UPDATES

*NEW* SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, a.k.a., Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, (H.R. 6, Pub.L. 115–271)   On 10/24/18, President Trump signed this act with one of the provisions taking effect on 1/1/2021 relating to the electronic prescribing of control substances (EPCS). Please refer to the AAFP link provided (here) for more information on EPCS implementation.

*NEW* EHI Seeking Part-Time Medical Director   We are seeking a part-time Medical Director to provide clinical guidance and oversight to IPA initiatives and programs and help represent the IPA in our discussions and meetings with health plans and other key partners. Medical Director must be a participant in HMSA’s Payment Transformation program and an eClinical Works user. Deadline to submit application is Monday, March 2, 2020. Please contact Susan Mochizuki at smochizuki@ehiipa.com if you are interested in applying.

*NEW* EHI Seeking Administrative Assistant   The IPA is seeking to hire a full-time administrative assistant. This is an entry-level position to help support programs, projects and ongoing operations. Must have excellent computer skills, pleasant and positive attitude, and love to work hard. Some evening and weekend hours may be required and must be available on a regular basis during standard working hours (Monday-Friday). If you know of anyone who is interested, please have them send a cover letter and resume to Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com.

*NEW* Medicare Fee-For-Service Chronic Care Management (CCM) Program   In 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began paying separately under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for chronic care management services furnished to eligible Medicare patients with 2 or more chronic conditions. In 2019, CMS updated their requirements which includes:

  • Structured recording of patient health information

  • Maintaining a comprehensive electronic care plan

  • Managing transitions of care and other care management services

  • Coordinating and sharing patient health information timely within and outside the practice

  • 24/7 patient access to care and health information

Details are available from CMS’ MLN Network and can be accessed here.

CCM service codes provides payment within the Medicare Fee-For-Service program only and are NOT allowed as duplicative payments to CPC+ participants.

Please email Kahea Wakinekona by Friday March 6 at kwakinekona@ehiipa.com if you are interested in EHI offering a repeat workshop on Medicare’s FFS CCM program. Prior workshop slides available (here and here) for reference.

SBIRT Incentives Update   We updated the incentive amounts for SBIRT screens and services done in provider offices. Attached is the new incentive schedule. There is a higher incentive offered to completed eScreens using tablets and CHADIS software. Please ensure that appropriate consent form(s) are signed as the State will reject forms without consents and will not reimburse us. Staff will continue screening community members at other events at the University of Hawai‘i and at the Hilo Heart Walk in March. If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact Jane at jbontuyan@ehiipa.com.

*NEW* “Bay Clinic’s Vision of ‘One Shared Community’” by Kimo Alameda   Read article here.

*NEW* Support for SB 2542 SD1 and HB 2228   The Star Advertiser published an op-ed regarding SB 2542 and HB 2228 by Lisa Rantz of Hilo Medical Center Foundation, Celeste Baldwin and Stephen M. Smith, which may greatly increase the odds of passage for those bills. Read article here. Unclear language in SB 2542 was revised and may be amended going forward. Attached is the testimony from Dr. John Lauris Wade. Also attached is a video regarding these bills created by Dr. Wade and shared with the Legislature on 2/25 (takes time to download). Other resources regarding these bills can be found here, here, here, and here. We will be monitoring future hearing dates and will provide notifications of future hearing dates in advance. Attached is an email message from Dr. Scott Grossgreutz who has been actively involved. Please contact Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com if you are interested in testifying and want alerts regarding key hearing dates.

*NEW* Physician Shortage Letter From U.S. Senator Brian Schatz   Senator Brian Schatz sent an email acknowledging East Hawaii IPA’s letter calling attention to the physician shortage Hawaii Island. Read here.

*NEW* State of Hawaii DOH Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates   While there are no cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawai‘i at this time, state health officials do expect to eventually identify cases in Hawai‘i because this is a global health threat to our entire nation. State and county agencies are intensifying their preparations and emphasize the following preventative actions:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

  • Stay home when you are sick

  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

Medical updates from DOH can be accessed here or from Center for Disease Control and Prevention here.

Hilo Heart Walk Fundraising – Garage Sale & T-Shirt    THANK YOU to all the providers and staff who’ve donated items to the garage sale! The IPA is a proud sponsor of this year’s Hilo Heart Walk on March 28, 2020 to raise funds, promote awareness of heart disease, and support programs benefiting patients. EHI will hold a garage sale in Hilo on Saturday, March 7. Please consider donating items to our garage sale and receive a free t-shirt from the IPA! Here are other ways to support this effort:

  • Show team spirit by donating money or joining our team here!

