KENTUCKY REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER

Early Bird Discount! Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct. 23

Early Bird Discount! Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct. 23

The Campbell House, Lexington, Kentucky – Join Us in Person or Online

Register now for a 20% discount! Use code earlybird when registering at the link below!

Join us for an engaging day where we share essential topics shaping healthcare today and into the future. Our agenda includes in depth discussions of Quality Initiatives, HIPAA, Hospital Promoting Interoperability, and more.

Whether you’re a clinician, administrator, or a member of healthcare staff, this event is tailored to equip you with the insights and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare.

Guest speakers will join us to present on relevant topics. Details and Agenda coming soon!

Questions? Contact the Kentucky REC Annual Conference Team at Kentucky REC. 859-323-3090.

Registration Open! Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 23

The Campbell House, Lexington, Kentucky – Join Us in Person or Online

Join us for an engaging day where we share essential topics shaping healthcare today and into the future. Our agenda includes in depth discussions of Quality Initiatives, HIPAA, Hospital Promoting Interoperability, and more.

Whether you’re a clinician, administrator, or a member of healthcare staff, this event is tailored to equip you with the insights and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare.

Guest speakers will join us to present on relevant topics. Details and Agenda coming soon!

Questions? Contact the Kentucky REC Annual Conference Team at Kentucky REC. 859-323-3090.

Register Today! QPP Public Webinar May 13 – Accountable Care Series Kick-Off

QPP Year 9: QPP 2025 Accountable Care Series Part 1: A Journey to Whole Person, Patient-Centered Care
 
Live Webinar: Tuesday May 13, 2025 12 Noon ET

This open to the public live webinar marks the launch of our comprehensive four-part series designed to equip healthcare providers & leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the evolving landscape of value-based accountable care.

CMS intends to align the QPP with agency goals as outlined in the Healthy People 2030 Initiative to provide comprehensive primary and specialty care services to all Traditional Medicare beneficiaries via accountable care relationships focused on improving quality and total cost of care.

In this inaugural session, we will explore the foundations of success in accountable care.

Topics Include:
• Cost and Quality Connection:
Understand the critical link between cost-effective care and improved patient outcomes for value-based care
• Identifying Controllable Costs: Learn strategies to identify and manage costs within your control for better population health management
• Leveraging Population Health Strategies: Explore the significant impact of Chronic Care Management, Transitional Care Management and addressing socio-economic disparities in your patient population health and discover innovative approaches to address these critical factors
• Performance Alignment with CMS and Other Payers Through QI: Gain insights into establishing a framework of high-reliability and a culture of continuous quality improvement to remain relevant in the accountable care space

This webinar is a must-attend for all healthcare providers and leaders seeking to embrace a patient-centered approach to care and succeed in the evolving value-based care environment. Not a current KY REC client? For access to remaining webinars in this series, contact the KY REC to learn more about our services.

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

QPP Webinar April 8 – Expert Insight Series: Promoting Interoperability – Mastering HIE


QPP Webinar – 2025 Expert Insight Series Part 3: Promoting Interoperability (PI) Category – Mastering the Health Information Exchange (HIE) Objective*
Tuesday April 8, 2025 @ 12PM ET

In the last segment of our Expert Insight Series, this webinar provides a deep dive into the critical Health Information Exchange (HIE) objective within the Promoting Interoperability (PI) Performance Category of the Quality Payment Program (QPP).

Key takeaways include:
• 3 Pathways to Success:
Explore the three distinct methods for meeting the HIE objective and determine the best approach for your practice
• HIE Operations De-mystified: Gain a clear understanding of how Health Information Exchanges function, including data sharing processes and key considerations
• Maximizing Your Score: Learn strategies to optimize your HIE performance and maximize your QPP score

This webinar is essential for all providers seeking to successfully navigate the HIE objective and maximize their QPP performance. Access to this webinar series is reserved for clients of the Kentucky Regional Extension Center.

