OB/GYNs – Page 61 – The Checkup

Articles with relevant information for OB/GYNs

21SepSeptember 21, 2016

Undescended Testicles and the Use of Ultrasound

Cryptorchidism or undescended testis (UDT) is the most common urological birth defect, occurring in 1 in 33 live male births. The most important reasons for surgical treatment of cryptorchidism include increased risks of testicular malignancy, infertility, testis torsion and/or inguinal hernia. The current standard of treatment for any UDT that fails to spontaneously descend by 6 months of age in the United States is orchidopexy (surgery to reposition the testis to the scrotum). Evaluation of UDT includes a thorough gestational...

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNs, Primary Care Providers, SpecialistsCryptorchidism, pediatrics, UDT, Ultrasound, Undescended Testicle, Urology0 CommentsRead more...

03JulJuly 3, 2016

Zika Virus Resources

The clinical and epidemiologic information about Zika Virus is rapidly evolving. Below you will find a list of websites and resources with the most up-to-date information regarding the infection. Texas Department of State Health Services Webinar: The Department of State Health Services has prepared a recorded webinar on the Zika Virus Disease by Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS Commissioner. The presentation includes information relevant to Texas providers on Zika incidence, distribution of the disease, modes of transmission, strategies to prevent transmission, and symptoms. The...

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNsCDC, Mosquito, Virus, Zika0 CommentsRead more...

06MayMay 6, 2016

Annual Chlamydia Screening—No Pelvic Necessary!

Annual chlamydia screening is recommended for all sexually active women ages 15 to 24, as well as older women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection. Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) are the most sensitive tests, and can be performed on easily obtainable specimens such as urine or vaginal swabs (either clinician- or patient-collected). The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted infections...

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNschlamydia, NAATs, Obstetrics, STDs0 CommentsRead more...

05AprApril 5, 2016

Cesarean Delivery

This article presents new research and strategies to safely reduce the rate of primary Cesarean delivery. One out of three deliveries is by Cesarean. In certain situations, Cesarean can be life-saving for both mother and baby. But Cesarean deliveries aslo carry greater risks for mothers—research has shown that women who deliver their first baby by cesarean are more likely to need blood transfusions and be admitted to the ICU than women who have a vaginal delivery. In addition, after that first...

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNsC-section, Cesarean, OB, pregnancy, pregnant, Procedures0 CommentsRead more...

17MarMarch 17, 2016

Provider Alert! LARC Billing Update

Paragard and Nexplanon have been added to the Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) Buy Back Program. Paragard IUD (manufactured by Teva) and Nexplanon Implant (manufactured by Merck), have been added to the LARC Buy Back program, as the Mirena and Skyla currently are. Mirena and Skyla are currently available from Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy (NOTE: that has not changed from before). The Texas Medicaid/CHIP Vendor Drug Program has verified which pharmacies the Paragard IUD and Nexplanon Implants are available. In the case of Paragard: Biologics, Inc, Specialty...

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNs, Office ManagersCHIP, IUD, LARC, medicaid, Nexplanon, Paragard, reversible contraception, Vendor Drug Program0 CommentsRead more...

15MarMarch 15, 2016

Zika Virus and Pregnant Women

Everyone is talking about Zika! The virus is transmitted through infected mosquitos. Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, along with parts of South America, have documented transmission of the virus and pregnant women who live in or travel to these areas are at risk of infection. Infection during pregnancy may or may not be accompanied by symptoms and has been associated with microcephaly. No treatment is available at this time. The most important thing to remember is that our knowledge about several...

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNsMosquito, OB, Obstetrics, pregnancy, pregnant, Virus, Zika0 CommentsRead more...

12JanJanuary 12, 2016

The Importance of Educating Patient’s Caregivers on Shaken Baby Syndrome

Shaken baby syndrome, or inflicted traumatic brain injury, is caused by the violent shaking of a child with or without contact between the child’s head and a hard surface. Such contact may result in head trauma, including subdural hematoma, diffuse axonal injury and retinal hemorrhage. Shaken baby syndrome, is the most common cause of traumatic death for children younger than 1 year. Approximately 20 per 100,000 infants per year experience abusive head injuries resulting from shaking typically triggered by a...

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNs, Primary Care Providersbabies, crying, head trauma, infants, parenting, parents, pediatric, period of purple crying, shaken baby syndrome0 CommentsRead more...

23DecDecember 23, 2015

Provider Alert! Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Billing Changes

To: All Providers and Facilities Subject: Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) Billing Changes Recent changes at Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has improved the accessibility of LARC devices for Medicaid members. HHSC is currently working to add ParaGard, Nexplanon and Liletta to the Medicaid Vendor Drug Program formulary. More information on these products and the process to order will be supplied as these are added. Once added, providers may choose to continue to “buy and bill” or they may choose to...

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNs, Office Managers, Provider Alertbilling, contraception, hhsc, insurance, LARC, medicaid, provider alert, provider relations, reversible contraception0 CommentsRead more...

23DecDecember 23, 2015

Vaccines and Pregnancy

By Dr. Lisa Hollier, MD MPH Chief Medical Officer Texas Children’s Health Plan Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Director, Health Policy Division, Baylor College of Medicine Pregnant women, along with their fetuses, are particularly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable disease-related complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have made recommendations for adult vaccines and there are two that are directly recommended for administration during pregnancy, four are recommended in pregnancy based on additional risk factors, and two are specifically recommended during the postpartum period (see table)....

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNsfetal, GBS, group b, gynecologist, gynecology, immunization, influenza, maternal, OB, Obstetrics, pregnancy, RSV, tdap, vaccination, vaccines0 CommentsRead more...

01SepSeptember 1, 2015

Provider Alert! Preventing Pre-Term Pregnancies

To: All Providers Subject: Effective September 1, 2015 all Progesterone therapy will require a pre-authorization from Texas Children’s Health Plan. Claims billed using the branded Makena will no longer require a U1 modifier. Pre-authorized use of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) will need to be submitted as J1725 with the appropriate NDC information as required on all claims. Claims billed using the compounded 17-P therapy will now require the U1 modifier. Pre-authorized use of 17-P will need to be submitted as J1725 with the...

By Texas Children's Health PlanOB/GYNs, Provider Alertclaims, pre-authorization, pre-term, pregnancy, pregnant, progesterone, provider alert, providers0 CommentsRead more...