Recent laws in New Jersey and California represent a disturbing trend that will negatively impact a practice’s ability to collect monies from patients, as well as expose them to significant penalties if the practice does not follow the mandatory guidelines to a T. Please be aware that a similar law may be coming to your state. The time to act is before the law is passed.
"No Benefit from Amoxicillan"
A randomized double blind clinical trial of children ages 3-6 recently released from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), concluded that "there was no benefit from amoxicillan prophylaxis compared to a placebo control in preventing new AOM (acute otitis media) episodes."
Free of AOM (%)
30-90 Days:
Placebo Group:71% Otitis Free
Daily Amoxicillan Group: 65% Otitis Free
Twice Daily Amoxicillan Group: 62% Otitis Free
3 Months or Longer:
Placebo Group:54% Otitis Free
Daily Amoxicillan Group: 63% Otitis Free
Twice Daily Amoxicillan Group: 60% Otitis Free
SOURCE: Berman S. Continuous twice daily or once daily amoxicillan prophylaxis compared to placebo for children with recurrent otitis media. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research grant no.: RO3 HS07283-02.