The ESRD NCC will present a free May 7, 2024 webinar for all staff at dialysis facilities and transplant centers on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (“CLAS”) Action Plan for the Kidney Community. Find details on the poster below and register at https://tinyurl.com/mr272atb (note that the “Click here” link below doesn’t work).
The WA DOH Power of Providers Initiative Group will host a May 10, 2024 webinar for healthcare staff on Effectively Engaging Communities: Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy, to explore the factors that fuel vaccine hesitancy among populations in the US and discuss effective strategies, patient-centered approaches, and implementation of Trusted-Messenger Interventions, to address historical amnesia and increase faith in institutions. The webinar will be recorded, and CE credits are available for nurses (RN, ARNP, LPN), and medical assistants. Find details and register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u8eSZ-Y7QXyjy8yLEniQoA#/registration.
April 16, 2024 – EQRS New User Training. Find details and registraton at https://mycrownweb.org/pcw_lems/april-2024-new-user-training/.
April 25, 2024 – Webinar on De-Escalation & Communication in a Behavioral Health Setting presented by the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Seattle, and the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Network (MHTTC Network), online. Designed for direct service providers and staff who work with clients and community members. Learn what contributes to emotionally escalated interactions, ways to assess the situation, and practical strategies to defuse and de-escalate to support the health and safety of everyone involved. Find details and register at https://mhttcnetwork.org/event/de-escalation-communication-in-a-behavioral-health-setting/. Find more NAMI Seattle events at https://namiseattle.org/events/upcoming-events/ (scroll down for the complete calendar), and more MHTTC Network events at https://mhttcnetwork.org/training-and-events-calendar/.
KDIGO has released an extensive list of resources to accompany their new CKD Guideline, including seven “Top Ten Takeaways” resources for nephrologists, pediatricians, and PCPs; an Executive Summary; and a Data Supplement. Find these resources, and a link to the KDIGO 2024 CKD Guideline itself, at https://kdigo.org/guidelines/ckd-evaluation-and-management/.
CMS has released a final rule that will protect and improve access to Medicaid, CHIP, and BHP. The Streamlining the Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program Application, Eligibility Determination, Enrollment, and Renewal Processes rule will remove red tape and barriers to enrollment, update and build on the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) coverage protections. Find more information at https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-finalizes-rule-expanding-access-care-and-increasing-protections-people.
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.
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.
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
Learn about Community Health Workers (CHWs), the support they can provide to patients, and how to locate CHWs in your community on the poster below and at https://nachw.org/. Find local resources at:
The Oregon Community Health Workers Association will present two educational programs:
March 6, 2024: Quality Counts, Safety Matters: Prioritizing Patient Safety Through Quality Measurement webinar presented by AHRQ, CDC, CMS, and VHA, 9am PDT. Register at https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_VvIWfiWITNuOhxfx5TpuyQ#/registration.
March 9 and 16, 2024: Donate Life Northwest workshop for waitlisted patients and support persons on how to Find a Living Donor (2 sessions, one workshop). Find details and a registration link at https://www.donatelifenw.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=10050&id=10050.
March 10-16, 2024: Patient Safety Awareness Week, the Center for Patient Safety provides more information and offers a free Tool Kit at https://www.centerforpatientsafety.org/patient-safety-awareness-week-psaw.
March 12, 2024: Donate Life NW New Ambassador Orientation: Online, details and registration at https://www.donatelifenw.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=10079&id=10079.
March 14, 2024: Donate Life Community Partner Webinar with NW Kidney Kids, Online, details and registration at https:www.donatelifenw.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=10102&id=10102.
March 21, 2024: Quality Counts, Safety Matters: Prioritizing Patient Safety Through Quality Measurement webinar presented by AHRQ, CDC, CMS, and VHA, 11am PDT. Repeat of March 6 webinar. Register at https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_R9TrgY9hTg6H91ONvzYxwA#/registration.
The FDA has warned that “Smart” Rings and Watches that do not pierce the skin do not accurately measure blood sugar (glucose), even if they claim to do so. For people with diabetes, inaccurate blood glucose measurements can lead to errors in diabetes management, including taking the wrong dosage of medications that can quickly lead to mental confusion, coma, or death, within hours of the error.
For details, recommendations, and further instructions, see https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/do-not-use-smartwatches-or-smart-rings-measure-blood-glucose-levels-fda-safety-communication. Some smart watches are capable of reading remote signals from other implanted or skin-piercing devices that do accurately report blood sugar. The Warning does not apply to these.
On February 28, 2024 at noon PST, the National Kidney Foundation will be hosting a Lunch-and-Learn session for dialysis professionals – Facility Administrators, Medical Directors, Nurse Managers, Social Workers – on the topic of The Evaluation: What Transplant Centers Want You to Know. Earn 1 free CE/CME credit for attending. Find full details and register at https://cme.kidney.org/spa/courses/resource/r600-the-evaluation-what-transplant-centers-want-you-to-know/mooc/home/default or the abbreviated link on the poster below. Direct any questions you may have to celine.koh@kidney.org.
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