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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

EHC Program Update: Technology Assessment Program to Post Draft Report; New Final Report

March 27, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Draft Technology Assessment Announcement

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Technology Assessment Program will be posting a draft technology assessment for review on April 3, 2013. This draft is entitled "Update on Genetic Tests Currently Available for Clinical Use in Common Cancers." If you are interested in reviewing this document, please visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/ta/call-for-public-review.html. The document will be available for review from 9:00 am April 3, 2013 to 5 pm on April 17. If you have any questions, please contact ahrqtap@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Final Report

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis and/or Asthma: Comparative Effectiveness Review. To access this report, visit: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/search-for-guides-reviews-and-reports/?pageaction=displayproduct&productID=1427&ECem=130327.

Effective Health Care Program
http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov

NIAMS welcomes four new advisory council members

March 27, 2013 SNap(R) Group

NIAMS welcomes four new advisory council members

03/27/2013 08:12 AM EDT

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) has appointed four new members to its advisory council. The council comprises scientific and lay members who have expertise in the mission areas of the institute. Council members provide advice to the institute on broad policy issues, and make recommendations on research proposals. NIAMS is part of the National Institutes of Health.

Health Care Innovations Exchange: School-Based Health Programs for At-Risk Youth

March 27, 2013 SNap(R) Group

New Issue Focuses on

School-Based Health Programs for At-Risk Youth

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announces the March 27 issue of the Health Care Innovations Exchange (http://www.innovations.ahrq.gov).

The featured Innovations describe three school-based programs that enhanced access, particularly among at-risk minority youth, to health information, preventive care, and clinical services.
The featured QualityTools include resources to support HIV and STD prevention programs in schools and tools to facilitate preventive, mental health, nutrition, and oral health services.
Read more innovation profiles and tools related to school-based health programs for at-risk youth (http://go.usa.gov/2pjF) on the Innovations Exchange Web site, which contains more than 750 searchable innovations and 1,500 QualityTools.

Spotlight:

New Expert Commentary
School-Based Reproductive Health Services as Innovation (http://go.usa.gov/27dT)
By Melissa Akers, Program Manager at the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care

Events and Podcasts:

April 9 Web Event
Join the Innovations Exchange on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, from 1 to 2 pm EST for a free Web event titled Promoting the Spread of Health Care Innovations. For more information about this event and to register, visit the Event page: http://go.usa.gov/2pDb.
Upcoming Web Event Series
The Innovations Exchange announces a new Web event series (http://go.usa.gov/27vB) designed to share experiences and lessons learned in putting accountable care organization and patient-centered medical home principles into practice.

Join us on Thursday, April 25, from 1 to 2 pm ET for the first event in the series, titled Payment Models that Support Medical Home and Accountable Care Organization Principles: Maryland's Experience. For more information and to register, visit the Event page: http://go.usa.gov/27ve

Use the My Innovations feature http://www.innovations.ahrq.gov/accounts/createAccount.aspx to save your favorite subjects and receive e-mail alerts when new content is published within your areas of interest.

New issues of the Innovations Exchange are published biweekly on Wednesdays. Please contact us at info@innovations.ahrq.gov with any questions or comments.

Follow the Innovations Exchange (AHRQIX) on Twitter with this hyperlink: http://www.twitter.com/ahrqix.

Draft Technology Assessment: Call for Public Review:

March 27, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Update on Genetic Tests Currently Available for Clinical Use in Common Cancers

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Technology Assessment Program will be posting a draft technology assessment for review on April 3, 2013. This draft is entitled "Update on Genetic Tests Currently Available for Clinical Use in Common Cancers."

If you are interested in reviewing this document, please visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/ta/call-for-public-review.html. The document will be available for review from 9:00 am April 3, 2013, to 5 pm on April 17.

If you have any questions, please contact ahrqtap@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Stressful life events may increase stillbirth risk, NIH network study finds

March 27, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Stressful life events may increase stillbirth risk, NIH network study finds

03/27/2013 12:57 PM EDT

Pregnant women who experienced financial, emotional, or other personal stress in the year before their delivery had an increased chance of having a stillbirth, say researchers who conducteda National Institutes of Health network study.

Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forums Update

March 27, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/ODF_hhhdme.html

NQF #0209 Deadline for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program is Monday, April 1, 2013

Deadline quickly approaching to avoid 2 percentage point reduction to APU for FY 2014

Hospice providers must enter and attest to their NQF #0209 data on the data entry website no later than 11:59pm ET on April 1, 2013 in order to comply with Payment Year 2014 NQF #0209 requirements. Providers that have not already begun entering their NQF #0209 data for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) Payment Year 2014 cycle should begin doing so immediately. In order to avoid a 2 percentage point reduction in Annual Payment Update (APU) for FY 2014, providers must have submitted data for both the structural measure and the NQF #0209 measure by the specified deadlines: January 31, 2013 for the structural measure and April 1, 2013 for the NQF #0209 measure. Providers that may have missed the structural measure deadline can still visit the data entry website, create an account, and enter their NQF #0209 data. The link to the data entry site, along with a Technical User Guide giving step-by-step instructions on the data entry process, can be found on the Data Submission portion of the CMS HQRP website.

It is highly recommend that hospice providers confirm attestation and submission of their NQF #0209 data, as compliance with NQF #0209 reporting requirements for FY 2014 is based on the attestation and submission step. Providers are encouraged to print for their records the "NQF #0209 Pain Measure Submitted" page that displays immediately following submission of data. This page confirms the successful submission of data to CMS. Providers may also verify attestation and submission of their NQF #0209 data by logging into the data entry website and viewing the "Measure Data Entry Links and Submission Status" page. If you have submitted and attested to your NQF #0209 data, the NQF #0209 Pain Measure Submission Status will show: "Data Attested and Submitted," along with the date and time-stamp of attestation. Providers may wish to print or save a copy of the "Measure Data Entry Links and Submission Status Page" for their records.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this Cms.hhs.gov- Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forums Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

EDTA chelation therapy modestly reduces cardiovascular events

March 26, 2013 SNap(R) Group

EDTA chelation therapy modestly reduces cardiovascular events

03/26/2013 04:01 PM EDT

Chelation therapy, an unproven alternative medicine in the treatment for heart disease, modestly reduced cardiovascular events for adults aged 50 and older who had suffered a prior heart attack, according to new National Institutes of Health-supported research.

Updates to Mandatory Ins Reporting

March 26, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Revised GHP User Guide dated March 22, 2013 has been posted to the Mandatory Insurer Reporting/GHP section page.
The March 24, 2013 NGHP Alert regarding changes to reporting requirements that apply to batch files and DDE submissions has been posted to the Mandatory Insurer Reporting/Additional NGHP Alerts section page.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forums Update

March 22, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/ODF_hhhdme.html

NQF #0209 deadline for the Hospice Quality Reporting Program is April 1

Hospice providers that have not already begun entering their NQF #0209 data for the Payment Year 2014 cycle should begin doing so immediately. Providers must enter and attest to their data on the data entry website no later than 11:59pm ET on April 1, 2013 in order to comply with NQF #0209 requirements. In order to avoid a 2 percentage point reduction in Annual Payment Update (APU) for FY 2014, providers must have submitted data for both the structural measure and the NQF #0209 measure by the specified deadlines: January 31, 2013 for the structural measure and April 1, 2013 for the NQF #0209 measure.

Providers that may have missed the structural measure deadline can still visit the data entry website, create an account, and enter their NQF #0209 data. The link to the data entry site, along with a Technical User Guide giving step-by-step instructions on the data entry process, can be found on the Data Submission portion of the CMS HQRP website.

Hospice providers that anticipate needing a deactivation request for their HQRP user account should submit their account deactivation request to the Technical Help Desk via fax at 888-477-7871 or email at help@QTSO.com prior to March 25, 2013. Any deactivation requests received on or after March 25 puts a hospice organization at risk for missing the April 1 NQF #0209 deadline. Please note: all data submitted by a user who is deactivated is permanently deleted.

"Update on the Medicare Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP)" MLN Matters® Article—Released

MLN Matters® Special Edition Article #SE1306, "Update on the Medicare Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP)" has been released and is now available in downloadable format. This article is designed to provide an educational update on the hospice quality data reporting program and outlines the requirements for the first and second year of reporting for hospice providers. It also provides information on resources available on the Hospice Quality Reporting Program website.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this Cms.hhs.gov- Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forums Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

New Interactive Resource on Stage 2 and the 2014 CQMs

March 21, 2013 SNap(R) Group

New Interactive Resource on Stage 2 and the 2014 CQMs

Posted: 20 Mar 2013 12:53 PM PDT

New Interactive Resource on Stage 2 and the 2014 CQMsCMS recently posted a new resource to help eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) prepare for Stage 2 of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.Available on the Educational Resources page of the EHR Incentive Programs website, the interactive Stage 2 Toolkit includes materials on Stage 2 and the 2014 clinical quality measure (CQM) requirements.The toolkit is divided into three main sections:BasicsResources for EPsResources for eligible hospitals and CAHsProviders who use the toolkit will find the following information:An overview of Stage 2Stage 2 FAQsHow the Stage 2 provisions affect Stage 1 requirementsComparison tables of Stage 1 and Stage 2 criteriaDetails about payment adjustment and hardship exemptions2014 CQMs, including descriptions, technical release notes, and the recommended core sets for EPs and eligible hospitalsReminder: The...

AHRQ Draft TA for Review

March 21, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Technology Assessment Program will be posting a draft technology assessment for review on March 21, 2013. This draft is entitled "Assessment on Implantable Defibrillators and the Evidence for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death." If you are interested in reviewing this document, please visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/ta/tareview.htm. The document will be available for review from 9:00 am March 21, 2013 to 5 pm on April 8, 2013 (extended due to the encompassing holidays). If you have any questions, please contact ahrqtap@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Draft Technology Assessment: Call for Public Review:

March 21, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Assessment on Implantable Defibrillators and the Evidence for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Technology Assessment Program has posted a draft technology assessment for review titled Assessment on Implantable Defibrillators and the Evidence for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death. If you are interested in reviewing this document, please visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/ta/call-for-public-review.html.

The document will be available for review from 9:00 am March 21, 2013, until 5 pm on April 8, 2013 (extended due to the encompassing holidays).

If you have any questions, please contact ahrqtap@ahrq.hhs.gov.

NIH study shows people with serious mental illnesses can lose weight

March 21, 2013 SNap(R) Group

NIH study shows people with serious mental illnesses can lose weight

03/21/2013 04:30 PM EDT

People with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression can lose weight and keep it off through a modified lifestyle intervention program, a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study reported online today in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

CMS Updates to Coverage Pages

March 20, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

National Coverage Analyses

Aprepitant for Chemotherapy-Induced Emesis
Posted proposed decision memo
http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-proposed-decision-memo.aspx?NCAId=264

Medicare Approved Facilities/Trials/Registries

Carotid Artery Stenting Facilities
Posted new facilities
http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/MedicareApprovedFacilitie/Carotid-Artery-Stenting-Facilities.html

Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) Meetings

Posted updated roster
http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/FACA/MEDCAC.html

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Dr. Harvey Alter selected to receive 2013 Canada Gairdner International Award

March 20, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Dr. Harvey Alter selected to receive 2013 Canada Gairdner International Award

03/20/2013 01:01 PM EDT

Infectious disease researcher and clinician, Harvey J. Alter, M.D., chief of clinical studies and associate director of research in the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, has been selected to receive the 2013 prestigious Canada Gairdner International Award at the conclusion of the Gairdner National Program events on Oct. 24, 2013 in Toronto.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Wireless, implanted sensor broadens range of brain research

March 19, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Wireless, implanted sensor broadens range of brain research

03/19/2013 11:05 AM EDT

A compact, self-contained sensor recorded and transmitted brain activity data wirelessly for more than a year in early stage animal tests, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. In addition to allowing for more natural studies of brain activity in moving subjects, this implantable device represents a potential major step toward cord-free control of advanced prosthetics that move with the power of thought. The report is in the April 2013 issue of the Journal of Neural Engineering.

New HCUP Statistical Brief #152

March 19, 2013 SNap(R) Group

New HCUP Statistical Brief #152

The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) has posted a new statistical brief on the following: Characteristics of Homeless and Non-Homeless Individuals Using Inpatient and Emergency Department Services, 2008

The brief can be found at:
http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/statbriefs.jsp

The HCUP family of health care databases and related software tools and products is made possible by a Federal-State-Industry partnership sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Visit the HCUP User Support Website at: http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov

You are subscribed to What's New at HCUP User Support for Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Guidance on Federal and State Oversight of Medicaid Expenditures

March 18, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a letter to State Medicaid Directors discussing mutual obligations and accountability on the part of the state and federal governments for the integrity of the Medicaid program and the development, application, and improvement of safeguards necessary to ensure proper and appropriate use of both federal and state dollars. The letter is available online at http://www.medicaid.gov/Federal-Policy-Guidance/Federal-Policy-Guidance.html

The letter discusses a new requirement that states submit upper payment limit (UPL) demonstrations on an annual basis, and guidance on the format and method of UPL demonstration is now available online at http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Financing-and-Reimbursement/Accountability-Guidance.html

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Ambulance Open Door Forum Update

March 18, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/ODF_ambulance.html

Due to an unexpected shift in workload, we do not have the appropriate policy staff experts available to hold the upcoming Ambulance Open Door Forum and therefore will have to cancel the call. We apologize for the short notice.

