(301) 657-9883 info@econometricainc.com
CMS Releases New Course for SNF Providers

CMS Releases New Course for SNF Providers

CMS SNF CourseBETHESDA, MD – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new web-based training course that provides an overview of the assessment and coding the items in Section K related to height, weight, and nutritional approaches for skilled nursing facility residents. The on-demand, 30-minute course includes interactive exercises to test skilled nursing facility providers’ knowledge related to the assessment and coding of K0200: Height and Weight and K0510: Nutritional Approaches.

The new training was developed as part of the Post-Acute Care (PAC) Training contract, which assesses training needs, develops training materials, delivers training to providers and stakeholders, and evaluates the outcome of the trainings for changes and clarification needed due to the passing of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act). The primary goal of the project is to deliver relevant, accurate, and engaging training to assist providers in complying with coding and data submission requirements associated with quality reporting programs (QRPs) for the skilled nursing facility, long-term care hospital, inpatient rehabilitation facility, home health agency, and hospice care settings..

The latest training can be found through the CMS’ skilled nursing facility QRP training web page.

If you have questions about accessing the course or feedback regarding the training, please email the PAC Training mailbox at PACTraining@EconometricaInc.com. Content-related questions should be submitted to the SNF QRP Help Desk at SNFQualityQuestions@cms.hhs.gov.

About Econometrica

Founded in 1998, Econometrica is a research and management organization in Bethesda, MD, established to provide public- and private-sector clients with customized program support services. Econometrica works with multiple agencies to provide high-quality, cost-effective analyses, modeling, and economic evaluations. The company consistently receives exceptional scores from its clients and believes in three principles: technical capabilities, happy customers, and business development.

 

The new training was developed as part of the Post-Acute Care (PAC) Training contract, which assesses training needs, develops training materials, delivers training to providers and stakeholders, and evaluates the outcome of the trainings for changes and clarification needed due to the passing of the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act).

Econometrica’s Health Group Expands Clinical Expertise

Econometrica’s Health Group Expands Clinical Expertise

Health Group website pageEconometrica’s Health Group has further expanded its knowledge base and team of clinical experts. Through our recruiting and continuing education initiatives, our team stands ready to offer a wide range of expertise to organizations and agencies in the public and private sectors.

Health Group staff members understand medical coding related to Current Procedural Technology (CPT); the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM); and the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), Level II, which are the three main code sets used to bill Medicare claims. Our staff members can identify the purpose and applicability of these code sets and explain how to use each one when assigning diagnoses and coding procedures across a wide variety of patient services in various settings.

Accurately coding patient services is critical to ensuring the best quality and efficacy of care for all Medicare beneficiaries. Econometrica staff members can support the understanding and accurate application of ICD-10-CM coding guidelines. We can describe the major features of the codes that are part of Level II HCPCS and identify and explain the information contained in the appendixes of the CPT code set. Econometrica has further experience with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Evaluation and Management (E/M) Services Guide, and our staff members can clarify the determination of E/M services levels. We are experienced in the practical application of coding operative reports and E/M services.

For example, Econometrica staff works to inform our Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced project participants about how codes work for the quality measure documentation, ensuring we are comprehensive in our methodology and instructions to registries.

Our Health Group is well equipped to assist organizations supporting Medicare beneficiaries with a wide range of expertise among our staff members. To learn more about the Health Group and our services, clients, and capabilities, visit our Health Group page on the Econometrica website.

About Econometrica

Founded in 1998, Econometrica is a research and management organization in Bethesda, MD, established to provide public- and private-sector clients with customized program support services. Econometrica works with multiple agencies to provide high-quality, cost-effective analyses, modeling, and economic evaluations. The company consistently receives exceptional scores from its clients and believes in three principles: technical capabilities, happy customers, and business development.

Our Health Group is well equipped to assist organizations supporting Medicare beneficiaries with a wide range of expertise among our staff members.

AHRQ’s MEPS-HC Health Policy Booklet Abstraction Tool Wins Prestige

AHRQ’s MEPS-HC Health Policy Booklet Abstraction Tool Wins Prestige

FedHealthITBETHESDA, MD – An Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) project on which Econometrica played a key role won an award for developing “an efficient data abstraction tool and the support of well-trained, highly skilled abstractors.”

The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) Health Policy Booklet Abstraction project, on which Econometrica served as a subcontractor to SoftDev, won recognition in the 7th Annual FedHealthIT Innovation Awards. The awards recognize and honor innovation and results in the Federal health technology and consulting community that benefits the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Military Health System, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The MEPS-HC project involved the creation of an abstraction tool for use in extracting cost-sharing data elements from Summaries of Benefits and Coverage and other health insurance policy documents for private, Medicare, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage plans. Econometrica was responsible for training, implementing, and ensuring the quality of the data abstraction process using the abstraction tool developed by the team. The abstracted data will be compiled into a public-use database with individual-level cost-sharing data that links to the MEPS-HC data for use in research and consumption by a variety of stakeholders as well as the public.

“This represents the development of an efficient data abstraction tool and the support of well-trained, highly skilled abstractors to produce a robust, accurate and actionable data source for AHRQ’s use,” according to FedHealthIT.

