Immunization and Infectious Disease Update
National Association of County & City Health Officials
Information and Resources for Local Health Departments |
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Recent News
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CIDRAP (July 18, 2013)
Sci-News.com (July 19, 2013)
Medscape News Today (July 29, 2013)
The State of New York (July 31, 2013)
Smart Health Claims (August 1, 2013)
Time (August 2, 2013)
Pharmaceutical Business Review (August 2, 2013)
NY1 News (August 7, 2013) Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel (August 7, 2013)
Health Day (August 8, 2013) Investigational Malaria Vaccine Found Safe and ProtectiveNational Institutes of Health (August 8, 2013) Health Day (August 9, 2013)
New York Times (August 13, 2013) Slate (August 13, 2013) Healthcare Technology Online (August 13, 2013) Slate (August 14, 2013) Medical Daily (August 14, 2013)
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Resources
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CDC Releases 2014 Edition of "Yellow Book"
The CDC released the online version of the 2014 edition of CDC Health Information for International Travel, commonly known as the "Yellow Book" for its yellow cover. The most recent version includes special guidance for people who will be living long-term in areas with malaria.
NACCHO Exchange Highlights Public Health Law and Immunization Billing
Read the summer issue of NACCHO Exchange to learn more about important topics in public health law. This issue includes national-level information and local examples of using law to benefit public health practice. Topics in this issue include information about federal lobbying restrictions, administrative preparedness, reduction of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, billing for immunization programs, the role of public health law in accreditation, use of zoning laws to promote health equity, and opioid prescribing guidelines.
New Health Reform Planning Tool for State Health Departments and LHDs
The Georgia Health Policy Center recently released "Leading Through Health System Change: A Public Health Opportunity," a new tool to help public health organizations adapt to the changing healthcare environment. The tool's interactive website can be used to examine the basics of healthcare reform and create a simple implementation plan for improving population health.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This awareness month highlights the need for improving national immunization coverage levels and encourages all people to protect their health by being immunized against infectious diseases. Refer to the National Public Health Information Coalition's toolkit to plan your LHD's events and messaging. Your LHD can support NIAM by:
- Sharing the information with your networks and partners;
- Tweet and post on your Twitter and Facebook accounts;
- Place articles in your publications; and
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Engage the local media.
2013-2014 ACIP Influenza Recommendations
A summary of the latest Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices(ACIP) influenza vaccine recommendations for the 2013-2014 flu season is now available on CDC's website. The CDC continues to recommend that all persons ≥6 months of age be vaccinated against influenza each year. The summary recommendations highlight important updates on available products, vaccination timing, dose considerations, and information about vaccination of specific populations.
Influenza Toolkit Developed by Voices for Vaccines, Families Fighting Flu, Nurses Who Vaccinate
Voices for Vaccines has teamed up with Families Fighting Flu and Nurses Who Vaccinate to create a free, downloadable toolkit designed for schools to use to help combat influenza.
Give Birth to the End of Hep B Campaign
This is a national campaign to help ensure that the hepatitis B vaccine is part of medical management for all newborn infants. The campaign is a product of the Immunization Action Coalition. Accompanying resources to help hospitals provide the hepatitis B to all newborn infants include a guide containing a wide variety of materials, a fact sheet on the importance of implementing a hepatitis B birth dose policy, and an archived webinar.
NACCHO's Billing for Clinical Services Toolkit
NACCHO recently released a toolkit with resources, templates, and tools for LHDs to use and develop capacity to bill third-party payers for clinical services. More than 200 resources are available from state billing guides, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, state health departments, LHDs, insurance companies, and vendors of products such as electronic medical records and billing clearinghouses. Specifically, the toolkit provides the following information:
- Details on how to get started, such as credentialing steps and contracting processes;
- How to submit claims; and
- Steps for establishing billing procedures for other clinical services.
NACCHO Immunization Videos Page
NACCHO has gathered videos addressing vaccination into one convenient place. Watch short videos covering immunization issues, including influenza, pertussis, adolescent immunization, and personal stories about vaccine preventable diseases. Videos range from humorous to serious and target a variety of ages.
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Get Involved
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Multistate Outbreak of Cyclospora Infections CDC continues to monitor the multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis. Stay informed by visiting CDC's cyclosporiasis webpage for the latest information. If your LHD has conducted any activities related to the outbreak, please e-mail infectiousdiseases@naccho.org. NACCHO will compile the information it receives and send it back out to all who respond.
Healthcare-Associated Infections & Blood Disorder and Blood Safety Webinar
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS') Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard Koh, and experts from the field will discuss the progress of select Healthy People 2020 objectives in an upcoming free webinar. Titled The Impact of Systems Improvements: A Progress Review Webinar on Healthcare-Associated Infections & Blood Disorders and Blood Safety, this webinar on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 (1:30-3:00 PM EDT) is part of a series that focuses on crosscutting themes, collaborations that lead to success, and challenges to achieve Healthy People 2020 targets. Registration is available here.
Register Today to Become a Certified Application Counselor Organization
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act is right around the corner with open enrollment starting October 1 for coverage beginning January 1, 2014. If your LHD is interested in helping enroll clients into insurance plans on the marketplace, you can apply to become a certified application counselor organization, which will give you access to training about health reform programs in your state. You will be able to educate your clients about options available and help them complete an application for coverage. It is important to note that this information is only for states with federally-facilitated marketplaces or state-federal partnership marketplaces.
NACCHO Seeks LHD Billing Tools for HIV, STI, and TB Services
Are you currently billing or planning to bill for HIV, STI, or TB services? If so, have you developed any resources or tools that could help other LHDs start billing programs?
Examples of billing resources for these services may include:
- Billing process guidelines or protocols;
- Billing procedures and training materials for LHD staff;
- Educational materials to inform clients of billing changes; and
- Letter of intent to a third-party payer/insurance companies.
Please submit any resources you would like to share to Alyssa Kitlas.
Submit a Tool to NACCHO's Immunization and Infectious Disease Toolkits
NACCHO's Immunization and Infectious Disease Toolkits are intended to provide LHDs with resources related to immunization and infectious disease prevention and control practices. Examples of tools include templates, guides, community resources and much more. Log in to submit your own resources to the Toolkit to share with other LHDs.
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Publications
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Immunizations
CDC. MMWR. 2013 August 2; 62(30): 607-12.
Infectious Diseases
CDC. MMWR. 2013 August 2; 62(30): 613-14.
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The mission of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local public health departments.
For additional information about NACCHO, visit www.naccho.org. |
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