on May 17, 2012 |
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Topics: Quality, Performance Improvement, Outcomes, Appropriateness, Medicare, Reimbursement, Finance, Oncology, Service Lines
Anne Taylor, Oncology Roundtable
Last week, in the FY 2013 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Proposed Rule, CMS announced five proposed measures for the PPS-exempt Cancer Hospital Quality Reporting (PCHQR) Program.
In the development of the PCHQR, an extension of the National Quality Strategy mandated by the ACA, CMS employed similar policies as those outlined in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Program to guide metric selection and development, as well as procedures for hospital participation.
CMS considered input from the PPS-exempt cancer hospital (PCH) Technical Expert Panel, consumers, advocacy groups, and providers in the development of these measures.
The selected PCHQR Program measures include two CDC National Health Safety Network (NHSN) health care associated infection (HAI) outcome measures, one process of care measure for colon cancer, and two process of care measures for different types of breast cancer. Each is an NQf-endorsed measure.
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CMS proposes five quality measures for PPS-exempt Cancer Hospital Quality Reporting Program
on May 16, 2012 |
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Topics: Oncology, Service Lines, Patient Satisfaction, Quality, Performance Improvement, Appropriateness, Workforce, Staffing, Labor Expense
Anne Taylor, Oncology Roundtable
We recently spoke with Dr. Kathleen G. Allen, F.A.C.S., a private practice breast fellowship trained surgeon at The Comprehensive Breast Care Center of Tampa Bay, in Clearwater, Florida, to discuss her experiences with InformedDNA genetic counseling services.
Dr. Allen works with one other surgeon who sees both breast and melanoma patients. The practice sees approximately 500 breast cancer patients per year. They have partnered with InformedDNA to provide comprehensive genetic counseling services for their patients.
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Outsourcing genetic counseling: The provider perspective
Lindsay Conway on May 14, 2012 |
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Topics: Oncology, Service Lines, ACO, Market Trends, Strategy
Florida’s largest health insurer, Florida Blue, has partnered with Baptist Health South Florida and Advanced Medical Specialties (a medical and radiation oncology group based in Miami), to create what is thought to be the first oncology accountable care organization (ACO) in the country.
The overarching goals are to improve patient outcomes, increase care coordination, and reduce costs. The Miami Herald quoted Florida Blue’s CEO, Pat Geraghty, saying “We’re looking forward to dramatically changing the way care gets delivered.”
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Oncology-specific ACO launches in Florida