  • BONUS: Help provide SBIRT screens at the Hilo Heart Walk event for a free shirt and an honorarium

  • If you are interested in donating, walking, and/or helping in any way, please contact Sara at skobayashi@ehiipa.com.

*NEW* Mahalo to the following providers/clinics who have participated so far:

Dr. Brenda Camacho

Dr. Pradeepta Chowdhury

Dr. Alan DeSilva

The Family Medicine Center

Hawaii Island Healthcare, Inc.

Lynda Hirakami DNP

Dr. Craig Kadooka (retired)

Dr. Roy Koga

Dr. Craig Shikuma

CMS’s Clinical Decisions Support Mechanism (CDSM) and Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC)   Part 1 reviews what CDSM is (watch here). Part 2 reviews how to register for CDSM (watch here). Part 3 reviews how to use it (watch here). If you have any questions, please contact Kahea at kwakinekona@ehiipa.com.

*NEW* Wellness Tip of the Month   Electronic health records, stressed-out colleagues, and more can overwhelm even the most resilient physicians. This blog published by the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) on Oct. 23, 2019, outlines strategies for how to reduce stress by identifying ten top stress management activities that you can start today. We will be publishing one tip per month in the Weekly Alert to be incorporated into your daily habits. Here is tip #5:

Keep a “brag book” or gratitude journal: We often don’t realize how much we have to be grateful for and how skilled we are until we write it down. Keep a “brag book” of your accomplishments in your office or practice writing down a few sentences each night to reflect on what and who you’re grateful for.

HMSA PAYMENT TRANSFORMATION

*NEW* eClinicalWorks and COREO Interface   EHI has been exploring the possibility of interfacing eClinicalWorks EHR information with HMSA COREO for seamless reporting. The goal is to significantly reduce the administrative burden of checking COREO, avoid reporting delays and “chasing” of claims information and reduce supplemental data entry. We would like to see if there is interest enough to “pitch” a proposal to HMSA to allocate resources to do this. We will have a short presentation followed by a demo by eClinicalWorks Healow Insights staff. eClinicalWorks has implemented this with other Blue Cross/Blue Shield affiliates in other parts of the country as well as with UnitedHealthcare and Humana in selected markets. Please send one provider and one Coreo “Superuser” from your office to attend this meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 12:00-1:00 PM at the EHI IPA office. eCW Clinics will be sent a separate EVITE via email.

*NEW* PO COREO Work Group   Kahea Wakinekona, Director of Clinical Operations, and Michael Kurohara, IT Analyst, attended an HMSA COREO Work Group meeting in O‘ahu comprised of PO representatives, HMSA and NAVVIS. There were many concerns raised. It appears that NAVVIS has limited resources to address all of the problems and are allocating resources according to “units” by quarter. They asked the group to prioritize the needs as they said that everything cannot be addressed at once. The following were discussed:

  • 13 units allocated for Quarter 2 for NAVVIS to address Priority Coreo Issues.

  • EHI supported prioritizing the following issues:

    • Panel Management: Attribution activity log with ability to view patients removed from panel and reason.

      • Some patients currently do not show in the log because they lost insurance. It was requested that the log show all patients dropped from panels.

      • The problem is that the number of patients dropped does not equal the number of patients dropped in the attribution log. One PO claimed that HMSA owes their physicians approximately $100,000 for errors.

    • Patient Details: Add “Care Gaps” tabs that includes the due date of open care gaps. Also add additional details to RCC.

    • Tasking: Include a supplemental data log that adds a status column to log

    • Measure Registries: Create function to extract registries with additional details

    • Scoring and Payment: Create function to extract performance report at any time

  • The group vocalized the need to have HMSA & NAVVIS focus on attribution issues as it directly impacts revenue. NAVVIS said that most of the attribution issues are related to HMSA and they can relay the concern to them. They said that this particular workgroup will not be able to address this big problem.

  • The group also vocalized the need for transparent communication in regards to what is being worked on and the status of issues/requests that groups and individuals have submitted.

  • Each group/person voted on how to use the 13 resource units (not clear on how many hours/resources were meant by units)  – NAVVIS will report voting results.

  • A follow-up meeting is scheduled for April. Please continue to share your concerns/problems with COREO with Michael at mkurohara@ehiipa.com.

HMSA QUALITY PERFORMANCE

Support to Clinics   Please contact Jo Vitales at jvitales@ehiipa.com if you are interested in receiving help from the IPA to meet your engagement and quality performance requirements.

