Communication Resources
RECENT NEWS/ADVISORIES and ANNOUNCEMENTS:
This page is divided into three sections which contains information for the KHF practices, News Advisories, and information that you can share with your parents. Please scroll down to see ineformation relevant to parents and which can be distributed through your practice.
SECTION I.
Information for KHF Practices
The Corporate Transparency Act-Please Read
"The Corporate Transparency Act (the "CTA") became effective in 2024. The purpose of this new, sweeping law and it related regulations is to stop illegal financial activities such as money laundering and drug trafficking. To meet these goals, the CTA requires many small companies in the U.S. to report information about those people and entities who own or control the small companies. Given the small nature of entities in the healthcare space, the CTA has significant impact on medical practices." To learn more about what the CTA and to download a copy of the act, please click here.
SECTION II.
News/Advisories
July 7, 2025
According to the CDC, "As of July 1, 2025, a total of 1,267 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 38 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington." This represents an increase of 40 new, documented cases of measles over a seven day period with the one additional jurisdiction reporting new cases. To learn more click here.
June 26, 2025
According to ABC News and other media outlets, the newly installed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended against flu vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal. To learn more click here.
They also recommended that all individuals 6 months of age and older receive an annual flu vaccine.
June 25, 2025
According to the CDC, "as of June 24, 2025, a total of 1,227 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 37 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington." The majority of those documented cases are in unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status at 92%.
Beginning June 25, 2025 the CDC update for measles will be posted on Wednesdays instead of Fridays.
June 20, 2o25
According to the CDC, "As of June 19, 2025, a total of 1,1214 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 36 jurisdictions.
To learn more, click here.
June 13
According to the CDC, "As of June 12, 2025, a total of 1,197 confirmed* measles cases were reported by 35 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
There have been 21 outbreaks** reported in 2025, and 90% of confirmed cases (1,072 of 1,197) are outbreak-associated. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated."
To learn more, click here.
June 6, 2025
As of today, the CDC reported 1,168 cases of measles in 34 jurisdictions across the United States. This represents an increase of 80 reported new cases since May 29 and an outbreak in an additional jurisdiction in the US. To learn more, click here.
June 2, 2025
Warning of overseas outbreaks, CDC urges Americans to get the measles vaccine before traveling abroad
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging Americans to make sure they’re protected against measles before traveling to other countries this summer.
Last week, the agency updated its travel guidance for the virus as cases pop up nationwide. Nearly all exposures at airports are linked to international travel."
For more information, click here.
May 2, 2025
As of May 1, 2025 the CDC reported 935 cases of measles in 30 jursidictions across the US. Click here to read more.
April 24, 2025
On April 24, the CDC reported 884 cases of measles across 30 jurisdictions across the US. This represents cases in 5 more jurisdictions than the previous week. The majority of those cases reported were in children who had not been previously vaccinated. See below for more information.
| Age Under 5 years: 266 (30%) 5-19 years: 338 (38%) 20+ years: 261 (30%) Age unknown: 19 (2%) |
| Vaccination Status Unvaccinated or Unknown: 97% One MMR dose: 1% Two MMR doses: 2% |
April 15, 2025
According to Reuters, the CDC Advisory Panel meets today to review guidelines for several vaccines.
April 11, 2025
CDC's weekly measles updates reports that as of April 10, 2025 there were "a total of 712 confirmed* measles cases reported by 25 jurisdictions: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. To learn more click here.
April 6, 2025
According to news report from CNN and The NY Times, a second child has died from measles in Texas. To learn more click here.
April 4, 2025
CDC reports measles cases number in the hundreds. As of April 4, there were 607 measles cases reported by 22 jurisdictions across the US. This includes cases reported in GA, FLA and TN. Click here to learn more.
April 4, 2025
As reported by USA Today, multiple children have been treated for Vitamin A toxicity after being hospitalized for measles. "The children were initially hospitalized due to measles complications. They underwent routine lab testing, which showed abnormal liver function believed to be caused by vitamin A toxicity, according to Dr. Lara Johnson, a pediatric hospitalist and chief medical officer of the Covenant Health-Lubbock service area." Click here to learn more.
January 15, 2025
Boosting Health Cybersecurity Measures
According to an article posted by Medscape News, on January 10, 2025, "A new federal rule could force hospitals and doctors’ groups to boost health cybersecurity measures to better protect patients’ health information and prevent ransomware attacks. Some of the proposed requirements could be expensive for healthcare providers." To learn more click here.
