February Events and Notices

February 8, 2024: CMS NTP on Medicare Updates & Education Webinar, https://cmsnationaltrainingprogram.cms.gov/moodle/login/index.php.

February 20, 2024: EQRS New User Training, https://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/february-2024-new-user-training/.

New EQRS Facility Vaccination Dashboards: For instructions on use see https://mycrownweb.org/2024/01/new-eqrs-dashboard-facility-influenza-vaccination/ for Influenza Vaccines, and https://mycrownweb.org/2024/02/new-eqrs-dashboard-facility-pneumococcal-pneumonia-vaccination/ for Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccines.

CMS Has Published CY2024 QIP NHSN Data Entry Deadlines: In general, quarterly NHSN data on HD BSI, Dialysis Events, and HCP Vaccination is due three months after the end of each quarter. For details for 2024 see https://mycrownweb.org/education/nhsn-submission-deadlines-for-cy-2024-esrd-qip-data/, and for October-December 2023 see https://mycrownweb.org/2023/09/nhsn-submission-deadlines-for-calendar-year-2023/.

CMS Has Published Instructions for Annual Facility Surveys Forms 2744A and B: All Medicare-certified dialysis (2744A) and transplant (2744B) facilities must complete Form CMS-2744, the ESRD Medical Information System ESRD Facility Survey, providing a final count of all patients and treatments provided by the facility during the prior calendar year. Forms 2744 also includes important facility and patient demographic information, such as Medicare status, vocational rehabilitation, and facility staff counts. Note that facilities should first check with their Organization, as many ESRD Providers complete the 2744s at the Organization Level rather than the Facility Level. Note Also that 2744 submission deadlines and coordination are set by the ESRD Networks, here Comagine ESRD Network 16 at https://comagine.org/esrd. Find detailed Instructions for completing Forms 2744 at https://mycrownweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-CMS-2744-Annual-Survey_Training-Aid_For-508ing_vFINAL508.pdf.

CMS Has Created a New Website Introducing Value-Based Care, at https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation-center/value-based-care-spotlight.

CMS Has Published the QIP Measures Manual and Technical Specs for CY2024. Find the ESRD Measures Manual for the 2024 Performance Period at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/esrd-measures-manual-v91.pdf, and the CY 2024 ESRD QIP Technical Measures Specifications at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cy-2024-technical-measure-specifications.pdf.

CDC has updated their V-Safe Website to include Three New Vaccines, including maternal RSV vaccine, RSV vaccines for older adults, and 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines. V-Safe allows you to describe your own personal reactions to vaccines, in order to educate CDC and the public about what others might expect from their inoculations.  Find V-Safe, in English and Spanish, at https://vsafe.cdc.gov/, and information about how it works at https://blogs.cdc.gov/safehealthcare/help-promote-v-safe-to-vaccine-recipients/. Find details about the RSV vaccines at https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/clinical/index.html, and about the current COVID-19 vaccines at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/overview-COVID-19-vaccines.html.

9/2+ CMS Email Down

CMS email is transitioning from HHS to CMS itself over the holiday weekend, and the process will take several days. All CMS email accounts will close down late on Friday September 2, 2022, until early on Tuesday, September 6. Any email sent to CMS accounts will receive a notice saying that the address does not exist. Please hold all emails for CMS until Tuesday. There is a notice but no details at https://www.medicaid.gov/.