Monthly Archives: February 2020

Notify Network of Service Disruptions

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CMS requires ESRD Networks to track the status of facility operations and patient access to treatment during emergency events at all facilities, including disruption due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.  If the operations of your facility, or ability for patients to have access to dialysis, are impacted by emergency events, please let your Network know right away.

For Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska (Network 16), call Lisa Hall at 206-923-0714 or email LHall@Comagine.org, or Brianna Smith at BSmith2@Comagine.org.  We also ask that you fill out and submit the Network Disaster Reporting Form at http://www.esrdnetwork18.org/machform/view.php?id=44393.  Network 18 will forward the completed form back to Network 16.

In Southern California (Network 18), call Eileen Rhodes or Anabel Galindo-Guerrero at 888-268-1539, or email ERhodes@Comagine.org or AGalindo-Guerrero@Comagine.org, and fill out the form at http://www.esrdnetwork18.org/machform/embed.php?id=16298.

Never put PHI or PII in an email or online form.  Examples include patient name or initials, birthdate, SSN, and other identifying information.

New CDC HAN re Coronavirus

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CDC has published a new February 28, 2020 Health Alert Network Advisory on Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), replacing the Guidance in the previous February 1, 2020 HAN.  Find it at https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2020/han00428.asp?deliveryName=USCDC_511-DM21359.

3/2+ EQRS/QIP Deadline Extended to March 16

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CMS is extending the March 2, 2020 deadline till March 16, 2020 (11:59 pm PST) for submission to EQRS of the following QIP and Clinical data:

  • ICH CAHPS Attestation.
  • Clinical Depression Screening and Follow-Up Plan.
  • December 2019 Clinical Data Submissions.

The extension applies only to the March 2020 data submission, and will have no effect on other due dates.  Facilities are encouraged to complete their HARP registration as soon as possible, as HARP is now the mandatory gateway to EQRS.  HARP training materials, Quick Start Guides, FAQs, and instructional videos can be found https://mycrownweb.org/harp-training/.  The QualityNet Service Desk at qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org or 1-866-288-8912 can provide assistance and answer questions.

New ICD-10 Codes for COVID-19 Coronavirus

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CDC has issued new documents on ICD10 coding for the current “COVID-19” (nee “2019-nCoV”) coronavirus that first warranted attention in December 2019 in Wuhan, China:

These documents are put into context on CDC’s ICD10-CM page at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm.

CMS has also created a new billing code specific to testing for the COVID-19 virus.  For details see https://www.cms.gov/outreach-and-educationoutreachffsprovpartprogprovider-partnership-email-archive/2020-02-20#_Toc32923423.

RSN KidneyTalk re Boundaries

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In Blurred Lines: Keeping Safe Boundaries at a Dialysis Clinic, Lori and Network 18 Patient Services Director Eileen Rhodes discuss the problems that can arise when patients and staff become friends.  Find this recorded podcast at https://www.rsnhope.org/kidneytalk/blurred-lines-keeping-safe-boundaries-at-a-dialysis-clinic/.

Previous podcasts can be found at https://www.rsnhope.org/, along with information about the Renal Support Network’s Annual Teen Prom, Annual Essay Contest, Monthly Support Group Meetings, Public Speaking Training, KidneyTalk Magazine, HOPEline Peer Support Hotline, KidneyTalk Blog, Renal Recipes, and the many other services RSN provides for ESRD patients.

New CMS ACO and ESCO Resources

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CMS has added many new tools to it’s Accountable Care Organization home page, including several on ESRD Seamless Care Organizations.  Examples from February 2020 include these Case Study PDFs:

  • Keystone ACO’s Health Navigator Program to Identify and Close Care Gaps.
  • Atlantic Dialysis Management Services’ Patient Navigator Program.
  • Centers for Dialysis Care’s Patient Advisory Committees.

The Comprehensive ESRD Care Model page has also been recently updated.  Find links to all these and more at https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/aco/.

New CDC MMWR on Coronavirus, Billing Code

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CDC has issued an MMWR on the current coronavirus threat.  It says,

“COVID-19 is a serious public health threat.  Cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in the United States, primarily in travelers from China and quarantined repatriates, and also in two close contacts of COVID-19 patients.  Currently, COVID-19 is not recognized to be spreading in U.S. communities.  If sustained transmission in U.S. communities is identified, the U.S. response strategy will enhance implementation of actions to slow spread in communities.  Implementation of basic precautions of infection control and prevention, including staying home when ill and practicing respiratory and hand hygiene will become increasingly important.”

Find the full report at https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/pdfs/mm6908e1-H.pdf?deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM20815.

However, the Washington Post tells us today that ” ‘Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in the United States,’ Nancy Messonnier, a top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters.  ‘It’s not a question of if this will happen but when this will happen and how many people in this country will have severe illnesses.’ ”

CMS has also created a new billing code specific to testing for the COVID-19 virus.  For details see https://www.cms.gov/outreach-and-educationoutreachffsprovpartprogprovider-partnership-email-archive/2020-02-20#_Toc32923423.

>2/21 Revised CMS State Operations Manual

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CMS has published revisions to the State Operations Manual, including Appendix H – ESRD Facilities, Appendix X – Organ Transplant Program, and Appendix Z – Emergency Preparedness.  Find the revised Manual, which is effective as of February 21, 2020, at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/r200soma.pdf.  The 700-page manual lacks page numbers or other indications of which appendix you’re reading, but online PDF readers provide page counts in the upper left-hand corner, or at the top of the screen.  Changes include:

  • pp. 175ff: Appendix H – ESRD Facilities.  Guidance to Surveyors in Appendix H is extensively revised throughout, including updates to the regulatory text based on requirements set forth in the 2008 Conditions for Coverage and revisions based on recent Federal Fire Safety Requirements.
  • pp. 614ff: Appendix X – Organ Transplant Programs.  Revisions include Survey Protocol Tasks, and occasional other revisions scattered throughout.
  • pp. 657ff: Appendix Z – Emergency Preparedness.   Major revisions are included throughout.

2/21+ EQRS and HARP

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The EQRS End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Reporting System will be unavailable due to system maintenance from 5pm PST on February 21, 2020 until 5am PST on February 24, 2020.  Effective February 24, 2020, HARP (HCQIS Access Role and Profile) credentials will be required to access EQRS.  Access EQRS at https://eqrs.cms.gov/globalapp.  HARP resources including training materials, Quick Start Guides, Frequently Asked Questions, and instructional videos can be found at https://mycrownweb.org/harp-training/.  The QualityNet Service Desk is available to provide assistance and answer questions, via email at qnetsupport-esrd@hcqis.org or telephone at 1-866-288-8912.