KENTUCKY REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER

Kentucky REC News

CMS Extends QPP Reporting Window for Program Year 2023

On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, CMS announced an extension of the 2023 performance period data submission window for the Merit-based Incentive Payment Systems (MIPS) track of the Quality Payment Program (QPP).

The data submission period will now close two weeks later than previously announced. Performance data for groups and eligible clinicians may be submitted now until April 15th, 2024 at 8pm ET via the QPP Portal. Once the window closes for the 2023 performance year, ECs and groups will no longer be able to correct data entry or upload errors.

Sign in access to the QPP Portal is available here: https://qpp.cms.gov/login

At the KYREC, our expert advisors recommend that QPP Security Officials and/or personnel assigned in Staff User roles within an organization review all submitted MIPS data prior to the closure of this window to ensure the accuracy of attestation information. This includes conducting a review of any data submitted by a Third-Party Intermediary (TPI) reporting on behalf of the EC or group across all applicable performance categories. Reviewing the integrity of your data submission now may help avoid negative payment adjustments in the future.

Have questions on how to submit your PY23 MIPS performance data? Contact the KYREC today to talk with one of our experienced advisors before time runs out. Call us at 859-323-3090.
 

QPP 2024 Webinar March 12: Deep Dive into eCQM Quality Measure Optimization

QPP 2024 Webinar: DEEP DIVE INTO ECQM QUALITY MEASURE OPTIMIZATION*
Tuesday MARCH 12, 2024 @ 12PM ET

Join your trusted KY REC advisors to learn all about electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs). Many practices and eligible clinicians use eCQMs to submit for the quality performance category of the QPP, other payor programs and to monitor outcomes. We will walk you through how to find and use eCQM specifications, measure flow sheets, and discuss how to use these tools to develop a process improvement plan for the quality measures that are meaningful to you.

We will also review how to use your EHR vendor resources to ensure that you are accurately capturing patients that are included in your quality measures to maximize your performance.

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.

Mark your calendars for “Deep Dive into eCQM Quality Measure Optimization” on Tuesday, March 12 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!

QPP Public Webinar Available Today! 2024 Final Rule

QPP Year 8: FINAL RULE HIGHLIGHTS
Available Today: Wednesday February 21, 2024 @ 12PM ET

Every year, CMS enacts changes to the Quality Payment Program. The CMS 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule, released in November of 2023, is no exception. Important updates include:

  • Finalized 5 new MVPs
  • PI Category – expanded the reporting window
  • Cost Category – added measures
  • Downward adjustments to PFS payment rates
  • Expanded SDOH & telehealth services reimbursement

Our Kentucky REC expert advisors are here to share and interpret the most critical updates to MIPS and APM Tracks of the Quality Payment Program. Register and view this on-demand analysis to stay in the know about changes to the program and what they could mean for your practice.

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

For more information:

CMS Final Rule Press Release

2024 PFS/Quality Payment Program Final Rule

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

 

PILL PODCAST: Kentucky’s Stroke Care Journey – Insights from Coverdell

Kentucky’s Stroke Care Journey: Insights from Coverdell

Get ready for an engaging discussion that unveils the transformative impact of the Coverdell Grant on the future of stroke care in the Bluegrass State!

Kentucky REC advisor Lacy Shumway provides a comprehensive overview of the 3-year Coverdell Grant, focusing on its mission to enhance stroke care in collaboration with the CDC. She shares details behind the numbers in Kentucky’s application for the grant: addressing high stroke mortality rates and risk factors.

Explore the seven strategies implemented by the Coverdell Grant, formally known as the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program, including: HTN control; quality improvement; education; and EMS collaboration. Lacy discusses data collection challenges and the critical role of ZIP CODES in the Social Deprivation Index (SDI). Uncover the system-wide impact of the grant, addressing challenges and bridging geographical gaps in stroke care across Kentucky.

Lacy Shumway is the Program Manager for the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program at the Kentucky Regional Extension Center, University of Kentucky. With 13 years in healthcare, Lacy’s expertise includes 7 years as Coordinator for Stroke Program Outreach at Norton Healthcare. She successfully marketed the stroke program and developed a pre-hospital stroke education training offered across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Lacy serves as Vice-Chair of the Cardiac and Stroke Subcommittee at the Kentucky Board of EMS, and is the Chair of the EMS and Education Committee with the Stroke Encounter Quality Improvement Program (SEQIP). A graduate of Indiana University, Lacy brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussion. Tune in for an informative exploration of stroke care advancements in Kentucky!

Listen to our podcast on Buzzsprout, or Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All previous episodes are available.

