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during the legislative session. When these issues come up for discussion dur- ing session, it will be we physicians who must speak for them by answering the call to testify and by writing editorials for newspapers,” he said.
trition during pregnancy, and electing to induce delivery before 39 weeks. “We want to have healthier Texas ba- bies and a healthier Texas, but the num- bers show we have room for improve- ment,” Dr. Lakey said. Texas has experienced a slight in-
New campaign to reduce infant deaths
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has launched its Some- day Starts Now campaign aimed at re- ducing the number of infant deaths and preterm births by promoting healthy life- styles and offering resources to expect- ant parents and women who may one day want to have a baby. A key component on the campaign’s website,
SomedayStartsNow.com, is a downloadable life-planning tool to help women set health goals and meet them. Parents-to-be can create a birth plan by using a guide on the site that helps them think through decisions about the birth process. The campaign also includes in- teractive outreach events at college cam- puses and community gatherings, videos and resources for health care profession- als, and information tailored toward new dads and dads-to-be. “We want people to be thinking about their health now, years before they may want to start a family,” said David Lakey, MD, DSHS commissioner. “Living a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy can be critical to the health of the baby.” Someday Starts Now is part of the state’s Healthy Texas Babies initiative,
www.dshs.state.tx.us/HealthyTexasBa bies, which focuses on reducing prema- turity and decreasing the number of ba- bies who die during their first year of life. The Texas Legislature provided $4.1 million for the initiative during the last legislative session. Local coalitions are using some of those funds to reduce the factors that play a role in unhealthy birth outcomes. These factors include poor pre-pregnancy health, lack of pre- natal care, cigarette smoking, poor nu-
32 TEXAS MEDICINE February 2013
crease in the percentage of preterm ba- bies, from a low of 12.6 percent in 2000 to 13.2 percent in 2010. The Texas rate is higher than the national rate of 12 percent for 2010. Babies born too early are often too small and underdeveloped to thrive or survive. Low-birth-weight infants are at a greater risk for adverse health outcomes, including death. The infant mortality rate has re-
mained relatively constant in the United States (6.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2010) and in Texas (6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births that same year). Afri- can-Americans carry a disproportionate burden of poor birth outcomes in Texas.
Medicare guide for vaccine coding
The 2012–13 influenza season (October- May) is upon us. Don’t forget that Medi- care covers the seasonal flu vaccine with- out any out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients. No deductible or copayment/ coinsurance applies. Medicare offers these reminders:
• Take advantage of each office visit as an opportunity to encourage your pa- tients to protect themselves from the seasonal flu and serious complica- tions by getting a seasonal flu shot.
• Continue to provide the flu shot as long as you have vaccine available.
• Immunize yourself and your staff so you don’t risk spreading the highly contagious flu virus to your patients.
Here are resources for your practice:
• Quick Reference Information, www
.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/ Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/
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