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In this issue
- 2021 CI Score & Appeals Update
- Devoted Medical
- Virtual Annual Meetings
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2021 Clinical Integration Scores & Appeals
Your APP Board of Directors has approved an adjustment to all physician 2021 Clinical Integration (CI) scores due to the impact of COVID-19.
What this means:
- The adjustment represents an increase of approximately 10% to each physician’s post-snapshot adjusted 2021 score.
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With this significant increase to scores, appeals will not be held this year. Instead, practices should focus on getting started with patient outreach for 2022.
- An email will be sent to physicians this week to notify you of any post- snapshot adjustments and your final, adjusted 2021 CI score.
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Virtual Annual Meetings: Save the Date! |
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Get the latest updates and information to support our shared success in 2022. There will be ample time for Q&A – your questions and feedback are welcome and encouraged! Gary Stuck, DO, FAAFP, Don Calcagno and Carrie Nelson, MD, MS, FAAFP, will be joined by your local PHO leadership.
Stay tuned for a direct Microsoft Teams calendar invitation.
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Central Chicagoland
April 12 | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Illinois Masonic, Lutheran, Good Samaritan, Legacy Dreyer
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South Chicagoland
April 14 | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Christ, South Suburban, Trinity
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North Illinois
April 20 | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Condell, Good Shepherd, Sherman
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Sotrovimab: We continue to see low prescribing and administration of sotrovimab across the system. Our utilization impacts allocations from the states of Illinois and Wisconsin. Advocate Aurora recently expanded sotrovimab criteria; any patients deemed at risk for progression to severe disease per the Sotrovimab EUA and the CDC are now eligible. Please ensure eligible patients who may benefit from this treatment have the opportunity to receive it. Review SBAR.
EVUSHELD: We are currently prioritizing our most vulnerable patients to receive EVUSHELD using EUA criteria and Category 1 criteria in the Minnesota Department of Health’s Evusheld ethical allocation framework, coupled with a randomized selection process. At this time, only patients who have been identified through this process are eligible for the drug. The first round of eligible patients have an EVUSHELD eligibility flag in Epic. Treating specialists and PCPs who have received Epic InBasket notifications for this first round of patients are asked to confirm eligibility, contact the patients and place orders. Review SBAR. Please note: We are currently evaluating our specialist/PCP notification process for the next round of eligible patients. Stay tuned for updates early next week.
Molnupiravir and Paxlovid eligibility screening question in Epic -- Updated: To address confusion on the prescribing of Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, the eligibility criteria screening question, “Does pt have at least 1 risk factor for progression to severe disease?” with the listed examples of risk factors has been updated.
- Revised language and format for the eligibility criteria question “At least 1 risk factor?” under Notes to Pharmacy.
- Repositioning of the Reference Links
- Hyperlink to the “Risk Factors per CDC” added under Reference Links
- Review details and screenshots of changes
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Devoted Medical Comprehensive Assessment Visits |
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APP practices are now In-Network for Devoted Health’s Medicare Advantage HMO plan. As an extension of the care you provide, Devoted Medical offers virtual and home-based care, currently at no cost, to your Devoted Health patients. This includes a virtual Comprehensive Assessment Visit (CAV).
What you need to know about CAVs:
During these approximately 1-hour visits, Devoted Medical helps:
- Close care and documentation gaps
- Reconcile medications
- Screen for additional health needs
- Encourage a Medicare Wellness Visit with their PCP
- Help patients make full use of their Devoted Health benefits
Additional Information:
- Patients may ask you or your staff about being contacted by Devoted Medical to schedule a CAV. Please encourage patients to take advantage of this additional preventive service.
- These visits do not replace Medicare Wellness Visits (MWV) and Devoted Medical always encourages patients to schedule those visits with their APP PCP.
- Devoted Medical will send you notes to keep you updated and in control of your patients’ care. The notes from the CAV may be useful for you as you complete the MWV.
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Learn more about Devoted Medical. Contact your FOA or Devoted Medical at dmgilpm@devoted.com with questions.
