KENTUCKY REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER

Kentucky REC Client Excellence Awards – Commonwealth Sleep and Rehab

Kentucky REC Client Excellence Awards – Commonwealth Sleep and Rehab

Kentucky REC is proud to work with so many organizations committed to improving the health of our fellow Kentuckians. Awardees were chosen by the advisor team and presentations were made at our Annual Conference on Oct 24th in Lexington.

Commonwealth Sleep and Rehab is a small practice in Lexington that overcame many challenges and obstacles this past year. Their practice and EHR were greatly impacted by a cybersecurity event that caused challenges for practices across the nation. Through their dedication to their MIPS processes and quality workflows, they were able to keep momentum not just for the program, but for the wellbeing of their patients.

Their practice administrator was able to work closely with clinical staff and their coding and billing team to ensure that quality workflows were still being completed for patients and that documentation for MIPS reporting was maintained, no matter how many changes they needed to make. Their quick action and teamwork allowed them to maneuver effectively through these changes, reducing the impact to their patients and performance.

Congratulations to Commonwealth Sleep and Rehab for their Quality & Value Excellence Award!

QPP Year 8: 2024 Year in Review Roundtable

QPP Year 8: 2024 Year in Review Roundtable
Release Date: Friday November 15, 2024

The 2024 Quality Payment Program performance year is quickly drawing to a close. Our Kentucky REC experts invite you to our pre-recorded webinar exploring the most important takeaways from this year to better prepare you for the upcoming attestation season.

Register and view this on-demand analysis to stay in the know as we explore critical elements of MVPS, APP and Traditional MIPS tracks of the Quality Payment Program.

Fill out this brief REGISTRATION FORM to be among the first to receive this webinar recording.

Contact YOUR experts at Kentucky REC with all your QPP, MIPS/MVP, and APM Track questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.

 

New Kentucky REC Facebook Page and Other Resources

Kentucky REC has a new Facebook Page! Follow the link here and like us to get up to date information on the latest healthcare news and events affecting your organization and healthcare in the Commonwealth!

We have resources available on multiple platforms in order to provide you with relevant news and information to keep up with the ever changing issues in modern healthcare.

Check Us Out on These Platforms!

The PILL Podcast

Contact YOUR experts at Kentucky REC with all your healthcare questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.

CMS Announces New APM for Acute Care Hospitals – TEAM

TEAM Model APM – Transforming Episode Accountability Model for Acute Care Hospitals

In the recently released Inpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule (IPPS, August 2024), CMS finalized a new alternative payment model for
acute care hospitals.

The MANDATORY Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) will advance the Innovation Center’s prior work on episode-based alternative payment models, including the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced and Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Models.

This model will also satisfy the Advanced APM requirements for the Quality Payment Program.

CMS selected acute care hospitals in 188 core-based statistical areas to participate, and many Kentucky hospitals will be required to participate, specifically hospitals located in Bowling Green, Corbin, Glasgow, Lexington-Fayette, and Middlesboro. This model is a 5-year project beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2030.

The list of hospitals selected was provided in the IPPS final rule. Other hospitals can voluntarily participate provided requirements are met.

The TEAM APM is a 30-day episode model for:

  • Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
  • Lower Extremity Joint Replacement (LEJR)
  • Major bowel procedures
  • Surgical hip/femur fracture treatment
  • Spinal fusion

An episode starts with the Anchor stay or procedure and includes Medicare FFS payments made in the following 30 days for services applicable to the anchor stay or procedure. This includes physician services, additional IP/OP stays for the original procedures, therapies both inpatient and outpatient, home care, laboratory testing, DME, medications, and hospice.

Program Year 1 of the Model quality measures includes a Hybrid Hospital-wide all-cause readmission measure and the Patient Safety and events composite measure (CMS 90).

LEJR episodes also include patient-reported outcome measures for total hip/total knee arthroplasty cases. In program year 2 additional quality measures are added related to hospital harm measures falls with injury and post-operative respiratory failure, and a thirty-day death rate amount surgical inpatients with complications.

All episode models will contain a health equity component which includes not only data collection, but also infrastructure investments, and an additional requirement for decarbonization efforts. CMS lists beneficiary incentives as well, including a waived origination site (patient location can be the home) for beneficiaries receiving telehealth services and a waived 3-day IP stay requirement for skilled nursing care.

This model has 3 possible participation tracks, similar to what is seen in Medicare Shared Savings Plans.
Track 1 has no financial risk, only a 10% stop-gain limit. Tracks 2 and 3 have gain and loss limits.

CMS completes the payment reconciliation annually six months after the program year is completed and payments to and from the organization are in lump sums.