The tool “modernized AHRQ’s available toolset by harnessing cognitive services in a way not previously used.” FedHealthIT also noted that “the solution strikes a smart balance between automation and human intelligence to best interpret artifacts, empowering AHRQ to leap forward after a twenty year wait for the critical information locked within the [health policy booklet] documents.”

AHRQ and the project and MEPS team will be recognized at a virtual ceremony June 22 and 23, 2021. Award winners were nominated and selected by a panel that included current and former Federal health leaders across Government and industry. More about the awards and other winners can be found at https://www.fedhealthit.com/2021/05/2021-fedhealthit-innovation-award-winners-announced/.

About Econometrica

Founded in 1998, Econometrica is a research and management organization in Bethesda, MD, established to provide public- and private-sector clients with customized program support services. Econometrica works with multiple agencies to provide high-quality, cost-effective analyses, modeling, and economic evaluations. The company consistently receives exceptional scores from its clients and believes in three principles: technical capabilities, happy customers, and business development.

The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC) Health Policy Booklet Abstraction project, on which Econometrica served as a subcontractor to SoftDev, won recognition in the 7th Annual FedHealthIT Innovation Awards.

Census Announces Results of 2020 Census, Population Counts for Apportionment

Census Announces Results of 2020 Census, Population Counts for Apportionment

The U.S. Census announced on April 26 that the 2020 census shows the population of the United States is 331,449,281. This represents growth of 7.4 percent from the 2010 census. This also represents the second slowest population growth rate in U.S. history.

“The American public deserves a big thank you for its overwhelming response to the 2020 Census,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a statement. “Despite many challenges, our nation completed a census for the 24th time. This act is fundamental to our democracy and a declaration of our growth and resilience. I also want to thank the team at the U.S. Census Bureau, who overcame unprecedented challenges to collect and produce high-quality data that will inform decision-making for years to come.”

The population grew the fastest over the last decade in the South (10.2 percent) and in the West (9.2 percent). The Northeast and Midwest saw slower growth (4.1 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively). On average, each member of the House will represent 761,169 residents.

Map showing the percent change in resident population for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, from 2010 to 2020

Map showing the percent change in resident population for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, from 2010 to 2020. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/apportionment/apportionment-2020-map03.png.

The data release also included the State population counts used to apportion the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 2022 election will be the first to use this new data. In total, seven seats will shift:

  • Six States will gain House seats; Texas gained two seats, while Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon each gained one seat.
  • Seven states—California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia—each will lose one seat.

Apportionment, which takes place every 10 years, is the process of distributing the 435 seats in the House among the 50 States. The results of the 2020 census are used to draw congressional and State legislative districts. The apportionment population excludes the population of the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, which do not have voting members in the House.

Map showing apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives Based on the 2020 Census

Map showing apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives based on the 2020 census. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/apportionment/apportionment-2020-map01.png.

Local to Econometrica:

  • Maryland’s population was 6,177,224, up from 5,773,552 in 2010.
  • Virginia’s population rose to 8,631,393 from 8,001,024 in 2010.
  • The District of Columbia was 689,545, up from 601,723 in 2010.

For more information about the 2020 census data and apportionment, visit the Census Bureau’s 2020 Census Apportionment Results press kit.

Related Links:

The population grew the fastest over the last decade in the South (10.2 percent) and in the West (9.2 percent). The Northeast and Midwest saw slower growth (4.1 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively).

Econometrica’s Statement Following Conviction of Derek Chauvin

Econometrica’s Statement Following Conviction of Derek Chauvin

GeorgeFloydBETHESDA, MD – The past year has been difficult for many reasons, not least because the Nation has witnessed many traumatizing instances of police brutality against Black Americans. The trial and conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd is but a small step toward bringing accountability to and eliminating systemic racism from our justice system. The trial may be over, but the conversation about structural racism and inequity must not end here.

Econometrica continues, and will always, actively stand with the Black community, our colleagues, their families, and clients in the fight against racism, injustice, and inequality. We will continue to strive to create and maintain a diverse and welcoming workplace, something that is pivotal to our high-quality work, mission, and success. Our colleagues deserve it, and our clients and partners expect it. We must not lose sight of these issues, today or in the future; we must instead work to make a positive impact on the world.

Econometrica continues, and will always, actively stand with the Black community, our colleagues, their families, and clients in the fight against racism, injustice, and inequality.

Econometrica Explores ESRD Treatments From the Patient Perspective

Econometrica Explores ESRD Treatments From the Patient Perspective

Econometrica released a new issue brief exploring treatment options for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and their problems from the patient perspective. In partnership with LMI and the American Association of Kidney Patients, the ESRD Brief: Patient Perspectives discusses dialysis treatments and kidney transplantation and highlights the implications for patients of the ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) Model. The ETC Model, rolled out by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, aims to encourage greater use of home dialysis and kidney transplants for Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD.

ESRD Patient Perspectives v4 5 pdf

ESRD Brief: Patient Perspectives

The Problem From the Patient Perspective