Mar 25, 2020
One of the goals of the Quality Payment Program is for providers to move into what are called Advanced Alternative Payment Models. In Year 4 of the QPP, clinicians who meet the billing and/or patient thresholds in an Advanced APM are still eligible for the 5% lump sum payment. Over the course of this program, the requirements and flexibilities afforded to APM participants have evolved. Initially almost all participants in Advanced APM models met the billing and/or patient thresholds, making them eligible for the Qualified Participant status. However, as the thresholds (and the difficulty of meeting them) have increased, the likelihood of becoming a Qualified Participant or Partial QP status has declined. Because of this, many clinicians may find themselves evaluated on the MIPS APM scoring standard.
During our webinar, our quality experts will discuss the changes to the APM track and how the increases to the billing and/or patient thresholds may impact your requirements and performance in the QPP.
*Webinar – QPP Year 4: MIPS Alternative Payment Models
Thursday, April 30, 2020 12:30 PM ET
Coming Up:
*May 21 – QPP Categories Year 4: Cost
June 18 – QPP Year 4: Kentucky REC Can Help You Improve Your QPP Performance
*July 16 – QPP Categories Year 4: Promoting Interoperability & Improvement Activities
All QPP Webinars start at 12:30 PM ET
*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 Kentucky REC. We aim to be your trusted healthcare advisor!
Future dates subject to change
Feb 5, 2020
Assessing the vulnerabilities of your network and IT assets is essential for understanding the risks facing your organization. The Center for Internet Security (CIS) ranks vulnerability assessment third in its 20 critical security controls for effective cyberdefense (CIS Controls).
“Organizations that do not scan for vulnerabilities and proactively address discovered flaws face a significant likelihood of having their computer systems compromised.” *
What is a vulnerability assessment?
A vulnerability assessment is broken down into two different phases:
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Scanning & diagnosis
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Results assessment
Scanning & Diagnosis: Our IT expert will use a network scanning device to identify potential points of exploitation on a network or computer and identify security holes within that system. The scanner’s repository of vulnerabilities is updated just before every scan to include any newly identified items, and is compatible with the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Index, which standardizes the names of vulnerabilities across diverse security products and vendors.
Results Assessment: Once these items are identified, a severity rating is assigned as follows: critical; severe; moderate; or clean. From the severity rating, a mitigation strategy is created to address the most critical items first, and then move down the list in severity level. This mitigation strategy will include information about specific software patches, downloadable fixes and reference content about security weaknesses.
To better facilitate HIPAA compliance in your organization, you should accompany your vulnerability scan with a full Security Risk Analysis and HIPAA Security Education for your staff.
Join our webinar to learn more about these important HIPAA Privacy and Security Topics.
Webinar – HIPAA Security: Find Vulnerabilities Before Attackers Do
Thursday, March 26, 2020 12:00 PM ET
Call 859-323-3090 or email Kentucky REC HIPAA Privacy and Security experts with your questions, or if you want to talk to a security expert to schedule your vulnerability assessment.
Additional Resources:
Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls List
MITRE Corporation’s Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures
*https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/continuous-vulnerability-management/
Feb 12, 2020
In order to successfully meet the objectives of Stage 3 Medicaid Promoting Interoperability, it is crucial for you to be looking at the 2020 requirements.
During the webinar we will review the Stage 3 objectives and the thresholds for each measure. We will provide detailed information regarding the newest measures and the importance of having a 2015 CEHRT.
Let Kentucky REC advisors help you be prepared and successful when tackling Stage 3. We will provide action lists that will guide you through the important next steps to meeting the thresholds for hard to reach measures.
Webinar: KY Medicaid Promoting Interoperability (MU) 2020 Stage 3 Overview for Eligible Professionals
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 12:00 pm ET
Contact us at Kentucky REC with your questions about Promoting Interoperability. Our team of experts is here to help: 859-323-3090.
Jan 30, 2020
Our partners at the Kentucky Health Information Exchange are excited to announce the launch of their Provider Assistance Program mini-grant opportunity.
In collaboration with the Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Kentucky Health Information Exchange (KHIE) is offering Pharmacies, Eligible Providers (EPs), Eligible Hospitals (EHs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) the opportunity to apply for a mini-grant to offset the vendor fees associated with connecting to KHIE.
The Provider Assistance Program was created to help Pharmacies, EPs, EHs and CAHs in rural areas of the state to mitigate the challenges associated with interoperability. The objective is to relieve some of the financial burden a healthcare facility experiences which hinders engagement in Public Health and Clinical Data Registry reporting as well as Health Information Exchange.
Applicants are required to be:
- located in the state of Kentucky
- considered an EP, EH or CAH (as defined by CMS)
- or a licensed pharmacy
If approved, EHs and CAHs may be awarded up to $15,000 and Pharmacies and EPs may be awarded up to $8,000.
Grants will be awarded on a first come first serve basis until all grant funds are depleted. Incomplete applications will not be considered and only one grant will be awarded per business entity.
If interested, please complete the Provider Assistance Program Application in its entirety and e-mail to Brett Brown (brett.brown@ky.gov) with the subject line: Application for the Provider Assistance Program.
Applications can also be found on the KHIE Website.
Applications will be accepted through June 30, 2020.
Jan 6, 2020
Do you have questions about the benefits of PCMH/PCSP?
Are you wondering how to sustain your recognition?
Join us for an in-depth conversation about recent PCMH and PCSP updates, along with ways to sustain a patient-centered care model through Recognition and Annual Reporting.
Topics include:
- recognition sustainability
- quality improvement
- financial benefits
- increase staff engagement
- improve patient satisfaction
Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and Patient-Centered Specialty Practice (PCSP) are excellent practice transformation models for organizations committed to improving access, communication, and care coordination. NCQA recognized practices succeed in cutting costs, increasing both quality outcomes and patient satisfaction. Now is the perfect time to pursue recognition since your organization can also receive full points in the Improvement Activities category of the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
Webinar: USING PCMH/PCSP TO TRANSFORM YOUR PRACTICE
Thursday March 5, 12-1 p.m. ET
Contact us at Kentucky REC with your questions about PCMH and PCSP. Our team of experts is here to help: 859-323-3090.
Jan 9, 2020
With the start of 2020, we have a new set of rules and guidelines to implement for the Quality Payment Program Year 4! At the same time, we are now in the submission period for 2019.
Kentucky REC experts will present the biggest impacts of the Final Rule for the Merit Based Incentive Payment System’s (MIPS) four performance categories, highlighting what could affect you and your practice the most. We will also explore the changes to the Alternative Payment Model (APMs) track of the QPP, and what you can expect to see with the future of the program.
MIPS is becoming progressively more difficult to achieve a positive payment incentive as thresholds increase, and as more clinicians aim to better their own performance to avoid the penalties associated with the program. Don’t fall behind in your performance!
Webinar – QPP Year 4: FINAL RULE HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday, February 20, 2020 12:30 PM ET
Contact the experts at Kentucky REC for all your QPP, MIPS, and APM questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
