CMS has published an MLN Matters bulletin on Implementation of Changes in the ESRD PPS and Payment for Dialysis Furnished for AKI in ESRD Facilities for CY2019. Find it at https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM11021.pdf.
Author: IPRO
Telehealth for Home Dialysis
Beginning January 1, 2019, a new law allows Home Dialysis patients, after their first three months at home, to be covered by Medicare when they communicate with their nephrologist via telehealth, an audio-visual internet link. For a good summary of the new law, including a list of advantages and disadvantages, see https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/288-telehealth-for-home-dialysis.
Downloading and Printing of PY2019 Performance Score Certificates
Please be advised that when generating a Performance Score Certificate (PSC) report for PY2019, the CROWNWEB system will generate a report that contains all the PSCs that a user is authorized to view, even if only subset or single facility is selected. While this eliminates the burden of generating a report for each facility, it requires users to split the report into individual PSCs after downloading the combined file. NOTE: If a user has access to only one facility, this issue does not affect them.
This functionality will be adjusted for future payment years, but for the current payment year (PY2019) please employ the two below workarounds to print individual facility PSCs:
Option 1: Use PDF Print option or other PDF tools to split out the PSCs for the individual facilities into individual PDF files.
- Open the master PDF which contains all the PSCs for all the facilities the user has downloaded
- Select File → Print
- From the Printer drop down, select a PDF Writer
- From the Pages to Print section, click the Pages radio button and enter the page range to be printed for the PSC for the individual facility.
- Click Print
- When prompted, select the location to save the file from Step 4
Option 2: Submit a help desk ticket to request report bursting for PSCs
- User submits a help desk ticket to Product Data Management (PDM) to request a burst report of PSCs for the facilities assigned to their role
- This process may take some time since a Change Request (CR) will be required
For additional information or assistance, please contact the QualityNet Help Desk at qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org or (866) 288-8912 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 8p.m. ET.
January 2019 Learning and Action Network (LAN) Webinars
The ESRD National Coordinating Council will host four January webinars to introduce 2019 QIA projects, all to be held 3-4 PM EST. Find more information and register at the links provided:
- BSI January 8, 2019, https://esrdncc.org/en/events/2019/january-2019/bsi-qia-lan/.
- Home Dialysis January 15, 2019, https://esrdncc.org/en/events/2019/january-2019/home-modality-qia-lan/.
- Transplant, January 22, 2019, https://esrdncc.org/en/events/2019/january-2019/transplant-qia-lan/.
- Patient Experience of Care, January 23, 2019, https://esrdncc.org/en/events/2019/january-2019/patient-experience-of-care-peoc-lan/.
National QIA Webinars
The ESRD National Coordinating Council will host four January webinars to introduce 2019 QIA projects, all to be held at noon PST. Find more information and register at the links provided:
- BSI January 8, 2019, https://esrdncc.org/en/events/2019/january-2019/bsi-qia-lan/.
- Home Dialysis January 15, 2019, https://esrdncc.org/en/events/2019/january-2019/home-modality-qia-lan/.
- Transplant, January 22, 2019, https://esrdncc.org/en/events/2019/january-2019/transplant-qia-lan/.
- Patient Experience of Care, January 23, 2019, https://esrdncc.org/en/events/2019/january-2019/patient-experience-of-care-peoc-lan/.
AAKP HealthLine on MBD Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
AAKP has recorded their November HealthLine webinar, variously named as Are You at Risk for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism? Learn the Importance of Early Detection, and The Pathogenesis and Treatment of CKD-MBD. CKD-related Mineral Bone Disease, in this case Hypocalcemia, can cause excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) or Secondary Hyperparathyroidism. Tune into the webinar recording at https://www.gotostage.com/channel/6927452477730326277/recording/9cfd79d963c345628f3e38d8ba44a5ab/watch, or read more about it at https://aakp.org/blog/aakp-healthline-webinar-summary-risk-secondary-hyperparathyroidism-learn-importance-early-detection/.
Master Account Holder Quarterly DFC/DFR Requirements
Your facility’s Master Account Holder (MAH) Password and User Accounts on DialysisData.org must be re-established in order to retrieve your facility’s DFR and December 2018 QDFC preview file. On December 13, 2018 all MAH passwords were reset and user accounts for https://www.DialysisData.org disabled. Networks are providing new passwords to facility MAHs. Facility MAHs must log in to their master account to re-enable or add facility user accounts and grant permissions prior to the start of the February 1, 2019 QDFC/QDFR Preview Period. MAHs must create a separate user account to be able to view DFRs and QDFC data, as their MAH account only manages user accounts and cannot view data.
Download the Detailed Timeline for 2019 QDFC Reports, Quarterly Updates of the FY2019 QDFR for State Surveyors Report, and FY2020 DFRs, State and Region Profiles – https://dialysisdata.org/sites/default/files/content/FAQs/Timeline_100918.pdf.
An FAQ page is available on https://www.DialysisData.org, accessible without logging in. Facilities having difficulty logging in or that have other questions may use the “Contact Us” form at https://www.DialysisData.org or call 855-764-2885 M-F, 7am-1pm PST.
It is the MAH’s responsibility to update user contact information (including their own), transfer MAH credentials within the facility appropriately, review and enable existing user accounts, and set user-specific permissions. If MAH credentials are passed on within your facility to a new MAH, please notify your Network and update the contact information on https://www.DialysisData.org to reflect a new contact person for the MAH.
PSRs and PSCs Now Available
CMS has released the PY2019 ESRD QIP Final PSRs and PSCs, which are now available on EQRS.
