AAKP will present a May 14, 2019 webinar on Understanding Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) – What is it? How can it be managed? Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8410471602615141899. Future HealthLine webinars will discuss Traveling While on Dialysis in June, and Exercise and Physical Rehabilitation in July. AAKP’s HealthLine page at https://aakp.org/aakp-healthline/ includes a link to their long list of past HealthLine webinars.
CDC’s comprehensive resources on Applying CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids: An Online Training Series for Healthcare Providers can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/training/online-training.html.
CMS has published “Myths and Facts” about their new Medicare Part D Opioid Overutilization Policies that became effective effective January 1, 2019 (https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovContra/RxUtilization.html).
Myth: “Medicare is forcing all Part D enrollees to taper prescription opioids below a certain amount.”
Facts:
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Help Desk: NHSN is now using a help desk management system for all NHSN inquiries. Each message will now be assigned a ticket number for tracking. When you contact NHSN@cdc.gov, you will receive a notification that your incident has been assigned a ticket number and all correspondence on that subject will be tracked by that number. The appropriate subject matter expert will respond to your message as soon as possible.
Training Needs Assessment: If you have already taken the NHSN Dialysis Event Module Training Needs Assessment, and the survey only allowed you to complete the ‘Demographics’ section, please retake the Assessment, at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DialysisEventTNA, by May 31, 2019.
Training Webinars: NHSN will provide free webinars for new and experienced NHSN users. CDC subject matter experts will be available to answer your questions about NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance.
For any of the webinars, Listen-only audio will be available through your computer speakers. For dial-in audio access, call 303-248-0285 and use Access Code 6393927. Please contact NHSN@cdc.gov with “Dialysis” in the subject line with any questions.
CMS has announced that the comment period for their Proposed Rules on Interoperability of Electronic Medical Records has been extended to June 3, 2019. The Proposed Rules are aimed at promoting the ability of different health information technologies to communicate with one another, and at enabling patients to electronically access their health information. Find the Proposed Rules at https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2019/02/11/hhs-proposes-new-rules-improve-interoperability-electronic-health-information.html.
The extension of the public comment period coincides with release, from the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, of:
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The FDA has issued a warning that pre-owned or unauthorized test strips for insulin, warfarin, and other uses may produce inaccurate results with possible serious consequences. For details see https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm635478.htm.
The Home Dialysis Central blog has published a post on Home Hemodialysis 101. Find it at https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/304-dialysis-101-for-home-hemodialysis-hd.
