by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 6, 2021 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Effective January 1, 2021, Texas Health and Safety Code, §§481.0755 requires that prescriptions for controlled substances to be issued electronically unless a waiver has been granted by the appropriate agency. I have been using electronic prescribing for several...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 5, 2021 | COVID-19, Dr. Marissa Carter
Here is a new and disheartening post from Dr. Marissa Carter about the new COVID-19 variant (see her previous posts about COVID-19). –Caroline The new SARS-Cov2 b117 variant is worse than we thought. Not only is it more infectious, but infections are associated...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 5, 2021 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Dr. Helen Gelly sent me the statement below from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL) as it pertains to considerations regarding Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Menstruation: There is a great risk for decompression illness in the early phase of the menstrual cycle....
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jan 4, 2021 | COVID-19, Obesity & Wound Care
My clinic is starting this morning. That means I have to get my temperature taken, don my protective equipment and attempt to deliver care to patients whose expressions I can’t see and who can’t understand what I am saying through a mask. I also need extra time to...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 28, 2020 | COVID-19, Dr. Marissa Carter
Here I am, getting the first dose of the Moderna COVID vaccine. In future posts I’ll provide more information about the trial data (courtesy of Dr. Carter) and any other information I get my hands on that might be useful. What I hope is happening right now is that my...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 16, 2020 | Healthcare Payment Policy
It’s time to revisit the issue of the relationship of the physician to the hospital-based outpatient department (HOPD), the “site of service” for many wound care programs. The issue is confusing, I agree. More and more wound management is being done in doctor’s...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 15, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT
It’s no surprise that male sexual function is negatively affected after COVID-19, since that’s an often-ignored problem after many serious medical events. The potential mechanism with regard to COVID-19 is interesting and has some worrisome implications for other...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 14, 2020 | COVID-19, Dr. Marissa Carter
Dr. Marissa Carter has a new post about Pfizer’s mRNA COVID vaccine approval, which includes a long list of questions and answers. I have sent her my “wish list” for additional vaccine related articles! –Caroline Caroline Fife, M.D.Dr. Fife is a world renowned...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 11, 2020 | COVID-19, Nutrition & Wound Healing
I’ve talked a lot about the importance of having a Vitamin-D-OH level of at least 30 ng/ml for wound healing. The majority of my patients with non-healing wounds have Vitamin D-OH levels less than 30 ng/ml, even though most of them are taking supplemental vitamin D....
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 10, 2020 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Quality Payment Program
Here are links to information regarding the Physicians Fee Schedule final rule: Final Rule Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule fact sheet Quality Payment Program Final Rule fact sheet and FAQs Here are the Physician Fee Schedule files:...
