A Bi-Weekly Newsletter for Quality Insights Renal Network 4
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In This Issue
Annual Facility Survey (CMS Form 2744) for 2016 Must Be Complete by February 15


Alerts and Recalls


Quick links


Welcome to the first issue of 2017 of the Quality Insights Renal Network 4 e-newsletter. In this issue, we bring you important news from CMS, FDA updates, PART verification, continuing education opportunities, ESRD events, resources and much more. We encourage you to  contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions. We wish you a bright and healthy 2017
PY2017PSCsPY 2017 PSCs Now Available for Posting in Both English and Spanish
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made PY 2017 Performance Score Certificates (PSCs) available for download. Facilities are able to access their PY2017 PSCs until the start of the PY 2018 Preview Period next summer. CMS encourages facilities to retain the PDF file containing their PSCs so that they may generate a replacement paper copy as needed throughout 2017. The PSC is a document that facilities must post in a prominent patient area throughout 2017 in both ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

PSRsNowAvailablePSRs Now Available for Download
Final Performance Score Reports (PSRs) will be available for download after the first of January. CMS will send communication to facilities once they have confirmed the date in which the final PSRs will be available.

POCSforQIPEstablishing a Point of contact in the QIP System
CMS has identified over 100 facilities who do not currently have a point of contact (POC) designated in the QIP system. CMS encourages those facilities to establish a POC as soon as possible. It is the POC who will be authorized to access the facility's Final PSRs on the ESRD QIP system on behalf of their facilities. System users are required to change their passwords every 60 days in order to keep their accounts active. Users whose accounts become inactive will need to contact the QualityNet Help Desk for assistance in reactivating those accounts. 

If you have questions or concerns regarding use of the ESRD QIP system, please contact the QualityNet Help Desk at qnetsupport@hcqis.org or (866) 288-8912 from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday.

Due to high volume of users requesting reports via the ESRD QIP application, you may experience some delays in retrieving your reports. Once you request a report, please allow two hours for the system to generate your report. If your requested report is not retrieved within two hours, then submit a helpdesk ticket providing your CCN and the desired report name.

MethodologyMethodology Memorandum Now Available 
CMS wishes to share with the ESRD community that it has released a memorandum outlining its methodology for monitoring changes in access to dialysis.  View the memorandum.

CMSIssuesChanges2CMS ISSUES CHANGES TO THE CY2017 PPS QIP EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1
Beginning in calendar year 2017, in accordance with section 808(b) of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (TPEA), CMS will pay ESRD facilities for furnishing renal dialysis services to  Medicare beneficiaries with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). Change Request 9598 implemented the payment for renal dialysis services and provides detailed information regarding payment policies.  Learn more

Jan11DeadlineJANUARY 11 IS DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS TO NEW RULE IN FEDERAL REGISTER 
CMS has published a new rule in the Federal Register pertaining to Conditions for Coverage for ESRD Facilities - Third Party Payment.  Comments can be made until January 11, 2017.  The new Conditions will be effective January 13, 2017.  Because CMS is concerned about the possible current practices ( i.e. health care providers encouraging individual patients to make coverage decisions based on the financial interest of the provider, rather than the best interest of the individual patient), they have shortened both the public comment period and the effective date of the rule.   View the new rule.
FDABansFDA bans all powdered patient examination and surgeon gloves
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned all powdered patient examination and surgeon's gloves, and absorbable powder for lubricating gloves, effective January 18, 2017. This is due to the possibility of inflammation, allergies and other adverse reactions to the powder.  The FDA has issued a ban because its review shows that the possible adverse consequences exceed the benefits, and because it could find no way to mitigate the threats to health.   Learn more

MaskOffer a Mask to your patients who are symptomatic or infected
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages all providers to offer a mask to patients who are symptomatic or infected. We also encourage you to share this information with your patients.

How to Help Your Patients Reduce the Transmission of Their Illness to Their Fellow Patients 
During periods of increased respiratory infection activity in the community, masks should be offered as part of a respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette strategy to patients who are coughing or have other symptoms of a respiratory infection when they present for health-care services. Learn more.  

Help Your Patients Cope with Their Illness but Also Help Them from Reducing the Transmission
Masks should be worn by these patients until:
  • it is determined that the cause of symptoms is not an infectious agent that requires isolation precautions to prevent respiratory droplet transmission or
  • the patient has been appropriately isolated, either by placement in a private room or by placement in a room with other patients with the same infection (cohorting). Once isolated, the patient does not need to wear a mask unless transport outside the room is necessary.


PART Are you doing your part? 
Patient Attributes and Related Treatment (PART) verification for all patients should be completed by the end of each month - no later than the 5th business day of the following month. Find out more by accessing the  CROWNWeb Data Management Guidelines  (specifically page 34). 

