Category Archives: DFR

7/8+ CMS PY2021 DFR/QIP Webinar

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CMS has scheduled a webinar on the PY2021 ESRD DFR/QIP process.  We haven’t seen a timeline yet for the process, though there are rumors that the DFR data has become available.

The webinar is titled ESRD QIP: Previewing Your Facility’s PY2021 Performance Data.  There are three sessions, each repeating the same material, so you need to attend only one of them.  To register:

    • July 8, 2020, 11am PDT – Click here.
    • July 14, 2020, 11am PDT – Click here.
    • July 23, 2020, 11am PDT – Click here.

After you register, you will receive an e-mail containing a unique webinar link and audio details.  Do not share the link, as it will be unique to you.  If more than one staff member at your facility would like to attend, and you can maintain safe social distancing, you may join as a team.  The webinar will cover:

    • How to access and review your facility’s PSR and PLR.
    • How CMS calculated your QIP performance scores.
    • What your TPS means to your facility’s 2021 reimbursement.
    • When and where to ask questions.
    • Where to get help and additional information.

To learn more about the QIP and DFR (and DFC) Preview process, see https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/ESRDQIP/.  It’s not updated for PY2021 yet, but will be soon.

For more information on the PY2021 process, see https://mycrownweb.org/2020/06/py-2021-esrd-qip-preview-period-webinar/.  If you haven’t already made the conversion, note that you will need to use the new QIP User Interface in the updated version of EQRS; for details and instructions see https://mycrownweb.org/2020/06/esrd-qip-ui-phase1/.

For further assistance and to ask questions, use the CMS Quality Support ServiceNow Q&A Tool at https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/qnet_qa.

2019 DFR Preview Schedule

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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.

MAH QDFC/QDFR Requirements

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Your facility’s Master Account Holder (MAH) Password and User Accounts on DialysisData.org must be re-established in order to retrieve your facility’s DFR and December 2018 QDFC preview file.  On December 13, 2018 all MAH passwords were reset and user accounts for https://www.DialysisData.org disabled.  Networks provided the new passwords to the facility MAH on file.  Facility MAHs must log in to their master account to re-enable or add facility user accounts and grant permissions prior to the start of the February 1, 2019 QDFC/QDFR Preview Period.  MAHs must create a separate user account to be able to view DFRs and QDFC data, as their MAH account only manages user accounts and cannot view data.

Useful Resources:

It is the MAH’s responsibility to update user contact information (including their own), transfer MAH credentials within the facility appropriately, review and enable existing user accounts, and set user-specific permissions.  If the master account holder has changed, please notify your Network and also update the contact information on https://www.DialysisData.org to reflect a new contact person for the MAH.

7/17+ DFR Review Period, DFC Notes

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The University of Michigan Kidney Epidemiology and Cost Center (UM-KECC) will post FY2019 Dialysis Facility Reports at https://dialysisdata.org/ for facility comments starting July 17, 2018.  The comment period ends on August 15, 2018.  Facilities must use their DialysisData.org Master Account Holder (MAH) password to create and/or enable staff accounts on DialysisData.org in order to review and comment on their DFR.  If you do not know your MAH password, contact your Network.

UM-KECC has also recently published an updated Technical Notes on the Updated Dialysis Facility Compare Star Rating Methodology.  Find it at https://dialysisdata.org/sites/default/files/content/Methodology/UpdatedDFCStarRatingMethodology.pdf.

CMS will suppress from public view some DFC and Star-Ratings data for impacted facilities in counties that were designated by FEMA as a major disaster area because of the 2017 wildfires.  For information on this see https://dialysisdata.org/sites/default/files/content/News/Natural%20Disaster%20Supression%20FAQs.pdf.

1/5 Physician Measures TEP

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CMS has contracted with UM-KECC to develop one or more measures related to the quality of care provided to ESRD dialysis patients by physicians, and is recruiting transplant and dialysis patients to serve on the Technical Expert Panel that will propose such measures.  Nominations are due by January 5, 2018.  For details see https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/MMS/TEP-Currently-Accepting-Nominations.html#001.

