Remembering Ernie Scott
The Kentucky REC team is saddened to learn of the passing of our colleague Ernie Scott, Director of of the Kentucky Office of Rural Health. Ernie and his team have partnered with Kentucky REC since the early days of our service to Kentucky providers.
We worked together to improve healthcare IT, access, and quality throughout the Commonwealth, with a special focus on rural areas of Kentucky. As the Director of the Kentucky Office of Rural Health, Ernie always focused on bettering all aspects of healthcare, with a special focus on education, training, and patient care. He will be greatly missed.
April 13 Webinar: Primary Care & Mental Health – Cross Specialty Collaboration
Webinars and Resources
Behavioral Health Community of Practice
The Behavioral Health Community of Practice, organized by UK HealthCare & Kentucky REC, connects adult and pediatric primary care providers, specialists and organizations through learning sessions where behavioral health experts present best practices, tools and resources to optimize mental health care.
The format of the Community of Practice is monthly one-hour webinar meetings October 2022 through May 2023 from noon – 1 pm. Each session includes education, best practice overviews, interactive trainings on tools and resources, and group discussions.
Primary Care & Mental Health - Cross Specialty Collaboration
Noon — 1:00 pm ET
- Finding Referral Partners
- Managing Care Together
- Linkage Between Chronic Disease and Depression
Primary Care & Mental Health - Cross Specialty Collaboration
Noon — 1:00 pm ET
- Evidence-based Guidelines
- How Health Care Teams Can Support Non-Pharmacological Interventions
Resource: There’s an App for That Flyer
Visit HERE for more information, including previous session recordings, resources, and to register for upcoming events, including FREE Mental Health First Aid Training.
To learn more, visit THIS UK HealthCare web page.
QUESTIONS? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us: 859-323-3090.
Grant Opportunity: Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support – Deadline March 17
Grant Opportunity: Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Research Study & Quality Improvement
The Kentucky Regional Extension Center, in partnership with The University of Kentucky College of Public Health and UK HealthCare Department of Family & Community Medicine are inviting you to apply to participate in a research study and learning collaborative to improve access and utilization of Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSMES) within the state of Kentucky.
DSMES is an evidence-based educational program that helps people with diabetes better control their blood sugar (improved hemoglobin A1c) and reduce diabetes-related complications and healthcare costs. DSMES is included in the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes current clinical practice guidelines. Despite this evidence, DSMES remains strikingly underutilized with fewer than 10% of eligible patients receiving this helpful service.
The Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) “UP FOR IT” Learning Collaborative focuses on improving the referral process to DSMES services for clinics in Kentucky. It is part of a larger NIH-funded research project studying the adoption of practice facilitation and an electronic clinic-community referral system to increase DSMES utilization.
Selected organizations are eligible to receive up to $12,000 in client practice payments to help offset the costs of participation in terms of time, administrative support, data collection/reporting, provider/staff training.
Interested organizations are asked to submit a COMPLETED APPLICATION by 12pm EDT FRIDAY, MARCH 17th, 2024 HERE.
For questions concerning the collaborative or the application, contact Kentucky REC or call us at 859-323-3090.
See THIS DOCUMENT for additional details on this grant-funded research study opportunity.
Watch the recording from the Info Call held on 2/17/23 HERE.
Contact the experts at Kentucky REC with all your quality improvement questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
March 2 Webinar: Responding to Mental Health Crises in Primary Care
Webinars and Resources
Behavioral Health Community of Practice
The Behavioral Health Community of Practice, organized by UK HealthCare & Kentucky REC, connects adult and pediatric primary care providers, specialists and organizations through learning sessions where behavioral health experts present best practices, tools and resources to optimize mental health care.
The format of the Community of Practice is monthly one-hour webinar meetings October 2022 through May 2023 from noon – 1 pm. Each session includes education, best practice overviews, interactive trainings on tools and resources, and group discussions.
Responding to Mental Health Crises in Primary Care
Noon — 1:00 pm ET
- Crisis Response Continuum
- Mental Health Crisis Response Resources
- Patient Safety Planning
Resource: SAMHSA 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Safety Plan Pads
Responding to Mental Health Crises in Primary Care
Noon — 1:00 pm ET
- Crisis Response Continuum
- Mental Health Crisis Response Resources
- Patient Safety Planning
Resource: SAMHSA 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Safety Plan Pads
Visit HERE for more information, including previous session recordings, resources, and to register for upcoming events, including FREE Mental Health First Aid Training.
To learn more, visit THIS UK HealthCare web page.
QUESTIONS? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us: 859-323-3090.
Mental Health First Aid – Free Training
As part of the Healthy Kentucky Behavioral Health Community of Practice,
multiple sessions of Mental Health First Aid training
are available for free with dates now through April 2023
Space is limited, so register soon!
Adult MHFA Flier
HERE is a flyer about Mental Health First Aid.
HERE is a flyer focused on Mental Health First Aid for Adults.
Interested in joining the Healthy Kentucky Behavioral Health Community of Practice?
Our next event is March 2, 2023: Responding to Mental Health Crises in Primary Care
HERE is the Resource Page where you can register and find more information, including past event recordings.
Questions about Mental Health First Aid or the Behavioral Health Community of Practice? Contact us at Kentucky REC or 859-323-3090.
Info Call Feb 17 – Grant Opportunity: Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
Grant Opportunity: Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Research Study & Quality Improvement
Info Call: Feb 17 2023 12 Noon ET
The Kentucky Regional Extension Center, in partnership with The University of Kentucky College of Public Health, and UK HealthCare Department of Family & Community Medicine, invites you to an informational call to learn more about an exciting opportunity to participate in the UP FOR IT Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Learning Collaborative.
