Quality Payment Program (QPP) Archival of Historical Performance Years Beginning June 15, 2023
On May 18th CMS announced that they will begin archiving historical webpages, resources, and reports on the QPP Website. This includes historic performance feedback reports and submission information for performance years 2017-2020. CMS is retiring these webpages, resources, webinars, and reports to be in alignment with best practices in information technology data storage and reduce security risks. The information being archived is no longer applicable as the payment year associated with the 2020 performance year ended on December 31st, 2022.
This will allow participants to more easily find current, applicable information within the QPP Site.
If you do not already have copies of your historical performance information saved in your records, be sure to sign in to the QPP website through June 14th, 2023 to download those reports. They are useful records for eligibility, programmatic participation, as well as record-keep for potential future audits.
Below are the following resources and reports that will be retired beginning June, 15th, 2023:
• Performance Year 2017-2020 QPP website pages, including the QPP Participation Status tool
• Performance Year 2017-2020 resources in the Resource Library
• Performance Year 2017-2020 webinars in the Webinar Library
• Detailed performance feedback and submission information for performance years 2017-2020 (currently accessible in the “Performance Feedback” tab when you sign in to the QPP website)
• Detailed eligibility information, including Alternative Payment Models (APM) Participant Lists for performance years 2017-2020 (currently accessible in the “Eligibility & Reporting” tab when you sign in to the QPP website)
Contact the expert advisors at Kentucky REC with all your questions related to documentation capture recommendations and any other questions you have related to the QPP. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
Webinar June 29: PCMH/PCSP Annual Reporting & Standardized Measurement
Join us as our team discusses NCQA’s Annual Reporting requirement and the necessary steps to complete this in order to maintain recognition. You will learn a suggested Annual Reporting time frame to follow, data and documentation requirements, and how to submit the information to NCQA.
Also, in 2024 NCQA will start requiring practices seeking or renewing their recognition status to report a full calendar year of Standardized Measures. We will share the list of available eCQMs, reporting options, and potential exceptions as you begin preparing for this transition in PCMH recognition.
PCMH/PCSP Annual Reporting & Standardized Measurement
THURSDAY JUNE 29 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Contact us at Kentucky REC with your questions about practice transformation. Our team of experts is here to help: 859-323-3090.
SAVE THE DATE! OCTOBER 26, 2023 – Kentucky REC Annual Conference
Lexington, Kentucky – Join Us in Person or Online
Details Coming Soon!
During our day together we’ll discuss quality initiatives, HIPAA, Social Drivers of Health, and more to ensure that clinicians, hospital and ambulatory administrators, and clinic staff are well prepared for the challenges of modern healthcare.
Public Webinar June 7: Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program for Hospitals
Kentucky REC expert advisors are hosting a webinar on the Medicare Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals. We will review the 2023 Medicare PI requirements and highlight the recently released FY 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule.
MEDICARE PROMOTING INTEROPERABILITY PROGRAM FOR HOSPITALS
WEDNESDAY JUNE 7 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Historical Background of the Program:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 mandated that CMS incentivize hospitals to adopt, implement, and upgrade certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) and demonstrate meaningful use. In response, the EHR Incentive Program, (formerly known as Meaningful Use), was first introduced in 2011 under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. CMS implemented the program in progressively more difficult stages and initially offered incentive payments to participants. The incentives continued through 2016 for most hospitals, depending on which year they started in the program.
Although the incentive phase of the program ended long ago, hospitals must continue to participate in the program each year to avoid a downward Medicare financial adjustment.
As we progressed through Stages 1, 2 and 3, CMS maintained their underlying focus on the adoption and implementation of CEHRT through an evolution of objectives, measures, and electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQMs) tailored to meet their goals. More recently, CMS overhauled the program, improving flexibility, relieving burden, and placing emphasis on measures that require the electronic exchange of health information between providers and patients. CMS shifted their focus to interoperability and improving patient access to health information. These changes moved the program beyond the previously existing requirements into a new phase of EHR measurement.
The Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program, as you know it today, includes a set of objectives, measures, eCQMs, and other requirements that together define whether a hospital has met the minimum standards to be considered a meaningful user. Hospitals that do not meet the minimum program requirements, meaning they’re not meaningful users of CEHRT, receive a downward payment adjustment.
Contact the experts at Kentucky REC with all your Promoting Interoperability questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
HIPAA Webinar May 10 – Security Incident Response & Reporting: Creating a Plan
Security incident response and reporting is a required standard of the HIPAA Security Rule. All covered entities are required to have security incident procedures in place. Ransomware is the #1 security threat for all healthcare organizations, making this security standard more important than ever.
During our time together, Kentucky REC HIPAA experts will provide guidance and templates for creating a security incident response plan, which focuses on a cyberattack. Participants will be provided copies of cyber plan templates.
HIPAA WEBINAR – SECURITY INCIDENT RESPONSE & REPORTING: CREATING A PLAN (Open to Public)
WEDNESDAY MAY 10 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET
Contact the experts at Kentucky REC with all your HIPAA Privacy and Security questions. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
May 12: 2023 Asthma Symposium in Pikeville
Register now for The Kentucky Asthma Partnership’s (KAP) 2023 Asthma Symposium: Asthma and Appalachia: An Old Disease in a Changing World.
This FREE one-day educational even is designed for healthcare professionals and others concerned about reducing the burden of asthma in Kentucky. Registration is required for this free event.
Continuing education credits are available for Physicians, Pharmacy, Nurses, CHWs and Respiratory Therapists
Date: May 12, 2023
Location: Appalachian Wireless Arena, Pikeville, KY
More details and registration are in this event FLYER.
Grant Opportunity: Asthma Self-Management Education and Support
The Kentucky Regional Extension Center and the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s (KDPH) Kentucky Asthma Management Program (KAMP) are partnering to improve clinical outcomes for patients with asthma within the state of Kentucky. This collaboration, funded by a CDC grant, will work to expand awareness of and access to Asthma Self-Management Education (AS-ME) resources within local service areas to help drive internal quality improvement and community engagement.
The CDC and KDPH are offering up to $50,000 per year, for up to two years, to each selected participant as part of this partnership to help offset the costs associated with this work.
This opportunity is open to any hospital or healthcare system in the state of Kentucky willing to enhance or expand access to AS-ME resources.
Contact Kentucky REC to find out more about this exciting program. We’re here to help: 859-323-3090.
May 4 Webinar: Mental Health – Addressing Patient Barriers with Community Resources
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.
Addressing Patient Barriers With Community Resources
Noon — 1:00 pm ET
- Community Mental Health Resources
- Addressing Health Equity and Social Drivers of Health
Addressing Patient Barriers With Community Resources
Noon — 1:00 pm ET
- Community Mental Health Resources
- Addressing Health Equity and Social Drivers of Health
Visit HERE for more information, including previous session recordings, resources, and to register for upcoming events. Our free Mental Health First Aid Training is full; please visit the link for other ways to access this important training.
To learn more, visit THIS UK HealthCare web page.
QUESTIONS? Contact us at Kentucky REC or call us: 859-323-3090.
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.