We will send a notification once the new date is decided. Thank you for your continued interest in the CMS Open Door Forums.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this Cms.hhs.gov- Ambulance Open Door Forum Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Backwards signals appear to sensitize brain cells, rat study shows

March 18, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Backwards signals appear to sensitize brain cells, rat study shows

03/18/2013 12:15 PM EDT

When the mind is at rest, the electrical signals by which brain cells communicate appear to travel in reverse, wiping out unimportant information in the process, but sensitizing the cells for future sensory learning, according to a study of rats conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

NIH Research Matters Genetics of mental disorders, how bacteria clog medical devices, and salt and autoimmune disease

March 18, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Common Genetic Factors Found in 5 Mental Disorders

Major mental disorders traditionally thought to be distinct share certain genetic glitches, according to a new study. The finding may point to better ways to diagnose and treat these conditions.

Biofilm Streamers Clog Medical Devices

Bacterial communities called biofilms can quickly clog medical devices such as stents and catheters by forming 3-dimensional streamers that block flow. The finding will inform future approaches to prevent these deadly clogs.

Shaking Out Clues to Autoimmune Disease

Researchers gained new insight into how an immune cell involved in several autoimmune disorders is regulated. Among their discoveries was a potential link with salt consumption.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Draft Technology Assessment: Call for Public Review:

March 15, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Assessment on Implantable Defibrillators and the Evidence for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Technology Assessment Program will be posting a draft technology assessment for review on March 21, 2013. This draft is entitled "Assessment on Implantable Defibrillators and the Evidence for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death." If you are interested in reviewing this document, please visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/ta/call-for-public-review.html.

The document will be available for review from 9:00 am March 21, 2013 to 5 pm on April 8, 2013 (extended due to the encompassing holidays). If you have any questions, please contact ahrqtap@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Ambulance Open Door Forum Update

March 14, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/ODF_ambulance.html

The next CMS Ambulance Open Door Forum scheduled for:

Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Start Time: 2:00 PM Eastern Time (ET);

Please dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time.

Conference Leaders: Dr. William Rogers, Anne Hauswald and Matthew Brown

**This Agenda is Subject to Change**

I. Opening Remarks

Chair – Dr. William Rogers (OPE)

Co-Chair – Anne Hauswald (CM)

Moderator – Matthew Brown (OPE)

II. Announcements & Updates

III. Open Q&A

**Next Ambulance Open Door Forum: May 21, 2013**

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Open Door Participation Instructions:

This call will be Conference Call Only.

To participate by phone:

Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID: 78874337.

Persons participating by phone do not need to RSVP. TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.

Encore: 1-855-859-2056; Conference ID: 78874337.

Encore is an audio recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-855-859-2056 and entering the Conference ID. This recording will be accessible beginning 2 hours after the ODF and expires after 2 business days.

For ODF schedule updates and E-Mailing List registration, visit our website at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/.

Thank you.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this Cms.hhs.gov- Ambulance Open Door Forum Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Skilled Nursing Facility- Long Term Care Open Door Forum Update

March 14, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/ODF_SNFLTC.html

The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum scheduled for:

Date: Thursday, March 21, 2013

Start Time: 2:00 PM Eastern Time (ET);

Please dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time.

Conference Leaders: Jeanette Kranacs & Matthew Brown

**This Agenda is Subject to Change**

I. Opening Remarks

Chair – Jeanette Kranacs (CM)

Moderator – Matthew Brown (OPE)

II. Announcements & Updates

Healthcare.gov & marketplace.cms.gov Announcements
Ethics and Compliance
QM User Guide
Quadriplegia Clarifications
QAPI
Transmission of Non-PPS Assessments
Difference between CMS802-S and CMS802-P
RFI – Advancing Interoperability and Health Information Exchange

III. Open Q&A

**Next ODF: May 2, 2013**

Mailbox: SNF_LTCODF-L@cms.hhs.gov

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Open Door Participation Instructions:

This call will be Conference Call Only.

To participate by phone:

Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID: 78875931.

Persons participating by phone do not need to RSVP. TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.

Encore: 1-855-859-2056; Conference ID: 78875931.

Encore is an audio recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-855-859-2056 and entering the Conference ID. Encores for ODFs held on Thursdays can be accessed the following Monday. The recording is available for 3 business days.

For ODF schedule updates and E-Mailing List registration, visit our website at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/.

