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In this issue
- Population Health Performance
- COVID-19 and Flu Updates
- Medicare Annual Enrollment
- Epic Updates
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Improving Population Health Performance |
Clinical Integration Program: We have nine core adult measures that are more heavily weighted in the CI program, are reported on a rolling year basis and align with measures in most value-based agreements. We have an opportunity for improvement. View latest results and what you can do:
- Access your CI scorecard to see if you are doing well or need to improve.
- Consider your office workflows. Do they include evaluation and discussion of these care needs – with every patient, at every visit?
- Engage patients who have care needs/gaps who are not scheduled for visits yet this year. Share safety measures your office has in place – or the option for a virtual visit.
Medicare Advantage (MA) Stars: Medicare Wellness Visits (MWVs) are especially important for patients in MA plans to close care gaps, manage quality and costs. Here are tools to support you:
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Submit proof of vaccination status by Oct. 15 to maintain medical staff membership/privileges. Complete the vaccine verification form by Oct. 15. Fax to 630-929-9815 or scan and email to ASC-IL-AAHcredentialing@aah.org. Advocate Aurora will accept CDC COVID-19 vaccination record cards as acceptable temporary verification measure until March 31, 2022, at which time, another approved form of verification will be required. Do not alter or redact any information on your card, rendering it invalid. If you received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and will not receive the second dose by Oct. 15, please complete the verification form and include documentation of your first dose. If you do not intend to receive your first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Oct. 15 and do not have an approved exemption, please arrange coverage to begin Oct. 18 for your hospital patients, emergency department or other hospital call and any scheduled procedures. Questions? Contact your local Medical Staff Services team.
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Expanded access to get vaccinated by Oct. 15. Walk in or schedule an appointment at an Employee Health vaccine clinic via the LiveWell app to get vaccinated by the deadline of Oct. 15. View clinic locations here: Illinois and Wisconsin or go to any outside COVID-19 vaccination provider (you will need to submit verification if you go to an outside provider).
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How to apply to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in your office: The application process can take six to eight weeks from the registration to start of vaccination. Read more for additional information.
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COVID-19 booster update. In line with recent FDA and CDC guidance, we are providing Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 booster shots to eligible patients, team members and medical staff at Advocate Aurora Health's patient vaccine clinic locations across Illinois and Wisconsin. Scheduling has been updated to easily schedule via the LiveWell app, at aah.org or by calling 866-443-2584. The Pfizer booster shots are given six months after completing the initial two-shot series. Those who are currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 Pfizer booster include:
- People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings.
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People ages 18 to 64 with underlying medical conditions.
- People ages 18 to 64 years at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting – this includes health care workers.
- Team members and patients must have received the Pfizer vaccine for their previous two doses. The FDA continues to review data for booster doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson and will advise as appropriate.
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Note: Individuals who meet the CDC's criteria for moderately and severely immunocompromised are able to receive a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose.
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Flu Shot Clinics now open: All APP aligned physicians on staff at Advocate Aurora Health hospitals are required to get a flu shot by Oct. 29. Flu shot clinics are now open at Advocate hospitals: View locations and schedule. If you receive your flu shot at any location outside of the team member flu shot clinics (including Advocate Medical Group offices, Advocate Clinics at Walgreens or Advocate immediate care centers) you MUST submit a verification form. If you receive the flu shot from a flu champion at an Advocate hospital site where you practice, the form is NOT required.
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Medicare Annual Enrollment |
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As we approach the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) beginning on Oct. 15, click here for important information to help you address patient questions. Patients may be considering a Medicare Advantage plan which have many benefits. See below and learn more.
- Improved care coordination through PCP
- Top health outcomes
- Patients are 2x more likely to receive preventive care in an MA plan
- Lower ED utilization, single year mortality, shorter hospital stays and fewer readmissions.
- Lower out-of-pocket for patients
- Additional benefits beyond traditional Medicare like dental, vision and hearing
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Next quarterly Epic upgrade Nov. 17: To continuously improve our use of Epic at Advocate Aurora Health sites, we conduct periodic upgrades. Concurrent with the November upgrade, new advance care planning tools will go-live in Epic Nov. 17. Watch for more information, including education dates and materials and additional resources.
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Recoupment update: Last year, we announced automatic recoupments would begin with EpicCare Link (ECL) go live implementation as of Jan. 1, 2021. Implementation of recoupment notifications was delayed to focus on claims processing issues since go live of ECL. After validation of the recoupment/refund requests identified and pending in ECL, recoupment notifications will begin on Oct. 15. APP will deduct or recoup from future claims payments starting Nov.15. These recoupments will appear on the Remittance Advice Summary. The overpayment/recoupment notices and deductions/adjustments will take place regularly going forward.
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Reminder! Universal Protocol effective Monday. The Universal Protocol Policy, which provides procedures to ensure patient safety, will be effective Oct. 18 at Advocate Aurora sites with a workflow in Epic to support it. If you have a role in surgical service areas or involved in invasive procedures, regardless of the location the procedures are performed, be sure to view these items: Educational material | Just in time resource | Checklist.
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PAMA: What You Need to Know |
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Slated to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) requires physicians to consult Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) through a qualified Clinical Decision Support tool prior to ordering Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Services (CT, MRI, NM, PET). The goal is to keep patients safe by avoiding unnecessary radiation from inappropriate or redundant procedures.
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This is a CMS requirement across all health care systems. View this fact sheet.
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It’s important to begin this process now for all patients – beyond those on Medicare
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Read more for additional details and options that can be used now to adhere to this regulatory requirement.
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Pharmacy & therapeutics updates: Review the latest summary of activity from the Advocate Aurora Health Pharmacy and Therapeutics system and ambulatory committees.
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Population health patient outreach: We conduct patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Learn about current outreach.
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Specialists: Claim your Doximity profile by Nov 1 to vote in 2022 US News Best Hospitals survey. Read more.
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Medication adherence tips: As part of our work to improve medication adherence for patients with chronic conditions, our Pharmacy team has been contacting patients to understand their barriers to taking their medications as prescribed – and the results are surprising. We found financial barriers are the least of our patients’ concerns. Rather, our own system barriers are making it hard for patients to get their refills. Check out what our patients are telling us and some tips for setting them up for success. Read more.
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Mandatory Use of Single Sheet DEA 222 Order Form: As of Oct. 30, the Drug Enforcement Administration is implementing the mandatory use of a single sheet DEA 222 Order Form. The triplicate DEA Order Forms will no longer be available or utilized. If you need to place an order for the newly implemented DEA Order Forms, please click on this link to complete your request.
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Connecting with Jim
Watch Jim’s latest video for updates on COVID-19 and well-being with Chief Nursing Officer Mary Beth Kingston, Chief Spiritual Officer Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich and Senior Vice President of Support Services Al Manshum.
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Elevating Our Expertise
Chicagoland physicians recognized by peers: Chicago magazine has named more than 110 Advocate Aurora Health physicians in Illinois among Chicago’s Top Doctors in surgery. The list, featured in the magazine’s October 2021 issue, recognizes physicians across Chicagoland who were nominated by their peers. See all the Advocate Aurora physicians who were recognized.
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Celebrating Advance Practice Clinicians
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Continuing Medical Education |
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National Acute Care for Elders Conference (ACE)
Friday, Nov. 5 | 9 a.m. – noon
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The National Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Virtual Conference focuses on implementing best-practice models of care in our own communities and draws national attention towards the efforts to improve care for vulnerable, older adults. From this conference, you will understand and address the unique vulnerabilities of older adults who are acutely ill or injured; learn practice improvements for older individuals in our ED and hospitals; and see programs that avoid hospitalization and ensure smooth transitions between health care settings. View speakers, schedule and topics.
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CME Website: Webinars & Recordings |
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