News

Accountable Care Symposium to Focus on Emergency Department and Inpatient Transitions of Care

Austin, Texas – November 29, 2016 – The Caravan Health two-day Accountable Care Symposium on January 11 and 12, 2017 at The Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix, Arizona, will provide hands-on training for ACO’s, CPC+ participants and forward-thinking primary care practices that want to learn simple techniques that improve care, lower cost and help practices earn significant bonuses under MACRA.

The Caravan Health Accountable Care Symposium will teach proven methods for implementing Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC+) Programs, Accountable Care Organizations (ACO’s) and new, billable primary care services. In addition to focusing on a variety of key topics in population health, the Symposium will teach emergency department and inpatient follow up procedures. Hands-on workshops will provide key materials and training to help attendees to strengthen their skills and gain confidence carrying out these processes.

  • Receive scripts, tools and training to approach high volume hospitals and emergency departments to develop notification processes upon discharge.
  • Receive training on protocols for scheduling post-discharge follow-up with your nurse.
  • Learn how to bill for Transitional Care Management Services.

“Our patients are highly vulnerable during these transitions from the hospital and emergency department settings.” stated Lynn Barr, CEO of Caravan Health. “This program will help our practices help our patients when they need it the most.”

The first day of the symposium will be dedicated to policy: explaining the interaction between MACRA and advanced payment models and showcasing real world experiences from pioneers of accountable care and practice transformation. The second day will feature hands-on workshops that will provide instruction on how to simply and affordably implement chronic care management and behavioral health interventions, in addition to wellness, risk adjustment and stratification programs. A special workshop will be dedicated to MACRA’s new Advancing Care Information category, providing practical tips on how to implement the workflows that will achieve the highest scores.

Participants that are currently enrolled in the Caravan Health ACO or CPC+ programs or are participating in any Practice Transformation Network may attend the Symposium at no cost if they register by December 15, 2016. A complete agenda and registration are available through the Caravan Health website www.CaravanHealth.com.

About Caravan Health:
Caravan Health helps providers implement population health programs with affordable, end-to-end solutions that achieve outstanding results.

 

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CONTACT:
Bryan Hagar
Communications Director
Caravan Health
916 542 4583
bhagar@caravanhealth.com

November 30, 2016 Accountable Care Organization, News Read more >

Care Coordination to be Featured at the Caravan Health Accountable Care Symposium

Join hundreds of accountable care pioneers to learn how rural hospitals, clinics, small practices and independent providers can achieve better outcomes and higher earnings.

Austin, Texas – November 21, 2016 – The Caravan Health two-day Accountable Care Symposium, to be held January 11 and 12, 2017 at The Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix, Arizona, will provide hands-on training for ACO’s, CPC+ participants and forward thinking primary care practices that want to learn simple techniques that improve care, lower cost and help practices earn significant bonuses under MACRA.

In addition to covering a number of other prominent topics in population health, the Symposium will help participants learn tried and true methods for implementing CPC+, Accountable Care Organizations, and new, billable primary care services. Hands-on workshops will help practices set up the following programs

  • Chronic Care Management
  • Transitional Care Management
  • Risk stratification
  • Empanelment

Participants can meet and network with experienced care coordinators who have already implemented these programs successfully in hospitals, rural health clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and primary care practices.

“Care coordinators are the heart and soul of population health. These workshops will teach practices how to set up successful care coordination programs that improve outcomes and are financially sustainable.” stated Lynn Barr, CEO of Caravan Health.

The first day of the symposium will be dedicated to policy: explaining the interaction between MACRA and advanced payment models and showcasing real world experiences from pioneers of accountable care and practice transformation. The second day will feature hands-on workshops that will provide instruction on how to simply and affordably implement chronic care management and behavioral health interventions, in addition to wellness, risk adjustment and stratification programs. A special workshop will be dedicated to MACRA’s new Advancing Care Information category, providing practical tips on how to implement the workflows that will achieve the highest scores.

Participants that are currently enrolled in the Caravan Health ACO or CPC+ programs or are participating in a Practice Transformation Network may attend the Symposium at no cost if they register by December 15, 2016. A complete agenda and registration are available through the Caravan Health website www.CaravanHealth.com.

About Caravan Health:
Caravan Health helps providers implement population health programs with affordable, end-to-end solutions that achieve outstanding results.

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CONTACT:
Bryan Hagar
Communications Director
Caravan Health
916 542 4583
bhagar@caravanhealth.com

November 22, 2016 Accountable Care Organization, News Read more >

Caravan Health Accountable Care Symposium to Feature Training on Access and Continuity Solutions

Join hundreds of accountable care pioneers to learn how rural hospitals, clinics, small practices and independent providers can achieve better outcomes and higher earnings.

