CMS has commissioned UM-KECC to assemble 10-20 volunteers for a Technical Expert Panel (TEP) to formulate a process for periodically resetting ESRD clinical quality Star-Rating criteria so that the Ratings continue to differentiate facility quality of care when treatment-quality trends reduce the variation between facilities. Volunteers will include patients, caregivers, ESRD subject matter experts, methodologists, and specialists working on dialysis QI and healthcare disparities. The TEP will require a one-day in-person meeting in Baltimore in June, plus 3-7 conference calls before and after. Nominations must be submitted by April 5, 2019. The current call for nominations doesn’t mention it, but past TEPs have reimbursed travel expenses. For details and nomination forms, see https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/MMS/TEP-Currently-Accepting-Nominations.html#a0305.
Category: All Networks
CDC Webinar on BSI and Incident HD Access
CDC will present a March 14, 2019 World Kidney Day webinar on Incident Vascular Access and Risk of Bloodstream Infection Among New ESRD Patients Receiving Hemodialysis, followed by a conversation about achieving optimal vascular access for patient safety. CME, CNE, CEU, CECH, CPE, and CPH continuing education credits are available. Find more information and register at https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/#/meeting=f8wbng3dtcpm&campaign=vq0d1qix86ac.
QIP News: PSSRs, NHSN Deadline, Pain Assessment
PSSRs: CMS has announced that PY2019 Performance Score Summary Reports or PSSRs are now available. The PSSR is a spreadsheet containing the performance values of each facility for PY2019. It provides information about facility performance on each ESRD QIP measure as well as the Total Performance Score. Find the PSSRs at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/ESRDQIP/Downloads/PY2019-Performance-Score-Summary-Report-.XLSX. It’s a 12+ megabyte file, so it may take several minutes to download and open.
NHSN: CMS has also announced an extension to the NHSN data entry deadline for the ESRD QIP fourth reporting quarter of 2018 (data for October 1 – December 31, 2018) from March 31, 2019 to April 1, 2019.
Assistance regarding PSSRs or the NHSN deadline can be obtained by contacting the ESRD QIP Support Team using the ESRD QIP Q&A Tool at https://cms-ocsq.custhelp.com/app/homeesrdqip/p/960. For questions or concerns regarding use of the ESRD QIP system, contact the QualityNet Help Desk at qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org or 866-288-8912 between 5am and 7pm PT Monday-Friday.
Pain Assessment data submission into CROWNWeb will no longer be required by CMS starting March 1, 2019. The Pain Assessment screen will remain active for facilities to review previously reported data. For details see http://mycrownweb.org/2019/02/pain-assessment-submission/.
World Kidney Day & National Kidney Month
DID YOU KNOW?
Each year, kidney disease kills more people than breast or prostate cancer.*
Help raise awareness of chronic kidney disease.
Wear ORANGE on March 14th!
March is National Kidney Month! CMS and the ESRD Program invite you to be a part of a national campaign focusing on kidney health. To show your support, consider one of the following activities on March 14th (World Kidney Day):
- Wear an orange shirt, pants, dress, shoes, hair, etc. (be creative)
- Take a selfie or have someone take a picture of you in your orange gear
- Share information on your Twitter account about why all Americans should ask their doctors for a kidney checkup; Use #NationalKidneyMonth #Medicare
- Post your picture and short statement to your Facebook page; Make your post public and use #NationalKidneyMonth #Medicare
- Have fun with your posts
March is National Kidney Month, and its second Thursday – March 14 in 2019 – celebrates World Kidney Day. This year’s theme is Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere. Sources for more information and display materials include:
- World Kidney Day – https://www.worldkidneyday.org/
- NIDDK – https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/communication-programs/nkdep/get-involved/national-kidney-month
- NKDEP – https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/communication-programs/nkdep
- NKF – https://www.kidney.org/news/monthly/Focus_KidneyMonth
- PKD Foundation’s Four Challenges – https://connect.pkdcure.org/pkdchallenge2019/
Free Resume Tips Webinar
My Employment Options will present a March 21, 2019 Resume Tips Workshop webinar. Topics include Formatting Tips For Resumes, How To Create Work At Home Resumes, How to Create Onsite Job Resumes, Gaps in Employment, and Career Changes.
Register at https://www.myemploymentoptions.com/webinar-registration-form/.
My Employment Options also offers free job placement services for recipients of SSDI and SSI, including work at home. See https://www.myemploymentoptions.com/apply-now/ for details.