December 2024-Please review
All medical practices and their business associates who maintain PHI which includes RHI (Reproductive Health Information), whether created by the medical practice or not, are impacted by the RHI Final Rule, which is a highly-protected subset of PHI. This new subset was created in response to the SCOTUS decision in Dobbs vs Jackson Women's Health Organization. To learn more about the this ruling, please review the document provided by Sterling Seacrest Pritchard. This document provides an overview of the RHI, the guidelines for compliance and additional information. Also attached is a sample attestation form which must be completed by December 23, 2024. For more information or assistance, please contact Barbara Douglas at bdouglas@khfirst.com.
December 2, 2024
November 21, 2024
Telemedicine Prescribing Flexibilities Extended
The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) announced that the DEA and HHS have extended telemedicine prescribing abilities( first put into place January 2020) through the end of 2025. This exception allows providers to prescribe schedule II-V controlled medications. This includes “stimulants used to treat ADD/ADHD and narcotics for treatment of opioid use disorder” through telehealth visits. To learn more click here.
October 20, 2024
AHA Advisory warns of Iranian cyber actors compromising health care, other infrastructure
On October 16, "a joint advisory issued by the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Security Agency and international agencies warn of a threat of Iranian cyber actors using brute force and other techniques to compromise organizations in health care and other critical infrastructure sectors." To learn more click here.
October 20, 2024
Following the AAP annual conference, Medscape reported on the AAP's first clinical guidelines on opiod prescriptions for children with acute pain. This report outlines 12 evidence-based recommendations " for safely and appropriately treating pain in young patients." To learn more click here.
*The guidelines have been published alongside a technical report in Pediatrics and presented at the group’s 2024 annual meeting.
Please read and review
April 10, 2024
The Georgia Medical Composite Board has rescinded its decision from January 2024 to reinstate the previous guidelines which were to go into affect on May 1, 2024. Georgia will continue to follow the DEA guidelines until December 31, 2024. During the next several months, the DEA will be looking at proposed amendments to the rule. Georgia also plans to have a rule in place at that time to clarify what is allowed and what is not allowed in terms of tele-prescribing. Please read the complete news release from the Board distributed on April 5, 2024. Click here or read below.
Updated Respiratory Virus Guidelines from the CDC, including COVID-19
Shared from the AAP Section on Practice Management
Today, CDC announced updated respiratory virus guidance, which includes Covid-19. In brief, people can return to normal activities if symptoms are improving, and they have been fever-free for 24 hours. From the website:
- You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
- Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
- When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional , ,, and/or will be around other people indoors.
- Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
- If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.
- Main page:
- Background/Rationale:
- Preventing Spread:
- Note: CDC offers separate, specific guidance for healthcare settings (, , and ).
SECTION III.
COMMUNICATIONS FOR PARENTS ON RELEVANT TOPICS
Health Alert
April 25, 2025
For New Parents | The Complete Guide to Childhood Vaccinations
New video series for new parents on vaccines from the American Academy of Pediatrics; Please click here to subscribe.
August 14, 2024
A highly contagious virus known as “fifth disease” or parvovirus B19 (Erythma infectiosum) has been spreading across the United States recently. As this is a highly contagious virus, particularly for children in school and day care, parents can click here to learn more about the disease, symptoms to look for, and how to manage.
Source: www.healthychildren.org
Q & A for Parents-Please distribute
The Q & A for parents can be located on https://kidshealthfirst.com/questions-answers/
Each Q & A will be listed separately and can be printed out for distribution or posted to your websites. Please let us know if there are any other topics you would like to see addressed.
Q & A for parents on the end of the Public Health Emergency and the unwinding of Medicaid.
Q & A for parents about the COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Boosters from Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna for children 5 years of age and older.
Q & A for parents on what to know about monkeypox from Kids Health First.
Q & A for parents on Covid-19 Booster Vaccines for 5-11 years old.
Q & A for parents on recall of Abbott formula and re-opening of plant.
Social Media Posts for Patients and Families-Please post on your social media platforms:
Social Media Post
January 27, 2025
Flu Season
Flu season in Georgia generally runs from early October to as late as May. The CDC recommends a flu shot for every child six months of age and older. According to the CDC, “Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated across the country and is increasing in most areas.”
- It’s Not Too Late!
If your child is behind on the annual flu vaccine or any other immunizations, it is not too late to get a vaccination. Please call now to schedule an appointment. We will make every effort to complete all vaccinations at that time, if desired. If you have any questions about immunizations, your child’s pediatrician will be able to assist you. #Protectourchildren #Name of Practic
- Flu is on the Rise!
The week ending January 18 showed an increase in flu across the U.S. Don’t delay! If your child has not had a flu vaccine yet, it’s not too late. Call now to schedule an appointment or to speak to your child’s healthcare provider. #Protectourchildren #Name of Practice
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2025-week-03.html