News and Announcements
MAY is Mental Health Awareness Month
During Mental Health Awareness Month and Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week in May, we pause to recognize the growing uncertainty and emotional challenges many young people face. As students prepare to transition back to school, it is a critical time to center children’s mental health and support the clinicians, educators, and families who care for them.
Anxiety affects 1 in 4 children and is now the most common mental health diagnosis in youth, prompting new recommendations for routine screening in pediatric and primary care settings.
This July, Dr. Barnes will help our community prepare for the back‑to‑school season with a timely and practical talk:
“Pencils, Pressure, and Panic: Mental Health at Back to School.”
Together, we will explore how schools, healthcare providers, and communities can better recognize anxiety, reduce stress, and support children as they return to the classroom.
Wednesday, July 15 12:15-1:00 PM online RSVP here
Dr. Alicia Barnes, DO, MPH, is the Urban Child Institute Endowed Chair of Excellence in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Associate Professor at University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She serves as Chief of Psychiatry at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. She leads multisector mental health initiatives with a system of care approach. She also serves in leadership roles on the Executive Board for AACAP(Amderican Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and as President of the Tennessee Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
CHILDREN's Mental Health Action Week MAY 3-9 click here for details
Effective March 7, 2026, EviCore by Evernorth® (EviCore) began handling inpatient and/or outpatient utilization management, including prior authorization, for more services for your patients with Cigna Healthcare® plans. COMPREHENSIVE INFO PAGE click here
EviCore is holding FREQUENT online orientation sessions to help provider staff understand the prior authorization process. These sessions include detailed information about the prior authorization process, a review of how to access information from EviCore.com, and a question-and-answer period. Sign up here and use the dropdown to look for future dates.
UHC Medicare Advantage to Require PCP Referral for Specialist Services details here
Training to Create a Specialist Referral in UHC portal: View the video
Monica Blackwell of UHC and Fran Parker of MetroCare presented an online informational regarding specific plans and specialties involved, how to and who from your practice should access the portal to create or receive the referrals before the May 1 implementation of the UHC MA PCP referral to specialist requirement for some UHC MA plans. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to access a video and slide deck from that webinar.
Cigna Digital Platform Webinars
Cigna is hosting webinars to demonstrate use of their digital platform for eligibility & benefits, appeals & claims considerations, claims status. click here for links
Upcoming Specialty Coding Topics: click here to RSVP
Apr 22: 9AM OBGyn
1PM Musculoskeletal
MAY IS E&M MONTH!
Three Hour E&M Deep Dive 2026: May 1 and 8 9 AM
One hour on Levels 4 and 5: May 13 and 20 12:15
May 1: 1 PM Nervous System
May 8: 1 PM Conditions of the Eye
Jun 5: 9 AM Basic Coding Principles
1 PM Basic Anatomy & Terminology
Jun 12: 9AM Chart Auditing
1 PM Reviewing Compliance Plans
Jul 10: 9 AM External Causes
1 PM Pediatrics (repeat)
Jul 17: 9 AM Preventive Services
1 PM Coding Chronic Disease
LUNCHTIME SESSIONS WITH KAREN
RESECHEDULED TO May 7: One Hour on Modifier 25
May 13/20: Reporting E & M Levels 4 and 5
Jun 3/17 NCCI Edits and Modifiers
SVMIC MONTHLY LUNCHTIME PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SESSIONS
Apr 9: Front Desk Best Practices
May 14: Health Literacy: Improving Patient Communication
Jun 18: Make Kind & Honest Feedback a Team Habit
Jul 23: Patient Experience: Why It is More Than Customer Service
Aug 20: Revenue Cycle Management
Sep 24: Navigating the No Surprises Act: Ensuring Compliance and Transparency
Oct 22: HR Do’s & Don’ts
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PAYER AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION click image for access
