Thursday, May 25, 2023
U.S. Task Force Releases #StopRansomware Guide
FDA Approves Treatment for Bacterial Pneumonia
FDA: Class 1 Recall of Certain Replacement Batteries
Overcoming Private Insurance Barriers for BH Providers
Illinois COVID-19 Data
Briefly Noted
U.S. Task Force Releases #StopRansomware Guide
The federal, interagency Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF) has released a #StopRansomware Guide, offering a one-stop resource outlining best practices and resources to help organizations, including hospitals and health systems, reduce the risk of ransomware incidents through detection, prevention, and response and recovery efforts. The guide includes step-by-step approaches to address potential attacks, including a checklist that can be referenced to help prevent and respond to ransomware and data extortion attacks.
The guide covers a range of topics, including risk assessment, vulnerability management, network security, data backup and recovery, incident response planning, and employee awareness and training. It provides step-by-step approaches and actionable recommendations that organizations can implement to strengthen their defenses against ransomware.
FDA Approves Treatment for Bacterial Pneumonia
On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new treatment for adults with a difficult-to-treat hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia. The treatment, Xacduro, provides an additional option for hospitalized patients with bacterial pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus (A. baumannii).
According to the World Health Organization, Acinetobacter species top the list of critical bacterial pathogens that pose the greatest threat to human health, highlighting the high level of need for additional treatment options amid growing global resistance to antimicrobial medicines.
In a news release, the FDA says A. baumannii bacteria can cause infections in various parts of the body. These infections occur most frequently in healthcare settings and predominantly cause pneumonia. A. baumannii can become highly resistant to multiple antibacterial drugs and current treatment options for drug-resistant A. baumannii are limited.
Xacduro’s efficacy was established in a clinical trial of 177 hospitalized adults with pneumonia caused by drug-resistant A. baumannii. The FDA granted Xacduro Fast Track, Qualified Infectious Disease Product and Priority Review designations for this application.
FDA: Class 1 Recall of Certain Replacement Batteries
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Class 1 recall of replacement batteries for Plum 360, Plum A+ and Plum A+3 infusion systems, which are large-volume infusion pumps used to give fluids to patients in precisely controlled infusion amounts and rates. The system delivers blood or blood products, drugs and other fluid mixtures through subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous and intrathecal administration. Click here to view the FDA update on the recall, including recommendations for clinical users.
The batteries and replacement batteries are used when the pump is not plugged into AC power, for example, when a patient is being transported. However, the recall for the replacement batteries was issued because a manufacturing defect has substantially diminished how long they can be used to run the system. If the pump is running on battery power and there is no AC power backup available, the system may shut down an ongoing infusion and power down sooner than expected.
This could cause serious injury or death to patients due to interruption, under-infusion or delays in the delivery of critical fluids, blood products and medications. The manufacturer has received 54 complaints on the Plum 360 system and 465 complaints on the Plum A+ and A+3 systems regarding this issue. No injuries or deaths have been reported, though the FDA has identified an adverse event that may be related to the recall issue.
Overcoming Private Insurance Barriers for BH Providers
Despite enactment of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act 15 years ago, individuals seeking treatment too often encounter coverage barriers. Join a June 7 webinar hosted by The Kennedy Forum and the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration featuring expert panelists who will lead a discussion entitled “Hoops, Hurdles and Holdups: Overcoming Private Insurance Barriers for Behavioral Health Providers.”
From noon to 1 p.m., the panel will discuss:
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Rights and tools for behavioral health providers, patients and advocates facing claim denials;
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Guidance for providers on leveraging new regulations around medical necessity and network adequacy to improve access and reimbursement; and
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Assistance options for providers and patients.
The webinar is intended for providers of mental health and substance use disorder treatment, including psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and other clinicians, as well as business managers and other personnel involved in the claims process.
Click here to register. You will receive a webinar link following registration.
Illinois COVID-19
With the state of Illinois and federal government having ended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) announced it has shifted to a new cadence for data reporting and will release updates every other week. The next update will be tomorrow, May 26. IDPH will continue to report COVID-19 data on the weekly number of people admitted to hospitals from emergency departments, deaths and vaccinations, as well through the dashboard of the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System.
Briefly Noted
The National Maternal Mental Health hotline recently celebrated its first anniversary, using the opportunity to announce an updated toll-free number: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). The hotline’s professional counselors provide emotional support, resources and referrals to pregnant and postpartum individuals, and their loved ones, struggling with mental health concerns.