Primary Care Providers

Articles with relevant information for Primary Care Providers (PCP).
02Feb

Texas Standard Prior Authorization Request Form compliance grace period has ended

Starting January 1, 2019, the 90-day grace period for compliance with the exclusive use of the Texas Standard Prior Authorization Request Form has ended. From this date forward, providers must use the Texas Standard Prior Authorization Request Form, which can be found at https://www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers. Click on Downloadable Forms on the left-hand side, then click Standard Prior Authorization Form or Behavioral Health Authorization Form to download. As a reminder, the following essential information is required to start the authorization process: Member Name, Member...

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28Jan

Help your patients keep their New Year’s resolutions in 2019!

Texas Children’s Health Plan offers two programs that can help your patients stick to their New Year’s resolutions well into 2019! The Keep Fit program is available to STAR and CHIP patients ages 10-18 with a BMI of 20+. This program helps kids learn fun, easy ways to stay active and make smart food choices. It offers health coaching, four health and fitness sessions, at-home workout materials, and a quarterly newsletter – all at no cost to the member’s family. If...

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17Jan

What is the Medically Dependent Children’s Program (MDCP) Waiver?

If you have STAR Kids patients, there’s a chance some of them receive the Medically Dependent Children’s Program (MDCP) waiver, which is a home and community based services program. The goal of this program is to support families and children by preventing institutionalization and hospitalization, while helping them remain safely in their homes with the appropriate services. Examples of these services include flexible family support service, respite, minor home modifications, adaptive aids, transition assistance services, employment assistance, supported employment, and...

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14Jan

Dr. Katy Ostermaier joins Texas Children’s Health Plan as Medical Director for STAR Kids

This past fall, Texas Children’s Health Plan was thrilled to welcome Dr. Katy Ostermaier as the new Medical Director for STAR Kids. Dr. Ostermaier joins us from Texas Children’s Hospital, where she started the Special Needs Primary Care Clinic and served as the Clinic Chief for the Spina Bifida Clinic and the Down Syndrome Clinic. She completed medical school and her pediatric residency at Baylor College of Medicine, where she joined the faculty after completing her training. Dr. Ostermaier is...

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04Jan

Identifying and treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Season affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that appears related to seasonal changes. This recurrent depression may happen every year and occurs most commonly in the fall and winter when the daylight hours shorten, but it may also occur in the spring and summer. SAD may affect up to 5% of the population and seems to be more common in Northern climates and in individuals with a personal history of depression and those with a close relative who...

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02Jan

Reminder: Tdap Vaccine Coverage for CHIP Perinatal Members

This reminder is to ensure that all providers are knowledgeable on which vaccines are covered for CHIP Perinatal (CHIP-P) members. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is routine prenatal care and is covered in CHIP-P. As noted in the ACOG committee opinion: “The overwhelming majority of morbidity and mortality attributable to pertussis infection occurs in...

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Provider Alert!
02Jan

Provider Alert! TCHP Prior Authorization Requirement

Effective January 1, 2019, TCHP will be updating the prior authorization listing. Please note there are some key changes for providers. Removed from the list and will no longer require prior authorization: Baclofen Pump New to the list: Home Telemonitoring Updates: Ambulance (non-emergent transport) has been updated to Non-Emergency Ambulance Transport. Augmentative Communication Device has been updated to Augmentative Communication Device and Accessories. Chemotherapy non-FDA approved has been updated to Non-FDA approved medications. Cranial Molding Orthosis (Helmets) has been updated to Cranial Molding Orthosis. High cost (>$50,000) injectable in the outpatient...

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Provider Alert!
01Jan

Provider Alert! Texas Standard Prior Authorization Request Form compliance grace period has ended

Starting January 1, 2019, the 90-day grace period for compliance with the exclusive use of the Texas Standard Prior Authorization Request Form has ended. From this date forward, providers must use the Texas Standard Prior Authorization Request Form, which can be found at: https://www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers. Click on Downloadable Forms on the left-hand side, then click Standard Prior Authorization Form or Behavioral Health Authorization Form to download. As a reminder, the following essential information is required to start the authorization process: Member Name, Member Date...

By OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists, , 0 CommentsRead more...
19Dec

Antivirals and the flu: know when the time is right

Antiviral medications play a role in treating influenza, but they are not a substitute for vaccination.  According to CDC recommendations, all patients at high risk for complications who appear to have influenza should be considered for early antiviral treatment, independent of laboratory confirmation or influenza vaccine status. This approach can help reduce morbidity and mortality, particularly in young children and those who have underlying co-morbidities. Clinical trials and observational data show that early antiviral treatment can shorten the duration of...

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19Dec

CDC data release shows STD diagnoses at record high in U.S.

CDC data release shows 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...

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