Board of Healing Arts seeks committee nominations
The Kansas Board of Healing Arts is seeking nominations for its Medicine and Surgery Review Committee #2. Committee members serve for two years reviewing standard of care investigations and providing preliminary opinions. The Board welcomes all specialties but is in particular need of family physicians, pediatricians, or other primary care specialties. Let us know if you are interested or you may contact the Board directly: Associate Disciplinary Counsel Katie Baylie,
KMS Advocacy Day & Annual Meeting registration
If you haven’t already, please register today for the Kansas Medical Society Advocacy Day & Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, as well as a networking event the evening prior. Attendees will meet with legislative leadership as well as one-on-one with your own representatives. You will also be able to meet with a number of specialty societies. We hope you will make plans to join your peers from across the state to network and learn how our collective advocacy shapes the practice of medicine in Kansas. Find more information and registration here: www.kmsonline.org/AdvocacyDay.
New CPT codes as COVID-19 advancements expand
The American Medical Association (AMA) announced updates to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set that includes two code additions for reporting medical services sparked by the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first addition, CPT code 99072, allows for the provision of evaluation, treatment or procedural services during a public health emergency in a setting where extra precautions are taken to ensure the safety of patients as well as health care professionals.
The second addition, CPT code 86413, was approved in response to the development of laboratory tests that provide quantitative measurements of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, as opposed to a qualitative assessment (positive/negative) of SAR-CoV-2 antibodies provided by laboratory tests reported by other CPT codes.
The new codes go into effect immediately. For more information on the codes visit the AMA website.
Federal strategy for COVID-19 vaccine distribution
On Sept. 16, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the federal government’s initial strategy for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, The Operation Warp Speed (OWS) Strategy for Distributing a COVID-19 Vaccine. The strategy sets forth a series of considerations necessary for the effective, efficient distribution of COVID-19 vaccine doses, once available. In addition to the strategy, HHS also released an interim playbook to guide state and local operations.
Fee assessments for medical records
Among the questions we sometimes receive are those seeking guidance on fees for patient copies of medical records. There is no state law governing such fees, so federal HIPAA law applies.
Under HIPAA, a covered entity (which includes physicians) may impose "reasonable," cost-based fees for copying medical records. The fee may include only the cost of copying (including supplies and labor) and postage, if the patient requests that the copy be mailed. If the patient has agreed to receive a summary or explanation of his or her protected health information, the covered entity may also charge a fee for preparation of the summary or explanation. The fee may not include cost associated with searching for and retrieving the requested information.
For further guidance on this topic—including information related to electronic medical records—see this FAQ from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This information is among the resources available at: www.kmsonline.org/resources/practice-operations.
KHC webinar: Advance Care Planning 101
This week, the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative hosted a webinar on Advance Care Planning for physicians, mid-level practitioners, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals.
It featured presenters from the Center for Practical Bioethics discussing the living will, the appointment of the agent, the duties of both the declarant and agent that appear in these documents, and the relevant laws in both Kansas and Missouri. A recording of the one-hour presentation is available here at no cost.
KUMC webinar: Expanding the community of care for addiction treatment
The University of Kansas Medical Center is hosting a free online course on substance use treatment from noon to 4 p.m., Oct. 6. Registration available here, along with the course’s agenda, presenters, and objectives. Application for CME is pending.
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If you have questions about this update or other matters, please contact KMS Executive Director Rachelle Colombo:
