NW16 9/19 Network 16 Annual Quality Conference

Comagine ESRD Network 16 will hold their Annual Quality Conference on September 19, 2019 in Des Moines WA.  Topics will include care transitions, the patient’s perspective, staff concerns, transplants, infection control, Network update, and awards.  Facility Managers and Administrators, nurses, social workers, dietitians, technicians, Medical Directors, and other ESRD facility staff are invited, to earn six continuing education credits.  For details and registration, see http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1118124189703&ca=285325b1-f5e9-47d8-87b7-96d48a207da5.

New CMS Payment Models

CMS has proposed five new experimental ESRD and CKD payment models:

• Four models will be voluntary:

• • The KCF (Kidney Care First) Model would capitate and incentivize payments to nephrology practices for care of CKD and ESRD patients.
  • Three different CKCC (Comprehensive Kidney Care Contracting) Models would allow the creation of Kidney Contracting Entities (KCEs), which would take full responsibility for the cost and quality of care for ESRD patients in return for capitated payments, with a share of any cost savings rebated.  KCEs would consist of nephrology practices, transplant providers, dialysis providers, and other healthcare providers.
  • These programs would run for four to six years, beginning January 1, 2020.  Find more information on the KCF and CKCC Models at https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/kidney-care-first-kcf-and-comprehensive-kidney-care-contracting-ckcc-models.

• The fifth model, the ETC (ESRD Treatment Choices) Model, would be mandatory in randomly selected geographic areas that would cover fifty percent of the US, and run for six and a half years beginning January 1, 2020.  It would incentivize transplants and home dialysis, and interact with the current ESRD PPS and QIP in yet-to-be-determined ways.  Find more information on the ETC Model at https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/proposed-end-stage-renal-disease-treatment-choices-etc-mandatory-model and https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/esrd-treatment-choices-model/.  The ETC Model is part of a draft Proposed Rule that can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/CMS-5527-P.pdf.

2019 DFR Preview Schedule

The University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center (UM-KECC) has announced the DFR Quarterly Update schedule for the rest of FY2020 (CY2019).  Facilities will preview their FY2020 annual DFR (for 2015-2018) during July 15-August 15, 2019, their Q1 2019 Quarterly DFR Update (for January-March 2019) during November 1-15, 2019, their Q2 Quarterly DFR Update (for January-June 2019) during February 1-15, 2020, and their Q3 Quarterly DFR Update (for January-September 2019) during May 1-15, 2020.  The DFRs and facility comments will be released to state surveyors on September 1 and December 1, 2019, and March 1 and June 1, 2020, respectively.

The DFR and Quarterly Updates will be available for preview and comment on http://www.dialysisdata.org.  Authorized users may submit comments about the report on the Dialysis Data secure website by using the forms “Comments on DFR for UM-KECC” and  “Comments on DFR for State Surveyor.”  All comments submitted for state surveyors will be appended to the DFR and made available to surveyors.  Do not include questions for UM-KECC in comments intended for the state surveyors.  All Dialysis Data website MAH passwords were reset, and all user accounts were disabled in December 2018.  If you haven’t already, facility MAHs must log into their master account to re-enable facility user accounts and grant permissions prior to July 15, 2019.

The Dialysis Data Helpdesk welcomes questions and comments about the DFRs and suggestions for future reports of this type, at 1-855-764-2885 or DialysisData@umich.edu.

7/11+ QIP Training

CROWNWeb will present a July 11, 2019 training session on the basics of the ESRD QIP, and repeat it on July 22, 2019.  It will include instruction on how to submit a query and a formal inquiry about anything on your QIP results that you believe may be in error or may deserve special consideration.  Register for the training at http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/esrd-qip-training/ for the July 11 session, and at http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/esrd-qip-training-2/ for the July 22 session.  These sessions will complement the July 9, 2019 CMS training described at https://nwrnbulletins.wordpress.com/2019/07/01/7-9-cms-webinar-on-qip-py2020-preview/.

CROWNWeb Newsletter, Training, Town Hall

This month’s CROWNWeb New User training will take place online on July 10, 2019.  For details and registration see http://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/july-2019-new-user-training/.

The July CROWNWeb Newsletter is also now available, at http://mycrownweb.org/2019/07/july-2019-newsletter/.  This issue focuses on KCER, the Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition, and includes a Checklist for keeping all patient information up to date during an emergency, along with the usual handy list of links and other timely information.

The next CROWNWeb Town Hall will be held July 25, 2019.  For more information and to register, see http://mycrownweb.org/events/.  Transcripts and recordings of previous CROWNWeb Town Halls are also available at this link.

7/9 CMS Webinar on QIP PY2020 Preview

CMS will present a July 9, 2019 webinar on ESRD QIP: Previewing Your Facility’s PY2020 Performance Data.  The webinar will cover interpreting the PSR and Patient List Report (PLR), reimbursement, questions and formal inquiries, publication responsibility, and other relevant topics.  Find details and register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4166245669505296130.  For more information on the ESRD QIP, see https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/ESRDQIP/.  To get answers to questions about the QIP, see https://cms-ocsq.custhelp.com/app/homeesrdqip/p/960.

12/31 Old HICNs Valid for Only Six More Months

There are only six months to go on the transition to the New Medicare Card.  To help prevent identity theft, the New Card removes a patient’s Social Security Number from their Card and replaces it with a new, randomly-assigned “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier” or MBI.  MBIs must be protected as confidential PII.  All patients should have received their new card by now, barring mailing address problems.  After December 31, 2019 billing with the old “Health Insurance Claim Number” or HICN will be disallowed.  If your facility has patients that don’t have a New Card, refer to https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/SE18006.pdf for instructions.  Railroad Retirement Board Medicare cards are going through a parallel transition.