Letters to the Editor

In July 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made its first proposals to overhaul the primary payment methodology for outpatient services in over 20 years. In an attempt to simplify documentation, bill submission, and compliance requirements, CMS made a bold move that will materially change the way physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) manage their clinical work flows. In essence, the recommendation was to eliminate the variable payments for the different Evaluation and …

With opiate abuse and overdose rates at epidemic levels, the campaign for easing access to the potentially life-saving reversal agent Narcan (naloxone) has gained significant momentum. It began with EMS and law enforcement, but has since expanded to schools, community centers, and public spaces; now it is available over the counter in most every state.             Some experts and law enforcement agencies have declared this a well-intentioned mistake. Increasing access, they say, is a “moral …

In my previous column, I introduced why antibiotic stewardship is important to urgent care practice and presented some practical solutions to common scenarios that can lead to overprescribing of antibiotics. This month, let’s look at some efforts underway to promote stewardship through education and performance improvement initiatives. Quality improvement (QI) programs have several key components that apply very well to antibiotic stewardship initiatives; these can serve as a guide as you prepare your own plan …