CMS2744Annual Facility Survey (CMS Form 2744) for 2016 Must Be Complete by February 15
All facilities must generate an Annual Facility Survey (Form 2744) for the year 2016 no later than February 15, 2017. Completed surveys must be error free when submitted to the Network for acceptance submitted no later than March 31, 2017. 

Please be aware that Batch Submitting Organizations (BSOs) such as DCI, DaVita, FMC and any other facilities that have data submitted electronically may still have 2016 data being loaded into CROWNWeb (CW) through the beginning of February. Be sure to regenerate as you work on the form in order to catch all updates via batch.

Access the training for completing Form 2744, which is available at the www.mycrownweb.org website.  

The link above will take you step by step through the 2744 process. Also, the CW Outreach, Communications and Training team will begin conducting training by next month. We will inform you as soon as those training dates are available.

Please remember that you are completing the survey for calendar year 2016. Therefore, you will be examining data for activity that took place between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Karen Hricak at (610) 265-2418 or by emailing khricak@nw4.esrd.net

JanCWNewsletterJanuary 2017 CROWNWeb Newsletter Now Available  
The January 2017 edition of the CROWNWeb Newsletter is now online. The CROWNWeb Newsletter focuses on user-specific topics, such as training, account management, use of the CROWNWeb system, and tips and tricks, as well as key technical aspects of CROWNWeb.

This month's featured stories:
  • CROWNWeb 2016 Recap
  • Electronic Data Interchange Supports CROWNWeb

PatientNewsletterlook for a new patient newsletter schedule in 2017
Network 4 will be implementing a quarterly distribution schedule for its patient newsletter in 2017. Look for both English and Spanish editions in March, June, September and December of 2017. 

ReducingInfectionWebinarWebinar: Reducing Infection in the Outpatient Dialysis Facility 
Join the  Reducing infection in the outpatient dialysis facility - Results of the Standardizing Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric End stage renal disease (SCOPE) Collaborative  webinar scheduled for January 31 at 3:00 p.m. ET.  The webinar is geared toward d ialysis providers, but is open to all. Free CEs will be offered.  Register here .  
Dial-In Number: 303-248-0285, Access Code: 6393927. For questions, contact
CouncilDatesMark your calendars: 2017 network council meeting dates
There will be four Quarterly Network Council meetings in 2017.  The main topic of discussion at each of the meetings will center around Patient Engagement and the Patient Representative Program.   Each facility is REQUIRED to have a facility staff representative attend one of the meetings EACH quarter.    

2017 Network Council Meetings Dates
  • January 10 and 11 : Both days at 2 p.m.
  • April 11 and 12: Both days at 2 p.m.
  • July 11 and 12: Both days at 2 p.m.
  • October 10 and 11: Both days at 2 p.m.

UpcomingWebinarUpcoming Webinar: Unique Strategies for Improving the Effectiveness of Exercise Training in Patients with Kidney Failure
Dr. Ken Wilund
Exercise for transplant patients and patients on dialysis can have huge benefits, including increased energy and feeling better both physically and emotionally. Dr. Ken Wilund, an expert in the exercise science field, will discuss the best types of exercises for patients with kidney failure, and how to successfully incorporate exercise into a patient's life.
  • Tuesday, January 17, 2017 1:00-2:00 p.m. (ET)

NKFEducationNKF PERC Offers New Online Continuing Education Course and New Live Webinar
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Professional Education Resource Center (PERC) is offering a new online continuing-education course, and a new live webinar, for renal professionals: 
  • Navigating Health Insurance: How Public Options, Private Coverage and Charitable Assistance Can Work Together for ESRD Patients - Webinar on January 17, 2017, CE credits for nurses/technicians, dietitians, social workers. Learn more and register.  
  • Ready..Set..Wait: The Time Between Listing and Transplant - Online course on supporting patients through this passage. CE credits for social workers. Learn more and register
ESRDResourcesESRD resources

Check out the ESRD NCC Information Exchange
The ESRD Network Coordinating Center (NCC) provides centralized coordination and support for the Medicare ESRD Network program. Each month, the ESRD NCC distributes an e-newsletter, known as the Information Exchange, that compiles the most important information from numerous ListServs and publications related to renal health. To sign up to receive this informative newsletter, please contact the ESRD NCC at ncc@ncc.esrd.net or visit the ESRD NCC website

 
Executive Director
Quality Improvement Director
Quality Improvement Coordinator
Quality Improvement Coordinator
Patient Services Coordinator
Data Manager
Administrative Assistant
 
 
610 Freedom Business Center,  
Suite 102 
King of Prussia, PA 19406 
(610) 265-2418 
(800) 548-9205 (patients only) 
(610) 783-0374 (fax) 
IMPORTANT NOTE:
This bi-weekly e-newsletter will serve as our primary method of communicating important news and updates. We encourage you to visit our Web site for the most up-to-date information or to contact us with questions, comments or suggestions.
 
This material was prepared by Quality Insights Renal Network 4 under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS policy.

Publication No. ESRD4-122116