MIAAP Supports Governor Snyder’s Focus on Child Health Issues

The Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the association representing 1500 pediatricians in Michigan, applauds Governor Snyder on his focus on child health issues in his Special Message on Health and Wellness.

The Governor recognized the importance of every person in Michigan having a primary care provider receiving care in a medical home. The concept of the medical home was first introduced by the American Academy of Pediatrics in the 60's. We stand committed to insuring that every child in Michigan receives care in a family centered medical home and will work with the Governor and other partners to make sure this goal becomes reality.

The Governor singled out the issues of infant mortality and childhood obesity as two problems that we must tackle in Michigan. As steering committee partners in the Governor's summits on infant mortality and obesity we pledge to continue to offer our expertise in promoting statewide policies on reducing infant mortality and obesity in Michigan's children.

Read the Full Statement

American Academy of Pediatrics Statement on HPV Vaccine

"The American Academy of Pediatrics would like to correct false statements made in the Republican
presidential campaign that HPV vaccine is dangerous and can cause mental retardation. There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement. Since the vaccine has been introduced, more than 35 million doses have been administered, and it has an excellent safety record.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians all recommend that girls receive HPV vaccine around age 11 or 12. That's because this is the age at which the vaccine produces the best immune response in the body, and because it's important to protect girls well before the onset of sexual activity. In the U.S., about 6 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year, and 4,000 women die from cervical cancer. This is a life-saving vaccine that can protect girls from cervical cancer."

Read the Press Release

Proponents Educate Lawmakers on Medical Home Concept

LANSING – Around since at least the 1960s, medical homes for children certainly aren’t a new concept, Dr. Lawrence Reynolds told a group of lawmakers at an informational breakfast here Thursday.

“It’s as developed as any idea with merit can be developed,” said Reynolds, a Flint pediatrician and president of the Michigan chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What Michigan needs to do is implement them.

“Our challenge has been how to bring this concept to practice and to show improvements in health outcomes and the value added,” he told lawmakers.

Read More From the Original Article

Kalamazoo County looking at implementing Children's Healthcare Access Program

August 28, 2011 | Dr. Lia Gaggino

When it comes to the health of our children and the cost of caring for them, an exciting new initiative has been piloted in Kent County that is showing positive health outcomes and true cost savings for children enrolled in the state's Medicaid program.

This success story has the potential for statewide implementation. The new approach, the Children's Healthcare Access Program (CHAP) is proving that when we invest resources in prevention and early intervention children are healthier and we make better use of limited financial resources..

Read More From the Original Article

Physician Groups Release PCMH Accreditation Guidelines

March 10, 2011 | Molly Merrill, Contributing Editor

WASHINGTON – Thirteen new guidelines for the patient-centered medical home recognition and accreditation program have been released by the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians and American Osteopathic Association.

Officials from the four organizations, which represent more than 350,000 primary care physicians, said the new guidelines build on the Joint Principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home, which they developed and adopted in February 2007, and aim at further ensuring standardization among accreditation programs.

Read More About PCMH Accreditation Guidlines.pdf

New VFC Program Immunization Code Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released an updated Q&A document outlining new immunization administration coding recommendations for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.

Under this new guidance, physicians are encouraged to use only new Current Procedural Technology (CPT) code 90460 for VFC-supplied immunization administration.

This CDC guidance does not allow physicians to be paid in the VFC program for new code 90461, which recognizes and provides payment for the added work associated with multicomponent vaccines.

The Academy will continue to work with the CDC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to resolve this complication, while MIAAP Chapters continue to work with Medicaid on this issue.

Read the New AAP Guidance.pdf

Read the Q&A.pdf

Michigan Pediatrician Offers Recommendations to IOM on Pediatric Drugs Study

AAP Committee on Drugs Chair Daniel Frattarelli, MD, FAAP, delivered comments Wednesday before an Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel that will be writing a report on two AAP-championed pediatric drug laws, the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) and the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA). Dr. Frattarelli detailed the Academy's long-time involvement in advocating for these laws and the study of drugs in children. The AAP made recommendations to the committee on how best to assess the programs and evaluate their benefits for pediatrics. The committee's report is due next year. The Academy will be advocating strongly for the reauthorization of BPCA and PREA in 2012.

Federal Legislative Update 2/4/11.pdf

CDC's New Hearing Loss in Children Website

The CDC reveals new researched-based site that is user-friendly, up-to-date and appealing.

