CMS has published a summary of changes and other important information about the October 2019 update to Dialysis Facility Compare (https://www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/). Find the summary at https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/End-Stage-Renal-Disease/ESRDGeneralInformation/Downloads/DFC-October-2019-Release-Q-and-A.pdf.
CROWNWeb (“CW”) has released the November edition of the CROWNWeb Newsletter. In it you’ll find articles on their new Community of Practice series detailing best practices collected from the 20,000 authorized CW users, on CW online training, on the CW Admit Patient and CW Initial 2728 Worksheets, on Clinical Closures, and they also announce the November 12, 2019 New User Training. Find the Newsletter at http://mycrownweb.org/2019/10/november-2019-newsletter/.
The CY2020 ESRD Final Rule has become law. Find a summary and a link to the Federal Register at https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cy2020-end-stage-renal-diseasedurable-medical-equipment-final-rule-cms-1713-f.
CROWNWeb will present an October 31, 2019 Town Hall webinar and conference call on Best Practices to Aid Data Reporting and Managing Admits and Discharges. Find more information and registration at http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_community_events/october-2019-town-hall/.
CROWNWeb has scheduled their current New User Training for October 15, 2019. Find details and register at http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/new-user-training-october/. They’ve also published their October Newsletter, EQRS CROWNWeb News, at http://mycrownweb.org/2019/10/october-2019-newsletter/, featuring articles on Masked SSNs and HICNUMs, “Are You Doing Your PART,” and Clinical Closures, along with the usual long list of links to helpful resources. They’re still referring to the September Town Hall webinar, but http://mycrownweb.org/events/ lists recordings of previous webinars, and will probably eventually announce an October Town Hall as well. They usually occur late in the month.
Modifications to the Conditions of Participation for kidney transplant programs (formerly transplant centers) have been published in the Federal Register for September 30, 2019. They will take effect on November 29, 2019. The primary change is that an approved transplant program will no longer be required to submit outcome data for periodic re-approval. The modifications are summarized by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons at https://asts.org/news-and-publications/asts-news/article/2019/09/27/cms-removes-outcomes-requirement-for-transplant-center-re-approval, and detailed in the Federal Register at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-09-30/pdf/2019-20736.pdf, pp.51748-50.
Winter is arriving early in some Network 16 locations, and CMS requires all ESRD Networks to track the status of facility operations, and patient access to treatment, during emergency events at all facilities. 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.
You are reminded never to put PHI or PII in an email or online form. Examples include patient name or initials, birthdate, SSN, and other identifying information.