Join the Kentucky Regional Extension Center (Kentucky REC) on Tuesday, April 8th, at 12:00 pm for our client-only QPP 2025 Expert Insights Series: Mastering the Health Information Exchange (HIE) objective within the Promoting Interoperability (PI) Performance Category for the 2025 Quality Payment Program.

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.

Mark your calendars for “Promoting Interoperability (PI) Category – Mastering the Health Information Exchange (HIE) Objective*” on Tuesday, APRIL 8th at 12pm EST.

 

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!

HIPAA Security Rule Gets a Makeover: Let’s Break it Down – Watch Now!

Public Webinar Available Now: HIPAA Security Rule Gets a Makeover – Let’s Break it Down

 

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Electronic Protected Health Information (NPRM) on Jan 6, 2025. This will be the first major update to the HIPAA Security Rule since the HIPAA Omnibus Rule in 2013.

These proposed changes bring about new requirements, including:

  • Vulnerability scanning
  • Penetration testing
  • Patch management
  • Network segmentation
  • Data backup testing
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Security incident planning and testing
  • HIPAA compliance audits
  • Business associate delegation
  • Guidelines for ongoing maintenance


This webinar provides an overview of the proposed changes and expected timelines for regulated entities to meet compliance with the new rule. The proposed rule seeks to strengthen cybersecurity by updating the Security Rule’s standards to better address ever-increasing cybersecurity threats to the health care sector. While the Department is undertaking this rulemaking, the current Security Rule remains in effect.

For more information about the proposed rule for HIPAA Security, please follow the links below:

Fact Sheet: “HIPAA Security Rule Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Electronic Protected Health Information

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) – “HIPAA Security Rule To Strengthen the Cybersecurity of Electronic Protected Health Information

Contact the experts at Kentucky REC with all your HIPAA Privacy and Security questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.

 

CMS QPP/MIPS 2024 Data Submission Extension & EUC Application Window and More

CMS Releases Notice of QPP/MIPS 2024 Data Submission Extension, EUC Application Window, & 2024 Suppressed or Truncated Measures

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced several updates impacting performance year 2024 under the Quality Payment Programs’ Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program.

2024 Submission Deadline Extension

The submission deadline for MIPS Data Submission for performance year 2024 has been extended until April 14th, 2025 until 8pm EDT for all MIPS eligible clinicians (ECs) and their representatives.

Opt-in ECs/group or Partial QPs reporting MIPS data, in order to receive a MIPS payment adjustment, must complete their election to participate in the program by March 31st, 2025 at 8pm EDT and complete all MIPS data submission by the April 14th extended deadline.

2024 MIPS EUC Exception Application Change

The 2024 MIPS EUC (Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances) Exception Application window will reopen due to the national IV fluid shortage. CMS is limiting EUC applications to those citing this shortage as the basis for the EUC Exception request. The application window will be in effect from March 31st, 2025 at 10am EDT through April 14th, 2025 at 8pm EDT.

2024 Truncated or Suppressed Measures Change

On Friday, March 21st, 2025, CMS announced 2024 clinical quality measures that will be truncated or suppressed for performance year 2024.
2024 Truncated Measure:

  • Quality Measure #185: Colonoscopy Interval for Patients with a History of Adenomatous Polyps – Avoidance of Inappropriate Use (MIPS CQM)

2024 Suppressed Measures:

  • Quality Measure #389: Cataract Surgery: Difference Between Planned and Final Refraction (MIPS CQM)
  • Quality Measure #488: Kidney Health Evaluation (eCQM)

For more information regarding MIPS submission deadlines, reopening of the MIPS EUC Exception application, or measure truncation/suppression impacts, please contact your KYREC advisor for additional details.

Interested in learning more about MIPS/QPP or how our advisors can assist your practice in maximizing performance in this or other value-based care programs? Contact YOUR experts at Kentucky REC with all your QPP, MIPS/MVP, and APM Track questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.