May is Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month

May 7, 2026

May is Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month

Over 27.8 million adults and 4.8 million children in the U.S. are living with asthma.

The Kentucky REC, in partnership with KDPH’s Kentucky Asthma Management Program (KAMP) are raising awareness about the importance of asthma control, helping patients, caregiver, and healthcare professionals build knowledge and skills needed for effective daily management.

Many learning opportunities are available this month to support individuals and families in living well with asthma.

The American Lung Association (ALA) and the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) are providing FREE RESOURCES to help your healthcare organization increase awareness and access to resources within your communities.

AAFA: CLICK HERE for Pediatric Asthma Social Media Toolkit
ALA: CLICK HERE for Asthma Awareness Month | American Lung Association Resources
KAMP: CLICK HERE for Asthma Management Program – Cabinet for Health and Family Services Resources

Patient and Clinical Education Opportunities:
May 5: Webinar: 2026 Clean Air School Symposium, 11am – 2:30pm EST REGISTER HERE

May 8: Webinar: Building Clinical Linkages with Asthma Care Partners, 12 – 1pm EST REGISTER HERE

May 15: Webinar: Asthma Medication in Schools: Back to the Basics,12 – 1pm EST REGISTER HERE

May 22: Webinar: Treating Persistent Asthma: Putting your Patient on the Right Therapy Using the Stepwise Charts, 12 – 1pm EST REGISTER HERE

May 29: Webinar: Asthma Action Plans, 12- 1pm EST REGISTER HERE

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29 – Keynote Speaker Cameron Mills

May 6, 2026

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.

Register for Conference

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.

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.

Visit Our Conference Page

Save the Date! Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29!

Mar 30, 2026

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

Need to Know Facts: CMS’s New Mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model

Mar 2, 2026

CMS’s New Mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the participant list for the new Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM). This payment model gauges individual clinician-level performance around high-cost chronic conditions.

Included in this MANDATORY model is a dual-sided risk component designed to increase specialty provider accountability through the co-management of Medicare beneficiary’s care.

Important facts about this model and it’s potential impact:

This is a MANDATORY dual-sided risk model: ASM participants will see escalating risk from 9-12% over the life of the model impacting ALL Medicare Part B claims reimbursement.
Model performance begins on January 1, 2027 and runs through December 31, 2031.
ASM participants are assessed at the individual provider level, not the tax ID, and participation is limited to certain clinician types. Selected clinicians will participate in one of two cohorts: Low Back Pain or Heart Failure
Mandatory participation is based on several factors: these are related to claims billed; medical specialty type; episode thresholds; and geographic area criteria for model selection.
Impacted Kentucky core-based statistical areas (CBSAs): Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Glasgow, Louisville Metro, Lexington-Fayette, Paducah, Pikeville, and Richmond/Berea.
The framework of this model is based on a composite of the Quality Payment Program’s MVP and APP Tracks with components of Advanced APMs. Mandatory selection for this model may impact your individual clinical level reporting requirements for the QPP program.

Several Kentucky healthcare providers have been selected to participate in this MANDATORY model.

A list of selected providers can be found on the CMS Model website. Visit this link to determine if you are a required participant in the ASM

If you are a specialist managing patients with heart failure or low back pain, the time to understand your obligations is now.

Email Kentucky REC

Click this link to visit CMS’s Ambulatory Specialty Model website to learn more or contact your Kentucky REC advisor at 859-323-3090 to learn about our ASM operational and strategic support services.

Questions about eligibility and practice impacts from this new MANDATORY payment model? Contact YOUR Experts at the Kentucky REC for all your ASM questions. Call us at 859-323-3090 or email us kyrec@uky.edu.

The New CMS Ambulatory Specialty Model: Is Your Practice Prepared?

Feb 10, 2026

CMS’s New Mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model: Initial Participation List Announced

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the Initial Participation list for clinicians required to take part in the newly finalized Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) — a significant shift in how specialty care is delivered and reimbursed in Traditional Medicare.

Several Kentucky healthcare providers have been selected to participate in this MANDATORY model. Visit this link to determine if you are a required participant in the ASM

If you are a participant in this model, you have certain action items due by February 17th, 2026.

These impact registration and limit access to critical information through the ASM Participant Portal. Here is the ASM Participant Contact Information Form.
If you are a specialist managing patients with heart failure or low back pain, the time to understand your obligations is now.

Email us

Click this link to visit CMS’s Ambulatory Specialty Model website to learn more or contact your Kentucky REC advisor at 859-323-3090 to learn about our ASM operational and strategic support services.

What is the ASM?

The ASM is designed to improve the co-management of Traditional Medicare beneficiaries while driving down costs within defined clinical episodes. Unlike many prior payment models, this is an individual provider-level model. It places the responsibility for cost and quality directly on the MDs and DOs who manage high-cost chronic conditions.

Are You Required to Participate?

Participation is mandatory for providers who meet four specific criteria:

Billing: You must bill claims under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
Specialty Focus: You are identified by your TIN/NPI in one of two primary cohorts:
- Heart Failure Cohort:Cardiology
- Low Back Pain Cohort: Anesthesiology, Orthopedics, Orthopedic Surgery, Interventional Pain Management, Pain Management, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Neurosurgery
Volume Threshold: You must meet a minimum of 20 episodes for your respective cohort
Geography: You must be located in one of the CMS-identified mandatory geographic areas

Key Timeline and Risk Structure

The ASM is a long-term commitment to value-based care, requiring participants to navigate escalating financial stakes.

Duration: Five years, beginning January 1, 2027, and concluding December 31, 2031.
Escalating Risk: Participants will face a dual-sided risk profile starting at 9% and increasing to 12% over the life of the model.
The Bottom Line: The ASM represents a move toward granular accountability. Specialists are no longer on the sidelines of value-based care—they are now a vital part of it.

Questions about eligibility and practice impacts from this new MANDATORY payment model? Contact YOUR Experts at the Kentucky REC for all your ASM questions. Call us at 859-323-3090 or email us kyrec@uky.edu.

QPP Webinar Dec 16: CMS 2026 Final Rule

Nov 10, 2025

QPP 2026 PFS & QPP Final Rule*
Webinar Date: December 16, 2025 @12pm

CMS released the highly anticipated 2026 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule on Nov 3rd — and the changes are significant.

From new Quality Payment Program (QPP) requirements to critical updates impacting MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs), eligible clinicians will see meaningful shifts in reporting, participation, and performance expectations.

One of the most notable updates is the introduction of the new Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM)—inclusion of specialists in outpatient and ambulatory care settings. ASM is designed to expand value-based care opportunities, improve quality measurement alignment for specialists, and offer new pathways to succeed in advanced payment arrangements.

OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS WILL WALK YOU THROUGH:
• Key QPP updates every organization must understand
• What’s changing within MVPs and APM participation
• How the Ambulatory Specialty Model will affect specialists and reporting options
• Action steps to prepare for 2026

Interested in learning more about QPP, attend upcoming webinars, or learn how our advisors can assist your practice in maximizing performance in the QPP or other value-based care programs? 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.

CONTACT US

*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 REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER