TMF Recognizing
Hospitals for Achievement in Quality
Improvement
TMF Health Quality Institute, along with the Texas Hospital Association, Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals, Arkansas Hospital Association, Oklahoma Hospital Association and Oklahoma State University Center for Rural Health, has launched the 2016 - 2017 Hospital Quality Improvement Award program.
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Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award Program
TMF Health Quality Institute is honored to sponsor the Physician Practice Quality Improvement Award program in partnership with the Texas Medical Association, Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians, Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association, Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma Osteopathic Association and the Puerto Rico Medical Association.
The award recognizes physician practices for dedication and commitment to providing high-quality patient care.
Any practice in the state of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and the territory of Puerto Rico with one or more licensed physicians providing care for Medicare fee-for-service patients is eligible to participate.
Award-winning practices will receive a commemorative plaque to display and will be recognized through a media campaign. Announcements will also be made at meetings and in journals.
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TMF 2016 Year in Review
Impressive growth, national recognition for quality of work continues through 2016
TMF continued its steady and impressive growth through 2016 and received accolades for its quality of work on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries and others in the health care community.
TMF focuses on improving the health, well-being and health care experience of patients and caregivers across our communities. Strengthening the quality of health care for patients is at the core of TMF's mission to measurably improve the quality and delivery of health care. We do so by working closely with thousands of physician practices, health care facilities, health departments and other stakeholders. We assist disease prevention and management efforts through quality improvement and the use of health information technology.
TMF's programs and services, ranging from quality improvement consulting and technical assistance to research, data analysis and medical review, engage all aspects of health care and caregivers. Our programs impact millions of people across the United States, from children to senior citizens.
TMF supports federal government agencies, federal contractors, state and local government agencies and other organizations to accomplish the Department of Health and Human Services' National Quality Strategy. We continued to expand our responsibilities during this past year.
Our new initiatives include promoting microbial stewardship in communities and providing technical assistance to Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians, in addition to two new projects focusing on chronic care management and behavioral health treatment.
Additionally, TMF is engaging hospitals to foster a culture of safety as a partner to two new Hospital Improvement and Innovation Networks. We also provide support under a federal grant to increase the use of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in rural primary care practices.
Through each of our initiatives, we also focus on the important role that patients play in their health care and caregivers play in the health care of loved ones. We promote and facilitate an active role for patients as managers of their own health. Our Patient and Family Engagement Coalition, comprised of patients, caregivers and advocates, plays an integral role in advising TMF's initiatives, outreach and understanding of the needs and preferences of patients.
In our ongoing efforts to engage patients, caregivers, physicians, health care providers and advocates, we continue to enhance our online Learning and Action Networks, which
provide a forum for positive interaction, learning and sharing of resources and best practices. These networks now include more than 14,000 users nationally and internationally.
Because TMF is recognized nationally for quality performance and repeated success, we continue to win contracts and expand our services in helping to improve health care in our communities.
Please click here to read our 2016 Year in Review and learn more about our new and ongoing projects.
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TMF Chosen to Provide Support
for Small Medical Practices in CMS Quality Payment Programs
TMF has been contracted to help small medical practices of 15 or fewer clinicians, in generally underserved areas, prepare for and participate in the new Quality Payment Program, established by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.
This is a new approach to paying physicians and clinicians who treat Medicare beneficiaries. Through the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), clinicians will be paid for providing medical care based on four performance categories: advancing care information, clinical practice improvement activities, cost and quality of care.
The five-year contract was awarded to TMF by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. TMF will provide the practices with technical assistance and services in a region comprising Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Puerto Rico.
This technical assistance brings direct support to thousands of MIPS-eligible clinicians in small practices in rural locations, health professional shortage areas and medically underserved areas. The direct technical assistance is free, available immediately and will deliver support for up to a five-year period.
"TMF is proud to be a part of this project because it specifically benefits medically underserved populations by focusing on the small medical clinics that typically serve these areas," said Tom Manley, TMF president and CEO.
TMF will provide customized technical assistance to MIPS eligible clinicians, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Evaluating practice readiness for participating in a new payment model
- Engaging practices in continuous quality improvement
- Assessing and optimizing Health Information Technology
- Supporting change management and strategic planning
- Developing and disseminating education and training materials
- Enabling peer-to-peer learning and local partnerships
For more information on the Quality Payment Program for small practices and the TMF project, please email QPP-SURS@tmf.org
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