If you need assistance with healthcare quality improvement, contact the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or by email.

QPP Public Webinar: 2024 Final Rule – Release Date Feb 21

QPP Year 8: FINAL RULE HIGHLIGHTS
Release Date: Wednesday February 21, 2024 @ 12PM ET

Every year, CMS enacts changes to the Quality Payment Program. The CMS 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule, released in November of 2023, is no exception. Important updates include:

  • Finalized 5 new MVPs
  • PI Category – expanded the reporting window
  • Cost Category – added measures
  • Downward adjustments to PFS payment rates
  • Expanded SDOH & telehealth services reimbursement

Our Kentucky REC expert advisors are here to share and interpret the most critical updates to MIPS and APM Tracks of the Quality Payment Program. Register and view this on-demand analysis to stay in the know about changes to the program and what they could mean for your practice.

Fill out this brief REGISTRATION FORM to be among the first to receive this webinar recording.

For more information:

CMS Final Rule Press Release

2024 PFS/Quality Payment Program Final Rule

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

 

NEW in 2024! Quality Payment Program Public Webinars Feature On-Demand Access

NEW in 2024! Quality Payment Program Public Webinars Feature On-Demand Access

Kentucky REC Quality advisors are always looking for innovative ways to provide timely information regarding the Quality Payment Program initiatives to our healthcare audience. We know that providers and staff, from small offices to large health systems, face many demands on their time throughout the day. To best meet your needs, our QPP focused Public Webinars will now be released periodically throughout 2024 for your viewing convenience. Your access to expert content will remain the same, just with the added flexibility of On Demand Viewing to best meet your needs.

Want to be the FIRST TO KNOW about an upcoming QPP Public webinar? Fill out this brief REGISTRATION FORM.

QPP Public Webinar On-Demand Release Schedule for 2024*:

FEBRUARY 2024: QPP Final Rule Highlights

MAY 2024: QPP Quality and Cost Performance Category Overview

JULY 2024: QPP Promoting Interoperability (PI) and Improvement Activities(IA) Performance Category Overview

NOVEMBER 2024: Year in Review Roundtable
 

Same great content, your way, on your schedule!

 
*Client-Only QPP Webinars will continue to remain LIVE and will transition to the Zoom Webinar Platform for 2024

Contact YOUR Experts at the Kentucky REC for all your QPP, MIPS/MVP, and APM Track questions. We’re here to help. Call us at 859-323-3090.

 

QPP Year 8 Webinar February 13: QPP Reporting Options

QPP Year 8: ALL ABOUT QPP REPORTING OPTIONS*
Tuesday February 13, 2024 @ 12PM ET

CMS’s Quality Payment Program continues to evolve each program year. In the current landscape, there are more avenues than ever available for reporting your Eligible Clinician’s data. All these choices can be overwhelming, and make it challenging to determine the best reporting method for your practice.

Join our team of experienced advisors as we dive into the intricacies of QPP reporting options for both Program Year 2023 (PY23) & Program Year 2024 (PY24).

We will guide you through the diverse options of data collection and submission methods for each Performance Category, and review the different levels of submission for MIPS. This will give you the facts to make informed decisions that align with your practice’s goals, and shed light on essential considerations for the various MVP reporting levels.

Already a QPP client or interested in becoming one? 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.

Open to the public webinars will be available in 2024, highlighting major updates and implications for eligible clinicians and practices.

Mark your calendars for “All About QPP Reporting Options” on Tuesday, February 13 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!

Kentucky REC 2023 Premier Partner – Kentucky DPH

Kentucky REC Premier Partner Award: Kentucky Department for Public Health

The Kentucky Department for Public Health, and Sue Thomas-Cox especially, has had a long, successful history of collaboration with the Kentucky REC. Together we support technology innovation, performance improvement and health care transformation for health care systems and organizations across Kentucky.

Our most recent partnership to improve chronic disease outcomes would not have been possible without the confidence, trust and mutual respect between the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the Kentucky REC. Kentucky REC currently works with the Department for Public Health on numerous grant projects including Colorectal Cancer, Heart Disease and Stroke, Diabetes Management, Diabetes Prevention, Asthma, and Community Health Workers. Each of these projects strive to improve health outcomes and address barriers for patients in Kentucky.

Sue Thomas Cox is the BRANCH MANAGER of the CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION/HEALTH PROMOTION, Kentucky Department for Public Health, Division of Prevention and Quality Improvement. She has been instrumental in the success of all of our work with DPH. Congratulations to the Kentucky Department for Public Health as our Premier Partner!