For organizations with eligible clinicians meeting the Low-Volume Threshold, TEAM satisfies the definition of an Advanced Alternative Payment Model (Advanced APM) and clinicians meeting the APM volume thresholds for payment and beneficiary enrollment could be determined a Qualifying Participant (QP) and be exempt from Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting requirements.

Updates for the TEAM APM will come through future rule-making, including the Physician Fee Schedule updates, so stay connected to the Kentucky Regional Extension Center for more information.

For details and more information on TEAM from CMS, visit HERE.

QUESTIONS? Contact us at (859) 323-3090 or email us at KYRec@uky.edu. We aim to be your trusted healthcare advisor!

QPP Webinar Oct 15: Hidden Quality Measures

QPP Webinar: HIDDEN QUALITY MEASURES: UNDERSTANDING IMPACTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS QUALITY PERFORMANCE*
Tuesday OCTOBER 15, 2024 @ 12PM ET

Did you know that your practice may be scored on more than the six required quality measures you submit to the Quality Payment Program (QPP)? While eligible clinicians and group practices are required to submit six clinical quality measures to receive a score for the quality performance category, there are an additional four administrative claims-based measures that may potentially impact your overall performance in the QPP.

Learn how these measures are triggered for inclusion and what you need to know to best prepare for evaluation. You will gain insight into the linkages between these “hidden” measures and their influence in the overall MIPS performance and future payment adjustments for your organization.

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.

Mark your calendars for “HIDDEN QUALITY MEASURES: UNDERSTANDING IMPACTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS QUALITY PERFORMANCE*” on Tuesday, October 15th at 12pm EST.

*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!

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 24th: SDOH Roundtable

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 24 2024, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

Collaborative Solutions: SDOH Strategies and Innovative Approaches

Expert Roundtable

Join us for a dynamic roundtable discussion on how technology, policy, and community engagement converge to address social drivers of health. Our expert panelists will share insights on integrating SDOH data, fostering sustainable initiatives, and overcoming challenges in diverse communities.

Discover how you can apply innovative strategies and best practices that are shaping the future of health equity. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, policymaker, or community leader, this conversation will equip you with actionable solutions to drive meaningful change in your work.

Panelists:
Rachel Hogg-Graham, UK HealthCare
Tukea Talbert, UK HealthCare
Laura Eirich, UK HealthCare
Andrew Bledsoe, KHIE
Trudi Matthews, UK HealthCare

Questions? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Agenda

Thursday, October 24

8:00 —Registration, Coffee with Advisors & Exhibitors
8:30 — Welcome
8:45 — Security Incident Response Plan - A Tabletop Exercise

Amy Daley, Kentucky REC
Colin Glover, CISA
Ryan Lewis, CISA

CISA Representatives Colin Glover and Ryan Lewis join Kentucky REC Security Team Lead Amy Daley in a tabletop exercise based on vetted cybersecurity scenarios that allow for active participation from the audience. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of the current incident response plans and/or policies to review during the exercise.

9:45 — Break & Networking
10:00 — Transforming Care: QI Approaches to Address SDOH

Trudi Matthews, UK HealthCare
Jessica Sass, UK HealthCare

Trudi Matthews and Jessica Sass will lead a discussion of evidence based quality improvement approaches to address social drivers of health and improve patient care and well-being. 

10:50 — Collaborative Solutions: SDOH Strategies and Innovative Approaches

Rachel Hogg-Graham, UK HealthCare
Tukea Talbert, UK HealthCare
Andrew Bledsoe, KHIE
Laura Eirich, UK HealthCare
Trudi Matthews, UK HealthCare

Join us for a dynamic roundtable discussion of how technology, policy, and community engagement converge to address social drivers of health. 

11:35 — Lunch
12:15 — KEYNOTE SPEAKER Harold Dennis Jr.

Destiny: Choice, Not Chance

Harold Dennis Jr, survivor of the worst drunk driving accident in US history, takes you on a journey from tragedy to triumph, sharing stories of grit and determination. 

1:30— Break & Networking
1:45 — Medicare Promoting Interoperability: Key Considerations for Hospitals

Robin Curnel, Kentucky REC

Expert Kentucky REC Advisor Robin Curnel will discuss the challenges posed to hospitals attesting to the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program. She will review PY 2024 requirements, SAFER Guides, and more.

2:15 — Human-Factors Design: Quality Improvement Strategy with Intention

Jessica Elliott, Kentucky REC

Quality Team Lead Jessica Elliott will discuss core concepts of human-factors design principles and their application in the creation of a safe, efficient, and patient-centered clinical care environment. 

3:15  — Closing Remarks

Questions? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.