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Epic Update: Hospital edition for physicians and APCs: The latest Epic Update: Hospital edition for physicians and APCs includes updates on admission diagnosis auto-populates problem list, Haiku/Canto-patient summary report and OSA/ORT opioid risk screening and BPA.
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Epic upgrade: June 15
As a reminder, the March 9 upgrade is cancelled due to the COVID-19 surge and staffing challenges. The next Epic upgrade will take place on June 15.
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Supporting Your Practice
Colorectal cancer screening age recommendation: In alignment with US Preventive Services Task Force guidance, Advocate Aurora Heath now recommends colorectal cancer screening to begin at age 45 and has confirmed CMS and all major payers are covering screening beginning at this age. On March 1, Epic Health Maintenance topic reminders will begin firing for patients age 45 and above. The quality reporting for this measure will not be changing.
Pharmacy and Therapeutics: January updates: Review the Advocate Aurora Pharmacy and Therapeutics ambulatory and system committee decisions, including the formulary additions loncastuximab (Zynlonta) and IV selexipag (Uptravi). Read summary.
Meridian update: Meridian is ending its partnership with ProgenyHealth. Beginning April 1:
- ProgenyHealth will no longer oversee Utilization Management and Care Management for Illinois Medicaid enrollees born premature or with complex medical issues.
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All medical facilities and providers to directly notify Meridian of enrollees placed in the NICU or special care nursery. Read more.
Leadership Webcast: Fast five and Year in Review: Leaders across Advocate Aurora recently gathered virtually to reflect on 2021, celebrate wins and discuss our Transformation 2025 strategy refresh. Watch this 3-minute video highlighting 5 key takeaways and check out this recap featuring the 2021 Year in Review video, the full Leadership Webcast, top Q&As and more.
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Advancing Research
Advancing our research and innovation imperative
The Advocate Aurora Research Institute has unveiled a strategic plan that will transform our approach to clinical research. Led by Dr. Amit Acharya, Chief Research Officer, we’ll pursue funded clinical research that improves patient care and health outcomes for our communities, keeps Advocate
Aurora at the forefront of innovation, attracts and sustains top talent, and promotes an inclusive research environment that benefits the many populations we serve. Learn more through this FAQ and Research Institute landing page.
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FDA approves pediatric anticoagulant: An Advocate Aurora Research Institute team, led by pediatric cardiologist Andrew Van Bergen, MD, significantly contributed to the recent FDA approval of rivaroxaban (Xareltoâ), for use in children two years and older undergoing Fontan surgery to repair single ventricle heart disease. Read more: Research Institute enewsletter.
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Newly published research on Down syndrome, COVID-19: The latest issue of Advocate Aurora Health’s Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews (JPCRR) features peer-reviewed articles authored by family medicine physicians Brian Chicoine, MD, Wilhelm Lehmann, MD, and Jacob Bidwell, MD. They report novel findings on comorbidities prevalent in those with Down syndrome and the successful protection of frontline physicians-in-training from COVID-19 early in the pandemic. View JPCRR issue.
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Elevating our Expertise
Becker’s Hospital Review: 58 population health executives to know | 2022. The leaders highlighted on this list have a passion for transforming health care and driving change within their organizations. Leading that charge for Advocate Aurora is Carrie Nelson, MD, MS, FAAFP, Chief Clinical Officer, APP | SVP/CMO, Population Health and Health Outcomes.
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Proudly Celebrating Black History Month |
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In honor of Black History Month, Advocate Aurora Health celebrates the contributions and achievements of our team members, physicians and APCs. Your unique perspectives help us deliver on our purpose to help all people live well.
Burnetta Herron, MD, a surgeon at Advocate Trinity Hospital, said being a black woman in health care can help challenge assumptions and build trust with patients, especially those of color. In the U.S., only 2% of surgeons are African American women. Dr. Herron gives her perspective on her work, health inequities and Black History Month.
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Continuing Medical Education |
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Multidisciplinary Management of Liver Tumors Conference
Join this virtual conference to learn the latest methods of evaluation and management of liver tumors to support the development of the most appropriate treatment plans.
Saturday, March 5 | 8 – 11:15 a.m.
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CME Website: Webinars & Recordings |
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