CROWNWeb Pain Assessment Submission
Starting March 1, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer require facilities to submit Pain Assessment data into CROWNWeb. The Pain Assessment screen will remain active for facilities to review previously reported data in the system.
Additionally, to comply with the ESRD Quality Incentive Program, facilities that meet the requirements for Pain Assessment should continue to enter data for the current open period (July 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018) that will close on February 28, 2019 at 11:59 PM PT.
For information on the requirements and instructions on how to submit data on Pain Assessment in CROWNWeb, please visit the Training videos on the Education page at http://mycrownweb.org/.
2/28 AAKP HealthLine on Plant-Based Nutrition
AAKP will present a 28 February 2019 HealthLine webinar on For the Love of Plants – What to Know When Considering Plant-based Nutrition. The webinar will be led by a renal dietitian, a dialysis patient, and a transplant patient. The dialysis patient is able to maintain good health by dialyzing only twice a week, partly because of her plant-based diet.
Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8808677329036274689. Recordings of prior HealthLine webinars can be found at https://aakp.org/aakp-healthline/.
AAKP Nat’l Patient Meeting
The AAKP will hold their 44th Annual National Patient Meeting September 6-8, 2019 in Washington DC, and celebrate their 50th Anniversary since founding. Early Bird registration, and its $50 discount, expires June 6, 2019. Scholarship applications will be accepted through July 1, 2019. First-come, first-served registration for discounted accommodations are available until the room block fills up, or until August 16, 2019. For details see https://aakp.org/national-patient-meeting/.
NHSN Trainings
NHSN will present four training sessions in March, all at 3-4pm EST. Join any of the four by telephone only at 303.248.0285, Access Code 6393927. To join via computer (including audio):
- Introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Protocol: NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance reporting is required for the CMS ESRD QIP. Complete introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event reporting requirements and surveillance definitions necessary to complete accurate monthly reporting. Both sessions will be held 3-4pm EST.
o March 5, 2019 – pre-register and attend at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/nv7i0guhmafn&eom.
o Repeated March 6, 2019 – pre-register and attend at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/is7rdbd8gnym&eom.
- Advanced NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Reporting and Introduction to NHSN Reports: Applying NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance definitions via case studies that address common reporting questions. Includes introduction to running and interpreting popular NHSN reports to review your facility’s data, including BSI rates. Both sessions will be held 3-4pm EST.
o March 12, 2019 – pre-register and attend at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/avggcki49p0g&eom.
o Repeated March 13, 2019 – pre-register and attend at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/yzbfurn4zfm2&eom.
New Part D Opioid Overutilization Policies Call: 2/14/19
Date: Thursday, February 14, 2019
Time: 1:30 pm to 3 pm ET
Registration Link: Register for Medicare Learning Network events.
About the Event: CMS implemented new opioid policies for Medicare drug plans effective January 1. The new policies include:
- Improved safety alerts when patients fill opioid prescriptions at the pharmacy
- Drug management programs for patients at-risk for misuse or abuse of opioids or other drugs
During this call, CMS experts discuss the new policies and answer questions.
Prior to the call, participants should review the following materials:
- Training materials, including slide decks and tip sheets for prescribers, pharmacists, and patients
- A Prescriber’s Guide to the New Medicare Part D Opioid Overutilization Policies for 2019 MLN Matters Article
- Reducing Opioid Misuse webpage for more information on the CMS strategy
Target Audience: Physicians; physician assistants; nurses; nurse practitioners; dentists and other prescribers; case managers; and other interested stakeholders.
February 2019 CROWNWeb Newsletter
The CROWNWeb Newsletter for February 2019 is now available, at http://mycrownweb.org/2019/01/february-2019-newsletter/. It features several comprehensive articles on the 2744 Annual Facility Survey, including announcement of a 2744 Training session on February 19, 2019, repeated on February 26. In addition to the usual useful links and notes – which are much expanded in the Newsletter’s new format – a February 28 CROWNWeb Town Hall is also announced.
CMS Call re New Medicare Cards
CMS will present a February 6, 2019 Open Door Forum call on the new Medicare card. For details see https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/FFSProvPartProg/Provider-Partnership-Email-Archive-Items/2019-01-31-eNews.html DLPage=1&DLEntries=10&DLSort=0&DLSortDir=descending#_Toc536597350.