2015 PANCE Updates

2015 PANCE Updates

Because of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) publication, NCCPA will adapt its content blueprints, disease and disorder lists, and psychiatry-related terminology within test questions to conform to DSM-5 classifications and diagnostic criteria for all of our examinations beginning in 2015, according to the following timeline:

PANCE and PANRE administered in 2015:

In these examinations, psychiatry-related terminology within test questions will include the DSM-5 terminology followed by the DSM-IV-TR terminology in parentheses. Example: illness anxiety disorder (hypochondriasis)

PANCE and PANRE administered in 2016 and beyond:

In these examinations, only the DSM-5 terminology will be provided when appropriate. Example: illness anxiety disorder

Please also review the 2015 Content Blueprint Organ Areas and make sure you are studying with emphasis on those areas with most content. Remember, psychiatry is 6% of the PANCE!

The 8 Best Physician Assistant Social Media Sites You Should Be Following

The 8 Best Physician Assistant Social Media Sites You Should Be Following

If you thought Facebook was cool, wait until you see what these sites have to offer. No seriously, they give you so much more than what your sister’s boyfriend’s cousin’s brother ate for dinner last Tuesday. Instead of checking Instagram every 5 seconds, why not check Twitter and scroll through these accounts to see if there are any new updates in our profession or any scholarship deadlines coming up? Educate yourself, stay informed, and improve your life one step at a time, starting with your mobile device.

1. PAEA Networker. A personal favorite of mine. This is by far one of the best sites available. Whoever updates this site is a PA guru. Throughout the year I get lots of the content for my blog including scholarships, fellowships, residencies, new programs, new PA advancements, PA legislation, CASPA news, end of rotation, PACKRAT, and PANCE news, new PA opportunities in education, and much more. The list is really endless on this site. It has really become a Facebook for me. I check it pretty regularly for updates. Sad part is they don’t update it as fast as the pug vines are popping up on my Timeline.

JNC 8: Key Features of the New Hypertension Guidelines for Physician Assistants

JNC 8: Key Features of the New Hypertension Guidelines for Physician Assistants

About 31% of american adults have hypertension (65 million). In the US, only 50% of patients with hypertension are being treated to target BP levels. If you look at patients with uncontrolled hypertension, 90% have a usual source of healthcare and have health insurance. This means that the shortfall is action by the clinician! Yes, you, the physician assistant!

If you are completely new to medicine, JNC stands for the Joint National Committee and typically releases guidelines on hypertension management. From the table below, we know that the this is the first release in 11 years. Let’s first begin by talking about a few obvious changes for JNC 8 from previous years.

1. While the Joint National Committee is typically commissioned by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), JNC 8 was actually tasked by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) in June of 2013.
2. You’ll notice a title change in JNC 8 from previous years - this was no mistake. ACC and AHA decided that since they had recently released guidelines on assessing and managing cardiovascular risk, treating cholesterol and managing obesity, a name change was necessary. This was not the first time the title has changed in the past - see highlights in red.

Certificates of Added Qualification (CAQ) Exams for Physician Assistants

Specialty Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQ) Exams

CAQ exams for physician assistants are utilized for one purpose: to receive recognition for having obtained advanced clinical training and skills in your specialty. Since September of 2011, these exams have been given by the NCCPA just like the PANCE, and awarded to those who perform exceptionally. The CAQ emphasizes that PAs are grounded first in generalist medicine and then pursue additional qualifications in specialites. It serves as excellent documentation of knowledge, training, and experience in specialty practice. It also helps to avoid the confusion of any new PA “certification” program or any new specialty certification designation, as this credential is achieved in addition to the PA-C. According to Janet Lanthrop, old CEO of NCCPA, there were two desires in producing this exam: to have documentation to show hiring physicians that PAs were knowledgeable in specialty areas and to give hiring physicians assurance that the PA had experience in the specialty to come in at a certain level of acuity than your typical newly hired PA.

Possible ICD-10 Implementation Delay

 Possible ICD-10 Implementation Delay

Recently, there has been a stir amongst the medical community regarding the implementation of ICD-10.

This is not the first time ICD-10 has caused a stir. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has already pushed back ICD-10 implementation once before, and H.R. bill 1701 (Cutting Costly Codes Act of 2013) is still up for vote as it was passed onto the House Subcommittee on Health and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in April and May of 2013, respectively. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Jeff Cain wrote to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in February requesting that she reconsider the deadline for implementation of ICD-10.

Cain’s concerns were as follows:

• Lack of appropriate education - As of February 2014, 79% of providers are not ready or haven’t begun implementation yet according to MGMA
• Expense to implement (costs between $56,639 and $226,105 according to AMA)
• Lack of adequate end-to-end testing
• Multiple health plans and payers is causing more expense and challenge across the country
• CMS has only focused on testing and training within hospitals and large health system, not small or medium sized practices
• Implementation will interrupt cash flow, putting small and medium sized practices out of business
• This includes rural and underserved patients

Suggestions made by Cain to Sebelius include:

• Increasing CMS funding to create more educational resources for smaller practices
• CMS should require end-to-end readiness testing each month for one week until July 2014
• Results should be made public and show effectiveness of the system
• If results are not positive, delay ICD-10 implementation for at least one more year
• Provide funds to Medicare contractors for education on the use of ICD-10 codes

Although CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, M.A., has already confirmed the deadline will remain intact, legislation to patch the sustainable growth rate (SGR) for another year could potentially delay ICD-10 implementation until October 1, 2015. Currently, the 121-page bill has been crafted for vote March 27, 2014 (today) by Congress, which would also extend the current SGR fix until March 31, 2015. This extension could prevent reduced Medicare payments (24%) to providers in addition to delaying the ICD-10 implementation.

Wherever you are in learning about ICD-10, you should know that it is imperative to keep on chugging along and never count on further delays. It’s always best to be prepared for anything when it comes to your patients care and for your own sake, your own revenue! CMS has released a document containing resources to aid those having trouble with ICD-10 implementation. 


As an update --- As of April 1, 2014 --- The Senate passed the bill delaying the implementation of ICD-10 for one year until 2015! 

Sources:

http://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20140227icd10delayltr.html

http://cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/Downloads/ICD10-ResourcesFlyer20130913remediated.pdf

http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/medical-economics/news/proposed-sgr-patch-includes-one-year-icd-10-delay
http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2014/3/28/reaction-to-icd10-delay-mixed-ahead-of-senate-vote-on-doc-fix 
http://www.hitconsultant.net/2014/03/31/icd-10-delayed-to-2015-senate-passes-sgr-doc-fix/