Kentucky REC 2023 Client Quality Awards

Kentucky REC advisors are proud to work with many organizations on quality improvement programs and initiatives such as the Quality Payment Program and Patient Centered Medical Home and Specialty Practice. Awardees were chosen by their advisor team and presentations were made at our Annual Conference. We awarded the following organizations in 2023 for their exemplary performance.

The Heart of the Patient Award: Excellent Dedication to Patient-Centric Care

The Heart of the Patient Award:  Excellent Dedication to Patient-Centric Care & the Patient-Centered Medical Home – Little Flower Clinic

Little Flower Clinic achieved initial PCMH recognition in 2017 with the Kentucky REC’s assistance from one of our PCMH Certified Content Experts (PCMH CCE).  Since then they have provided high-quality patient-centered care for their community; while realizing improved health outcomes and workflow efficiencies for their patients and staff.

This past Spring they completed and passed their Annual Reporting requirements and received the NCQA Distinction in Behavioral Health. This distinction assists Primary Care practices to better integrate behavioral healthcare into their organization and acknowledges organizations that excel in this area.

Not only did Little Flower Clinic accomplish all of the previous mentioned accolades, but they also underwent an NCQA audit, passing with flying colors, while dealing with the devastating flood in their area. During that time, Little Flower Clinic had several staff members’ homes destroyed, with no electric or phone service for a period of time, and they continued to provide for their patients and community with food, water, clothing and hygiene items.

The Kentucky REC would like to recognize and award Little Flower Clinic with the PCMH client award for their work in the PCMH model of care and extraordinary commitment to their patients.

 

Outstanding Achievement Award: Commitment to Quality Improvement & QPP-MIPS

J. David Outland’s practice is a single provider dermatology clinic in Western Kentucky that has submitted to the Quality Payment Program as a MIPS Eligible Clinician since the inception of the program.

Dr. Outland’s staff first began participation in the QPP through the use of claims submission. As the program requirements changed and became increasingly more complex, Dr. Outland contacted the Kentucky Regional Extension Center for assistance in navigating this complexity. Dr. Outland and his staff have successfully navigated the program using a registry and without the use of an electronic health record system.

The practice continues to achieve a perfect score each year and receives the maximum payment adjustment available. We believe that recognizing this practice for the hard work required to assure data entered into the registry is accurate, validated and meets his practice goals is important and their work is exemplary.

The efforts of Dr. Outland and his staff proves that other clinics of similar size and settings can be successful in avoiding payment reductions while also complying with CMS’s reporting requirements for the Quality Payment Program.

The Kentucky REC would like to recognize and award J. David Outland with the QPP-MIPS IA Small Practice award for their steadfast work in Quality Improvement and the QPP/MIPS track, and their overwhelming commitment to their community and patients.

 

Kentucky REC 2023 Client HIPAA Awards

Kentucky REC HIPAA Security advisors are proud to work with many organizations on compliance with the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Awardees were chosen by the HIPAA advisor team and presentations were made at our Annual Conference. Below are the organizations chosen in 2023 for their exemplary performance.

5 Star HIPAA Security Excellence Award - Large Organization

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center consistently demonstrates excellence in upholding the HIPAA Security Rule, prioritizing the protection of their patient’s health information. With a steadfast dedication to enhancing security compliance, EMRMC conducts annual security risk assessments, promptly addresses identified vulnerabilities, and reinforces safeguards as needed.

The compliance team diligently develops, implements, and provides training on new policies and procedures whenever necessary. Collaborating seamlessly, the IT and Compliance teams at EMRMC remain vigilant in monitoring the organization’s existing security measures while actively researching and adopting improved solutions. The commitment to security is deeply ingrained in EMRMC’s culture, evident throughout its extensive network of facilities, encompassing three hospitals and over 20 clinics.

 

5 Star HIPAA Security Excellence Award - Small Organization

Health First Community Health Center consistently demonstrates an exceptional commitment to safeguarding their patients’ electronic protected health information, surpassing industry standards.

During annual security risk assessments, the team at Health First consistently challenges themselves with the question, “How can we enhance our practices further?” Their security risk management team diligently provides comprehensive documentation for all required safeguards directed by the HIPAA Security Rule. Furthermore, they actively involve their workforce and leadership team in continuous security training initiatives, including engaging in a CISA-led tabletop exercise focused on cybersecurity attacks.

It is remarkable to hear clients express anticipation for the Security Risk Assessment (SRA) every year, and Health First’s team consistently shares their excitement, eagerly showcasing the improvements they have made since year after year. Their genuine enthusiasm for learning about HIPAA Security is commendable, setting them apart in their dedication to staying ahead of evolving security measures.

 

5 Star HIPAA Security Excellence Award

 

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