DSMES is an evidence-based educational program that helps people with diabetes better control their blood sugar (improved hemoglobin A1c) and reduce diabetes-related complications and healthcare costs. DSMES is strikingly underutilized, with fewer than 10% of eligible patients receiving this helpful service. This learning collaborative focuses on improving the referral process to DSMES services for clinics in Kentucky. It is part of a larger NIH-funded research project studying the adoption of practice facilitation, and an electronic clinic-community referral system to increase DSMES utilization.
Selected organizations are eligible to receive up to $12,000 in client practice payments to help offset the costs of participation in terms of time, administrative support, data collection/reporting, provider/staff training.
Join our informational call on February, 17th, 2023 at 12pm ET to learn more about how your healthcare organization can apply to participate.
HERE is an interest form to fill out and send to schedule a conversation about this opportunity.
Contact the experts at Kentucky REC with all your quality improvement questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
March 14 Webinar: QPP Year 7 – Understanding FQHC & RHC Eligibility
Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health clinics are tasked with providing care to under-served, at-risk patients, and those in rural areas who have limited access to healthcare. What an awesome charge, to be tasked with improving the health and well-being of those who may not otherwise have access to care. The question often comes up for these organizations: how does MIPS apply to FQHC and RHC practices and clinicians?
FQHCs and RHCs providing services to Medicare patients generally bill for facility charges within the Medicare Part A all-inclusive rate. However, FQHCs and RHCs billing for Medicare Part B Services rendered under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) could find that they are eligible for MIPS payment adjustments. Those who are not aware that they are required to report for MIPS may be subject to negative payment adjustments for failure to adhere to CMS guidelines for the Quality Payment Program.
Our Kentucky REC team of expert advisors will share important information for understanding FQHC and RHC provider eligibility in the QPP for the 2023 performance year. We will explore regulatory requirements for CMS’s Quality Payment Program, how to determine organization eligibility, and next steps for eligible clinicians and practices.
QPP YEAR 7 WEBINAR: UNDERSTANDING FQHC & RHC ELIGIBILITY FOR QPP PARTICIPATION (Open to Public)
TUESDAY MARCH 14 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Contact the experts at Kentucky REC with all your QPP, MIPS, and APM questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
Webinar Feb 14: QPP Year 7 – MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs)
CMS, in an effort to address feedback from clinicians and stakeholders around the complexity of the MIPS program, has implemented a new reporting track. This new track is called MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs), and is effective starting with the 2023 Performance Year. CMS’s aim is to help streamline the MIPS program requirements and reduce clinician burden, while creating a pathway to more wide-spread Alternative Payment Model adoption.
This new MVP framework is intended to align measures and activities across the Quality, Cost, and Improvement Activities categories of the MIPS Program that are more relevant to a clinicians’ practice, specialty, or patient population. This change represents a significant shift in the way clinicians participate in MIPS in 2023 and future years of the Quality Payment Program.
Kentucky REC’s experts will present an in-depth review of the MVP reporting pathway, submission strategies, and important reporting requirements for the 2023 performance year. They will provide you with valuable information on ways to optimize your performance while testing this new reporting track.
QPP Year 7: MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs): Understanding and Identifying Which Pathways are Right for You*
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023 @ 12PM ET
*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!
Primary Care Providers! Feb 2 Webinar – Brief Mental Health Interventions to Incorporate into Primary Care
Webinars and Resources
Behavioral Health Community of Practice
The Behavioral Health Community of Practice, organized by UK HealthCare & Kentucky REC, connects adult and pediatric primary care providers, specialists and organizations through learning sessions where behavioral health experts present best practices, tools and resources to optimize mental health care.
The format of the Community of Practice is monthly one-hour webinar meetings October 2022 through May 2023 from noon – 1 pm. Each session includes education, best practice overviews, interactive trainings on tools and resources, and group discussions.
FEBRUARY 2023
Session 5 – Thursday Feb. 2nd
Noon — 1:00 pm ET
Brief Interventions to Incorporate into Primary Care
- Evidence-based guidelines
- How teams can support non-pharmacological interventions
- Addressing behavioral health needs in primary care
Visit HERE for more information and to register for upcoming events, including FREE Mental Health First Aid Training.
To learn more, visit THIS UK HealthCare web page.
QUESTIONS? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us: 859-323-3090.
QPP Webinar Jan 10: 2023 Final Rule
On November 1st CMS released the highly anticipated Quality Payment Program Year 7 Final Ruling. This final rule will impact and shape the Quality Payment Program for calendar year 2023 and beyond. Join the experts at Kentucky Regional Extension Center for a review of the major updates and implications to eligible clinician and practices related to this final ruling.
Make sure to submit any questions or feel free to contact us in advance HERE.
QPP YEAR 7 WEBINAR: 2023 FINAL RULE
TUESDAY JANUARY 10 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
The 2023 PFS/Quality Payment Program Final Rule can be downloaded from the Federal Register HERE.
The CMS 2023 Final Rule overview fact sheet, PFS fact sheet, and MSSP Fact Sheets are available through these links:
PFS Fact Sheet: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/calendar-year-cy-2023-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-final-rule
QPP Fact Sheet: https://qpp-cm-prod-content.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2136/2023%20Quality%20Payment%20Program%20Final%20Rule%20Resources.zip
MSSP Fact Sheet: https://edit.cms.gov/files/document/mssp-fact-sheet-cy-2023-pfs-final-rule.pdf
Contact the experts at Kentucky REC with all your QPP, MIPS, and APM questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
