Monthly Archives: March 2017

4/27 New Emergency Rule Call

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CMS will hold an Emergency Preparedness Requirements Final Rule Training Call April 27, 2017 to discuss the implementation of the new emergency preparedness requirements, including an overview of the regulation, and training and testing requirements.  Facilities must be in compliance with the new rule by November 15, 2017.  A question and answer session will follow the presentation.  Providers and suppliers affected by the final rule; state survey agencies; health care coalitions, and state emergency preparedness officials are encouraged to attend.  For details and registration see https://blh.ier.intercall.com/details/3fffe92ff39341f4935586d18895c3d3 .

PY2020 1/17 Call Materials

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On January 17, 2017, CMS conducted a National Provider Call (NPC) discussing the Payment Year 2020 (PY2020) Final Rule.  Some attendees posed questions during the questions-and-answers portion of the call
that required additional research to answer fully.  CMS asked those participants to send their questions to the ESRD QIP mailbox for further examination.  Other attendees expressed interest in receiving those answers as well.  In an effort to meet this need, CMS has provided a compilation of select questions and responses, at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/ESRDQIP/Downloads/ESRD-QIP-mailbox-QA-from-Final-Rule-NPC.pdf .

Manage Your Diabetes Booklet

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The NIH/CDC National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) has recently published the booklet Four Steps to Manage Your Diabetes for Life, available in thirteen languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Chinese, French, Bengali, Arabic, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, and Haitian Creole.  Find them at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ndep/toolkits/4steps.html .  An earlier edition, called Four Steps to Control Your Diabetes for Life, is also available in Japanese and Samoan; see https://search.cdc.gov/search?query=4+steps+to+control&utf8=✓&affiliate=cdc-main .

Find other useful NDEP resources on diabetes education at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ndep/people-with-diabetes/index.html and on diabetes prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ndep/people-risk-diabetes/index.html .

Advance Planning Booklet

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The Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients (http://kidneysupportivecare.org/Home.aspx) has created a booklet called Planning Today for Tomorrow’s Healthcare: A Guide for People with Chronic Kidney Disease.  You can find a copy at http://kidneysupportivecare.org/Files/ACPforCKDbrochure3-2017.aspx .

4/6 Employment Options Webinar

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My Employment Options will hold a free Job Application Tips webinar, titled Job Application Workshop: Application Do’s and Don’ts, on April 6, 2017.  My Employment Options is an Employment Network that helps people with disabilities return to work as part of the free national Ticket to Work program, offering Work-At-Home and Onsite jobs in 47 states.  The webinars are open to anyone but limited in capacity, so early registration and early login on April 6 are advised.  For more information and registration, see https://www.myemploymentoptions.com/ and https://www.myemploymentoptions.com/webinar-registration-page/ .

My Employment Options also offers free personal job placement services at any time for anyone receiving SSDI or non-retirement SSI benefits; apply today on the same webpage.

SC 4/4 CKD Class

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To better manage your kidney disease, Avantus Renal Therapy-Newport Superior Dialysis will be offering educational seminars on the first Tuesday of each month in Newport Beach CA.  The semnars will make you aware of the different types of dialysis and offer crucial information regarding the choices available to treat your kidney disease.  Meet with a Social Worker, Renal Dietitian, Access Coordinator and Dialysis Nurse.  Family & friends are welcome.  Find details at http://www.esrdnetwork18.org/events/chronic-kidney-disease-class-every-1st-tuesday-month-200pm/ .

4/24 TEP for Meds Reconciliation

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CMS is seeking nominations for members of  Technical Expert Panel to develop one or more quality measures related to medication reconciliation and management for ESRD patients.  Nominations are due by April 24, 2017.  For details see https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/MMS/TechnicalExpertPanels.html#ESRD%20Reconciliation .

Nat’l SW Month

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March is also National Social Work month.  We’ve added web pages to the Network 16 website describing a few skills that social workers bring to patients and facilities.  Among the many things social workers do are:

  • Help manage kidney disease
  • Help assure quality of life
  • Help with rehabilitation
  • Help with education
  • Help assure satisfaction

Find the flyer for facilities in this month’s Network 16 News at https://www.nwrn.org/providers-and-professional-staff/nw16n.html and this month’s Patient Bulletin for posting or handout to patients at https://www.nwrn.org/patients-a-family/ptedres/mon.html .