Austin, Texas – November 15, 2016 – Caravan Health will be providing hands-on training for ACO’s, CPC+ participants and forward thinking primary care practices that want to learn simple techniques that improve care, lower cost and help practices earn significant bonuses under MACRA. The two-day symposium will be held January 11 and 12, 2017 at The Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix, Arizona.

In addition to other population health-focused curriculum, the Symposium will train practices on how to implement the following access and continuity programs:

  • Provide a 24/7 nurse-advice line to triage patients and reduce the call burden on the practice; directing patients to the practice only when appropriate.
  • Teach your staff to empanel patients based on proven methodology, measure access and continuity, and rebalance patient loads as appropriate.
  • Help your staff use claims data to develop diabetic, cardiology and pulmonology panels, identify high value specialists for collaboration and organize quarterly meetings with you, your specialists and the care team to review your panels.
  • Help you implement Alternative Visits, including teaching you and your staff about scheduling, documentation and tracking methodologies.

“Leaders who attend will leave the Symposium with an understanding of exactly what needs to be done in 2017 in order to succeed in their ACO, CPC+ and MACRA+ programs,” stated Lynn Barr, CEO of Caravan Health.

The first day of the symposium will be dedicated to policy: explaining the interaction between MACRA and advanced payment models and showcasing real world experiences from pioneers of accountable care and practice transformation. The second day will feature hands-on workshops that will provide instruction on how to simply and affordably implement chronic care management and behavioral health interventions, in addition to wellness, risk adjustment and stratification programs. A special workshop will be dedicated to MACRA’s new Advancing Care Information category, providing practical tips on how to implement the workflows that will achieve the highest scores.

Participants that are currently enrolled in the Caravan Health ACO or CPC+ programs or are participating in a Practice Transformation Network may attend the Symposium at no cost if they register by December 15, 2016. A complete agenda and registration are available through the Caravan Health website www.CaravanHealth.com.

About Caravan Health:
Caravan Health helps providers implement population health programs with affordable, end-to-end solutions that achieve outstanding results.

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CONTACT:
Bryan Hagar
Communications Director
Caravan Health
916 542 4583
bhagar@caravanhealth.com

November 16, 2016 Accountable Care Organization, News Read more >

Registration Now Open for the Caravan Health Accountable Care Symposium

Join hundreds of accountable care pioneers to learn how rural hospitals, clinics, small practices and independent providers can achieve better outcomes and higher earnings.

Austin, Texas – November 07, 2016 – Registration is now open for the Caravan Health Accountable Care Symposium, the premier learning and networking event for current and future participants in Advanced Payment Models. The two-day symposium will be held January 11 and 12, 2017 at The Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix, Arizona,

The meeting will convene independent practice associations, small practices, rural health systems, community hospitals, FQHCs and multi-specialty groups; together with hundreds of current ACO participants including primary care physicians, community hospital CEOs, nurse care coordinators and executive leaders. Many newly accepted participants in Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) will attend, joined by physicians and hospital leaders that are preparing to enter into Advanced Payment Models in 2018.

“Leaders who attend will leave the Symposium with an understanding of exactly what needs to be done in 2017 in order to succeed in their CPC+ and ACO programs,” stated Lynn Barr, CEO of Caravan Health.

The first day of the symposium will be dedicated to policy: explaining the interaction between MACRA and advanced payment models and showcasing real world experiences from pioneers of accountable care and practice transformation. The second day will feature hands-on workshops that will provide instruction on how to simply and affordably implement chronic care management and behavioral health interventions, in addition to wellness, risk adjustment and stratification programs. A special workshop will be dedicated to MACRA’s new Advancing Care Information category, providing practical tips on how to implement the workflows that will achieve the highest scores.

Participants that are currently enrolled in the Caravan Health ACO or CPC+ program or are participating in a Practice Transformation Network may attend the Symposium at no cost, if they register by December 15, 2016. A complete agenda and registration are available through the Caravan Health website www.CaravanHealth.com.

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About Caravan Health:

Caravan Health helps providers implement population health programs with affordable, end-to-end solutions that achieve outstanding results.

CONTACT:
Bryan Hagar
Communications Director
Caravan Health
916 542 4582
bhagar@caravanhealth.com

November 7, 2016 News Read more >

Introducing the New Quality Payment Program from CMS

If your practice bills Medicare more than $30,000 a year and provides care for more than 100 Medicare patients, you will now be in the Quality Payment Program established under MACRA, The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.

The Quality Payment Program replaces the previous Sustainable Growth Rate formula and is broken down into a two-track framework: Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs) or the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Most providers will participate through the MIPS track which will award an incentive or a payment penalty based upon performance on quality, cost, use of electronic health record technology and improvement activities. Participation in the Advanced APM path will require clinicians to take on more financial and technological risk but will yield a 5% lump-sum incentive payment.

