UPDATE FROM CMS (2/15/22): The Small, Underserved and Rural Support (SURS) initiative that provided free technical assistance to small practices ended on February 15, 2022 as the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) only provided for 5 years of direct support.
PLEASE NOTE: While this funding has ended, Kentucky REC still offers complete technical assistance for small, rural and underserved practices navigating the QPP Program.
The Kentucky REC provides free, high-level assistance to eligible clinicians as they navigate participation in the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The Kentucky REC serves as the state-level coordinating entity for Kentucky under contract with CMS to help clinicians in small practices (with 15 or fewer Eligible Clinicians), especially those in rural or underserved areas, to participate in QPP. The Kentucky REC also participates in a 7-state regional coalition led by the Altarum Institute and funded by CMS that has established the Quality Payment Program Resource Center™ to bring the best minds together across our region to identify issues and offer support to clinicians participating in QPP. This includes:
- Straightforward, self-directed resources and tools
- Up-to-date materials reviewed for accuracy and usability
- Expert Quality Payment Program Advisors available via live chat or phone support
2021 Building Blocks
QPP Resources
QPP Tip Sheets
QPP Webinars
Webinar August 19 – CMS Quality Payment Program 2026 NPRM
CMS released the calendar year 2026 Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program (QPP) Proposed Rule on July 14th, 2025. 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.
KENTUCKY REC QPP NEWS
Webinar July 30: Understanding CMS’s Mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model
Register for our July 30 webinar on the CMS Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM), 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 Ambulatory Specialty Model – Informational Video
Kentucky REC advisors are here to guide you through the new 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. Watch the brief video to learn more about the ASM. Contact our experts for help navigating this new required program.
Kentucky REC Annual Conference Oct 29 – Keynote Speaker Cameron Mills
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...
