OB/GYNs – The Checkup

15 Oct

Improving Postpartum Hospital Discharge Education

In September 2018, the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force released its latest report on deaths occurring during pregnancy and up to 1 year following the end of pregnancy. Approximately 20% of maternal deaths occurred while the mother was pregnant or during the first 7 days after delivery! Detailed maternal death case reviews revealed that “inadequate knowledge and lack of early recognition of postpartum complication signs frequently contributed to death.”1 Recommendations by the Task Force included that improvements be [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan OB/GYNs Obstetrics, maternal, Postpartum, discharge, Morbidity, Mortality 0 Comments Read more...

12 Oct

Updating Texas Children’s Health Plan Member Change of Address Information

All address changes must be reported to HHSC. Members can contact HHSC by calling 2-1-1 or by updating their account on YourTexasBenefits.com. It is important to make sure address information is updated in a timely manner to ensure families continue to receive information from Texas Children’s Health Plan and HHSC. If a member has moved to an area that is not covered by Texas Children’s Health Plan, they will need to select a new health plan. If a family [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan Primary Care Providers, OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Specialists hhsc, Address Changes 0 Comments Read more...

09 Oct

Breaking Reminder: Syphilis Screening Urged for All Pregnant Women

The number of congenital syphilis cases is rising at an alarming rate. From 2012-2016 the rate of congenital syphilis increased by 87% (from 8.4 to 15.7 cases per 100,000 live births).1 According to historical data, up to 40% of pregnancies with untreated syphilis will result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. And those infants who live are at risk for skeletal abnormalities; hepatosplenomegaly; jaundice; anemia; and other complications which can cause developmental delays and seizures.2 Given that congenital syphilis [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan OB/GYNs pregnancy, pregnant, STDs, screening, OBGYN, STD, Syphilis 0 Comments Read more...

05 Oct

Texas Children’s Health Plan Provider and Member Portals

As a Texas Children’s Health Plan provider, you have access to the Texas Children’s Health Plan provider portal, called TouCHPoint. This portal can be used to check member eligibility, benefits, primary care provider selection, and claims status. To access Provider TouCHPoint, just log on to TexasChildrensHealthPlan.org/for-providers and find the TouCHPoint log-in on the right-hand side of the web page. Texas Children’s Health Plan members can access their own portal at TexasChildrensHealthPlan.org/for-members. The Member Portal allows your patients to play an [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan Primary Care Providers, OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Specialists Provider Portal, Touchpoint, Provider Touchpoint, Portal 0 Comments Read more...

04 Oct

October 11 is National Depression Screening Day

National Depression Screening Day is held annually in October. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44. It is estimated that up to 64% of youth with major depressive disorder do not receive mental health treatment. Depression in youth has been linked to school and behavioral problems, self-injury and suicide, and poor social functioning. The incidence of perinatal depression ranges from 5 to 25 percent of pregnant and postpartum women, and studies of low-income [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan Primary Care Providers, OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Specialists screening, Depression 0 Comments Read more...

01 Oct

Authorization and Verification Process Updates

Texas Children’s Health Plan has made updates to the authorization process. Individual Member Fax Requests To ensure Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance, providers must send one fax request per member with each fax having its own cover sheet. Requests received with multiple members per fax will be returned to the provider and not processed. Minimum Information Required to Process a Request Providers must use the Texas Standard Prior Authorization Request Form*, which can be found at https://www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers. Click on Downloadable [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan Primary Care Providers, OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Specialists Authorizations, HIPAA, Verification, Fax Requests 0 Comments Read more...

01 Oct

CDC data released show STD diagnoses at record high in U.S.

The CDC has released preliminary surveillance data presented at the 2018 STD Prevention Conference in Washington, D.C. Data analysis of the five year trend of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) showed a sharp increase in STDs for four consecutive years (see chart). In 2017, almost 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported to the CDC, an increase of more than 200,000 cases from 2016 (see graph). Young women continue to bear the greatest burden of chlamydia, having [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan Primary Care Providers, OB/GYNs STDs, screening, STD, Sexually Transmitted Disease 0 Comments Read more...

09 Sep

Protection for Two

Influenza vaccination is an essential element of pre-pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum care because influenza can result in serious illness, including a higher chance of progressing to pneumonia, when it occurs during the antepartum or postpartum period. In addition to hospitalization, pregnant women with influenza are at increased risk of intensive care unit admission and adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan OB/GYNs 0 Comments Read more...

20 Aug

Upcoming Changes to Prior Authorization for Antipsychotic Medications

Effective September 1, 2018, the prior authorization for antipsychotic medications will change. At the May 15th Texas Association of Community Health Plans P&T Committee meeting, the Texas Managed Care Organizations, supported by Navitus, voted by majority to modify the Antipsychotic Clinical Prior Authorization Edit in compliance with the guidelines set forth by the Health and Human Services Commission Vendor Drug Program. The health plans opted to remove the requirements for diagnoses, while maintaining criteria for age and duplicate therapy [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan Primary Care Providers, OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Specialists Vendor Drug Program, Prior Authorization, Navitus, Antipsychotic Clinical Prior Authorization Edit 0 Comments Read more...

10 Aug

Medication Synchronization Plan

Effective September 1, 2018, Texas Children’s Health Plan members can receive the Medication Synchronization benefit that will allow them to pick up all of their prescription medication refills on a single day each month, rather than having to go to the pharmacy multiple times per month. The coordination of refills is proven to lead to better adherence to medication regimens. Inform your patients about this exciting new option. Taking advantage of the Medication Synchronization benefit is as simple as the [...]

By Texas Children's Health Plan Primary Care Providers, OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Specialists Pharmacy, medication synchronization plan, Texas Drug Code Index 0 Comments Read more...