Coding Corner:
Flu Season is Closer Than you Think!
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According to the CDC, Influenza and vaccine recommendations
for most people who need only 1 dose of influenza vaccine, vaccinations should ideally be offered in September and October. For people not vaccinated by the end of October, vaccination efforts should continue as long as influenza viruses are circulating and unexpired vaccine is available.
Children younger than age 9 years who need two doses of vaccine this season should receive their first dose as soon as possible so that they can get their second dose before the end of October.
Click here to view the
Influenza Vaccine Products and billing codes for the 2025-2026 Influenza Season
Please visit Immunize.org to review more detail about flu vaccinations and to listen to more of what the experts have to share
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Coming Soon:
NC DHHS Medicaid Credentialing Committee
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The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), through General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), is preparing to launch a new Credentialing Committee
on Sept. 28, 2025, with the first Committee meeting slated for Oct. 8, 2025.
This committee will be responsible for reviewing provider files that contain flagged items for disposition of their enrollment, reenrollment and recredentialing applications as well as items discovered through ongoing monitoring. This will apply to all providers enrolling with the following health plans:
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NC Medicaid
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NC Medicaid Managed Care health plans
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Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS)
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Division of Public Health (DPH)
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Office of Rural Health (ORH)
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Regulatory Reminders:
What Should I Wear?
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Personal protective equipment (PPE) serves as a critical barrier between healthcare workers, patients, and infectious hazards in the clinical environment. While much focus is placed on PPE in hospital and inpatient settings, ambulatory (outpatient) facilities—such as clinics, physician offices, urgent care centers, and outpatient surgical suites—also face significant risks related to infection transmission.
The selection of PPE in ambulatory settings should be based on the anticipated level of exposure and the type of clinical activity. Common types of PPE include gloves, masks, eye protection, gowns, caps and shoe covers.
PPE use in ambulatory settings is guided by two frameworks:
Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions
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Standard Precautions apply to the care of all patients, regardless of their diagnosis or infection status. They include:
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Hand hygiene before and after all patient contact, after removing gloves, and after contact with potentially infectious material
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Use of gloves when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, or contaminated items
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Use of masks, eye protection, and gowns during procedures likely to generate splashes or sprays
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Safe injection practices and proper handling of sharps and waste
Transmission-Based Precautions should be used when dealing with known or suspected cases of infectious diseases:
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Contact precautions: Gloves and gowns for all interactions with the patient or their environment (e.g., patients with MRSA, VRE, C. difficile)
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Droplet precautions: Surgical masks for close contact with patients (e.g., influenza, pertussis)
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Airborne precautions: N95 respirators for staff and, ideally, patient placement in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) for diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, or varicella
Personal protective equipment is an indispensable safeguard in ambulatory care, protecting both patients and staff from the spread of infectious diseases. The consistent application of evidence-based guidelines, staff education,
and ongoing evaluation of PPE usage are essential components of a comprehensive infection prevention program. By fostering a culture of safety and vigilance, ambulatory care settings can minimize risk, maintain regulatory compliance, and provide high-quality care in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
Resources:
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North Carolina Joins the Interstate
Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)
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On July 1, 2025, North Carolina became the 44th state to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
(IMLC), a voluntary, expedited pathway for physicians and physician assistants to obtain licensure in multiple states. This move supports workforce mobility, expands access to care, and reduces administrative burden for providers.
Key benefits of IMLC include:
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Faster licensure turnaround for multi-state practice.
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Reduced administrative burden, particularly for PAs in team-based settings who have over 4,000 hours of clinical experience and at least 1,000 hours in a specific specialty.
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New licensure option for internationally trained physicians with full-time offers in NC hospitals or rural practices.
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Expanded collaborative practice for pharmacists, allowing:
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Use of CLIA-waived tests (e.g., for influenza).
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Treatment based on test results under a physician agreement, enhancing primary care integration.
Eligibility highlights:
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Must hold a full, unrestricted license in a compact member state
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Must meet criteria for a state of Principal License (SPL)
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Must be board-certified and have no disciplinary or criminal history
Resources:
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Be a Voice and a Change Agent!
Become a Member of the South Piedmont AHEC
Regional Advisory Committee
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The South Piedmont AHEC Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) is a great opportunity to serve and make a difference. You will help lead health education transformation in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. Insight and information gathered from trends related to regional and community needs can help impact health education in our area. Applications are open from September 1 to November 30, 2025
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More information on the South Piedmont AHEC Regional Advisory Committee can be found
here.
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Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)
Practice Support Tool
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Northwest AHEC Practice Support has developed a tool to help primary care practices effectively implement Annual Wellness Visits for their Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients.
A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a yearly check-up focused on preventative care and personalized health planning for Medicare beneficiaries. It's distinct from a physical exam and aims to create or update a personalized prevention plan. It's covered at 100% under Medicare Part B, meaning there are typically no out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries who see a provider accepting Medicare assignment.
AWVs are especially important to help identify patient care opportunities, improve patient attribution and risk stratification, advance other preventive screenings and close care gaps, and can enhance practice revenue.
Click
here to access and download the Annual Wellness Visit Practice Support Tool. If you do not already have a Practice Support Coach and need further assistance, please reach out to us, we will get you connected!
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This conference will provide LPNs from different practice settings the information and strategies to maximize their important role on the health care team and enhance their professional practice.
This educational event is jointly Provided by Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a program of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and by South Piedmont AHEC. Both are part of the NC AHEC System.
*Early Bird Registration fee is available before September 26, 2025
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Not yet subscribed to the South Piedmont AHEC
Practice Support Newsletter?
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Helping You Meet the Challenges!
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