KENTUCKY REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER

Webinar July 30: Understanding CMS’s Mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model

Webinar July 30: Understanding CMS’s Mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model


Don’t Miss Our July 30 Webinar: Understanding CMS’s Mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM)

Does your practice treat 20 or more Medicare patients with heart failure or low back pain each year? If so, CMS’s new Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) may directly impact your organization.

Unlike many value-based care initiatives, the ASM is a mandatory payment model for selected specialists billing under Medicare Part B who treat these conditions. Beginning in 2027, the model is designed to increase specialist accountability for chronic disease management, reduce low-value care, and strengthen coordination between specialists and primary care providers.

CMS has released the preliminary list of participating providers, with an update coming later this year. You can check your status by clicking this link.

With financial risk increasing through 2033, now is the time to understand the model and begin preparing your practice.

Join us for our webinar on Thursday, July 30, where we will provide a practical overview of:
• Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) selection methodology
• Participant eligibility requirements
• Cohort-specific quality measures
• Financial implications and risk timelines
• Recommended steps to prepare your organization

Whether you are a practice administrator, physician leader, or quality improvement professional, this session will equip you with the insights and action steps needed to prepare for one of the most significant mandatory specialty payment models introduced by CMS.

Register today and get ahead of the changes!

UNDERSTANDING CMS’S MANDATORY AMBULATORY SPECIALTY MODEL
THURSDAY JULY 30 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET

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

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29 – Keynote Speaker Cameron Mills

Kentucky REC 2026 Annual Conference logo with intertwining ribbons and text: Kentucky REC Presents - Connecting our Healthcare Community: Improving Quality, Enhancing Security and Promoting Interoperability - October 29 Lexington KY and Online
Kentucky REC 2026 Annual Conference logo with intertwining ribbons and text: Kentucky REC Presents - Connecting our Healthcare Community: Improving Quality, Enhancing Security and Promoting Interoperability - October 29 Lexington KY and Online

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 29 2026, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

This year’s conference will feature timely sessions on quality initiatives, HIPAA and security updates, hospital promoting interoperability, AI in healthcare, and emerging topics shaping healthcare.

 

Keynote Speaker: CAMERON MILLS, LHC Group, CAMERON MILLS MINISTRIES

The Most Rarely Discussed Job in Health Care

Kentucky native Cameron Mills lived out a childhood dream by following in his father’s footsteps to play basketball at the University of Kentucky during one of the programs most successful eras. From 1994-1998, he helped lead the Wildcats to three NCAA Final Fours and three NCAA National Championship appearances. The team won two Championships, defeating Syracuse in 1996 and Utah in 1998.

Following his time at UK, Cameron founded Cameron Mills Ministries. He is a sought after speaker at conferences and events, sharing insights on the power of influence. His message focuses on everyday opportunities we have to impact others through actions, not just words.

At the same time, Cameron has also built a career in the health care industry. He has been with LHC Group since 2004, a national leader in home health and hospice services, which serves patients in 38 states. In 2019, he became Vice President and Chief Culture Officer. In this role, he encourages and supports frontline caregivers, individuals he considers heroes long before the Covid-19 pandemic brought them into the spotlight.

Cameron lives in Lexington, KY with his wife, Susan, and their son Alex. Susan is a children’s book author and illustrator. She is known for her series about a world of dinosaurs with special needs.

 

Keynote Speaker: CAMERON MILLS, LHC Group, CAMERON MILLS MINISTRIES

TEAMWORK – You can’t do it alone

Kentucky native Cameron Mills lived out a childhood dream by following in his father’s footsteps to play basketball at the University of Kentucky during one of the programs most successful eras. From 1994-1998, he helped lead the Wildcats to three NCAA Final Fours and three NCAA National Championship appearances. The team won two Championships, defeating Syracuse in 1996 and Utah in 1998.

Following his time at UK, Cameron founded Cameron Mills Ministries. He is a sought after speaker at conferences and events, sharing insights on the power of influence. His message focuses on everyday opportunities we have to impact others through actions, not just words.

