Membership Benefits & DuesThe Board at its meeting on March 7 approved the proposal from the Membership Work Group which defines benefits and dues. Starting July 1, 2018, members will be asked to pay annual dues of $1200. These dues will be prorated to $600 for 2018. Members may make monthly payments of $100. Please see attached for a detailed explanation. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact any Board member or Susan Mochizuki at smochizuki@ehiipa.com, 808-797-3114.
SAVE THE DATE! Annual Meeting & Election – Wednesday, April 25, 2018 – 5:30-7:30 PMThis event will be held at ‘Imiloa to elect Board members and discuss the future of the IPA. Voting will occur at the meeting. Please request an absentee ballot if you cannot attend and would like to vote. Jeff Beal, VP Corporate Development, Optum (bio attached), will be a guest speaker to talk about how the IPA can become a more closely integrated entity which might include establishing a medical group to employ providers in Hilo. Attached is a registration form.
22nd Annual East Hawaii IPA Healthcare Symposium – August 17-19, 2018 – Fairmont Orchid Hotel This year’s theme is “Advancing Wellness for Patients, Providers and Organizations.” EHI IPA members receive a discounted rate of $75 which includes AAFP CMEs, all sessions, trade show attendance, pau hana event and two breakfasts. Please register early (flyer attached).
Opioid Epidemic Presentation Many thanks to ‘Ohana Health Plan for sharing information about the opioid epidemic to 30 providers and staff on March 14 at the EHI IPA Office. Representatives from ‘Ohana Health Plan including their President, Scott Sivik, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Edward Fess attended as well. The presentation was given by Rane Shoji, PharmD, State Pharmacy Director and Rupa Shah, PharmD. See attached slides. Please contact the IPA office if you would like more information about this important topic including CDC materials about the use/misuse of opioids and ways to get more information about prescribing guidelines at jvitales@ehiipa.com.
CMS Executives Meet with EHI IPA LeadersOn March 8, Dr. Ashby Wolfe, CMS Chief Medical Officer, Region IX and Captain Tom Duran, Pacific Area Representative, met with EHI leaders to hear feedback about issues/problems related to CPC+ and other CMS programs. EHI gave feedback about administrative burden, poor communication and the lack of accountability of program vendors. Dr. Wolfe encouraged us to give feedback at ReducingProviderBurden@cms.hhs.gov. For updates on this CMS initiative visit this website.
For challenges with vendors and concerns about information blocking, she encouraged us to contact Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) with concrete feedback through the attached link.
CMS will begin mailing new Medicare cards with the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) on April 1. Start using the MBI as soon as your patients get their new cards. The MBI on the new card is effective immediately unless the patient is new to Medicare, in which case refer to the “coverage starts” date on the card. People new to Medicare will only have a Medicare card with an MBI.
How to get an MBI? From your patient’s new Medicare card: From April 2018 through December 31, 2019, if you submit a HICN on the 270 eligibility transaction request, CMS will tell you in the message field of the 271 response when they mailed a new Medicare card to each individual with Fee-For-Service Medicare. (Mailing schedule)
From your Medicare Administrative Contractor’s (MAC) portal if your patient can’t provide the card: Starting in June 2018, use the look-up tool on your MAC’s portal. If you don’t have access, sign up.
From the Remittance Advice (RA): From October 2018 through December 31, 2019, we will include the MBI on the RA if you submit a HICN on the claim. (Examples)
People with Medicare enrolled in Medicare Advantage and/or Part D plans will continue to use the cards from those plans when they get health care and/or prescriptions.
UnitedHealthcare Accountable Care Program EHI IPA will be working with offices to ensure that patients who are discharged from the hospital or are seen in the ER receive follow-up within 7 days. In addition, the IPA will work with offices to confirm that high risk, high cost UnitedHealthcare (UHC) patients are seen every 90 days. UHC will give the IPA with some funding to pay for staff help. These efforts can go toward supporting MIPS/MACRA and CPC+ measures. Please contact Kahea Wakinekona if you would like more information at kahealani@kidneyhi.org.
SBIRT Stands for Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment for alcohol & substance abuse. EHI received a two-year grant from the State Department of Health to help offices do SBIRT screenings by having patients complete a brief survey. All offices are invited to participate and will receive honoraria to join. Please contact Jane for more information at jbontuyan@ehiipa.com.
CMS MIPS/MACRA: “Study on Burdens Associated with Reporting Quality Measures” – CMS would like your help in understanding the burden of MIPS reporting. Join the study and receive a full year credit for 2018 in the improvement activity category. Apply here.
East Hawaii IPA Recruiting Chief Medical Officer The IPA is recruiting and hiring a Chief Medical Officer to help the IPA move toward clinical integration & consolidation and create infrastructure to improve quality of care, recruit & hire new physicians and help retiring physicians transition well. Attached is a position description. Please contact Susan Mochizuki at 797-3114 or smochizuki@ehiipa.com.
Announcements:
HMSA Payment Transformation COREO to Replace COZEVA Starting April 1, 2018, HMSA will replace COZEVA with a new reporting system called COREO. There are three webinar (Session 1 – view VIDEO here), (Session 2 – view PPT here), and Wednesday, March 21 (Session 3) from 12:30-2:00 PM.Register here.
Each webinar is on a different topic.
CMS MIPS/MACRA Quality Payment Program Webinar: “Understanding and Maximizing the Use of Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs): Leveraging Your QRUR to Support MIPS Performance” – Thursday, March 22, 8:00-9:00 AM. Register here.
CMS MIPS/MACRA Quality Payment Program Webinar: “MIPS Tips Sessions” – Wednesday, March 28, 8:00-9:00 AM HST. Register here.
CMS MIPS/MACRA Quality Payment Program Webinar: “Medication Safety LAN Event: A Patient-Centered Approach to Safely Managing Diabetes” – Wednesday, April 11, 9:00 AM HST. Register here.Call in: 1-855-339-4595 Password: MedSafety
MIPS Reporting Deadline for 2017 Fast Approaching – Attached are 10 things to do and know if you plan to submit data for the 2017 MIPS performance period. MIPS data submission: Now through March 31, 2018 – Submit your data on the CMS Enterprise Portal here.
Ecosystem Healthcare Referral:KTA Diabetes Self-Management Education Classes — Refer your patients to diabetes education classes presented by KTA Pharmacist Dayna Wong-Otis on Thursdays 9:00-11:30 AM and 4:00-6:30 PM, April 5-26, 2018. One-on-one sessions start on March 27thand 29th. Fax the COMPLETE and signed referral form to EHI IPA at 808-935-4472. Referral form attached.
Ecosystem Healthcare Referral: NKFH Chronic Disease Self-Management Program – Refer your patients with chronic diseases to this resource. Call Mary at 808-895-2730 or fax to 808-935-4472 a list of patients to refer to the program. Mary will request a demographic sheet. This six-week class will be on Fridays at 9:00-11:30 AM starting on April 27, 2018. Flyer attached.
Ecosystem Healthcare Referral:NKFH Diabetes Self-Management Program – Refer your patients with diabetes to this resource. Call Mary at 808-895-2730 or fax to 808-935-4472 a list of patients to refer to the program. Mary will request a demographic sheet. This six-week class will be on Tuesdays at 9:30 AM-12:30 PM starting on May 22, 2018.
Ecosystem Healthcare Referral: Aloha Kidney Education Classes – Starting May 2018 – Refer your patients with chronic kidney disease! Hilo flyer attached.Waimea flyer attached.
