimbursement for up to 5 screenings during the 12-months postpartum period under the child's Medicaid ID as part of a well-infant/child visit (KAN Be Healthy). The correct code is 96161 and if positive we should add the G8431 code and a plan for follow up and if negative we should add a G8510 code. This is reported to be paid at a rate of $21.86.
- Let the Pediatric Council know if you are NOT getting paid for this.
As always if there are other issues you are having with payment from any payers, please reach out to pediatriccouncil@kansasaap.org and we are happy to try and help.
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| KPF Update
2020 was a year unlike any we have previously experienced, but even with all that last year brought to our members and supporters, the Kansas Pediatric Foundation still received more than $25,000 in generous donations during our Year End Appeal. Your contributions will continue to grow the Kansas Kids Fund and the Literacy Endowment so we can keep working to improve child health in Kansas.
The Turn a Page. Touch a Mind.® (TAP-TAM) early literacy program continues to reach children across the state of Kansas, adding three new sites in 2020 and an additional two more in January 2021. The 710 participating TAP-TAM physicians and medical providers handed out 135,000 books to children at 138 sites during 2020. These books allow the physicians and other medical providers to assess the development of the patient, discuss age appropriate behavior, and encourage families to read together every day.
The Kansas Kids Fund - Pediatricians in Action grant application is currently open. This grant opportunity is available to KAAP members for projects that address a child health initiative in their practice or community. The deadline to apply is March 31st. Application information can be found here .
Thank you to each individual and organization who contributed to the Kansas Pediatric Foundation in 2020 to support child health in Kansas!
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| Registration is OPEN for Progress in Pediatrics Spring 2021!
Join us online for seven presentations on Friday, May 7, 2021. The wide range of topics includes pediatric mental health during COVID-19 and assisting adolescent e-cigarette users. CME for these webinars will only be available to live attendees.
The Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics is accredited by the Kansas Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
he Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits TM . Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
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| Schedule Maternal Depression Screening Trainings
with Free CME
On January 1, 2021, KanCare begab paying for maternal depression screening. KAAP is offering Maternal Depression Screening trainings for practices that include free CME and a lunch stipend for your office. Contact Mel at mel.hudelson@kansasaap.org for more information or to schedule your training.
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Addition of Lysosomal Storage Disorders to Kansas' uniform screening panel
As of January 2, 2021, the Kansas Newborn Screening Program added two lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) to the blood spot screening panel: Pompe Disease & Mucopolysaccharidoses I (MPS I). With this change, Kansas is now screening for 34 of the 35 conditions on the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel. Lysosomal storage disorders are a group of diseases that prevent cells from breaking down fats and sugar, causing tissue damage that can lead to a variety of symptoms. The program expects to identify approximately one Kansas infant per year affected by Pompe, and one every year and half affected by MPS I. Early detection and treatment for LSDs can help prevent severe disability, early death, and can help babies have the best possible quality of life. Learn more about these conditions and Kansas' screening algorithm in the LSD Provider Info Brief and LSD Information Sheet for Families. These documents are also available on the KS Newborn Screening website.
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Flu and HPV Training Modules
The IKC Training Modules Preventing Flu and Shutting the Door on HPV Cancers were developed for health provider audiences with the goal of increasing HPV and Influenza immunization rates. Learn why HPV and Flu vaccines are important, how to give effective vaccination recommendations, and practice answering patient questions accurately and succinctly. Free CME is available.
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ABOUT US
Officers
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Kristie Clark, MD, FAAP
President
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Mel Hudelson
Executive Director
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Gretchen Homan, MD, FAAP
President-Elect
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Shanna Peters
Associate Director
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Grace Brouillette, DO, FAAP
Treasurer
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Martha Atkinson
Staff Accountant
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Lisa Gilmer, MD, FAAP
Past President
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Amy Trollinger
Marketing Communications Manager
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