Oct 17, 2025
A Healthier Kentucky Starts Here: Enroll in the Free Tobacco Cessation Referral Program
The Kentucky REC is partnering with the Kentucky Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program to help providers connect their patients to free, evidence-based support to help them quit using tobacco. Through this partnership, Kentucky REC will assist clinicians in setting up electronic referrals to National Jewish Health (NJH) — the nation’s leading tobacco cessation program. There will be no cost to providers, and no interface connection is required. Your EHR simply needs to allow the addition of direct mail addresses.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our team will guide participating organizations through every step, integrating the e-referral process into clinical workflows and providing monthly check-ins to:
- Confirm electronic messages are successfully received by NJH
- Strengthen workflows to improve referral rates and efficiency
- Troubleshoot when referrals aren’t being completed or returned
This is a grant-sponsored opportunity, and participation is limited to the first four enrolled organizations.
Interested? Need more information? Contact us! Spaces will fill quickly.
Aug 14, 2025
CMS Releases FY 2026 IPPS Final Rule: Key Promoting Interoperability Updates
On July 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule for the FY 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS). This rule—effective October 1, 2025—updates hospital payment rates, quality programs, and health IT requirements.
Of particular importance for hospitals are changes to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program, as CMS continues to push for better electronic data exchange and reduced administrative burden.
Key Medicare PI Program Updates
- EHR Reporting Period – Beginning in CY 2026 the Electronic Health Record reporting period will be defined as a minimum of one continuous 180-day period each calendar year
- Security Risk Analysis Measure – Must now attest “Yes” to both security risk analysis and security risk management
- SAFER Guides Measure – Annual self-assessment using all eight 2025 SAFER Guides is required beginning in CY 2026
- Bonus Measure (Optional) – Earn bonus points for exchanging data with a Public Health Agency via TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement®) beginning in CY 2026
Additional Proposals & Requests for Feedback
CMS is also seeking input—via the CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule—on:
- Suppressing scoring for the Electronic Case Reporting measure in CY 2025.
- Adopting a measure suppression policy for CY 2026
- Future changes to the PDMP Query measure (e.g., shifting from attestation-based to performance-based reporting)
- Transitioning to a performance-based reporting for the Medicare PI Program
- Strategies to improve quality and completeness of health information exchange
WHY IT MATTERS
The FY 2026 IPPS Final Rule reinforces CMS’s steady move toward value-based care and health IT modernization with an emphasis on real-time data exchange, API-driven access, and automated workflows. Hospitals should begin preparing now to ensure compliance with the new requirements heading into 2026 by:
- Reviewing health IT systems for compliance
- Assessing public health reporting processes
- Analyzing cybersecurity strategies
Read the full final rule on the Federal Register.
Need Help Navigating the Changes?
The Kentucky Regional Extension Center is here to help you interpret these updates and align your IT systems with the new requirements. Contact the experts at Kentucky REC with all your Promoting Interoperability questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
Aug 6, 2025
QPP Webinar: 2026 CMS QPP NOTICE FOR PROPOSED RULEMAKING (NPRM)*
Tuesday August 19, 2025 @ 12PM ET
CMS released the calendar year 2026 Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program (QPP) Proposed Rule on July 14th, 2025. This proposed rule brings significant changes that could directly impact your reimbursement, reporting requirements, and participation in value-based care models. CMS is also proposing a MANDATORY payment model for ambulatory specialists treating Original Medicare beneficiaries for heart failure and low back pain.
Learn about CMS’s proposed changes to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, Shared Savings Program and APM Track updates, the new mandatory payment model, and other need-to-know proposals impacting your clinical practice.
Join our experts at the Kentucky Regional Extension Center on August 19th, 2025 for a live, client-access only roundtable discussion. We will cover the major proposed updates and potential impacts to eligible clinicians and practices in Program Year 2026 and beyond.
Interested in becoming a QPP client? As a client, you receive exclusive access to our analysis of all aspects of the Quality Payment Program. To speak with the team on how we can best support you, feel free to contact us HERE.
For more information on the 2026 NPRM, visit our recent blog post.
Contact YOUR Experts at the Kentucky REC for all your QPP, MIPS/MVP, and APM Track questions. We are here to help. Call us at 859-323-3090.
*This webinar is for Kentucky REC contracted QPP clients only. If you are interested in this topic and would like to learn more about becoming a client, please contact us at (859) 323-3090 or email us at KYRec@uky.edu. We aim to be your trusted healthcare advisor!
Aug 5, 2025
CMS Releases 2026 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule: Key Takeaways for Providers
On July 14, 2025, CMS released the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule, outlining major updates to MIPS, APMs, and introducing a new mandatory payment model.
These changes could significantly affect reimbursement, reporting, and value-based care participation. Staying informed is essential to protect your practice’s financial health and compliance.
NPRM KEY CHANGES
