New April Events

April 16-17, 2024 – Medicare National Training Program (NTP) Webinars on Understanding Medicare. April 16 covers enrollment, eligibility, SSA and CMS roles, Part A Hospital Insurance, Part B Medical Insurance, and Medigap policies. April 17 covers Part D Drug Coverage, Advantage Plans, and other useful information and resources. You may register for either or both days, at https://cmsnationaltrainingprogram.cms.gov/live-events?keys=understanding+Medicare. Previous webinars are recorded and may be found at https://cmsnationaltrainingprogram.cms.gov/past-events.

April 24, 2024: Webinar for Dialysis Professionals on Supporting Patients to Improve their Transplant Candidacy. Part of the NKF Navigating Transplant: A Guide to Empowering Your Patients series for FAs, MDs, Nurse Managers, Dietitians, and SWs. For more information and registration, see the poster below or https://cme.kidney.org/spa/courses/resource/r634-supporting-your-patients-to-be-the-best-psychosocial-candidate-for-transplant-/mooc/home/default. Direct questions to celine.koh@kidney.org.

April Events

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.

Yet More March-April Events

March 27, 2024: Medicaid/CHIPS Renewal Webinar on Recently Released Guidance and Resources for Partners. Note date revised from March 20, 2024. If your organization serves or interfaces with people that have health insurance through Medicaid or CHIP then this call is for YOU. Register at https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_qma5AvyBQWCTB0vbNF3lTA. Send questions to PARTNERSHIP@cms.hhs.gov.

April 4, 2024: My Employment Options Webinar on Resumes that Get You Hired. Find details and registration at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wGjhcVlxQpaH35d3ODLnaA#/registration.

April is National Donate Life Month, including Living Donor Day April 3, Blue and Green Spirit Week April 6-12, Blue and Green Day April 12, Donor Appreciation Week April 8-12, Volunteer Appreciation Week April 15-19, Pediatric Transplant Week April 21-27, and Transplant Professionals Day April 24. Find more information, daily events, and Celebration/Promotion materials at https://www.donatelifenw.org/national-donate-life-month.

KDIGO has announced the publication of its 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for CKD. Find more information and download from https://www.kidney-international.org/article/S0085-2538(23)00766-4/fulltext.

EQRS has announced modification of the Dialysis Facility Transplant Waitlist Dashboard to include a new column for Inactive Reason for temporarily inactive transplant candidates. For details see https://mycrownweb.org/2024/03/dialysis-facility-transplant-waitlist-dashboard-update-new-inactive-reason-column-added/.

More December+ Events

December 6, 2023: Medicaid/CHIPS Renewal Webinar, What to Know and How to Prepare: A Partner Education Monthly Series, online, find more information and registration at https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_qma5AvyBQWCTB0vbNF3lTA#/registration.

December 14, 2023: EQRS Town Hall re ESRD Reporting Deadlines, EQRS Updates including Dashboard Reports, CY2024 ESRD Final Rule, New Facility Commitment to Health Equity Measure, PY2024 QIP Final PSRs/PSCs, online, more information and registration at https://mycrownweb.org/pcw_community_events/december-2023-town-hall/.

January 2, 2024: CY2024 ESRD/AKI Updates Effective, summarized at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/mm13445-esrd-acute-kidney-injury-dialysis-cy-2024-updates.pdf.

January 2-March 29, 2024: Longer CCSQ Hold Times Expected for EQRS questions; for more information, see the 2-page attachment below. The embedded links don’t work, but they are:

• CCSQ Support Central – https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/ccsq_support_central.
• CrownWeb: https://mycrownweb.org/.
• QualityNet Q&A Tool – https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/qnet_qa?id=ask_a_question.
• Support email address: qnestsupport-esrd@cms.hhs.gov.

January 24, 2024: Medicaid/CHIPS Renewal Webinar, What to Know and How to Prepare: A Partner Education Monthly Series, online, find more information and registration at https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_qma5AvyBQWCTB0vbNF3lTA#/registration.

