What are the cutaneous side effects associated with drugs prescribed for COVID-19?
In a recently published article in JAAD, the authors review the cutaneous side effects associated with the most frequently prescribed drugs in patients with COVID-19, including antimalarials (chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine), antivirals (lopinavir/ribavirin, remdesivir, among others), and treatments for complications (imatinib, tocilizumab, immunoglobulins, corticosteroids, among others).
Most of the medications may induce an exanthematous drug eruption. This can be distinguished from the similar COVID-19-induced eruption that starts concomitantly with viral symptoms. Ribavirin may cause an eczematous drug eruption, while lopinavir/ritonavir (protease inhibitors used in HIV treatment) may cause painful leg edema beginning several weeks after treatment initiation. Imatinib may cause edema and pigmentary disorders in addition to a maculopapular rash. Read the study to get a more detailed breakdown of cutaneous adverse effects by treatment type.
Many of the treatments prescribed for COVID-19 may cause a wide variety of cutaneous adverse effects that should be considered in the differential diagnosis, the authors recommend.
DermWorld Insights and Inquiries: Mentorship mentation — Bringing out the best of us!
I have been experiencing sports withdrawal during this COVID-19 life pause. I even (excitedly) gobbled up the recently televised NBA HORSE competition. Currently, my family and I are enjoying ESPN’s 10-hour documentary The Last Dance, which chronicles the 1990s-era Chicago Bulls’ dynasty through the prism of their final season together. Amidst the background of dramatic storylines and tensions, a theme of mentorship (from Coach Phil Jackson to veteran players such as Michael Jordan imparting key lessons to teammates) emerged. Their mentorship of younger basketball stars held the Bulls together, allowing them to achieve their legendary championship aspirations.
As in sports, life, and dermatology, stories of inspirational mentors abound, highlighting the reality that no person attains professional and personal successes solely on their own; rather, it is only the investment of selfless support and encouragement of others that allow a person’s talent to reach its potential. Matthew Putnam, MD, remarked, “It’s worth noting that even smart and famous people needed mentors.” Mentorship (whether serving as a mentor or being mentored) is particularly important during the current times, providing a readily available source of joy and gratitude helping us pierce the hovering (and seemingly constant) clouds of the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep reading!
Derm Coding Consult: CMS resumes medical claim review audits
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will be restarting claim audit reviews conducted by the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), and Supplemental Medical Review Contractors (SMRCs). Claim audit reviews had been suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).
In a revised COVID-19 Provider Burden Relief Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document posted July 7, CMS announced that service-specific medical audits would resume on Aug. 3, 2020 regardless of the status of the PHE and would include pre-payment Medicare reviews under the Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) program, along with post-payment reviews by SMRCs and RACs.
Given that many dermatology practices are still closed due to the PHE, some practices will have difficulty responding in a timely manner to these audit requests. CMS has stated that if selected for review, a practice that is unable to meet response requirements should discuss with the contractor any COVID-19-related hardships that may affect the timeliness of their response. Learn more in Derm Coding Consult.
NYT publishes Academy’s response to skin of color article
The Academy responded to the article “Dermatology Has a Problem With Skin Color” — published by the New York Times on Aug. 30 — stating that the article headline “misleads readers, as it implies that dermatologists do not want to see patients of color. We unequivocally assert that this is untrue.”
The Academy “has a deep commitment to working with educational programs and medical journals to address the issue of darker skin tones in textbooks and publications.” The letter reiterates the Academy’s goals to continue expanding mentorship and pipeline programs for college students attending Black colleges and universities.
The Academy’s 2020 Virtual Diversity Champion Workshop will be help Sept. 25 to discuss dermatology diversity outreach programs and initiatives, exchange ideas, and share success stories. Learn more about the workshop and register.
CMS and its contractor, Acumen, LLC, will conduct field testing Aug. 17 – Sept. 18 for five episode-based cost measures before consideration of their potential use in the ‘cost’ performance category of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Cost is one of the four MIPS performance categories. CMS will test episode-based cost measures, which are used to gauge the total cost of care for a condition and related services during the performance year. Among the measures being tested is a melanoma cost measure developed with input from the AADA. These measures were developed with input from various specialty societies and other clinician groups.
Why is it important to participate? Field testing is an opportunity for physicians and other stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft measure specifications of the cost measures. Feedback shared on these draft specifications will be used to consider potential measure refinements following field testing.
Who is qualified to participate? During field testing, physicians and practices who were attributed 10 or more episodes from at least one of the cost measures during the 2019 measurement period will receive a report with information about their cost performance. Qualified providers can also access the report on the QPP website. Dermatologists who meet the 10-episode threshold may volunteer to provide feedback on the resources associated with the measure. Responses will be used to help validate the costs associated with melanoma care.
Academy seeks assistant secretary-treasurer nominees
Applications and nominations are now being solicited for the position of assistant secretary-treasurer for the American Academy of Dermatology and AAD Association for the term beginning March 2022.
Members interested in serving the Academy in this position should have significant administrative and financial management experience. The position of assistant secretary-treasurer requires a considerable time commitment. Applicants must be able to serve for six years: three years as assistant secretary-treasurer and three additional years as secretary-treasurer.
Learn more about the position and apply at staging.aad.org/AST. Applications are due Jan. 4, 2021. Questions may be directed to Cyndi Del Boccio in the AAD Executive Office at (847) 240-1041 or cdelboccio@aad.org.
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