Happy Thursday! Enjoy your NCMS Morning Rounds!
November 4, 2021
PAI Offers Go-To Resources on Value
Thanks to the NCMS’ partnership with The Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI), North Carolina practices can access cutting-edge resources relating to Value-Based Arrangements. PAI partnered with the health care experts at Healthsperien to develop this Value Based Arrangements Toolkit, which provides step-by-step support for physicians and their practice management teams as they navigate an increasingly complex array of value-based payment arrangements. Each module in the toolkit provides easy-to-understand yet comprehensive information that physician practices need to successfully tackle the various elements of these arrangements.
These new resources build further on PAI’s efforts to educate physicians on payment programs, including the comprehensive PAI Medicare Quality Payment Program (“QPP”) Toolkit, which includes a vast array of resources to inform and support physicians’ successful participation in the QPP.
PAI’s resources are all available free of charge on PAI’s website, which also houses PAI’s research on physician practice trends and other important topics as well as information on PAI’s advocacy initiatives to help secure fair, transparent payment for physician practices.
Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) & CDC Checklist to Help CHCs Assess Readiness to Provide Pediatric COVID Vaccines
BPHC collaborated with CDC to create this Checklist for Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination for CHCs. It is designed to help CHCs assess their readiness to administer these vaccines once they are approved. It includes resources, readiness reminders, and guidance on vaccine supply and administration to children.
Toolkit Available on the New Good Faith Estimate Requirements
There is now a toolkit to assist Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) with understanding the new CMS requirement effective January 1, 2022 to provide all uninsured patients with a Good Faith Estimate of their expected costs if they schedule an appointment at least 3 days in advance or otherwise request the information. The toolkit contains:
- A summary of the requirements and timelines;
- FAQs organized by topic;
- A draft template of a GFE form that CHCs can adapt for their use;
- A flowchart outlining operational steps, such as if and when a GFE must be provided;
- A list of issues we will tentatively plan to raise in our comments to CMS;
- A list of other resources being developed.
In the News
COVID-19 Immunity From Infection, Vaccination Last At Least 6 Months, CDC says, Becker’s, 11-2-21
Learning Opportunity
HRSA Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall, Friday, November 5–2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join HRSA Acting Administrator Diana Espinosa for a health center town hall to discuss pediatric COVID-19 vaccination in underserved communities. BPHC is co-hosting the event with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Speakers will share the latest information about COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5-11. This includes ways to build vaccine confidence among parents and families and to support partnership between providers and families for shared decision-making. A CDC representative will also provide an overview of the pediatric vaccine rollout plan.
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