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| ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) Payment Year 2017 Preview Period |
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is informing the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network Organizations (Networks) that the Payment Year (PY) 2017 Preview Period for the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) will begin on August 15, 2016, and conclude at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September 16, 2016. The Preview Period provides an important opportunity for each facility to review and pose questions about its ESRD QIP scores and any potential payment reductions that may result. CMS will conduct a National Provider Call (NPC) about the PY 2017 Preview Period on the afternoon of August 2, 2016. Information about this NPC can be found online at https://blh.ier.intercall.com/details/ac80026a487443458643e3dff6b7abde.
May Clinical Data Submission Deadline Extension
To accommodate the July 19 transition from the QualityNet Identify Management System (QIMS) to the new QualityNet Account and Role Management (QARM) application, the deadline to submit May clinical data to CROWNWeb has been extended from July 31, 2016 to August 15, 2016.
Clinical Month
| Original Submission Deadline
| Revised Submission Deadline
| May 2016
| July 31, 2016 at 11:59 pm ET
| August 15, 2016 at 11:59 pm ET
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User Onboarding for the ESRD Quality Reporting System (EQRS)
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement a new two-part identity management system for the ESRD Quality Reporting System (EQRS) over the next several weeks. CMS wishes to ensure that the onboarding of current and new users into EQRS goes smoothly in light of the upcoming ESRD QIP Preview Period.
All EQRS users need to register in the new Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) system. If you have not established an EIDM account yet, please register for your EIDM ID as soon as possible by completing the following steps.
- Use your web browser to navigate to https://portal.cms.gov/wps/portal/unauthportal/home/
- Click on the "New User Registration" link in the "CMS Secure Portal" box on the right side of the web page.
- Follow the prompts to complete the process to request your EIDM user ID using the email address associated with your CROWNWeb, REMIS, and ESRD QIP accounts.
CMS will release additional guidance for requesting your QualityNet Authorization Role Management (QARM) system access in the near future. QARM Security Officials will approve ESRD QIP roles in the QARM system.
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CMS Proposed Updates to Policies and Payment Rates
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On June 24, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would update payment policies and rates under the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for renal dialysis services furnished to beneficiaries on or after January 1, 2017. This rule also proposes new quality measures to improve the quality of care by dialysis facilities treating patients with end-stage renal disease.
The ESRD PPS proposed rule is one of several rules for calendar year 2017 that reflect a broader Administration-wide strategy to deliver better care at lower cost by finding better ways to deliver care, pay providers, and use information. Provisions in these rules are helping to move our health care system to one that values quality over quantity and focuses on achieving better health outcomes, preventing disease, helping patients live successfully at home, helping manage and improve chronic diseases, and fostering a more efficient and coordinated health care system.
This rule also implements the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 provisions regarding the coverage and payment of renal dialysis services furnished by ESRD facilities to individuals with acute kidney injury.
In addition, the ESRD PPS proposed rule proposes changes to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP), including for payment years (PYs) 2018, 2019, and 2020, under which payment incentives are made to dialysis facilities to improve the quality of care that they provide. Under the ESRD QIP, facilities that do not achieve a minimum Total Performance Score (TPS) with respect to quality measures receive a reduction in their payment rates under the ESRD PPS.
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Vote Now for the 2016 IPRO Quality Awards!
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 IPRO ESRD Network of New England has received several outstanding nominees for the 2016 IPRO Quality Awards from the New England dialysis community. Now we want to hear from you. It's time to vote!
Please vote now for the 2016 IPRO Quality Awards by August 5, 2016.
Save the Date for the 4th Annual ESRD New England Fall Meeting
When: Thursday, October 27, 2016
Where: Mohegan Sun Conference Center, Uncasville, CT
Registration: Participant registration will open August 8, 2016
For more information, visit the Network website. |
| Feedback Requested - Understanding Dialysis Access to Hospital EMRs |
In an effort to better understand referral patterns and continuity of patient care between dialysis facilities and hospital systems the Network requests that you respond to a brief questionnaire  about your facility's hospital partners. The Network is seeking to understand the hospital systems your patients most frequently receive care from and your access to each hospital's electronic medical record (EMR) for information about your patient's stay such as laboratory results, other testing results, and admission/discharge summaries. This should take approximately five minutes to complete. We appreciate your time and attention to this information sharing.
Click here to complete the questionnaire regarding access to hospital EMRs.
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| Free Online Influenza Training |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are offering free, online trainings are available for health care professionals to build their influenza knowledge and earn continuing education credits (CME & CE)!