Thank you.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this Cms.hhs.gov- Skilled Nursing Facility- Long Term Care Open Door Forum Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forums Update

March 14, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/ODF_hhhdme.html

Hospice Quality Reporting Program: NQF #0209 Deadline April 1

Important Alert: The deadline to submit the NQF #0209 data is quickly approaching. Hospices that fail to submit and attest to their data will receive a 2 percentage point reduction in their Annual Payment Update (APU) for the FY 2014.

To comply with the Payment Year 2014 Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) requirements, providers should currently be entering their NQF #0209 data on the data entry and submission website. Providers that have not already created a data entry account should do so now.

The deadline for reporting NQF #0209 data for Payment Year 2014 is April 1, 2013. In order to avoid a 2 percentage point reduction in their Annual Payment Update (APU), providers must have submitted their structural measure data by January 31, 2013 and must submit their NQF #0209 data by April 1. Providers that may have missed the structural measure deadline can still visit the data entry website, create an account, and enter their NQF #0209 data. The link to the data entry site, along with a Technical User Guide giving step-by-step instructions on the data entry process, can be found on the Data Submission portion of the CMS HQRP website.

User Account Deactivation Requests for the HQRP

If you anticipate needing a deactivation request for your HQRP user account, please submit the user account deactivation request to the Technical Help Desk via fax at 888-477-7871 or email at help@QTSO.com prior to March 25, 2013. Any deactivation requests received on or after March 25 puts a hospice organization at risk for missing the NQF #0209 deadline, which is April 1. Please note: all data submitted by a user who is deactivated is permanently deleted.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this Cms.hhs.gov- Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forums Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

Effective Health Care Program Update: AHRQ's Technology Assessment Program To Post Draft Technology Assessment for Review on March 21, 2013

March 14, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Effective Health Care Program - Helping You Make Better Treatment Choices

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Technology Assessment Program will be posting a draft technology assessment for review on March 21, 2013. This draft is entitled "Assessment on Implantable Defibrillators and the Evidence for Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death." If you are interested in reviewing this document, please visit: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/ta/tareview.htm. The document will be available for review from 9:00 am March 21, 2013 to 5 pm on April 8, 2013 (extended due to the encompassing holidays). If you have any questions, please contact ahrqtap@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Effective Health Care Program
http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov

MMWR News Synopsis for March 14, 2013

March 14, 2013 SNap(R) Group

MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

MMWR News Synopsis for March 14, 2013

1. Distracted Driving — United States and Seven European Countries, 2011

2. HIV Infection Among Heterosexuals at Increased Risk — United States, 2010

3. Eligibility and Enrollment in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — 27 States and New York City, 2007–2008

Read More

Health Plan Identifier and Other Entity Identifier Outreach Events

March 14, 2013 SNap(R) Group

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Health Plan Identifier and Other Entity Identifier applications available in the Health Plan and Other Entity Enumeration System beginning March 29, 2013!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will host a three free webinars with question and answer sessions that will provide an overview on how to access Health Plan and Other Entity Enumeration System (HPOES) and how to complete a Health Plan Identifier (HPID) or Other Entity Identifier (OEID) application.

These webinars will assist participants on the application process so they can begin planning for HPIDs and OEIDs. CMS will present the same information on all three scheduled webinars in case of scheduling conflicts.

Below is the webinar schedule and information to access them. There is no registration, but the webinars are limited to the first 500 participants.

Webinar Schedule

Date	Time	Webinar Link	Call Information
March 18, 2013	1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST	https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/hpoes21/	877-267-1577 Meeting Id: 2800
March 22, 2013	1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST	https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/hpoes032/	877-267-1577 Meeting Id: 2800
March 25, 2013	1:00 – 2:00 p.m. EST	https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/hpoes342/	877-267-1577 Meeting Id: 2800

Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange Member Town Hall Meeting

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is pleased to announce that the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) will hold a Member Town Hall Meeting on "Health Plan and Other Entity Enumeration System: Applications, Data Dissemination and Future Functionality" on Thursday, March 21, 2013 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

The webinar will provide an overview of Health Plan and Other Entity Enumeration System (HPOES); deliver instructions on how to access and create an account in HPOES; and explain how to apply for a Health Plan Identifier (HPID) or Other Entity Identifier (OEID). Following the presentation there will be a Q & A session for participants to ask questions, provide their perspectives on how to disseminate data and suggest what items should be included in future releases.

Register here for the WEDI Member Town Hall Meeting.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this cms.hhs.gov - Administrative Simplification Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

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