Healthcare workers at the University of Louisville, including three physicians, were among the first Kentuckians to receive the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. The vaccine is a two-dose series administered intramuscularly three weeks apart. The majority of the 38,025 doses included in Kentucky’s initial shipment will be given to residents and staff of nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The remaining 12,675 doses will go to front-line workers at hospitals.
The eleven hospitals receiving the first shipment of the vaccine include:
- Norton Healthcare, Louisville: 1,950 doses
- University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, Lexington : 1,950
- University of Louisville Hospital: 975
- St. Elizabeth HealthCare, Edgewood: 975
- Med Center Health, Bowling Green: 975
- Lourdes Hospital, Paducah: 975
- Pikeville Medical Center: 975
- Baptist Health Louisville: 975
- Baptist Health Lexington: 975
- Baptist Health Corbin: 975
- Baptist Health Madisonville: 975
The Centers for Disease Control has released a presentation, “What Clinicians Need to Know About the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine,” available here.
KMA has compiled additional COVID-19 vaccine resources for physicians. These resources are also available on KMA’s dedicated COVID-19 page, kyma.org/covid19.
- Kentucky Department for Public Health: Kentucky Vaccination Plan Frequently Asked Questions
- Centers for Disease Control: Engaging in Effective COVID-19 Vaccination Conversations
- Centers for Disease Control: Toolkits for Medical Centers, Clinics and Clinicians
- Centers for Disease Control: Overview of Shipping, Handling and Storage
- Kentucky Department for Public Health: Quick Guide to COVID-19 Vaccines
Submit Your Vaccine Story and Photos
KMA is encouraging member physicians to help spread COVID-19 vaccine awareness and education by sharing your vaccine story and photos.
Throughout the beginning of the pandemic, KMA shared the essays of physicians from across the state through the popular “In Your Own Words” series. KMA would like to continue this series with a focus on spreading awareness about the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, as told by the state’s physicians.
If you have received or will be receiving the vaccine and would like to share a photo or essay, please contact KMA Communications Director Emily Schott, schott@kyma.org.
Register Today: KMA Advocacy in Action Month Kickoff
KMA physicians are encouraged to engage with their legislators to promote priority issues as the Association hosts a virtual “Advocacy in Action Month” throughout February 2021, which will be launched via a virtual member briefing Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. ET. Registration for the event is now available here.
Advocacy in Action Month will replace “Physicians’ Day at the Capitol,” the in-person KMA advocacy event held in Frankfort each year, out of concern for the health and safety of Kentucky’s physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Feb. 1 kickoff event will discuss the Association’s legislative priorities for the. Members will also be encouraged throughout the month to reach out to their legislators as part of the initiative’s “Talk Tuesdays” events, as well as to contribute to the Kentucky Physicians Political Action Committee (KPPAC) during “KPPACtion Day.”
Resources for 2021 E/M Office Visit Changes
The American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have finalized the most significant changes to evaluation and management (E/M) CPT® office visit coding and documentation in nearly 30 years. These changes were designed to reduce the administrative burden of documentation and coding while improving patient care. However, the revised E/M office visit codes, which take effect January 1, 2021, will require providers to make changes to their billing and documentation practices.
CGS Medicare will discuss changes to 2021 E/M office visits during a free webinar, “A Year in Review: Say GOOD-BYE to 2020 and HELLO to 2021!” on Friday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. ET. Registration is available here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2452121347616162060.
In addition, the AMA has developed a number of resources to assist with the transition, including free education modules and video presentations with step-by-step guidance.
The AMA’s tools and resources include:
- Summary and Background of E/M Office Visit Revisions
- Education Module: Office Evaluation and Management (E/M) Code Revisions
- Learning Objectives:
- Explain the CPT E/M office or other outpatient services revisions and when changes will take effect
- Identify why CPT E/M revisions are needed and benefits provided
- Describe how the foundational changes will impact your work
- Step-by-step Video Guidance
- E/M: How did we get here?
- Using medical decision making (MDM) criteria
- Using time to select a code level
- 10 Tips to Prepare Your Practice for E/M Office Visit Changes
- Table on Medical Decision Making (MDM) Revisions
- Learning Objectives:
Providers and office staff can also sign up for CPT Code Revision Updates on the AMA’s CPT® Evaluation and Management website.
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.
