12/31 Old HICNs Valid for Only Six More Months

There are only six months to go on the transition to the New Medicare Card.  To help prevent identity theft, the New Card removes a patient’s Social Security Number from their Card and replaces it with a new, randomly-assigned “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier” or MBI.  MBIs must be protected as confidential PII.  All patients should have received their new card by now, barring mailing address problems.  After December 31, 2019 billing with the old “Health Insurance Claim Number” or HICN will be disallowed.  If your facility has patients that don’t have a New Card, refer to https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/SE18006.pdf for instructions.  Railroad Retirement Board Medicare cards are going through a parallel transition.

Free CDC Infection Control CEs

CDC is presenting several new free CE-available online Infection Control training programs:

• Their Infection Prevention and Control Training for Healthcare Professionals program offers Let’s Talk Patient Safety: Reducing HAI Transmission Risk, divided into two modules, one on What’s the Risk? and the other on Chain of Inection.  Find them at https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/training/infection-control.html.

• The contribution of Environmental Services: EVS and the Battle Against Infection: a Graphic Novel (no CEs on this one). at https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/training/evs-battle-infection.html.

• The first two of eleven webinars in the States Targeting Reduction in Infections via Engagement or STRIVE program, which include Foundational Infection Prevention Strategies: Competency-based Training, Audits and Feedback, and Hand Hygiene. Find these at https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/training/strive.html.  The other nine courses are due by October, and include:
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Environmental Cleaning
  • Building a Business Case for Infection Prevention
  • Strategies for Preventing HAIs
  • Patient and Family Engagement
  • C. difficile Infection
  • MRSA Bacteremia
  • CLABSI
  • CAUTI

Warning: Medtronic MiniMed Insulin Pumps

The FDA has warned that certain Medtronic MiniMed Insulin Pump models are not protected from hackers, who could alter the insulin settings.  Medtronic is replacing the inadequately protected pumps.  For recommendations on protecting yourself while awaiting a replacement, a list of models and software versions involved, and more information, see https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/certain-medtronic-minimed-insulin-pumps-have-potential-cybersecurity-risks-fda-safety-communication.

8/7 CCCC Webinar on Medical Cannabis

The Coalition for Compassionate Care of California will present an August 8, 2019 webinar on Medical Cannabis: Patient Education for Safe and Effective Use.  Continuing Education credits are available for nurses and social workers.  For details and registration see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/webinar-medical-cannabis-patient-education-for-safe-effective-use-tickets-64247330495?aff=ebapi.

7/4 NW18 UCLA CORE Kidney Program Festival

The UCLA CORE Kidney Program has announced that they’ll be participating in the 115th Annual Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade & Festival.  For more information on this and other UCLA CORE Kidney and UKEEP events, see https://www.uclahealth.org/core-kidney/upcoming-events.  For instance, their webinar on Alport Syndrome is coming up on July 11, 2019, as well as UKEEP’s patient meeting on High Blood Pressure on July 14.  Recordings of past UCLA CORE Kidney and UKEEP webinars, on topics such as Transplantation, Fabry’s Disease, Adult PKD, and more, can be found at https://www.uclahealth.org/core-kidney/past-events.

They’ve also announced the date for their 2020 UCLA Kidney Health Fair & Spirit Walk for Kidney Disease, May 17, 2020.  Find more information at https://www.uclahealth.org/core-kidney/kidney-health-fair.

7/15 NW18 Quality Conference 2019

Comagine Health ESRD Network 18 will hold its Annual Quality Conference 2019 in Los Angeles on July 15, 2019.  Topics include:

• A Patient Panel Discussion on Patient Perspectives on Adherence to Treatment
• New Changes to the ESRD QIP and How it Impacts Facilities
• De-escalation of Disruptive Behaviors and the Social Work Role in Patient Advocacy
• CROWNWeb Question and Answer
• And More!

The program is designed for Facility Managers/Administrators, Nurses, Social Workers, Dietitians, Technicians, Medical Directors, and any other staff that would benefit from a great learning opportunity.  4.5 Nursing or Social Work CE credits are available.  For details and registration see http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07egas42064eea495b&llr=gfuz7mxab&showPage=true.

2019 Kidney Walks

NKF has scheduled 2019 Kidney Walks for the following places and dates:

• Irvine CA September 22, 2019, http://donate.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/NKFServingtheWest?pg=entry&fr_id=9035.
• Boise ID September 29, 2019, http://donate.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/UtahampIdaho?pg=entry&fr_id=9172.
• Encino CA October 13, 2019, http://donate.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/NKFServingtheWest?pg=entry&fr_id=9026.

There appear to be none scheduled for Washington, Oregon, Montana, or Alaska.  For more information on Kidney Walks, see https://secure2.convio.net/nkf/site/SPageNavigator/kidney_walk_splash.html.