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
Jul 10, 2025
Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online
Oct. 23 2025, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House
ADVANCING KENTUCKY TOGETHER & LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Speaker: Trudi Matthews, UK HEalthcare
For more than two decades, the University of Kentucky and its hospital, UK HealthCare, has established and worked with affiliates — hospitals, clinics and providers — across the state to open greater access to specialty care, such as cancer, heart disease and stroke.
During the October 2024 UK Board of Trustees retreat, the Board directed President Capilouto to build on our momentum and take the next critical steps in our mission to advance the wellbeing of our Commonwealth. We are focusing the institution’s capacity and strategic efforts on becoming the university that — along with partners — does more than anyone in the country to improve the health of the state it serves.
The Advancing Kentucky Together Network takes that affiliate model a step further. The Advancing Kentucky Together Network is the next evolution of our partnership model and expands our efforts to address dramatically growing health, education and workforce needs across the state.
About Trudi Matthews
Trudi Matthews serves as Chief of Value Based Programs, Public Policy and Community Initiatives in the Office of the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at UK HealthCare, the health system of the University of Kentucky (UK). In this role, Trudi works with UK HealthCare’s executive team and ambulatory leadership to ensure success in value-based programs for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers. Trudi also serves as government affairs and policy lead for UK HealthCare overseeing a team responsible for reviewing and analyzing state and federal government policy initiatives.
Trudi is also Executive Director of the Kentucky Regional Extension Center (REC) at UK. Trudi oversees this state-wide center charged with assisting health care leaders, practices, and hospitals across Kentucky with using technology, connectivity, process improvement and value-based care models to improve the quality and value of health care. From 2015-2019, she was Managing Director of the Kentucky REC, leading and supporting multiple externally sponsored projects such as Kentucky’s Practice Transformation Network Grant, Medicaid Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability Support, and several CDC-funded projects with the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
Questions? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.
Jul 7, 2025
KHIE Transitioning All Participating Organizations to New Technology Platform in 2025
As part of its ongoing mission to build a healthier Kentucky, the Kentucky Health Information Exchange (KHIE) is transitioning all participating organizations to a new technology platform in 2025. This move is made possible through a partnership with CRISP Shared Services (CSS)—a nationally recognized leader in health information technology and data exchange.
This transition is a strategic step to ensure long-term sustainability while continuing to offer innovative tools and services at no cost to KHIE participants. By leveraging CSS’s advanced infrastructure and shared services model, KHIE will be able to enhance functionality, improve efficiency, and scale to meet the growing needs of healthcare providers across the Commonwealth.
WHAT TO EXPECT
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- The platform transition, which began in spring 2025, will continue through the end of the year
- No disruption to services or data access is anticipated during this period
- Participants will receive hands-on support throughout the transition, at no cost
KHIE is committed to keeping participants informed every step of the way. They are engaging directly with healthcare organizations to provide personalized guidance. If you have questions about the onboarding process, timelines, or technical details, contact your designated KHIE outreach coordinator.
Stay tuned for more updates as KHIE moves forward with this exciting advancement—keeping Kentucky’s healthcare connected, innovative, and prepared for the future. Together with KHIE, the Kentucky Regional Extension Center is here to ensure a smooth and successful transition for all providers across the state.
Kentucky REC is here for you. To speak with the team on how we can best support you, feel free to contact us HERE or call us at 859-323-3090.
Jun 25, 2025
QPP 2025 Accountable Care Series Part 3: Choosing the Right Path for Your Practice*
Webinar Date: July 22, 2025 @12pm
Join your Kentucky REC expert advisors as we provide a comprehensive overview of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs), equipping you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your participation in value-based care initiatives.
As CMS looks to sunset Traditional MIPS reporting, Kentucky REC advisors will share the critical decision of selecting the most suitable pathway for your practice within the Quality Payment Program (QPP).
While pending finalization in further rule-making, CMS has indicated that MIPS ECs and groups may be required to participate in MIPS Value Pathway (MVPs) or the APM Performance Pathway (APP) to fulfill reporting requirements.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• MVPs vs. APP Deep Dive: Understand the key differences between the MVP & APP tracks, including eligibility criteria, performance categories, and potential risks and rewards of each pathway
• Optimizing MIPS Participation through MVPs: Learn how to effectively register and form MVPs around the care services provided or the population served; Understand how to select the most advantageous clinical quality measures for your specific practice needs
•Navigating the APP Reporting Pathway: Gain insights into the reporting requirements and considerations for practices participating in Alternative Payment Models
This webinar is essential for healthcare providers and leaders seeking to understand the evolving landscape of value-based care and make informed decisions about their participation in ACOs and APMs.
Not a current KY REC client? For access to webinars in this series, contact the KY REC to learn more about our services. Interested in learning more about QPP, attend upcoming series, 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 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!
Jun 17, 2025
HRSA’s Health Center Individualized Technical Assistance Program
Want to be PCMH recognized but don’t have the resources? HRSA is now funding supported health centers through their Health Center Individualized Technical Assistance Program. Enrolled health centers can receive 1:1 support to achieve PCMH recognition.
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.
HRSA funds the Health Center Individualized Technical Assistance Program to supply 1:1 support for Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition to HRSA supported health centers that are not currently recognized with PCMH but wish to achieve PCMH recognition and would like additional resources to do so.
Support for this program is provided by NCQA PCMH Certified Content Experts (CCEs) to help the organization attain recognition. HRSA covers the NCQA survey tool and review fees for initial, renewal, and add-on recognition surveys of health centers. This includes 1:1 PCMH CCE support.
If your health center chooses to participate, and is approved, then you may select a PCMH CCE of your choice to assist during the recognition process.
The PCMH CCE Will Provide These Support Services:
• Partner with health center & provide PCMH requirements
• NCQA PCMH Recognition Self-Assessment & Gap Analysis
• PCMH Requirements’ Action Plan
• NCQA PCMH Recognition Program Enrollment Assistance
• Help meet Interim & Final Timeliness requirements
• Assist with earning PCMH recognition
• PCMH Recognition policies & procedures, and NCQA’s web-based tools & systems
Questions? For more information on how to begin this process, or further details, contact YOUR experts at Kentucky REC. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
