Medical Coding Challenges for Physicians (and How to Beat Them) By Robert McDermott, President & CEO, iCoreConnect Medical coding might not be something you think about daily, but it’s the backbone of every successful medical practice. When it’s working smoothly, everything runs as it should. But without it, operations can stop in their tracks. These codes help document and classify diagnoses, procedures, and treatments, making them essential for billing, insurance claims, and overall practice management. But let’s be honest–medical coding isn’t easy. What is easy? Using the right technology to simplify the process. That’s where iCoreCodeGenius from Friend of WMS, iCoreConnect, comes in. This software stays up-to-date with coding changes, saving you time and effort. And when it comes to addressing medical coding challenges, the right software makes all the difference. Learn more! — Links to https://www.icoreconnect.com/wy-enews-0325

Advocacy Updates 2025

Save the Date: 2025 WMS Annual Conference Date Announced  WMS is proud and excited to announce that the 2025 WMS Annual Conference will be held in Laramie, WY, November 14-15, 2025, at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center on the University of Wyoming campus. Conference information and registrations will be released as soon as possible. For the most up-to-date conference details, visit the WMS Annual Meeting Website .

WMS: Be The Voice Of Medicine 

What's the best way to protect kids’ skin from sunburn? Sheilagh M. Maguiness, MD, FAAD, FAAP As a pediatric dermatologist, I know how important it is to protect children's delicate skin from the sun's harsh rays. As the mom of two boys, I also know how challenging it can be to slather sunscreen on squirmy kids every two hours. It helps to know that sunscreen is only one of several tools you can use together to prevent burns on all those wonderfully sunny summer days. Cover up for UV protection Sun protective clothing, for example, is another way to help protect against sunburn . Especially for younger children, it can be easier to keep them covered than to rely on getting the right amount of sunscreen on their skin—especially when they're outside for long periods of time. There are many options today for lightweight sun protection factor (SPF) or ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) hats, shirts, pants and swimsuits. Most are rated UPF 50. When you don't have access to sun protection clothes, dress your child in clothing made with a tight weave. These will protect them better than clothes with a looser weave, which won't block as many rays. If you're not sure how tight a fabric's weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines through. The less light, the better. For hats, pick one with a 3-inch brim all around to shield the face, ears and back of the neck. And once your child is about 6 months old, sunglasses can help protect their eyes from the sun. Look for youth-sized sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection. Peak sunlight hours & when to seek shade When the UV index is highest, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., try to find shade under a tree, an umbrella or the stroller canopy. It is especially important to keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight as much as you can. You can also check the UV index on your smartphone to help you decide how much sun protection is needed. Just open your weather app and scan for the UV index number, if it is 3 or higher you and your children need full sun protection. If your older kids complain, tell them they can break out their two piece or remove their sun shirt/rash guard early in the morning or after 4 p.m. when the index is lower. Don't forget that skin can burn even on cloudy days, since up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can get through the clouds. UV rays can also bounce back from water, sand, snow and concrete, so make sure your child is protected when it's overcast, too. What to know about sunscreen Over the past few years there has been a lot of new information and even some controversy surrounding sunscreen ingredients. There have also been large consumer recalls of sunscreens due to contamination concerns. All this has led a lot of parents to question what the safest options are. Mineral sunscreens I generally recommend that parents choose sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are well-known mineral ingredients that are generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. They are broad-spectrum, meaning they block both UVA and UVB rays and are a great choice for children and babies. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide should be clearly listed on the label as "active ingredients." A zinc oxide-based sunscreen, 20% or higher would give great protection for those exposed areas on babies and children—adults too! Stick, lotion, cream or spray sunscreen? For babies and toddlers , the mineral stick sunscreens containing at least 20% zinc oxide are a wonderful choice. Sunscreen in stick form is easy and hassle-free for parents to swipe the stick on the face and hands (and don't forget the ears and the neck, since those areas often get missed!). This is a less messy way to apply the sunscreen and there's no liquid or lotion to run into the baby's eyes and cause irritation. For older children , a mineral-based cream or lotion, again with 15-20% zinc oxide, is a great option. There are many out on the market now that will rub in nicely, but some will still have a whitish cast. This can be an issue, particularly for anyone with skin of color. Luckily, companies are offering tinted versions for face that can offset that ghost-like appearance. I also recommend choosing a formula that is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, to avoid possible skin irritation. As for sprays , this is where things can get complicated. Sunscreen sprays are most often made with the chemical ingredients (read more below). They also contain propellant chemicals, which are irritating and should not be inhaled by babies and children. There was a large recall of various sunscreens due to contamination issues in the summer of 2021. The majority of them were sprays. I view this as another reason to choose a zinc oxide cream when in doubt. Any type of sunscreen is better than none For exposed skin on sunny days, using any sunscreen is better than none. However, recent studies have shown that some of the common chemicals found in sunscreens (such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate and several others) can be absorbed through the skin and found in the blood and body fluids after even one application. This led the FDA to make some changes to sunscreens they accept as GRASE. The FDA's reasoning is that many of the chemical sunscreen ingredients could use more data to address the potential effects of being absorbed. However, this all must be balanced with the risk of getting a sunburn, since even one severe sunburn increases a child's risk for skin cancer later on. How much sunscreen to use Consider that it takes a full ounce (picture a full shot glass) of sunscreen to fully cover an adult's body. That's about two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin. Small children may only need about half that amount, but it can be a challenge for them to stay still long enough for you to apply a good layer. Stick sunscreen can be easier to use on areas like the face. With your help, they may even want to "draw" it on. How often do you need to reapply sunscreen? No matter what type of sunscreen you use, reapply it every couple of hours and after swimming. You should do this even if the label says "waterproof," because there are no truly waterproof sunscreen formulas. Remember Roughly a quarter of lifetime sun exposure happens during childhood and adolescence. Kids spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in the summer, so it's important to build sun-safe habits that don't take away from the fun of outside play . If you have any questions about your child's skin, talk with your pediatrician. More information Sun Safety: Information for Parents About Sunburn and Sunscreen Skin Cancer: What Parents Need to Know Playing Outside: Why It's Important for Kids Sunburn: Treatment & Prevention Sheilagh M. Maguiness, MD, FAAD, FAAP ​Sheilagh M. Maguiness, MD, FAAD, FAAP , is a past American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Dermatology Executive Committee member and Chair of the AAP Section on Dermatology Education Sub-Committee. She is a Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. Last Updated 8/9/2024 Source American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Dermatology (Copyright © 2024​) The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

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Harnessing the power of technology

Are Your Family’s Students Up to Date on Vaccines? Wyoming Department of Health Press Release The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) encourages parents to remember important vaccinations for their children along with lunches, notebooks and backpacks as students begin a new school year. “Children have returned to schools, where they are in close contact with each other all day. It doesn’t take much to spread illness,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH. “We are thankful to have vaccines to help protect our kids from many life-threatening diseases such as measles and whooping cough.” Some vaccines are required for attendance at public and private schools and child care facilities in Wyoming. Kindergarteners should be up-to-date on DTaP, MMR, hepatitis B, polio and varicella vaccinations. Children who are 11 through 12 years old should receive a Tdap vaccination. Depending on individual school rules, children who have not completed their required vaccinations may be put on conditional enrollment or be excluded from school. “We encourage parents to keep their children up-to-date on required immunizations, as well as others we recommend such as for flu, HPV, meningococcal, hepatitis A and COVID-19,” Harrist said. “These are all great tools to help keep Wyoming kids healthy.” Harrist noted cost should not be a barrier to vaccinations for Wyoming’s children. “For children with health insurance, vaccination costs are covered by most policies,” she said. “In addition, more than 100 Wyoming providers offer low-cost vaccines for qualifying children who may need help paying for vaccinations through the Vaccines for Children program.” WDH suggests families look up their children’s vaccination records in Docket, a secure website and smartphone app offered by the department. Docket can be used to create an official record of vaccinations that have been reported to the Wyoming Immunization Registry and can notify users when vaccinations are due. Docket is also available for adults in Wyoming. For more information about vaccine records, visit immunizewyoming.com and look for the “Vaccine Records and Docket” tab. Residents may also visit immunizewyoming.com and click on the “Find a Provider” tab to find nearby vaccine providers and more information about programs in Wyoming offering financial help for vaccinations.

Changes Underway for Wyoming’s Behavioral Health System Wyoming Department of Health Press Release After several years of planning and coordination with partners across the state, changes to Wyoming’s behavioral health system are underway, according to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). “For many years, our department has paid millions of state dollars to community mental health centers to help ensure access for Wyoming residents who sought care for mental health and substance use related issues regardless of their ability to pay,” said Stefan Johansson, WDH director. “It’s one of our largest budget items and is clearly important, but there have been challenges.” A significant new law passed in 2021 by the Wyoming Legislature supported efforts to strengthen Wyoming’s behavioral health system. A chief goal is focusing state resources on those who need them most: acute psychiatric adults, criminal justice involved clients, high needs children and families and low income and indigent general access populations. Johansson said, “We really want to help ensure high-needs people facing serious mental illness do not fall through the cracks before their needs grow. As we have carefully prepared for these changes, a focus for our department and our partners has been to help answer the question of ‘What is state government’s role?’” To help direct the state dollars toward where and when they are needed most, the redesigned process is meant to help ensure people seeking services who could qualify for financial help from other sources such as Wyoming Medicaid or private insurance are supported through those sources rather than through state funding alone. “When Wyoming’s community mental health system was designed, there was less financial support available for behavioral health services through options such as private insurance. But that has since changed, which presents an opportunity to potentially share the financial load,” Johansson said. Franz Fuchs, senior policy analyst with WDH, said “One thing people will notice is all residents seeking state-paid behavioral health services must now submit an application through Wyoming Medicaid. While this does not mean you have to be eligible for Medicaid to be helped, this step will check for other potential pay sources beyond state general funds and verify income, citizenship and residency.” Without an application on file, WDH will not be able to pay for services received after July 1. “The community health centers and organizations such as Enroll Wyoming can help people complete the needed application,” Fuchs said. Because Wyoming Medicaid is also part of WDH, using existing systems to check eligibility and to manage payments to the community mental health centers is an efficient solution. Fuchs acknowledged some individuals will no longer be eligible for state-supported services from the community mental health center network. These include people with incomes over 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who do not have significant behavioral health needs. For those in this group who do not already have insurance, heavily subsidized insurance is likely available through the federal marketplace . There are also changes to provider payments. “We’re moving from block grants to a mix of block grants, service payments and outcome payments,” Fuchs said. “The hope for many involved in this redesign effort is that focusing the state’s resources on high-needs clients may eventually lead to cost-savings and reduced pressure on other elements of Wyoming’s behavioral health system such as frustrating waiting lists,” Fuchs said. “If we can reduce repeated hospitalizations or divert people from institutional settings in the first place, that’s a win for both clients and for our state facilities.”  Matt Petry, Behavioral Health Division senior administrator with WDH, said, “We are making big changes and we certainly recognize that change isn’t always easy. We are truly grateful and want to thank our partners in Wyoming’s community mental health centers, law enforcement personnel, leaders in local and state correctional facilities, judicial system representatives, Department of Family Services staff and the state’s policymakers for their participation and willingness to work with us.”

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Wyoming’s cancer rates are among the worst in the country. Early detection saves lives, and getting screened can prevent or improve outcomes for cancers when caught early.