The PY 2019 Final PSR provides information on your facility’s performance during 2017 and any payment reduction that CMS will impose for reimbursement on 2019 claims. The Final PSR reflects any applicable revisions applied to your facility’s performance scores during the review and correction period and may differ from those displayed during the Preview Period.
Each facility is required to download, print, and post both the English and Spanish versions of the PSC in a prominent patient area within fifteen (15) business days of their availability; facilities also must ensure that these documents remain posted throughout 2019.
PY2019 Final PSRs and PSCs will only be available on EQRS until summer of 2019, when the PY2020 Preview Period will begin. We encourage each facility to save an electronic copy of its Final PSR and PSC for reference, reprinting, and reposting throughout the year should the need arise. Facilities that do not save a copy can request an additional copy from the QualityNet Helpdesk (see below), but should expect a delay in receiving it.
For further assistance regarding the information contained in this message, please contact the ESRD QIP Support Team using the ESRD QIP Q&A Tool at https://cms-ocsq.custhelp.com/app/homeesrdqip/p/960. If you have questions or concerns regarding use of the ESRD QIP system, please contact the QualityNet Help Desk at mailto:qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org or 866-288-8912, 5am-5pm PST, M-F.
NHSN Data Deadline for PY2020 QIP
NHSN has advised that NHSN data for July 1-September 30, 2018 must be submitted and corrected by December 31, 2018 in order to be applied to PY2020 QIP scores. NHSN recommends:
- Review the NHSN Dialysis Event Protocol at https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/pscManual/8pscDialysisEventcurrent.pdf to ensure all data were correctly reported to NHSN.
- Use 3 Steps to Review Dialysis Event Surveillance Data at https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/dialysis/3-steps-to-review-de-data-2014.pdf.
- Use the How to Create and Read an NHSN Report for CMS ESRD QIP guide at https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/dialysis/CMS-QIP-NHSN-report.pdf to verify your facility has met the minimum CMS reporting requirements.
- Refer to the How to Create and Read an NHSN Report for Bloodstream Infections guide at https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/dialysis/BSI-cheatsheet.pdfto review your facility’s bloodstream infection rates.
Contact the NHSN Helpdesk at nhsn@cdc.gov with subject line “Dialysis” if you have any questions.
The NHSN software was updated to Version 9.2 on December 8, 2018, with many additions and changes, including analysis updates. Please carefully review pages 1 and 7-8 of the Version 9.2 release notes at https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/NHSN/NHSN9.2.pdf for important details about these changes. To use any of the new analysis output options you must first Regenerate Datasets. Send any questions to the NHSN Helpdesk at NHSN@cdc.gov.
CROWNWeb New User Training, QIP
CROWNWeb has announced that their next New User Training session will be held on December 11, 2018. Find details and register at http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/dec-2018-crownweb-new-user-training/.
The December 2018 CROWNWeb Newsletter is also available, at http://mycrownweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/December_2018_Newsletter_V1.7-508.pdf. This issues includes articles on:
- The schedule for release of the PY2019 QIP reports and certificates:
- December 14, 2018 – PSRs and PSCs will be available to facility POCs on the ESRD QIP System at https://www.qualitynet.org/. PSCs must be prominently displayed in both English and Spanish within fifteen days of their availability and remain posted throughout the entire 2019 calendar year. Facilities without POCs are directed to call the QualityNet Help Desk at 866-288-8912.
- CMS expects to post the Performance Score Summary Report to DFC in January 2019, and to their Public Reporting & Certificates web page at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/ESRDQIP/08_ReportandCert.html by December 29, 2018.
- Questions may be directed to the QualityNet ESRD QIP Q&A tool at https://cms-ocsq.custhelp.com/app/homeesrdqip/p/960.
- A summary of the November CROWNWeb Town Hall featuring the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition’s (KCER) role in emergency preparedness and disaster response coordination, and their coordination with EQRS and CROWNWeb. Slides of the meeting can be found at http://mycrownweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/November_Town_Hall_Version_2.3_508-Compliant.pdf. More information on KCER can be found at https://www.kcercoalition.com/.
- A Clinical FAQ on Post-Weight Dialysis Assessment date.
- Scheduled CROWNWeb Clinical Closure Dates; note that your Network may require earlier data entry in some situations.
Announcement of a December 20, 2018 CROWNWeb Town Hall on 2018: A Retrospective Review. See http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_community_events/crownweb-town-hall-2018-a-retrospective-review/ for details and registration.
CY2019 Changes and Updates to the ESRD QIP & ESRD PPS
On November 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that updates payment policies and rates under the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for renal dialysis services furnished to beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2019. This rule also updates the acute kidney injury (AKI) dialysis payment rate for renal dialysis services furnished by ESRD facilities to individuals with AKI, and finalizes changes to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP). Find the summary at https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cy19-esrddme-nprm-cms-1691-f-and-dmepos-competitive-bidding-program-temporary-gap-period
Emergency Disconnect Procedure for In-Center Hemodialysis Patients
The national Kidney Community Emergency Response Patient and Family Engagement Learning and Action Network (N-KPFE-LAN) is pleased to announce its new resource, Emergency Disconnect Procedure for In-Center Hemodialysis Patients. The one-page instruction sheet shows in-center hemodialysis patients how to disconnect from dialysis in three steps in an emergency situation. The resource can be downloaded and printed from the KCER website at: https://www.kcercoalition.com/contentassets/7202c26cb0ce40b9a098d3dbede5ccb9/emergencydisconnectdialysis508.pdf.