The Academy learned from the iPLEDGE contractor that at-home pregnancy tests and telemedicine visits are acceptable for complying with the iPLEDGE requirements during the COVID-19 outbreak. Dermatologists will still have to enter pregnancy test information for prescriptions to be filled. Check out the new requirements on AAD.org.
The Academy has developed new free Dialogues in Dermatology episodes covering COVID-19. Check out the latest, “Navigating Practice During COVID-19: AAD Resources and Embracing Teledermatology,” that features Jules Lipoff, MD, and George Hruza, MD, MBA, interviewed by Terry Cronin Jr., MD. Listen to this free Dialogues in Dermatology podcast today.
The AAD has also assembled resources on COVID-19, including guidance on how to adjust to the outbreak in your clinic, legislative and regulatory updates that may impact you and your practice, information about the business implications of the outbreak, and the latest information on how to use teledermatology to provide care during the outbreak. Check out the Academy’s COVID-19 resources.
DW Insights and Inquiries: Knuckling down on knuckle pads
A frustrated patient with knuckle pads (KP) pleaded with me to come up with a solution for his embarrassing problem. I promised him that I would knuckle down and review the latest literature to see if there are any new management strategies for this benign, but aggravating, condition.
KP (aka Garrod’s nodes), may be idiopathic, genetic, or acquired. Primary KP need to be differentiated from secondary KP, so-called “pseudo-KP” (PKP). PKP are trauma-induced, with friction causing KP-like calluses over the interphalyngeal joints; certain professions, such as boxers or carpet layers, are at risk. Those who chew on their knuckles, or have trauma to the regions, as in bulimic patients, may present with PKP. PKP tends to improve by eliminating the inciting factors, in combination with topical therapy. Keep reading!
Medicare offers physicians advance payments to address COVID-19 cash-flow issues
As part of the recently enacted CARES Act, CMS is expanding its accelerated and advance payment program for all Medicare physicians throughout the country to ensure they have the resources needed to combat COVID-19.
These expedited payments are typically offered in natural disasters to accelerate cash flow to the impacted physicians and suppliers. To qualify for accelerated or advance payments, the physician or supplier must:
Have billed Medicare for claims within 180 days immediately prior to the date of signature on the physician’s/ supplier’s request form,
Not be in bankruptcy,
Not be under active medical review or program integrity investigation, and
Not have any outstanding delinquent Medicare overpayments.
Physicians are asked to request a specific amount of 100% payment for three months using an accelerated or advance payment request form provided on each MAC’s website. Medicare will start accepting and processing the accelerated/advance payment requests immediately. CMS anticipates that the payments will be issued within seven days of the physician’s request.
Participants in the program will be required to start paying back the loan 120 days after receiving the loan and will need to pay back the full amountof the loan 210 days after receiving the loan. Read more from CMS.The Academy has reached out to CMS for more information on implementation of this extended program.
FDA approves crisaborole for AD patients as young as three months
The FDA approved the supplemental new drug application for the topical crisaborole 2% for children as young as three months with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic has not only disrupted access to care, it is stalling clinical trials and other aspects of drug development that could impact patient access to drugs. According to a search of a database maintained by BioMdTracker, there are currently more than 120 phase 3 clinical trials that were expected to have data readouts before the end of the year. However, delays are being announced every day, including trials for Crohn’s disease and psoriatic arthritis drugs.
Drug trials for pediatric patients have endured several obstacles. However, is the drug trial landscape about to change? Read more in Dermatology World.
Derm Coding Consult: Guidance on using teledermatology during the COVID-19 pandemic
Many dermatologists are using teledermatology during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to see patients without contributing to the spread of the virus. This week, Derm Coding Consult has TWO new articles to help dermatologists:
Will ultrasound gel improve wart treatment efficacy?
According to a recent study published in JAAD, applying ultrasound gel to viral warts before cryotherapy may improve the treatment rate efficacy. According to the paper authors, the “use of ultrasound gel followed by cryotherapy increases the freezing time with minimal use of cryogen, thereby increasing the success rate with minimal side effects of cryotherapy.”
Can the HPV vaccination be used to treat common warts? Read more in DWW.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has signed into law legislation that bans minors under 18 from indoor tanning. Virginia is the 23rd state to ban indoor tanning for minors under 18.
Join the Academy’s skin cancer measure testing project
The Academy is seeking participants for its new skin cancer measure testing project. Your participation will help build better dermatology measures for clinical practice, DataDerm™, and MIPS. These outcome measures will help you see which patients with skin cancer are improving.
Participants will be asked to provide data on five quality measures on skin cancer, including process and outcome measures addressing appropriate surgical margins, post-operative complications, dysplastic nevi biopsies, biopsy site photos, and tracking of recurrence.
Use your personalized online voting link or your voting access code to cast your vote for the AAD election through April 4.
Available via AAD emails, the personalized online voting link will take you directly to the AAD voting site where you can view the ballot book and cast your vote. The voting access code can be used when you log in to www.esc-vote.com/aad along with your AAD member ID number to cast your vote.
Get to know the 2020 candidates. Visit the AAD Election Connection to learn about this year’s candidates and to interact with them on top issues via the online Ask the Candidates forum.
Members who wish to receive a PDF of the 2020 AAD Election ballot book by email may request it at candidates@aad.org.
Members who wish to vote by mail may print their online secure voting ballot beginning March 21. NOTE: All ballots must be received by April 4 at 11:59 PM (ET).
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