Fleur-De-Lis Connection Volume 27, Issue 11 | Page 5

PRIVATE PAYER ROUNDTABLE BUILDS COMMUNICATION The GLMS Physician Education and Practice Support (PEPS) Department hosted a private payer roundtable on October 27 to facilitate conversation between payers and health care offices. Representatives worked to solve any and all issues facing doctor’s offices. Representatives from Humana, Anthem and United Healthcare were on hand at the Old Medical School Building to answer questions and talk one-on-one with physicians and office managers regarding the quality of care patients are receiving. To report a claim discrepancy or customer service issue, please contact GLMS at [email protected]. Dr. Rajesh Sheth came forward to address claim issues his practice has faced. Representatives worked to solve any and all issues facing doctor’s offices. EMS COUNCIL RECEIVES NEEDLE EXCHANGE UPDATE Sarah Moyer, MD, medical director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness, visited the EMS/Diversion Council in late October to give an update on Louisville’s Needle Exchange Program which has now been in effect for 14 months. Members of the Louisville Police, Fire and EMS departments as well as local hospitals were on hand to hear the update and ask questions. Dr. Moyer began by explaining the beginnings of the needle exchange, which was passed by Louisville Metro Council in response to the HIV outbreak in Austin, Indiana, where 200 residents in a town of 4,000 contracted the disease. “If Louisville was faced with the same outbreak, 70,000 residents would have the disease,” Dr. Moyer said. In the 14 months since the program began, 5,000 individuals have used the exchange. The health department is still seeing approximately 100 new individuals each week. Fifty percent of all visitors are return participants. The average age is 33, and 93 percent of visitors are Caucasian. The percentage of women using the needle exchange has increased by 10 percent since it began. GLMS NEWS NOVEMBER 2016 “Word is out that our program is safe,” said Dr. Moyer. “We’re lucky to have certified alcohol and drug counselors present at our facilities. Nine times out of 10, these folks have no one sober to talk to. We’re there for them, and I think they know we care.” When they give permission, visitors are tested for HIV and Hepatitis C on site. Eight percent tested positive for Hepatitis C and one quarter of a percent tested positive for HIV. Currently, the health department has three sites in the city, but Dr. Moyer says many more are needed. “People don’t want the needle exchange in their neighborhood. There’s no evidence that the exchange brings crime to the neighborhood, and we need more sites. We could use 20. We know the heroin problem continues to increase, but we haven’t figured out how to stop it.” 5