Tobacco Cessation Summit, October 14, Orlando

The Florida Tobacco Cessation Alliance will conduct a Tobacco Cessation Summit on Thursday, October 14, at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute at Lake Nona, Orlando.  Learn about the benefits, both economic and health related, of providing comprehensive tobacco cessation coverage.

The Florida Tobacco Cessation Alliance, comprised of organizations like the American Lung Association in Florida, the Florida Department of Health, Florida Academy of Family Physicians, Florida Association of Health Plans, Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, Tobacco Research and Intervention Program at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the March of Dimes Foundation, the Partnership for Prevention and the Florida AHEC Network, will hold a Summit in October for large employers (including state and municipal), health providers, health care insurers, policy leaders, public health professionals and others.

The goal of the summit is to educate participants about the health and economic benefits of 1) treating nicotine addiction as a chronic relapsing disease and 2) providing comprehensive smoking cessation treatment consistent with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guidelines on Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. From the Summit, using consensus group action steps created there, a work plan for the state of Florida will be created with measurable, low or no-cost strategies that participants can implement within their own organizations.

www.floridatobaccocessationalliance.org.

CMS Education Series for Providers on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) invites you to join us for a series of national provider calls addressing the specifics of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs for hospitals and individual practitioners. Learn the specifics on what you need to participate in the these incentive programs –

 

• who is eligible,
• how much are the incentives and how are they calculated,
• what you need to do to get started,
• when the program begins and other major milestones regarding participation and payment,
• how to report on Meaningful Use measures
• where to find helpful resources and more.

 

Hear from the experts who wrote the rules! Ask your questions!

EHR Incentive Programs for Eligible Professionals:

A session just for individual practitioners on the specifics about the Medicare & Medicaid EHR incentive program

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

2:00-3:30 pm EST

EHR Incentive Programs for Hospitals:

A session just for hospitals on the specifics about the Medicare & Medicaid EHR incentive program

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

2:00-3:30 pm EST

EHR Questions and Answers for Hospitals and Individual Practitioners:

Have questions? Join this session to have an opportunity to ask a question and hear answers by our panel of experts on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

2:00-3:30 pm EST

Save the dates! Information on how to register for these calls is forthcoming.

Materials will be made available prior to each training at the following web address: http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/05_Spotlight_and_Upcoming_Events.asp  

Cannot attend? A transcript and MP3 file of the call will be available approximately 3 weeks after the call at http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/05_Spotlight_and_Upcoming_Events.asp  on the CMS website.

Be sure to visit CMS’ web section on the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs at: http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/  to get the latest information. Visit often!

National Immunization Awareness Month – August, 2010

The Bureau of Immunization is pleased to provide this National Immunization Awareness Month update.  The bureau joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM).  The goal of NIAM is to stress the importance of receiving routine, up-to-date immunizations. 

In August, and throughout the year, the bureau encourages all persons to be sure immunization records are up-to-date.  August is the perfect time with the new school year and flu season approaching, to remind family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to update their vaccinations.  Vaccines are safe and effective protection.  By staying up-to-date on recommended vaccinations, individuals can protect themselves, their families, and loved ones from disease.  Because children are particularly vulnerable to infection, most vaccines are given during the first five to six years of life.  Some immunizations are recommended throughout adolescent and adult years; while special vaccines may also be administered to international travelers. The bureau encourages Floridians to contact their primary care physicians or county health departments to ensure their immunization records are current.    

The CDC immunization schedules list the ages when each vaccine or series of shots is given.  If children, adolescents, or adults have missed any shots, consult the catch-up schedule and check with your doctor about getting back on track.  CDC recommends that children receive vaccines against diphtheria, influenza, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, polio and others.  Adolescents should receive vaccines against influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, pertussis, human papillomavirus (HPV), and any missed vaccinations.  If children do not have health insurance, or are only partially insured, parents should ask their doctor or local health department about assistance to pay for vaccines.  Adult vaccines include influenza, pneumococcal, tetanus, shingles (herpes zoster), and diphtheria.  If any shots are past due, consult the catch-up schedule and ask a doctor about getting back on track.  The child, adolescent, and adult immunization schedules may be accessed online at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm.

Please visit : http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/default.htm additional information about National Immunization Awareness Month. 

You may access Bureau of Immunization NIAM resource posters for printing at:

http://www.immunizeflorida.org/files/niam_dont_miss.pdf
http://www.immunizeflorida.org/files/niam_value.pdf
http://www.immunizeflorida.org/files/niam_immunize.pdf
http://www.immunizeflorida.org/files/niam_pneumonia.pdf