Visit: www.cdc.gov/hearingloss

New, More Comprehensive, State of Michigan Health Appraisal Form

The Michigan Department of Community Health's new Health Appraisal Form provides physicians and families with more comprehensive information to reduce follow up visits to physicians to capture missing information, and should smooth the way for a child's enrollment into a number of state programs. Stakeholders including the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Michigan Department of Education - Early On, Child Care Licensing, Division of Immunization, Head Start and the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) contributed to the improved form. We encourage providers to use this new version (9/10/2010)

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/BCAL-3305_09_10_336837_7.pdf

One of the additions to the form has been a listing of programs that commonly use the Health Appraisal
Form, and the medical information they require. This was done to clarify that not every program needs all
of a child’s information. The programs identified on the form are:

• Early On
• Child Care Licensing
• Head Start/Early Head Start

The changes to the form are the following:

• Section II – Physical Examination, has been moved to the front page.
• Section III – Immunizations, which has been updated, has been moved to the back page.
• Birth History and Diagnosis have been added to Section I.
• Physician’s Signature is now in it’s own box below Section V.
• Instructions for use have been added to the bottom of the back page.

Health Reform Hits Main Street

Confused about how the new health reform law really works? This short, animated movie -- featuring the "YouToons" -- explains the problems with the current health care system, the changes that are happening now, and the big changes coming in 2014

Click here to watch the video

Pediatricians and Child Death Review

Pediatritians play a vital role on child death review teams. Download the 2 page bookmark "Pediatricians and Child Death Review" (PDF) or download the official Child Fatality Review policy statement (PDF) from Pediatrics—the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics—published online August 30, 2010. (http://www.pediatrics.org)

Shiga Toxin E. Coli Cases Among Fair Attendees

Three probable cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) with bloody diarrhea have been reported from Grand Traverse County with known onset dates between 8/15 - 8/17. All three are children who attended the Northwestern Michigan Fair in Traverse City, MI between 8/9 and 8/13. One case has been hospitalized with probable Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).

This fair likely attracts visitors (especially children) from a broad geographic area, so associated cases could potentially occur outside of the Grand Traverse area. Medical providers should be alert to severe diarrheal illnesses including bloody diarrhea, and order stool testing (both culture and rapid diagnostic methods) for STEC.

Suspect STEC cases should be reported promptly into the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS) and asked about attendance at the fair. Contact MDCH Communicable Disease Division at 517-335-8165 concerning associated cases.

You Can’t Have a Healthy Body Without a Healthy Mouth

Children and families are a main focus of recommendations created by MIAAP and the 30-member Michigan Access to Oral Health Care Work Group. The report outlines concrete strategies and solutions to make sure people aren’t forced to go without dental care.

National AAP Policy Statement for Prevnar 13

PCV13, a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, has been licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration to replace PCV7.

Read the full AAP Policy Statement

EHR Final Rule Released

Log into the AAP Member Center to view a summary of the changes in the Final Rule. Check back in the coming days and weeks for resources to help implement EHR systems consistent with this rule.

New Healthcare.Gov Website Lets You Take Control of Your Healthcare

The new Healthcare.Gov website is an innovative tool designed to help families take control of their healthcare. Learn more about insurance choices, your rights under the new Affordable Care Act at www.healthcare.gov.

MIAAP Supports Affordable Care Act

MIAAP supports the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and healthcare reform to make our children’s health our highest national priority.

Read more about MIAAP's support of the new Affordable Care Act

Historic Health Bill Passes House

U.S. House of Representatives pass historic health reform legislation. The AAP endorsed the House's health reform legislation package. Keep updated on legislative procedure and the AAP's advocacy efforts in the days ahead.

Read the AAP press release

AAP Resident Programs

Recently, all American Academy of Pediatrics resident members were sent a notification regarding two very important Academy resident programs: the Resident Scholarship Program and the Resident Research Grant Program.

Read the AAP Letter

New School Immunization Requirements for 2010-2011

In early October 2009, new Communicable Disease Rules were passed by the Michigan Legislature regarding school immunization requirements.

Learn more...

Winter 2009/2010 Newsletter

View the PDF

Non-Safety Related H1N1 Vaccine Recall

Sanofi-Aventis SA (SNY) is recalling four lots of the pediatric H1N1 swine flu vaccine because it isn't as potent as needed, according to officials of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read the official CDC Health Update

American Academy of Pediatrics Launches HealthyChildren.org

Backed by 60,000 pediatricians, HealthyChildren.org offers up-to-the-minute health advice with interactive tools and personalized content.

Visit the Parents page to learn more

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Information for Health Care Professionals