Topics include:
- "Strategies for Improving Rapid Influenza Testing in Ambulatory Settings"
- "Real Talk About Influenza Vaccine - Be Informed and Be Prepared"
- "Preparedness & Community Response to Pandemics"
Find out more about these courses along with many other great training opportunities. Click here.
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| NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Training Webinars |
1. Introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Protocol - This session will provide a complete introduction to the NHSN Dialysis Event reporting requirements and the surveillance definitions necessary to complete accurate monthly reporting.
Monday, August 1, 2016, 12:00 pm ET
No registration required. On the day of the meeting follow these steps:
2. Advanced NHSN Dialysis Event Surveillance Reporting and Introduction to NHSN Reports - earn how to apply National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Dialysis Event Surveillance definitions through case studies that address common reporting questions.
Thursday, August 11, 3:00 pm ET
No registration required. On the day of the meeting follow these steps:
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| Patients to Lead National Research Priorities for Kidney Disease |
For the first time ever patients with chronic kidney disease will be at the forefront of deciding national research priorities, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) announced today. The National Kidney Foundation Patient Centered Outcomes Research Stakeholders' Conference will bring together 100 patients, caregivers, stakeholders and academics to identify patient-centered research priorities-and challenges-for kidney disease. 
The Stakeholders' Conference will be facilitated by both a patient and researcher and will feature patient, caregiver and researcher panel discussions and break-out group sessions. Attendees will gain insight into the experiences of patients, caregivers and researchers; learn more about the importance of patient centered outcomes research (PCOR), and identify best practice strategies for actively engaging patients in kidney disease research.
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The Current Zika Outbreak
 Zika virus spreads to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus). Zika outbreaks are currently happening in many countries and territories. The mosquitoes that can become infected with and spread Zika live in many parts of the world, including parts of the United States.
Specific areas where Zika virus is spreading are often difficult to determine and are likely to change over time. If traveling, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travelers' Health website for the most recent travel information.
For more information about Zike, visit the CDC website and review these helpful resources:
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| NxStage Presents Leo's Story |
Three times weekly in-center treatments weren't providing Leo, an avid surfer, with the life he wanted. Ready to give up all hope, Leo found out about home hemodialysis with NxStage and never looked back!
 Kidney failure took Leo out of the water...Home hemodialysis with NxStage allowed him to dive back in!
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| Reminder - Pain Assessment and Depression Screening Reporting Deadlines |
CMS is interested in how Medicare-certified dialysis providers perform pain assessments and clinical depression screenings. To analyze these important issues, CMS incorporated "Clinical Depression Screening and Follow-Up" and "Pain Assessment and Follow-Up" as new reporting measures in the agency's Payment Year (PY) 2018 ESRD Quality Incentive Program (ESRD QIP).
 To comply with these new reporting measures, authorized facility representatives are required to use CROWNWeb to indicate, for each qualified patient, whether they conducted a pain assessment and a clinical depression screening during the performance period, and whether a patient was referred for follow-up for either of these conditions. For more information about the ESRD QIP click here.
- Pain assessment and follow-up reporting to be completed for each qualifying patient once before August 1, 2016 and once before February 1, 2017.
- Clinical Depression screening and follow-up reporting to be completed for each qualifying patient once before February 1, 2017.
Click here to download the finalized PY 2018 Clinical Measures slides.
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| ESRD QIP - Reviewing Your Facility's PY 2017 Performance Data Call |
Do you participate in the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Incentive Program (QIP)? Preliminary Payment Year (PY) Performance Score Reports (PSRs) will be available on August 15. Find out how to access, review, and submit a formal inquiry about your report by the September 16 deadline. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016 from 2:30 to 4 pm ET Agenda: - Accessing and reviewing your PSR
- How CMS calculates your performance score using quality data
- What the performance score means for your PY 2017 payment rates
- How to submit one formal inquiry about your PSR
- Making performance data transparent to patients
- Where to access help and additional information
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Have You Used the Network Data Knowledge Base and Customer Portal?
Get Answers to Your Questions Quickly
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With the increase in data that must be submitted, as well as systems through which the data is collected, there are multiple ways in which you can reach the Network Data Support Team for help.
*Please remember that you should NEVER include any patient-specific information such as Name, Date of Birth, Social Security Number, Medicare Claim Number, etc. The only patient identifier that can safely be communicated is the Unique Patient Identifier (UPI) from CROWNWeb.*
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Upcoming Meeting & Events
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Monday, August 1, 2016 - The Renal Support Network's (RSN) 14th Annual Essay Contest submission deadline. Visit the RSN website for more information.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016 - ESRD Network Vascular Access Webinar- Reducing Long Term Catheter Rates Conference Call 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
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