|
|
|
Practice Support Newsletter
November 2024
|
|
|
 Measure of the Month: Glycemic Status Assessment for Patients with Diabetes
November is American Diabetes Month. Prevention and management of diabetes is often a partnership between a provider and patient. The CDC and American Diabetes Association have great resources for professionals and patients. NC Medicaid, following the updates from NCQA, has revised and renamed the diabetes measure. Glycemic Status Assessment for Patients with Diabetes (GSD), formerly known as Hemoglobin A1c Control for Patients with Diabetes, now includes a glucose management indicator with the hemoglobin A1c. The brief description of the measure is as follows:
The percentage of members 18–75 years of age with diabetes (types 1 and 2) whose most recent glycemic status (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] or glucose management indicator [GMI]) was at the following levels during the measurement year: 1. Glycemic Status <8.0%. 2. Glycemic Status >9.0%.
The full description is found on page 100 of the NC Medicaid Quality Measurement Technical Specifications Manual.
Suggestions for improvement:
- Utilize online resources that summarize recent literature to stay up to date
- Document the most recent numeric result and date for HbA1c or GMI in the EHR
- Patient-reported HbA1c or GMI from a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) are acceptable as long as the date and result are noted in the medical record
- Order A1c and other labs prior to patient appointment
- Educate patients on HbA1c and CGM goals
- Set up reminder recall tracking to identify gaps in care and patients in need of follow-up visits
- Recall patients with HbA1c >7.9 to recheck level before the end of the year
- Contact patients who cancel or do not show up for appointments to assist with rescheduling
|
|
|
 Regulatory Reminders: Bloodborne pathogen plan, have you updated it lately?
OSHA requires employers to protect against blood exposure. Regulation 1910.1030 outlines the requirements of the plan and how to stay compliant.
An effective program will include:
- Written plan
- Training
- Understanding risks
- Chemical inventory
- Safety data sheets
- Secondary container labels
- PPE
If you have not reviewed your bloodborne pathogen plan recently and would like support in doing so, please reach out to your South Piedmont AHEC coach.
|
|
|
 Coding Corner
Glycemic Status Assessment for Patients with Diabetes (GSD) has replaced the former HEDIS measure, Hemoglobin A1c for Patients with Diabetes. You may be wondering if this change will affect the way you are currently coding. It is still essential that the correct CPT II codes are reported for the most recent Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) or A1c results. Many payors have created quick reference guides for HEDIS measures that provide coding and improvement tips.
For additional clinical guidance and diabetes resources refer to the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Care or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
|
|
 MIPS Update for Hurricane Helene
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced on October 10th there is an extreme and uncontrollable circumstances (EUC) that will be applied to MIPS eligible clinicians following hurricane Helene. Providers in counties designated by the FEMA disaster declaration should check the Quality Payment Program Exception Application for details of how the exception will work or connect with your South Piedmont AHEC coach. The exception will automatically be applied to individual providers but will not be applied to group, subgroup, virtual group or APM Entities. |
|
|
 Considering implementing the Collaborative Care Model? Get a jumpstart with the Southern Regional AHEC training series.
Recently, there was an announcement for capacity building funds to implement the Collaborative Care Model. To prepare, there is a Collaborative Care Model training series available for free. This virtual learning series offers participants from medical centers an introduction to collaborative care, allowing them to take the initial steps to implement this integrated care model and tools for ongoing support in their healthcare practices. Within this series of 10 virtual education modules, these courses will demonstrate how to apply this model to implement this modality. Register through Southern Regional AHEC. NC AHEC also has additional details on how you can get more information on the Collaborative Learning Sessions.
|
|
|
 Hurricane Helene Resources
There are multiple counties within the South Piedmont AHEC region that have felt the effects of Hurricane Helene. If your practice needs resources, flexibility or contacts for support please reach out to your South Piedmont AHEC coach. The short list of resources includes:
|
|
|
Become a Member of the South Piedmont AHEC Regional Advisory Committee
Want to help lead the transformation of healthcare education? Apply today for the Regional Advisory Committee to gather trends related to community and regional needs impacting health education. Application Deadline: November 30th, 2024
|
|
|
|
 |
South Piedmont AHEC
Part of the NC AHEC Program |
|
|
|
