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: Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC)
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.
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.
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.
Star Ratings-Demystify the Updated Dialysis Facility Compare Quality Measures
The June 2016 Technical Notes, published on the Dialysis Facility Compare (DFC) website, can help to demystify quality measures (QMs) that impact facility ratings. Nine of the thirteen QMs reported on the Medicare DFC website are used to calculate the Star Rating for facilities, based on the October 2016 release date (Calendar Year 2015 data). Please educate ALL members of your staff about what these measures are and how to speak with patients and family members about their care and what these measures mean to them.
For more information, including the quality measures used in Star Rating calculation, please see: https://dialysisdata.org/sites/default/files/content/Methodology/UpdatedDFCStarRatingMethodology.pdf