At the same time, Cameron has also built a career in the health care industry. He has been with LHC Group since 2004, a national leader in home health and hospice services, which serves patients in 38 states. In 2019, he became Vice President and Chief Culture Officer. In this role, he encourages and supports frontline caregivers, individuals he considers heroes long before the Covid-19 pandemic brought them into the spotlight.

Cameron lives in Lexington, KY with his wife, Susan, and their son Alex. Susan is a children’s book author and illustrator. She is known for her series about a world of dinosaurs with special needs.

Save the Date! Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29!

Kentucky REC 2026 Annual Conference logo with intertwining ribbons and text: Kentucky REC Presents - Connecting our Healthcare Community: Improving Quality, Enhancing Security and Promoting Interoperability - October 29 Lexington KY and Online

Details and Registration Coming Soon!

During our day together we’ll discuss Quality Initiatives, HIPAA, Artificial Intelligence, and more to ensure that clinicians, hospital and ambulatory administrators, and clinic staff are well prepared for the challenges of modern healthcare.

Lexington, Kentucky – Join Us in Person or Online

Want to be PCMH recognized but don’t have the resources?

Graphic with three figures suggesting clinician and patient under a house shape with letters PCMH in bold suggesting the patient centered medical home program. Health Center Individualized Technical Assistance Program for PCMH Recognition

The Health Center Individualized Technical Assistance (TA) Program, funded by HRSA, offers personalized one-on-one support to HRSA-supported health centers and Look-Alikes that are not yet Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognized, but are ready to pursue this important credential. Through this program, health centers receive individualized guidance from NCQA PCMH Certified Content Experts (CCEs) to help navigate PCMH requirements and successfully achieve Recognition. CCEs are supported by HRSA funding for their work with participating centers.

According to NCQA, Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition research shows this program improves quality and patient experience, and increases staff satisfaction, while reducing health care costs. It can also prepare your organization for building the foundation for Value-Based Care. The NCQA PCMH program is the most widely adopted program in the United States and has more than 10,000 recognized practices.

Who Is Eligible?

Health centers must:

  • Be HRSA-supported or a Look-Alike
  • Not currently hold PCMH Recognition
  • Be prepared to begin the program within 45 days of approval

Participating centers are required to:

  • Submit an Interest Form to NCQA
  • Obtain an approved HRSA Notice of Intent (NOI)
  • Select a Certified Content Expert (CCE)

If your health center chooses to participate and is approved, then you may select a PCMH Certified Content Expert (CCE) of your choice to assist during the recognition process.

The PCMH Certified Content Expert (CCE) Will Provide These Support Services:

  • Clarify PCMH requirements
  • Conduct self-assessments and gap analyses
  • Develop an actionable plan for meeting PCMH standards
  • Support enrollment and milestone completion
  • Guide centers through NCQA tools and processes
  • Help achieve and celebrate PCMH Recognition

The Kentucky REC’s PCMH Team Lead, Vance Drakeford, may be selected as the CCE from the available options. Vance has assisted over 50 healthcare organizations, including FQHC’s to achieve PCMH recognition.

Take the next step in improving services to your patients as well as employee satisfaction!

Questions? For more information on how to begin this process, or further details, contact YOUR experts by email at KYRec@uky.edu or call us at 859-323-3090. We’re here to help.

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 23 2025: Dr Tama Thé – The Promise of AI for Kentucky Healthcare

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 23 2025, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

Trudi Matthews

Dreams of Data—The Promise of AI for Kentucky Healthcare

Speaker: Dr Tama Thé, MD, Assistant Professor – Department of Emergency Medicine, UK HealthCare 

Artificial intelligence is transforming medicine around the world. How can we make sure that Kentucky doesn’t get left behind? This presentation explores how we can harness AI to build a smarter, more connected healthcare system. We’ll look at how AI can improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce documentation burdens, and help address the physician shortage. We will highlight some of the innovative projects underway at UK HealthCare and get a peek of the broader vision driving the next wave of healthcare transformation.

Dr Tama Thé, MD

Tama Thé specializes in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and is an AI Research fellow with the National Board of Medical Examiners. He is leading AI initiatives both in healthcare at UKHC and across the state, as well as on the main campus at UK, and is the founder of the AI Incubator at the UK College of Medicine.

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

Free Tobacco Cessation Referral Program for Providers — Limited Enrollment

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.