EVENTS

Care and Choices at the End of Life: A Discussion on Hawai‘i’s ‘Our Care, Our Choice’ Act (Update) – Thursday, March 12, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM   Join us for a lunch presentation by Dr. David Grube, Medical Director for Compassion & Choices, at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. RSVP by March 10. Please look for an EVITE that was sent directly to your email – write the names of all staff attending in the comment section if you are RSVP-ing for them. If you would like to be added to the invite list, please let Jo know at jvitales@ehiipa.com. Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.

  • This event has been approved for MFT CEUs through Hawaiian Island Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (HIAMFT)

  • Sponsors for this event include: Hawai‘i State Department of Health, Compassion & Choices, HIAMFT, and Community First

*NEW* Annual General Membership Meeting – Wednesday, April 29, 5:30 PM   Invitations to the Annual Meeting were sent by mail. Please respond if you plan to attend or if you cannot attend and would like an absentee ballot to cast your vote. Those who haven’t will be sent an EVITE – please look in your email and respond there.

Walk with a Doc – Lili‘uokalani Gardens Park – Dr. Craig Kadooka – Every Sunday, WWAD meets at the park across the street from Hilo Bay Café. Walkers gather at 8:00 AM to hear a short healthcare talk, followed by stretching and then walking at your own pace. Anyone is welcome to participate.

PROVIDER RESOURCES

  • BRIGHT GREEN POLST FORMS – If your office would like “bright” green POLST forms for your office, please email jbontuyan@ehiipa.com.

  • HIPAA Online Training – EHI IPA offers online training as a membership benefit for $20 per person. The certification received after successful completion is effective for 2 years. If you are interested, please complete the attached form and fax to 808-935-4472 or email to Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com and send a check to East Hawaii IPA, 670 Ponahawai St., Ste. 117, Hilo, HI 96720.

  • Healthcare Source HR Screening Tool Available for Members – EHI offers member offices use of a complimentary employee screening tool. The tool helps assess whether potential new hires are the right fit for your office! The tool rates candidates numerically by job performance, retention and service excellence. It also customizes key questions for face-to-face interviews. This program has been used successfully by hundreds of healthcare organizations. Candidates are sent a link to the assessment with results forwarded to a designated office email address. Please email Jo at jvitales@ehiipa.com if you are interested in learning more about this tool.

  • American Heart Association FREE CME Webinars – View list of activities here. Type in “CME” in the Keyword search box and register for free.

PATIENT RESOURCES

  • Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi: Ola Hou i Ka Hula Hypertension Class – Wednesdays starting February 5 to April 29, 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi office, 1438 Ave., Hilo. Flyer attached.

  • Refer Patients to Complete Their Advanced Health Care Directive at ADRC – 2020 dates attached.

  • KTA Diabetes Self-Management Education – KTA will begin another round of Diabetes Self-Management Education classes at the East Hawaii IPA office. Please use the attached REFERRAL FORM. Please see flyer attached and refer your patients to this valuable resource!

  • Hilo Medical Center Diabetes Support Group – Every first Tuesday of the month, 4:00 PM. Katie Seaton, who has her bachelor’s in dietetics and is a current intern at HMC in the process of completing her master’s degree, will be providing recipes to support diabetes management. Samples will be provided. Contact Colleen Talich at ctalich@hhsc.org or 808-932-3034 with any questions.

  • Halau Mauli‘Ola Medical Nutrition Program – Stacy Haumea is relocating to 83 Maika‘i St., Hilo, for appointments Mon/Tue/Weds. She will continue to see patients with Hui Mālama on Thurs/Fri weekly. Flyer attached. NEW referral form attached.

  • Individual Nutrition Counseling Referral for Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi (HMONO) – Refer your patients to nutrition counseling with Stacy Haumea at HMONO using their referral form (here). Under the “Referred to” section, select HMONO Family Medicine Clinic.

  • Mountain-Pacific Quality Health – CARDIAC HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS. Flyer attached. Let us know if you’d like the IPA to print out copies for your office by calling 808-797-3113.

  • Mountain-Pacific Quality Health: New Patient Tool for Heart Health – Check the MPQH website for their heart health calendar. These are free for patients and can start anytime of the year and includes weight logs and health tips. These offer a fun and easy way for patients to monitor their weight. A calendar example (scroll to the bottom for the example) and order form can be found here.

  • Beacon Health – PCP Referral for Behavioral Health Support – Beacon Health offers behavioral health services for HMSA patients. Attached is the referral form (here), the overview of services (here), and the WHO-5 Well-Being index tool (here).