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BLUECONNECT
Providers
July/August 2023
In This Issue
► July/August news: Executive summary
► Inpatient notification and authorization updates
► Quality claim coding = quality data
► Behavioral health: Earn diabetes-focused CEU credits
► Let’s help immunize all children and adolescents
► AZ Blue fee schedule updates
September 6 webinar: Join us
for Maternal Mental Health
Back-to-school time is here: Help vaccinate Arizona's children
Approximately 80,000 children are born in Arizona every year. It’s important for each one to receive safe, effective vaccinations to protect them from several serious and potentially life-threatening diseases.
HEDIS® measures1 address a broad range of important health issues, including quality measures for immunizations. Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona uses HEDIS metrics to measure the immunization status of children and adolescents. Below are age-appropriate vaccine tables. Visit the CDC’s recommended vaccination schedules for children to learn more.
The Childhood Immunization Status (CIS) measure2 assesses children who turn 2 years of age in the measurement year (2023) and receive the following vaccinations on or by their second birthday.
Vaccine name Vaccine abbreviation Number of vaccinations needed before the child's second birthday
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis DTaP 4
Inactive Polio Vaccine IPV 3
Measles, Mumps and Rubella MMR 1 combo or 1 of each
Haemophilus Influenza Type B HiB 3
Hepatits B Hep B 3
Varicella Zoster VZV 1
Pneumococcal Conjugate PCV 4
Hepatitis A Hep A 1
Rotavirus RV 2 or 3
Influenza Flu 2
The Immunizations for Adolescents measure3 assesses adolescents who turn 13 years of age in the measurement year (2023) and receive the following vaccinations by their 13th birthday.
Vaccine name Vaccine abbreviation Number of vaccinations needed before or on the adolescent's 13th birthday
Meningococcal MenACWY 1
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis Tdap 1
Human Papillomavirus HPV 2 or 3
Best-practice tips to help ensure up-to-date immunizations:
• Remind and educate parents about the importance of immunizations.
• Use each visit to review the vaccine schedule and catch up on missing immunizations.
• Schedule appointments for your patient’s next vaccination before they leave your office.
• Use phone calls, emails, texts, or postcards/letters to remind parents and keep them engaged in their child’s preventive health and wellness.
• Be sure to code/bill all immunizations given.
• Record date(s) and immunization(s) provided at other practices (including those out of state) and health departments in the patient’s medical record.
• Report all immunizations administered to children ages 18 and younger to the Arizona State Immunization Information System (ASIIS), an immunization registry.
Visit the ASIIS Provider Profile Change Form to access your patient’s immunization status. This can be a great place to look before your member’s appointment!
For additional information, visit the Arizona Department of Health Services Immunization Program.
In This Issue
► July/August news: Executive summary
► Inpatient notification and authorization updates
► Quality claim coding = quality data
► Behavioral health: Earn diabetes-focused CEU credits
► Let’s help immunize all children and adolescents
► AZ Blue fee schedule updates
September 6 webinar: Join us
for Maternal Mental Health
Blue Cross, Blue Shield, the Cross and Shield Symbols, MyBlue, BlueCard, Federal Employee Program, and FEP are registered service marks, and BluePathway and BlueJourney are service marks, of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

More than 90% of America’s health plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, use HEDIS to measure performance on important dimensions of care and service. HEDIS helps providers and health plans see where to focus their improvement efforts for higher-quality outcomes.

HEDIS is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

1Source: NCQA, “HEDIS and Performance Measurement”
2Source: NCQA, “Childhood Immunization Status (CIS)”
3Source: NCQA, “Immunizations for Adolescents (IMA)”

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