Tuesday, May 3, 2016
In Practice 
Tips, Tools & Education for Improving Outpatient Care
In the Community: VHQC Participates in Heart of Virginia Healthcare Kick-off 
Practices from across Virginia attended the Heart of Virginia Healthcare Cohort 2 kickoff event last weekend at the Virginia Center for Health Innovation in Richmond, VA. 
VHQC's Jeff Williams, left, interviews Munica Green from Charles City Medical Center on stage during the kick-off event for Heart of Virginia Healthcare.
 

VHQC & Local Learning Events
All of the events below are provided at no charge; advance registration is required.

Registration Now Open For Tobacco Cessation Webinar: Supporting Patients Trying to Quit
Sponsor: VHQC
Format: Webinar
Thursday, May 26, Noon to 12:45 pm  
Tobacco products are highly addictive, but it's still possible to kick the habit. In this new webinar series, VHQC brings you the latest research and strategies for helping patients live healthier, smoke-free lives. Our first session, "Psychology and Physiology of Quitting," features an American Cancer Society speaker. Click here to register for this free webinar.

Engage Patients in Better Care
 
Sponsor: VHQC
Format: Webinar

Coming in June
We need your input for our June learning event. Let us know how your practice manages its patient portal, uses shared decision-making tools, or identifies patient values and preferences. Contact us and you just may be the next VHQC webinar star.
MACRA News You Can Use
Delivery System Reform: Paying for What Works
The U.S. Department for Health and Human Services released a  bulletin accompanied by the video below about how the Quality Payment Program is going to deliver better healthcare.



CMS Will Host Three Webinars in May Addressing MACRA
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold three webinars beginning today (May 3) to discuss the recently released Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that implements key provisions of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) through unified framework of the Quality Payment Program.

Note: Space for these webinars is limited. Register now to secure your spot. After your registration is completed, you will receive a follow-up e-mail with step-by-step instructions on how to log in to the webinar.

Overview of the Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule
Date : TODAY , May 3, 2016
Time : 12 to 1 p.m. ET
Details : MACRA changes the way Medicare rewards clinicians for providing quality care by streamlining multiple quality programs into a new Quality Payment Program tied to Part B Fee-For-Service payments. With the implementation of MACRA and the replacement of the Sustainable Growth Rate, CMS will pay clinicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System or Advanced Alternative Payment Models of the Quality Payment Program beginning in 2019. This listening session is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide CMS early feedback on proposed policy for the Quality Payment Program. CMS encourages participants to review the proposed rule (CMS-5517-P) prior to the listening session.
Register : To participate, visit the registration webpage

The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in the Quality Payment Program
Date : Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Time : 12 to 1 p.m. ET
Details : As one path of the quality payment program, MIPS streamlines three currently independent programs to work as one to ease clinician burden. MIPS also adds a fourth component to promote ongoing improvement and innovation to clinical activities. This listening session is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide CMS early feedback on proposed policy for the Quality Payment Program.  CMS encourages participants to review the proposed rule (CMS-5517-P) prior to the listening session.
Register : To participate, visit the registration webpage.
Space for these webinars is limited. Register now to secure your spot. After your registration is completed, you will receive a follow-up e-mail with step-by-step instructions on how to log-in to the webinar.

MLN Connects® National Provider Call 
MACRA Listening Session: Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule
Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Time: 2 to 3 p.m. ET
Target Audience : Part B Fee-For-Service clinicians; state and national associations that represent healthcare providers; and other stakeholders.
Details : Similar to the May 3 webinar, this National Provider Call is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide CMS early feedback on proposed policy for the Quality Payment Program. CMS encourages participants to review the proposed rule (CMS-5517-P) prior to the listening session. CMS will not consider feedback during the call as formal comments on the rule. See the proposed rule for information on submitting these comments by the close of the 60-day comment period on June 27, 2016.
Register : To participate, visit the  MLN Connects Event Registration

Please note: There will not be a Q&A period during these webinars and National Provider Call because CMS must protect the rulemaking process and comply with the Administrative Procedure Act. Participants are encouraged to submit comments through the formal process outlined in the Federal Register. See the proposed rule for information on submitting these comments by the close of the 60-day comment period on June 27, 2016.

For More Information
Discover more information about the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and MIPS on the CMS website , review the  press release, or click on the fact sheet below.

 
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Tips and Tools

2015 Mid-Year QRURs Available
CMS has released the 2015 Mid-Year Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) to groups and solo practitioners nationwide, including those who participated in the Shared Savings Program, the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model, or the Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative in 2015. The 2015 Mid-Year QRURs were made available for informational purposes only and will not affect a group or solo practitioner's payments under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The Mid-Year QRURs contain information on a subset of the measures used to calculate the 2017 Value Modifier.

Access the VHQC video below explaining the purpose of a QRUR:
 

AHA/ACC/AGS Scientific Statement Summarizes Guideline Recommendations for Older Adults
Older populations (over 75 years) carry the highest burden of cardiovascular related morbidity and mortality and despite this, the generalizability of clinical trials results to older populations is uncertain. As a result, current guidelines are unable to provide evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of older patients typical of those encountered in routine clinical practice. The purpose of this scientific statement is to clarify the gaps in knowledge in clinical decision making not addressed in contemporary guidelines. Read the full article here and the Top Things To Know

Resources to Help Find Patients with Undiagnosed Hypertension
Hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. About 70 million Americans - nearly one out of three adults - have hypertension, and almost half do not have the condition under control. Approximately 13 million people with uncontrolled hypertension don't know they have it and are not receiving treatment. These data suggest that millions of people with hypertension are seen by healthcare providers each year, but many remain undiagnosed-essentially "hiding in plain sight" within clinical settings. Visit the Million Hearts® "Hiding in Plain Sight" webpage to view resources such as the video below to help find patients with undiagnosed hypertension.


National Learning Events
 
Advancing Effective Communication and Coordination of Care
Today (May 3), 3 to 4:30 p.m.
You will hear from CMS, Telligen, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging as they describe best practices to help you achieve effective communication and coordination of care Registration is required; click here to sign up. Review the event flyer to learn about earning educational credit.


CMS Innovation Event:
Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative 
May 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Baltimore, MD
Go direct to the source and learn what all the "transformation" buzz really means for your practice. VHQC's Practice Transformation Network (PTN) is a presenter, along with other PTNs and Support and Alignment Networks that serve physician practices in the mid-Atlantic. Click here to register. 
Announcement
 
Registration for 2016 PQRS GPRO is Open
Groups can register to participate in the  2016 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Group Reporting Option (GPRO) via the Physician Value - Physician Quality Reporting System (PV-PQRS) Registration System. PQRS GPRO is an option available to groups with 2 or more eligible professionals (EPs). Groups must meet the satisfactory reporting criteria through the PQRS GPRO in order to avoid the -2.0% CY 2018 PQRS payment adjustment. Click here to register.
 

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This material was prepared by VHQC, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organization for Maryland and Virginia, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy.  VHQC/11SOW/5/2/2016/2450