Quality Improvement Resource Archives

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

Jan 21, 2026

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!

Contact US

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.

2025 Quality Payment Program Attestation Period Open

Jan 13, 2026

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently opened the Quality Payment Program (QPP) data submission portal for the 2025 performance period. The portal will remain open until 8 pm ET Tuesday, March 31st, 2026.

Check out the mini video at the bottom of this blog post for a brief overview of what you need to do.

Eligible Clinicians must submit data for three of the four categories for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System Program (MIPS) to earn anywhere between a negative or positive 9% payment adjustment impacting Medicare Part B payments in calendar year 2027. If a clinician is eligible and submits no data, they will automatically receive a negative 9% payment adjustment.

Alternative Payment Model (APM) participants may submit data through the QPP Portal during this window.

Clinicians or their designee should verify that access to the organization’s QPP Portal is active and up to date. Users without a log-in to this portal will need to request access through the HCQIS Authorization Roles and Profile (HARP) system prior to submission by following the link here: https://qtso.cms.gov/access-forms/harp-account-registration

Data submission for each of the categories requires different time periods for data collection:

Promoting Interoperability: minimum 180 consecutive days
Improvement Activities: minimum 90 consecutive days
Quality: full calendar year
Cost: No submission, full calendar year from claims

Clinicians may use various methods for submitting data to each category:

self-attestation
uploading of QRDA-III or JSON files
using a certified third-party registry

Each of these methods have specific rules that govern their use. Clinicians are encouraged to review those methods before attempting to attest.

Our advisors strongly recommend submitting data well in advance of the deadline to allow time for data validation or necessary updates within the QPP portal system.

In the coming weeks, the Kentucky REC advisors will be contacting clients to assist with data finalization, reviewing attestation checklists, and gathering audit support materials.

Not a client? Contact YOUR Experts at the Kentucky REC for all your QPP & APM questions. We’re here to help. Call us at 859-323-3090

Email Kentucky REC

Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 23: HIE-Speed Ahead – Connecting Care Smarter

Oct 14, 2025

2025 Healthcare Improvement annual meeting

Hybrid Event with Special Guest Speakers – In Person and Online

Oct. 23 2025, Lexington Kentucky, The Campbell House

REGISTER HERE

HIE-Speed Ahead: Connecting Care Smarter

Speaker: Andrew Bledsoe, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Get ready to accelerate into the future of health information technology! Andrew Bledsoe of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services introduces KHIE’s new HIE system and its enhanced capabilities, designed to make data exchange faster, smarter, and more seamless than ever. We’ll explore how these upgrades improve care coordination, strengthen connections, and empower providers with the right information at the right time.

About Andrew Bledsoe, Deputy Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

The intersection of health information technology with quality care delivery has provided Andrew Bledsoe with a unique perspective over his two plus decades in healthcare. Starting his career in a regional hospital, he quickly learned the challenges in healthcare, especially rural medicine, and began investing in the concept of leveraging health information technology to improve outcomes for patients.

His current appointment as the Deputy Inspector General for the Office of the Inspector General within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services primarily focuses on implementing the KHIE Strategic and Operational Plan, promoting the statewide exchange of patient health information, spearheading a number of new services designed to improve care coordination, and offer new avenues to reduce reporting burdens and foster inter-agency collaboration.

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

Register Today!

Visit Our Conference Page

Recruiting Healthcare Professionals for Substance Use Stigma Research

Aug 27, 2025

Healthcare Providers – Help Us Understand the Impact of Substance Use Stigma in Healthcare

Stigma surrounding substance use disorders can influence many aspects of the healthcare system, including how care is delivered and experienced. At the University of Kentucky, our research team is working to better understand how stigma influences clinical-decision making, provider-patient relationships, and treatment outcomes. Through in-depth interviews with healthcare professionals, the research team will focus on developing a deeper understanding of the challenges healthcare providers face when caring for patients with substance use disorders. By listening to the voices of healthcare providers, we hope to identify effective strategies that reduce stigma and create a more supportive environment for both patients and professionals. Research participants will inform recommendations for improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes and shape the content of educational resources for healthcare professionals. Your participation matters!

How to Participate

Quick Start: Take a short online survey (about 5 minutes) to provide consent, schedule your interview, and gather background details
Interview: Participate in a 45–60 minute confidential conversation scheduled at your convenience between August 11 – September 9, 2025 (video and in-person options available)
No Prep Required: Share your authentic professional experiences, observations, and perspectives on substance use stigma in healthcare settings
Receive your Token of Appreciation: Participants will receive a $25 gift card in appreciation of their time

Together, we can better understand the role of stigma in healthcare and work toward solutions that improve care for all patients. If you are interested in participating, you can learn more, complete the brief survey, and choose an interview time that works for you by visiting the participation page.

Research Team

Dr. Jessalyn I. Vallade, Associate Professor, College of Communication and Information
Dr. Kimberly A. Parker, Professor, College of Communication and Information
Dr. Alex Elswick, Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist, Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment

This research has been approved by the UK Institutional Review Board (#102942).

Webinar August 19 – CMS Quality Payment Program 2026 NPRM

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.

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!

Breaking Down the CMS 2026 Proposed Rule

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

- MIPS MVPs and APP Enhancements: CMS proposes notable updates to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, focusing on MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs) and the Alternative Payment Model Performance Pathway (APP). These changes will affect how you report quality, cost, and improvement activities. Ultimately, these changes will impact your payment adjustments. Understanding the details is key to maximizing performance and avoid penalties.
- Shared Savings and Advanced APM Updates: CMS is proposing changes to the Shared Savings Program and the Advanced APM Track that may impact ACO eligibility, financial reconciliation, and the incentives.
- New Mandatory Payment Model: CMS is introducing a MANDATORY payment model for ambulatory specialists treating Original Medicare patients with heart failure and low back pain. This shift toward condition-specific value-based care could significantly impact both reimbursement and care strategies for affected practices.
RESOURCES LINKED BELOW:

NPRM Proposed Rule: Federal Register 2026 Proposed Rule
PFS Fact Sheet: Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule | CMS
QPP Fact Sheet: 2026 Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule Fact Sheet and Policy Comparison Table
MSSP Fact Sheet: Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule — Medicare Shared Savings Program Proposals | CMS

Comments MUST be submitted by 5 PM EDT September 12, 2025, in one of the following three ways (choose only one of the ways listed). Refer to File Code CMS-1832-P with your submission.
- - - Electronically: Submit electronic comments on this regulation HERE. Follow the “Submit a comment” instructions.
    - By regular mail: Mail written comments to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1832-P, P.O. Box 8016, Baltimore, MD 21244-8016. Allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.
    - By express or overnight mail: Send written comments to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1832-P, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
    Contact YOUR experts at Kentucky REC with all your Quality Payment Program questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.

KENTUCKY REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER