by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 21, 2025 | Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Check out this fantastic review article about pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) by Dr. Alex Loayza and colleagues from the Oregon Health and Science University’s Department of Dermatology. Dr. Loayza has been incredibly generous with his time and expertise when wound care...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 19, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight
Some of you have alerted me to new taxonomy codes that are relevant to the practice of wound care. This seems like huge news to me! I am listing a few of them below, with some explanation of what the components of the code mean. I do not know, for example, if an...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 17, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight, Miscellaneous Musings
The AP (2/7, Stobbe) reported, “The U.S. winter virus season is in full force, and by one measure is the most intense in 15 years.” According to the AP, “one indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctor’s office visits driven by flu-like symptoms.” Two weeks...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 14, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight
On January 30th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Journavx (suzetrigine) 50 milligram oral tablets, a first-in-class non-opioid analgesic, to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults. Journavx reduces pain by targeting a pain-signaling pathway...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 12, 2025 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitutes
Projected earnings for this company’s sales are in the millions of dollars. This is possible because at least some of the amniotic products sold cost more than $4,000/cm2. Claims on individual patient wounds can exceed $1M (as ACO medical directors have complained)....
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 11, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight, Healthcare Payment Policy, Medicare Audits
The Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST. If you and your organization provide wound care to Medicare beneficiaries, are you prepared for the important policy updates for 2025 implemented by...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 10, 2025 | Fight the Good Fight
JAMA has just published the results of the WHIST Randomized Clinical Trial, Effect of Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy vs Standard Wound Dressing on Deep Surgical Site Infection After Surgery for Lower Limb Fractures Associated With Major Trauma. You should...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 5, 2025 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitutes
Skin substitutes and possible danger: Is patient harm happening in wound care? Jeanne Pinder from Clear Health Costs has posted a powerful follow up article on the use of Cellular Tissue Products (CTPs) / skin substitutes. Ms. Pinder interviewed Dr. Danielle...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Feb 3, 2025 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitute Arrests, CTP / Skin Substitutes
Office of Public Affairs | Arizona Couple Pleads Guilty to $1.2B Health Care Fraud | United States Department of Justice The Department of Justice (DOJ) office of public affairs has announced that on October 24, 2024, Alexandra Gehrke pleaded guilty to conspiracy to...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 31, 2025 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, CTP / Skin Substitute Arrests
A lot is being said about the way that the new LCD(s) around Cellular Tissue Products (CTPs) / skin substitutes might impact access to care. A big issue is around product choice and ensuring that there is a large enough suite of covered products from which physicians...