Throughout the performance year, practices will need to record the quality of care they provide and the type of technology used. Medicare will utilize this information to give feedback about performance and determine incentive payments and adjustments.

Practices can pick their pace for the Quality Payment Program starting on January 1, 2017 with first payment reimbursements going into effect on January 1, 2019.

  • If MIPS eligible providers don’t participate at all, they can expect a 4% negative payment adjustment
  • If MIPS eligible providers submit one quality measure or one improvement activity for any point in 2017, there would be no adjustments.
  • If MIPS eligible providers submit for a partial year (a minimum of 90 days of 2017 data) they will receive either a neutral or small positive adjustment
  • If MIPS eligible providers submit for Full Year: Submit all 2017 data to Medicare they will receive a moderate positive payment adjustment

Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers are exempt from reporting under MACRA. However, we encourage voluntary reporting to help those providers stay current with reporting requirements and to help prepare for advanced payment models.

The Consortium’s Practice Transformation Network prepares providers for participation in MACRA as well as in advanced payment models. This program is funded by the Transforming Clinical Practices Initiative from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Ready to learn more? Please visit https://qpp.cms.gov/.

November 4, 2016 CMS, News Read more >

Monica Bourgeau to Speak on Value-Based Payment Model Success During 2016 Pre-Learning & Action Network Meeting

Portland, Oregon – October 6, 2016 – Monica Bourgeau, Executive Director of the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium, will present the business case for the Practice Transformation Network (PTN) at the 2016 Pre-Learning & Action Network (LAN) Fall Summit Meeting on October 24, 2016 in Washington, DC.

The LAN Summit brings health care professionals from across the nation to facilitate discussion on developing and implementing Alternative Payment Models (APMs). During the pre-meeting, Ms. Bourgeau will share her expertise on helping hundreds of practices and rural providers successfully adopt value-based payment models as a PTN participant through the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium

“Alternative payment models are shifting the way the nation pays for health care,” says Ms. Bourgeau. “This movement is establishing a sustainable delivery system that values quality over volume which better meets the needs of patients and providers.”

In 2015, the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium was awarded a Transformation of Clinical Practice Initiative grant to transition providers into new payment models. Under the Consortium’s program, small and rural primary care practices are able to begin the transformation to the new value-based payment models at no cost.

The PTN program infrastructure has helped practices reduce per-capita spending while improving care and patient satisfaction. More than 90% of the Consortium’s ACO Investment Model (AIM) applications were successful, making up more than 50% of all AIM ACOs in the nation.

To learn more information about the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium, please visit www.nationalruralACO.com.

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CONTACT:
Bryan Hagar
Communications Director
Caravan Health
916 542 4583
bhagar@caravanhealth.com

October 6, 2016 Accountable Care Organization, News Read more >

Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) – Which Track is Right for You?

Sue Dietz, MPH, presents a one-hour webinar on how primary care providers can qualify for the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) initiative, an innovative multi-payer program offered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that generously compensates providers for delivering comprehensive care.

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Through Sept. 15, eligible providers may apply for CPC+ Track 1 or Track 2, potentially earning $100,000 to $250,000 per year, in addition to fee-for-service. In this webinar, Ms. Barr differentiates between the two models and helps practices determine which track is best by providing an easy roadmap to meet eligibility requirements and a financial calculator to assess incentive payments.

CMS recently announced 14 geographical regions eligible for the five-year program including the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Tennessee. Additional regions are the Greater Kansas City Region of Kansas and Missouri; the North Hudson-Capital Region of New York; Northern Kentucky and the Greater Philadelphia Region in Pennsylvania.

For more information about how your practice can qualify for CPC+ in time to apply and at no cost, please go to www.caravanhealth.com.

August 22, 2016 CMS, News Read more >

Caravan Health / National Rural Accountable Care Consortium Sign Up More Than 10% of all Million Hearts Grantees

Austin, Texas – July 26, 2016 – Caravan Health and National Rural Accountable Care Consortium announced today that they were successful in signing up more than 10% of all Million Hearts practices, including the majority of rural practices accepted into the program.  Million Hearts is a national initiative with an ambitious goal to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. According to Lynn Barr, CEO of Caravan Health, “This is another major milestone for our providers. Million Hearts is a terrific program that will reduce the number of heart attacks in at-risk patients, while paying providers well to implement the program.”

At first Caravan Health was not able to recruit providers for the program because patients that were in Million Hearts were not eligible for Chronic Care Management fees, a net loss of $400 per patient per year. After notifying the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) of the dilemma, CMMI modified the rule to avoid exclusion of Care Management Payment, but only three days before the application deadline.

