KENTUCKY REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER

Webinar August 27 – CMS Proposes Significant Reforms to The Quality Payment Program

Webinar August 27 – CMS Proposes Significant Reforms to The Quality Payment Program


Don’t Miss Our Aug 27 Webinar:

2027 CMS NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE-MAKING: QPP and BEYOND

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) issued the notice for proposed rule-making for the 2027 Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program (QPP) on Tuesday, August 14th, 2026.

CMS is proposing transformational changes to several programs within this rule, including:

  • the sunset date for the MIPS track of the QPP
  • a further increase in available MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs)
  • significant APM incentive payment reforms
  • expansion of the Medicare Shared Savings Program
  • further clarification of the new Ambulatory Specialty Model
  • the introduction of core measures and other substantial changes to QPP performance categories

Stay in the know with the Kentucky REC – Register today and be prepared for 2027 and beyond!

2027 CMS NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE-MAKING: QPP and BEYOND
THURSDAY AUG 27 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET

CMS encourages providers, healthcare organizations, vendors, and professional organizations to submit comments on the proposed rule.

How to comment:
The proposed rule includes directions for submitting comments within the 60-day comment period. CMS must receive comments by Monday, September 14, 2026.
When commenting, refer to file code: CMS-1848-P.
CMS does NOT accept FAX transmissions.

Use 1 of the 3 following ways to officially submit your comments:
• Electronically: www.regulations.gov
• Regular mail: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1848-P, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD 21244-8016.
• Express or overnight mail: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1848-P, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

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: Maximizing the HIPAA Security Rule

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 29 2026, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

Trudi Matthews

Maximizing the HIPAA Security Rule for Practice Success

Speaker: Amy Daley,  Kentucky REC

Significant revisions to the HIPAA Security Rule are expected to be finalized and announced this year. Applying the new revisions to everyday operations in your practice is the key to maximizing and strengthening your overall compliance program. Our advisors will provide an overview of everything that has changed about the rule as well as timelines for expected compliance.

 

About Amy Daley

Amy Daley, CHPS, has been a Health IT Advisor for Kentucky Regional Extension Center since 2014 and is the HIPAA Team Lead. She specializes in HIPAA Security guidance for healthcare organizations across the state of Kentucky. Amy obtained her B.S. in Computer Information Systems from the University of Louisville. Amy has been a guest speaker at various conferences in Kentucky presenting on topics related to HIPAA Security and Promoting Interoperability. Her background includes expertise in the areas of implementation, training and management of EHR systems.

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

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.

CMS Ambulatory Specialty Model – Informational Video

What is the CMS Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM)?

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

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.

CMS's New Mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Models - An Introduction

In this mini presentation, Kentucky REC expert advisors introduce the CMS Ambulatory Specialty Models, sharing the information you need to be prepared for this program.

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.

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.

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