Payment Matters

Managing H1N1 Vaccines
Medicare Issues Reimbursement Guidance

AAPA vice president of health systems and reimbursement Michael Powe outlines new H1N1 vaccine guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Service and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Powe explains how the vaccines will be covered under Medicare and which codes PAs should use for billing.

CDC information on H1N1 flu can be found here.

Cover Story

Preventing the Next Great Pandemic

This past summer, PA Rick Kilgore and his staff, including two other PAs, administered clinical trials for the H1N1 vaccine to 63 of their patients. Learn more about the clinical trial process and how this group's work contributed to ensuring the safety of this new vaccine.

Feature Story

At Long Last, a PA Program in Alaska

Although there are more PAs per capita than any other state in the U.S., until recently native Alaskans couldn't complete their full PA training in their home state. But thanks to a partnership between MEDEX Northwest-the PA program based at the University of Washington School of Medicine-and the University of Alaska at Anchorage, 19 PA students are now the first to pursue their entire education in Alaska. Find out how years of persistence by Alaska PAs and their supporters finally made this program a reality.

Feature Story

IOM Releases List of Priority Topics for Comparative Effectiveness Research

New federal funding for comparative effectiveness research (CER) is the first step in a national effort to give patients and clinicians better information about treatment and prevention options. The Institute of Medicine recently released a list of the top 100 research priorities for this type of research. Find out how the IOM committee chose these priorities and what it recommends in order for a national CER effort to be successful.

Fine Print

"Hammering" Out Your Insurance Coverage
Considering the "Consent to Settle" Policy Provision

Gary McCammon explains a provision within some professional liability insurance policies known as "consent to settle" and its corresponding "hammer" clause. He describes what these provisions mean and how they can affect you if you are involved in a liability claim.

For more information about AAPA Insurance Services click here.

e-connections

The Best Free PDA Software

PAs with smart phones will want to review this list of the top free PDA medical software recommended by PA Allan Platt, the author of "Evidence Based Medicine for PDAs." According to Platt, each item on the list operates without Wi-Fi or cell phone access and is useful for quick reference in a clinic or hospital setting.