Longer CCSQ Hold Times Expected bulletin:

9/7 CMS Webinar on Medicaid/CHIP Renewals for Native American & Alaska Native Populations

CMS will present a September 7, 2023 webinar on Medicaid and CHIP Renewals: Reaching Out to American Indian and Alaska Native Populations. RSVP at https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_-uRUL8P0QFW2_iRCvfqT8g. For more information and toolkits, including links to English and Spanish resources on Reaching Kids and Families, Disenrolled patients, and Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, Black American, Aging & Disability, and Rural Populations, see https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/unwinding-and-returning-regular-operations-after-covid-19/medicaid-and-chip-renewals-outreach-and-educational-resources/index.html.

6/14 CMS National Stakeholder Call to Action on Medicaid and CHIP Renewals

CMS will host a June 14, 2023 National Stakeholder Call on Medicaid and CHIP Renewals at 10 am Pacific Time, introducing newly published resources on keeping people covered as states restart routine Medicaid and CHIP renewals. The call is open to all national, state, and local stakeholders. Resources include:

• CMS Press Release
• CMS Letter to Governors
• State Strategies to Minimize Terminations
• All Hands On-Deck Factsheet for Medicaid Renewals
• Call to Action instructions for people with Medicaid and CHIP coverage, for the Public and Private Sector, for States, for Members of Congress and State/Local Elected Officials, for the Health Care Community, for Grocery stores, Retailers, and Small Community Businesses, for Advocates, Civil Rights Groups, Faith Communities, Senior Centers, and other Community Organizations, for Unions, for Employers, and for Philanthropic funders
• A Communications Toolkit is provided at https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/unwinding-and-returning-regular-operations-after-covid-19/index.html

CMS avers that all parties must do everything in their power to help people stay covered. Register for the Call at https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_tySvAeHDQJG7XWnL1W8J3A.

Patients Need to Review Medicaid/CHIP Coverage

In February, states restarted Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility reviews that they temporarily stopped during the pandemic. This means your state will review your information to decide if you or other family members still qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. To maximize your coverage:

• Update your contact information – Make sure your state has your current mailing address, phone number, email, or other contact information. This way, they’ll be able to contact you about your Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
• Check your mail – Your state will mail you a letter about your coverage. This letter will also tell you if you need to complete a renewal form or send other information. If the letter says you’re still eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you don’t have to do anything else. If the letter asks you for more information, you should send it as soon as possible.
• Complete your renewal form if you get one – Fill out the form and return it.

Find more complete instructions and more information on the CMS flyer in English at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/renew-your-medicaid-or-chip-coverage-flyer.pdf and in Spanish at https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/downloads/renueve-su-cobertura-de.pdf, including:

• How to Appeal or Reapply if you’ve been turned down.
• How to use the Health Insurance Marketplace to get alternate low-cost health insurance. If your Medicaid or CHIP has not been renewed, you can use the Marketplace even if the regular Enrollment Period is not open.
• How to find out if you’re eligible to sign up for Medicare under the Special Enrollment Period for patients who have lost Medicaid/CHIP coverage.

Find even more information, including state-by-state Medicaid and CHIP coverage details and local contact information at https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/unwinding-and-returning-regular-operations-after-covid-19/renew-your-medicaid-or-chip-coverage/index.html.

It’s important to act on this quickly, as your options narrow rapidly once you lose coverage.

Facility Social Workers: Find instructions and links to additional resources at https://www.cms.gov/outreach-and-education/outreach/ffsprovpartprog/provider-partnership-email-archive/2023-04-27-mlnc#_Toc133412039.

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/.

Expanded Oregon Medicaid ESRD Coverage

For Oregon Nephrology Social Workers: On January 1, 2022 the Oregon Health Authority expanded coverage in the Citizenship Waived Medical (CWM) plan to include outpatient dialysis and coverage for antirejection medications for kidney transplantation. This is a big win for undocumented patients.  Review your patient’s insurance coverage and contact your local Oregon Medicaid Office for more information, call 800-273-0557 or see https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/OHP/Pages/cco-Plans.aspx. The full legalese for the current regulation, with updated coverages, can be found at https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=286645.