2018 DFC Schedule

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User accounts on https://dialysisdata.org/ must be created or reviewed by facility Master Account Holders (MAH), and new passwords chosen, before February 1, 2018.  Master Account Holders must create a separate USER account to be able to view DFRs and QDFC data; the MAH account does not provide that access.  It only allows the MAH to be able to manage user accounts.

It is the MAH’s responsibility to update user contact information (including their own), transfer MAH credentials within the facility appropriately, review and enable existing user accounts, and set user-specific permissions.  If MAH credentials are passed on within your facility to a new MAH, please notify your Network and update the contact information on https://dialysisdata.org/ to reflect a new contact person for the MAH.

The 2018 QDFC and PY2019 DFR schedules follow:

  • The Preview Period for the April 2018 QDFC will span February 1 through February 15, 2018.
  • The Preview Period for the July 2018 QDFC will span May 1 through May 15, 2018.
  • The Preview Period for the October 2018 QDFC will span July 15 through August 15, 2018.
  • FY2019 DFRs will be available on July 17, 2018.
  • The Preview Period for the January 2019 QDFC will span November 1 through November 15, 2018.

Direct questions to  DialysisData@umich.edu, 855-764-2885 (toll-free, M-F, 6am-2pm PST only), or to your Network.  Answers to Frequently Asked Questions will be posted at https://dialysisdata.org/.

8/15+ QIP/DFR Previews

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The preview periods for QIP Performance Score Reports (PSR), Dialysis Facility Reports (DFR), and Quarterly Dialysis Facility Compare (QDFC) are all now open.  These are distinct reports accessed through two different websites, with different preview periods. PSRs must be reviewed and commented upon by August 18, 2017; DFRs and QDFC must be reviewed and commented upon by August 15, 2017.  If you’re waiting till the last day to submit your comments, verify the time of the deadline with CMS; some CMS deadlines are now 5:00 pm ET (2:00 pm PT) rather than the usual 11:59 ET (8:59 PT).  Note that the following are not in order by date.

Preview QIP PY2018 Performance Score Reports

Preview Dialysis Facility Reports (DFR) and Quarterly October 2017 Dialysis Facility Compare (QDFC) report

8/19 New QDFC Preview Deadline

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CMS has discovered an error in the calculation of the Standardized Readmission Ratio (SRR) that affects most facilities.  The measure has been recalculated and is available for preview in your facility’s 

  • DFC: Quarterly DFC Preview for October Report  
  • DFR: FY 2017 Dialysis Facility Report 

on https://www.DialysisData.org .  The footer of these Reports will note the August 2016 production date.

Some planned readmissions were inadvertently excluded.  In the recalculation, 11% of facilities nationwide show an absolute difference in SRR of more than 0.05.  About 100 facilities changed SRR category on DFC.  Use the Comments & Inquiries tab on https://www.DialysisData.org if you have questions on the SRR recalculation.

Because of this error, the Preview Period will be extended to August 19 at 5 PM ET to allow review of the updated Reports.  The SRR information is the only change to the Reports.  Refer to https://nwrnbulletins.wordpress.com/2016/07/15/815-dfcdfr-comments-due/ for more instructions if necessary.

8/15 DFC/DFR Comments Due

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QDFC-Preview for October 2016 reports and FY2017 DFRs will be available to Networks and facilities beginning July 15, 2016 on the secure website, https://www.DialysisData.org .  Facilities can preview reports and submit questions about the data reported in their QDFC preview report and DFR, including comments for State Surveyors, until August 15, 2016.  All comments, inquiries, and questions must be submitted using the required comment forms:

  • DFC Comment for CMS
  • DFR Comment for State Surveyor
  • DFR Comment for UM-KECC

Via https://www.DialysisData.org .  Only authenticated users who have been granted permission to submit DFC and DFR comments by their dialysis data website Master Account Holder will be able to perform this action.