MHR Newsletter
2023 #12
November 17, 2023
By: Nancy Ross Bell
From Susan
SAVE THE DATE - DECEMBER 8, 12:00 p.m. ET- for our next client-only webinar on the latest updates from NCQA. We will be covering information from our Surveyor Quarterly Call on Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis and Policy Updates. Look for an upcoming email to register your organization. It’s a don’t miss opportunity!
I appreciate meeting many of you at MHR’s client dinner meeting during NCQA’s Health Innovation Summit in Orlando. Sonia Frazier and I enjoyed meeting some of you in person for the first time. If you were unable to attend, there were great speakers on Health Equity and many other topics. Clients enjoyed meeting other clients and hearing about their challenges. In the past, I’ve heard clients say that it didn’t matter what size organization they were; it was refreshing to know that everyone had the same struggles and issues no matter where they provided care.
During this time of year, we are especially grateful for our many clients across the US who are confident in our advice and trust that we will work endlessly to help you succeed in your NCQA Accreditation survey. Have a blessed Thanksgiving as you enjoy time with family and friends!
Contact me to see how we can help you.
Susan K. Moore, President & CEO
GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
ERIN KAFIEH RN, BS
MHR Consultant
Since joining MHR in July 2023, Erin Kafieh, RN, is adjusting to her new work-life balance as a Consultant with MHR and an NCQA Surveyor. Nearly 20 MHR clients have benefited from getting to know Erin as a highly-skilled consultant, effective problem-solver, and clear communicator.
A hallmark of MHR’s team of consultants is multiple years of prior experience managing NCQA in a lead role. For Erin, that includes leading 22 Medicaid plans in quality and accreditation, and much more. While she has faced many issues her clients face, Erin wants them to know, “I’ve been there. I’ve walked in your shoes.”
Having her clients feel safe in discussing their issues with her is a high priority for Erin so that she can best help them. If issues are related to documentation, files, dates, an application, or something else, Erin has likely confronted them before and problem-solved in a non-judgmental way.
What Erin finds most rewarding is training and coaching staff and helping them strategize. Having worked with all types and sizes of organizations seeking various accreditations, Erin is especially fond of file reviews, as it’s a way to get to the heart of the organization and how it functions.
Rescuing dogs in her rural California community, Yoga, and Reiki are just some activities that keep Erin engaged for that optimal work-life balance. Read more about Erin and other MHR Consultants at MHR’s Website.
NEWS
Do Insurers Provider Fair Access to Prescription Drugs? It’s Complicated.
Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
CMS Finalizes Physician Payment Rule that Advances Health Equity
Payers Ranked by Total Enrollment in Q3
What to Watch in the 2024 ACA Open Enrollment
CMMS Prioritizes Multi-Payer Alignment in New Models
Who Pays for Long-Term Services and Supports?
Best Buy Inks Third Health System Product Development Deal with Mass General Brigham
Who Will Care for Older Adults? We’ve Plenty of Know-How but Too Few Specialists
UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS
December 8, 2023
MHR’s Client-Only Training Session on Current NCQA Updates
- Live Webinar Contact
December 4-6, 2023
The Second Annual Social Determinants of Health Policy Forum
RISE
- Washington D.C.
December 5, 2023
Innovations in Chronic Care Management: The Analytics Behind Better Health Outcomes
RISE
- Webinar
December 11-13, 2023
The Rise Stars Ratings Master Class
- San Diego, CA
December 12-13, 2023
RISE Women in Health Care Leadership Summit
- San Diego, CA
2024
February 27-29, 2024
AHIP Executive Leadership Summit
- Phoenix, AZ
March 4-5, 2024
NCQA Health Equity Forum
- Los Angeles, CA
March 12-14, 2024
2024 Medicare, Medicaid, Duals, & Commercial Market Forum
AHIP
- Baltimore, MD
April 2-3, 2024
The Medicaid Managed Care Leadership Summit
- Virtual
April 19-22, 2024
2024 National Conference American Case Management Association
- Nashville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
October 31-November 2, 2024
NCQA Health Innovation Summit
- Nashville, TN
QUALITY INSIGHTS
From NCQA
NCQA’s Health Plan Ratings 2023
Health Plan Ratings 2024
Terms You Can Use
Are you clear on these terms on collecting health equity data? (NCQA 2024 Health Equity Accreditation Glossary Appendix 3)
- Geocode: Uses an individual’s home address to infer other information, including race and ethnicity.
- HRET Toolkit: Endorsed by the National Quality Forum. Provides instructions for the direct data collection of race/ethnicity. (partial description)
- Indirect method: Estimates race/ethnicity of the population of eligible individuals (e.g., geocoding or surname analysis) for planning and evaluation.
- Surname analysis: Uses an individual’s last name to infer other information, including race/ethnicity.
Model of Care (MOC) for SNPs are due in February.
Are you meeting all the requirements for your upcoming MOC submission in February? Having an expert like Jean Lockington will let you know! Jean is not only an MHR Independent Consultant but also an NCQA Executive Reviewer for MOC. She will assess each element against the standards for your initial or off-cycle review. Contact MHR now before time runs out!
Need to catch up on MHR’s latest Blogs? Be sure to distribute them to your quality teams for added training, as they provide unique insights from our Consultants.
CALENDAR OF OBSERVANCES
November
Homeless Awareness Month
Great American Smoke Out (11/16/2023)
National Rural Health Day (11/26/2023)
American Diabetes Month
December
2024
January
No Name-Calling Week (1/15-1/19/2024)
February
National Wear Red Day (2/4/2024)
National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month
March
National Youth Violence Prevention Week (4/22-4/26/2024)
National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week (3/18-3/24/2024)
Are you ready for a Discovery Call with MHR?
If you are considering engaging with a consulting firm for assistance with your NCQA survey, read about How We Work.
MHR was incorporated in 1991 and specializes in preparing organizations for all NCQA accreditation and certification products.
All MHR consultants were responsible for NCQA accreditation in their previous roles before joining MHR as an independent consultant. Most consultants are also NCQA surveyors and the majority are clinicians.
We welcome hearing from you!
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