2018 November 14 - IDSA News

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Read the next issue of IDSA News

Change the Bylaws of Yesterday to Reflect the Faces of ID Today

In an effort to integrate principles of diversity, inclusion and equity into everything we do at IDSA, the Board of Directors approved governance changes this past summer to ensure that every level of the Society leadership reflects the full dimensions of our ID community. One of these proposed changes will require the participation – and vote – of IDSA members.

Join Us for a Webinar to Discuss Exciting Changes on the Horizon for IDSA Governance

The face of the ID profession is changing, and we need to change with it. You’re invited to learn more by participating in a webinar, Reflecting the Faces of ID: Governance Changes for the Future, on Nov. 28 at 12 p.m. EST.

CMS Issues Final Rule on E/M Codes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a final rule on Nov. 2 on proposed changes that would dramatically alter the Outpatient Evaluation & Management (E/M) codes.

New IDSA OPAT Guideline Now Available

Before patients receive IV antimicrobial infusion therapy outside of the hospital – whether at home, a doctor’s office or a skilled nursing facility – an ID specialist should review the order to ensure the most appropriate treatment, suggest updated IDSA guidelines.

Journal Club

In this feature, a panel of IDSA members identifies and critiques important new studies in the current literature that have a significant impact on the practice of infectious diseases medicine.
Reviews in this issue: Latent TB and Progression to Active TB: Comparing Available Diagnostic Tests; Reaching Zero: What Proportion of HAIs Remain Preventable?; Tdap During Pregnancy: Safe and Protective but Blunts Infant Response to Active Immunization

Hepatitis C Data Shows Prevalence Tripled in Last Decade

Data recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the number of cases of acute hepatitis C more than tripled between 2010 and 2016, with 41,000 new infections in 2016 alone.

IDSA Continues to Press Administration on AMR

IDSA continues to be deeply concerned about the ongoing exodus of companies from antibiotic research and development and continued news that small antibiotic companies are facing significant financial struggles.

Share ID/HIV Concerns on the Impact of the Proposed “Public Charge” Rule on Public Health

The Trump administration is proposing a significant expansion of the criteria used to determine if individuals applying for green cards may be considered a “public charge,” and potentially denied entry to the United States or permanent legal status here.

ID Diagnostic Reimbursement Set to Take Another Hit

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, which contains final determinations for next year’s clinical laboratory fee schedule (CLFS).

Science Speaks Covers Union World Conference on Lung Health

Topics in the blog this week range from diagnosing TB in pediatric patients, increased TB detection increase in Mumbai, and results from the ongoing Nix-TB treatment regimen.

IDSA and ID in the News

In a new op-ed in The Hill, IDSA President Cynthia Sears, MD, FIDSA writes about the rise of antibiotic resistant infections and shares results of a new survey that show only about half of Americans know enough about the correct use of antibiotics to prevent resistance from occurring. Read this and other media articles featuring IDSA spokespersons over the past two weeks.

ICYMI: What’s Hot on MyIDSA

Here’s a glance at the latest discussions happening on MyIDSA, IDSA’s members-only online community (login required).