Caravan Health’s customer service team dropped what they were doing and called and emailed hundreds of practices right up to the deadline, providing them with a sample application and encouraging them to apply. “Our providers will receive an extra $16 million for participation, and thousands of heart attacks will be avoided. Everybody wins.” says Tristan Del Canto, who manages the customer service team.

The Consortium and Caravan Health have a highly successful track record in helping providers apply for value-based payments. “More than 90% of our AIM ACO applications were successful and make up more than 50% of all AIM ACO’s in the nation,” says Monica Bourgeau, Executive Director of the Consortium. “In addition, the Consortium was awarded a $31 million Transformation of Clinical Practice Initiative grant to assist providers to move into value-based payments, and we have already enabled hundreds of independent, rural and safety net primary care practices join value-based payment models.”

The number of practices that have signed up for the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium’s Practice Transformation Network is more than four times what was anticipated in the grant application. Almost half of those practices are small practices in urban settings who benefit from setting up the same simple, sustainable programs of care coordination and wellness and prevention. Practices preparing for MACRA and other advanced payment models are provided software, training and 24/7 advice nurse hotlines at no cost under the Consortium’s program. The Consortium is a 501c3 organization which contracts its transformation services to Caravan Health.

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CONTACT:
Bryan Hagar
Communications Director
Caravan Health
916 542 4583
bhagar@caravanhealth.com

July 27, 2016 Accountable Care Organization, News Read more >

Shannon Calhoun Appointed to Texas Health Services Authority Board of Directors

Austin, Texas – June 30, 2016 – Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Shannon Calhoun, Regional Vice President of the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium, to the Texas Health Services Authority Board of Directors.

The THSA serves the public healthcare system of Texas by coordinating the implementation of technologies that work to enhance doctor and patient experience. Established in 2007, THSA utilizes a health information exchange to allow for secure release of medical records on a need-to-know basis. The goal of this effort is to increase coordination and quality of care while improving efficiency and consumer control.

Calhoun stated, “I am honored to continue to serve Texas as a Director of the Texas Health Services Authority. My hope is that with the knowledge of rewards and challenges our Texas clients experience in sharing data, I will be able to promote an environment for providers to succeed in today’s healthcare transformation.”

An active member of her community, Calhoun was a member of the Goliad County Chamber of Commerce Finance Committee, Goliad Community Network, Goliad Rotary Club and the Pecan Valley AHEC board. Calhoun received her Bachelor of Science in agronomy from Texas A&M University and was named as one of Texas A&M University’s “Aggie 100” in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

CONTACT:

Bryan Hagar

Communications Director

Caravan Health

916 542 4583

bhagar@caravanhealth.com

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June 30, 2016 Accountable Care Organization, News Read more >

National Rural Accountable Care Consortium Offers Free Participation in Medicare Shared Savings Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beaverton, Oregon – June 28, 2016 – Today the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium (NRACC) announced that Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), rural hospitals with less than 100 beds and independent practices may be eligible for free participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).

NRACC anticipates many primary care providers will be moving into the new Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) program this fall. This movement will allow other providers, not participating in the CPC+ program, to move into ACO Investment Model (AIM)-funded ACOs, where practices can receive all of the benefits of the Medicare Shared Savings Program at no cost.

Interested applicants must submit a non-binding application no later than July 15, 2016. If approved by the ACO Boards of Directors, successful applicants will be notified in October and have five business days to either confirm or withdraw their application.

“Accountable Care Organizations are a great way to get the data we need to help our patients,” says Dr. Mark Hamed, Medical Director of the Greater Michigan Rural ACO, an NRACC member. “The changes we have made in our practice workflows improve care for our patients and make it easier to practice medicine the way we have always wanted.”

McKenzie Health System CEO Steve Barnett agrees, “Patient-centered care under the ACO model has been great for our community and great for the bottom line of our rural health system. Patients leave the community for care less frequently, increase their preventive care compliance and stay healthier as a result.”

CPC+ is a new primary care payment initiative from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). According to NRACC Executive Director Monica Bourgeau, “CPC+ and the MSSP are two ways providers can participate in Advanced Payment Models. The MSSP greatly improves their results under MACRA. CPC+ is a Qualified Advanced Payment Model that exempts providers from MACRA and automatically earns a 5% Part B bonus. Either way providers and patients are better off.”

CONTACT:
Monica Bourgeau, MS
Executive Director
National Rural Accountable Care Consortium
www.NationalRuralACO.com
ptn@nationalruralaco.com
916.500.4777 (o)

June 28, 2016 Healthcare Grants and Funding, Medicare Shared Savings Plan, News Read more >