What Has the Georgia AAP Done for You Lately?

Kathryn K. Cheek, MD, FAAP

From the President. 

This is a question asked by many people as they wonder about the value of  many organizations they are a part of.  At the Georgia Chapter I think we have good answers to that question for you  this spring.

The Georgia General Assembly adjourned a few weeks ago and we were there, involved and advocating on your behalf and for the patients we care for daily.  Unfortunately, Medicaid rates were cut by 0.5%. We testified to legislative committees that Medicaid reimbursement was on an unsustainable path which would ultimately impact access to care.  We were glad the cut was no worse than that in a very tough budget year; but we will still ask the Governor to veto this cut and preserve some stability in the Medicaid program. We were successful in  making  other things happen that you will be pleased about: Medicaid eligibility will improve thanks to “

Express Lane

” changes in the budget, scope expansions by other providers were held in check, and an idea that would  have required fingerprinting of Medicaid patients was also stopped.

Our winter board meeting was well attended and highly informative, with guest speaker Brian Castrucci, head of the state’s Maternal & Children Health branch. MCH programs are vitally important to our patients and we work closely with MCH to help you have these services available in your community for your patients.

In a few months, the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition will have a new coordinator housed at the Chapter office. Our goal is to make the Chapter a leader in this important area and a resource to you as well. A revitalized coalition will improve the supportive climate for breastfeeding and we think it is something you’ll soon notice in your community.

We had a meeting with new Department of Community Health commissioner David Cook.  We were the first of the specialty societies to meet with him.  We brought several of our Medicaid concerns to his attention and we were impressed by his receptiveness to listening and to taking a hard look at the current Medicaid structure in our state.  He wants to hear from us about our issues and with your help, he will. Please continue to provide us with your concerns/problems so we may work to facilitate solutions. You may do so by completing the Hassle Factor Form on the web site gaaap.org or calling us directly at 404-881-5020.

In January we learned of an unfair practice by one of the Medicaid CMO’s who recouped funds retroactively for a code (96110) which they decided no longer to pay. They stopped this egregious practice after we protested; and efforts to get them to refund what was recouped are ongoing.

We also, after months of discussion, convinced Medicaid to stop requiring NDC’s for vaccines when filing for administration fees. If you are still having any problems with reimbursement related to this issue please let us know.

We continue to meet regularly with the Ga. Coalition of Children’s Hospitals to investigate improved Medicaid service delivery models in the future. We are in the process of developing a ½ day meeting soon to facilitate our efforts to better inform  ourselves about other  more successful Medicaid programs across the US.

As you read this, we will have launched a new Georgia AAP blog, along with Twitter and Facebook accounts to help our members keep in touch with the Chapter and each other more easily. We hope to be able to inform you of state/local events in a more timely fashion using these outlets. These new media channels will be most successful with your input and we looking forward to interfacing with you in a new way.

Bob Wiskind, MD and a Georgia team attended an AAP Disaster Planning meeting in Chicago to ensure pediatricians have the information they need to properly prepare for such circumstances.  Melinda Willingham, MD, went to the AAP federal legislative affairs conference in Washington to follow federal issues impacting pediatrics.

Near the end of April we met with new Public Health Director, Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, to discuss the many issues in child health which our two organizations share. We’re confident she’ll be a terrific advocate for children and we are looking forward to a great partnership with the new Department of Public Health.

Finally, we have a terrific CME conference planned for you in mid-June at Pediatrics by the Sea.  All this above could not be accomplished without the interest and engagement of members like you, our board and committee chairs, along with our excellent staff.  YOU make it happen—by your membership and involvement. Thank you. Grab your bathing suit - I hope to see you there!! Remember, we are…pediatricians, caring for Georgia’s most valuable resource.

Kathryn K. Cheek, MD, FAAP

President