|
July 30, 2015 Volume V, Issue 29
New Tool Helps ASCs Determine Quality Reporting Program Status
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed a new page that provides multiple Status Listing Lookup Tools. On this site, an ASC can:
- Look up its CCN (needed to report ASC-8);
- Determine if it has a report for the ASC-12 (Facility 7-Day Risk-Standardized Hospital Visit after Outpatient Colonoscopy) dry run (Reminder – the dry run data is only available until tomorrow, July 31);
- Check to see if the facility has completed the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) enrollment and submission of data for ASC-8 (Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Providers); and
- Obtain information on the facility’s web-based measure data submission overall.
According to this webpage, coming soon, you will be able to search to see if your facility has a registered QualityNet Security Administrator or Basic User registered for submitting data in the QualityNet Secure Portal.
For help with NHSN enrollment and reporting, please email NHSN at NHSN@cdc.gov (and put “Ambulatory Surgery Center” in the subject). For help with all other web-based measures, call the CMS quality reporting contractor at: 866.800.8756.
Quality Reporting Preview Reports Available
As a reminder, the October 2015 ASC Public Reporting Preview Reports are now available through the QualityNet Secure Portal for participating facilities. The preview reports are available through August 9, 2015.
This fall, the data in the preview reports will be reported on Hospital Compare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) web site for Medicare beneficiaries and the general public.
Preview Reports can be accessed by:
- Accessing the public website for QualityNet at www.qualitynet.org.
- Selecting [Login] under the “Log in to QualityNet Secure Portal” header.
- Entering your QualityNet User ID, Password, and Security Code and selecting [Submit].
- Reading the Terms and Conditions statement and selecting [I Accept] to proceed.
The Preview Report can be downloaded by:
- Selecting “Secure File Transfer” in the blue ribbon at the top of the screen;
- Selecting “AutoRoute_Inbox” in the left-side menu;
- Selecting “Selecting “ASC Preview Report” also identified by your facility’s NPI;
- Selecting “Download”;
- Selecting “Save” in the pop-up box; and
- Saving and opening the report.
For more information, download the ASC Quality Reporting Program Preview Report Quick Reference Guide.
Reminder: July 2015 Dry Run on Quality Measure ASC-12
The initial set of ASC-12 Facility 7-Day Risk-Standardized Hospital Visit Rate after Outpatient Colonoscopy data is still available for facilities to review through tomorrow, July 31, 2015. Facility-Specific Reports (FSRs) for the measure are available via the QualityNet Secure Portal. The dry run includes claims data from July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2014.
The FSR contains patient-level data, facility-specific results and state and national results for the colonoscopy measure. CMS encourages facilities to review their FSRs thoroughly and submit any questions they may have during the dry run to CMSColonoscopyMeasure@yale.edu. Although you can only download your data through July 31, you will be able to submit questions through August. As a reminder, please do not submit any protected health information (PHI), such as date of birth, social security number or claim number.
Facility staff assigned the role of Security Administrator can access their accounts and FSRs by logging into the Portal and clicking Secure File Transfer from the top right corner of the screen. From there, users can view their mailbox and select Inbox to access their facility’s dry run FSRs. If facilities have problems accessing their FSRs, they should contact the QualityNet Help Desk at 866.800.8756 or qnetsupport@hcqis.org.
What Procedures Should Be Added to the Medicare List for ASCs?
ASCA is conducting a brief survey to determine which procedures should be added to the list of ASC payable procedures for 2016. This information will help ASCA advocate for the expansion of the list of procedures that CMS considers clinically appropriate for ASCs to provide to Medicare beneficiaries.
Currently, there are 11 new procedures in the proposed rule, so you do not need to fill out a survey form for them:
0171T (Insertion of posterior spinous process distraction device (including necessary removal of bone or ligament for insertion and imaging guidance), lumbar; single level); 0172T (Insertion of posterior spinous process distraction device (including necessary removal of bone or ligament for insertion and imaging guidance), lumbar; each additional level); 57120 (Colpocleisis (Le Fort type)); 57310 (Closure of urethrovaginal fistula); 58260 (Vaginal hysterectomy, for uterus 250 g or less J8); 58262 (Vaginal hysterectomy, for uterus 250 g or less; with removal of tube(s), and/or ovary(s)); 58543 (Laparoscopy, surgical, supracervical hysterectomy, for uterus greater than 250 g); 58544 (Laparoscopy, surgical, supracervical hysterectomy, for uterus greater than 250 g; with removal of tube(s) and/or ovary(s)); 58553 (Laparoscopy, surgical, with vaginal hysterectomy, for uterus greater than 250 g); 58554 (Laparoscopy, surgical, with vaginal hysterectomy, for uterus greater than 250 g; with removal of tube(s) and/or ovary(s)); 58573 (Laparoscopy, surgical, with total hysterectomy, for uterus greater than 250 g; with removal of tube(s) and/or ovary(s)).
However, if you are performing them, please let Kara Newbury know at knewbury@ascassocation.org.
Participants must complete one survey for each procedure they would like added. For example, someone who would like to see three procedures added would need to complete three surveys.
Click here to fill out the survey.
Tell Your Story to Congress Without Leaving Your Center
It is not too late to invite your member of Congress to your center in August. In less than a month, dozens of ASCs, like yours, will take part in National ASC Day, August 19th, 2015. This event offers ASC administrators, doctors, nurses and staff the opportunity to highlight the high quality, cost effective patient care that ASCs provide to communities by inviting policy makers and/or the local media to their ASC. ASCA helps coordinate this national event by providing tools, tips and direct support to members. Our National ASC Day Toolkit includes resources such as sample invitations, event planning timelines and talking points to use during your tour.
Getting your members of Congress to visit your facility shows them the crucial role ASC’s play in the health care delivery system, and facility tours have produced empirical results. In the past two years, more than half of the members of Congress who visited a center cosponsored the ASC Quality and Access Act—a clear indicator that when ASCs tell their story, legislators listen. To learn more about the process or participate in National ASC Day, contact Jack Coleman at jcoleman@ascassociation.org or 703.345.0260.
| 
