Monthly Archives: March 2024

CDC HAN re Meningococcal Disease

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CDC has issued a Health Alert Network Advisory on a rapid increase in meningococcal disease, mainly attributable to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y. The increase disproportionately occurs in people ages 30–60 years (65%), Black or African American people (63%), and people with HIV (15%). It frequently has a clinical presentation other than meningitis: 64% presented with bacteremia, and at least 4% presented with septic arthritis. The 18% 2024 case-fatality rate is 64% higher than the historical rate. CDC recommends:

  • Heightened suspicion for meningococcal disease, particularly among disproportionately affected populations,
  • Awareness that patients may present without symptoms typical of meningitis, and
  • Ensuring that all people recommended for meningococcal vaccination, including people with HIV, are up to date for meningococcal vaccines.

Find full details in the HAN at https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2024/han00505.asp.

More March Events – Transplant Financials and New CDC Kidney Website

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March 27, 2024: NKF Transplant Financials Webinar on Financial Considerations in Kidney Transplant: The Process, Barriers, Strategies & Resources, in the “Lunch & Learn” Series, for all dialysis professional staff. Find details and register at https://cme.kidney.org/spa/courses/resource/r629-financial-considerations-in-kidney-transplant-the-process-barriers-strategies–resources.

March 29, 2024: Comment Deadline for Feedback on Draft of New CDC Website on CKD. Review the Draft and comment at https://beta.cdc.gov/kidney-disease/.

HDC/Lori Hartwell’s Proposal for Increasing Home Dialysis, with her Invitation to Comment. See https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/588-do-we-need-a-new-model-to-reward-people-who-do-home-dialysis.

Yet More March-April Events

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March 27, 2024: Medicaid/CHIPS Renewal Webinar on Recently Released Guidance and Resources for Partners. Note date revised from March 20, 2024. If your organization serves or interfaces with people that have health insurance through Medicaid or CHIP then this call is for YOU. Register at https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_qma5AvyBQWCTB0vbNF3lTA. Send questions to PARTNERSHIP@cms.hhs.gov.

April 4, 2024: My Employment Options Webinar on Resumes that Get You Hired. Find details and registration at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wGjhcVlxQpaH35d3ODLnaA#/registration.

April is National Donate Life Month, including Living Donor Day April 3, Blue and Green Spirit Week April 6-12, Blue and Green Day April 12, Donor Appreciation Week April 8-12, Volunteer Appreciation Week April 15-19, Pediatric Transplant Week April 21-27, and Transplant Professionals Day April 24. Find more information, daily events, and Celebration/Promotion materials at https://www.donatelifenw.org/national-donate-life-month.

KDIGO has announced the publication of its 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for CKD. Find more information and download from https://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538(23)00766-4/fulltext.

EQRS has announced modification of the Dialysis Facility Transplant Waitlist Dashboard to include a new column for Inactive Reason for temporarily inactive transplant candidates. For details see https://mycrownweb.org/2024/03/dialysis-facility-transplant-waitlist-dashboard-update-new-inactive-reason-column-added/.

More March-April Events

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March EQRS Newsletter Available at https://mycrownweb.org/2024/03/march-2024-newsletter-now-available/, with information on the 2744 ESRD Annual Survey, March 14 EOCT Town Hall, Care Compare Update, New EQRS Dashboard Reports, New EQRS Medication Reconciliation Reporting Field, ESRD QIP Information, How to Route Questions, and ESRD Data Submission Deadlines.

March 14, 2024:

March 16, 2024: Comment Deadline for Medicare Part D Guidance Part 2 – Guidance to help Medicare Part D enrollees manage drug costs, PART 2. Find details at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-draft-part-two-guidance.pdf.

April 16-17, 2024: CMS NTP Understanding Medicare 2-Day Webinar – Find more information and register at https://cmsnationaltrainingprogram.cms.gov/live-events.

March 19, 2024: CMS EQRS New User Training – Find details and register at https://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/march-2024-new-user-training/.

Final CMS Guidance to help Medicare Part D enrollees manage drug costs – https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-07-mlnc#_Toc160622795.

Current Medicare Status of Blood Tests for Organ Transplant Rejection – https://www.cms.gov/training-education/medicare-learning-network/newsletter/2024-03-07-mlnc#_Toc160622796.

Preview of New 2728 Form

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CMS has finalized the updated version 2023 Form CMS-2728, which can be viewed and downloaded from https://www.cms.gov/medicare/cms-forms/cms-forms/cms-forms-items/cms008867.

Please Note: The End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Reporting System (EQRS) will continue to generate the current version 2018 Form CMS-2728. The use of any Form CMS-2728 other than what is available in EQRS is not authorized until otherwise instructed. Communication on when the new version will automatically generate and be available in EQRS will be forthcoming from CMS.   

For additional information and resources on the Form CMS-2728 updates, register for and attend the March 14, 2024, ESRD Outreach, Communication, and Training (EOCT) Town Hall event. Register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7713799083884657493. For more information on the March Town Hall see https://mycrownweb.org/2024/02/march-2024-town-hall-announce/. 

For assistance with EQRS technical issues, contact the CCSQ Service Center at 866-288-8912, qnetsupport-esrd@cms.hhs.gov, or https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/ccsq_support_central, Mon-Fri 5am-5pm Pacific Time. For assistance with general EQRS and ESRD QIP questions, contact the ESRD QIP Team at https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/qnet_qa?id=ask_a_question