APP Key Messages | May 13, 2021

Please note: This is an internal Advocate Aurora Health newsletter and safe to open.

May 13, 2021

In this issue

MA Stars
Vaccines for Adolescents
APP Appeal Notification
Epic Connect

Driving Success: MA Stars Performance

Marwan Baghdan, MD | Regional Medical Director, APP South Region

Bob Belter, MD | Regional Medical Director, APP North Region

At our recent APP Annual Meeting, we shared ways we can continue to work together to help our patients live well and reward you for your hard work. This includes our MA Stars performance. Achieving high performance on MA Stars is critical for the care of our patients as well as being financially rewarded for higher quality by CMS. We’re committed to sharing our latest results with you and areas of focus to drive ongoing success.

Nurses Week

As we close on National Nurses Week, we are thrilled to always recognize our nurse colleagues as key members of our care team and honor their devotion to excellence in nursing practice. Please join us in reading stories of our Advocate Aurora nurses and teams.

COVID-19 Updates

Click the "full details" button below to read more on these timely updates.

Vaccines for 12 to 15-year-olds approved: This week, the FDA approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for 12 to 15-year-olds, and the CDC has also endorsed it, allowing vaccinations to begin May 13 for this age group. Parents or guardians can schedule their child at an Advocate Aurora Health vaccine clinic three ways: via LiveWell once they've connected their account to their child's or minor's via proxy access; at aah.org or by calling 866-443-2584.

Monoclonal antibody update: Due to the increased prevalence of COVID variants, the recommended combination, casirivimab/imdevimab is now the sole monoclonal antibody therapy used across Advocate Aurora. Read the SBAR.

Have you gotten your vaccine?: APP aligned physicians can now walk in to hospital-based Advocate Aurora vaccination clinic locations. You can direct your office staff to learn more on ways to schedule their vaccine.

Vaccinating pregnant and breastfeeding patients: Experts believe the vaccines are unlikely to pose a risk when administered during pregnancy or for breastfeeding individuals. Refer to this clinical guidance.

Share your symptoms; slow the spread: Advocate Aurora is partnering with the University of California, San Francisco, to conduct the COVID-19 Citizen Science Study. If you’re an Advocate Aurora patient, you’ll receive a personalized link by email. If you’re not a patient, join here.

Facebook live: Ask the experts: Watch now for the latest on pediatric COVID-19 vaccine developments: Facebook or YouTube .

Full details

Messages from the President & CEO

Watch Jim Skogsbergh’s video for a brief COVID update and the chance to get to know Chief Strategy Officer, Shoeb Sitafalwalla, MD.

Clinical Integration

Earn full credit: The CI-1 course provides an overview of the 2021 program and is available in eUniversity. Complete by June 30 for full credit (2.0 points).

Check your inbox: 2020 CI program appeal decision letters were emailed on May 10 from [email protected] to the email address on file with APP.

Stay updated: Review latest update.

New e-University courses: The following are worth 2.0 CI points. You can take two elective courses for CI credit. Learn more (page 4). Access eUniversity under Quick Links on APP Pro.
Case studies in opioid management: Palliative care focus
Pediatric orthopedics: Common sports injuries and fractures
Elder care: Process of aging, coordination of care and resources available to patients
Coming soon: Thyroid disease (Clinical recommendations on when to screen and treat)

Epic Transformation

Epic Connect program

Meet the first 5 practices: We have officially kicked off implementation for our first group of practices. These practices will go through implementation first so we can adapt the program and learn best practices. We’ll share feedback throughout their journey. Get to know them here.

EpicCare Link updates

Electronic order entry – new date: Last week, we announced that electronic order entry will replace the referrals function for most services in ECL on June 1. To allow for adequate training time and to ensure the best experience for you, we are moving this date and will share the new date as soon as it becomes available.

Insurance coverage: ECL users can now see all insurance coverages on record in the Advocate Aurora Health Epic system. Previously, only Managed Care coverages were viewable. This allows for better identification of COB for multiple insurances and for more timely filing and payment for claims from payers – in addition to APP.

Advocate Aurora Epic upgrade on track for June 16

Planned enhancements include text reminders to patients regarding upcoming surgeries, physicians and APCs can mark outside information as reviewed, and antibiotic reminders ensuring patients receive antibiotics in a timely manner. Please see this overview for additional safety and efficiency enhancements slated for this upgrade. Clinical end user education begins the week of May 24. Note: This does not impact EpicCare Link.

Supporting Your Practice

MSSP ACO reminder: Several primary care practices have been contacted to participate in an Advanced APM through Direct Contracting. If you participate in our MSSP ACO you already participate in an Advanced APM. CMS does not allow practices to participate in both MSSP and Direct Contracting. Contact your PHO Director with questions.

Humana records request: As required by CMS, Humana will begin requesting medical records for its 2021 Provider Validation (PDV) Audits beginning in June. Providing these records is an APP requirement. Humana will provide feedback to physicians on diagnosis coding accuracy for risk adjustment and offer recommendations on how to improve diagnosis coding, documentation accuracy and coding compliance. Learn more.

Pharmacy & therapeutics updates: Review the latest summary from Advocate Aurora Health Pharmacy & Therapeutics committee for system and ambulatory, including use of select beta-blockers, oral multivitamins and evinacumab (Evkeeza).

Virtual health insurance coverage and professional billing: Refer to the payer overview and summary outlining the latest virtual health insurance coverage changes.

Please click “read more” for additional important updates:

Patient outreach
Social media and online reviews privacy tip
Government update

Elevating Our Expertise

Down syndrome care and increasing life spans: The latest Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews features a Down syndrome study conducted by Brian Chicoine, MD, family medicine physician, and other Advocate Aurora Health researchers. As individuals with Down syndrome live longer due to medical advances, physicians and APCs should consider progressive diseases and chronic conditions that may develop. Earn CME credit by passing a quiz on the study’s findings.

Research changing lives: Read this month’s Advocate Aurora Research Institute newsletter.

In the news:
Rob Citronberg, MD, executive medical director, infectious disease and prevention, discusses impact of not reaching herd immunity by fall. View video.
View Daily Herald article on how two Advocate hospitals responded to the pandemic.

Continuing Medical Education & Events

MEDtalks: Transgender and nonconforming patient populations

Speaker: Cathy Lynn Joyce, MD, Director, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Pediatrics, Advocate Children’s Hospital

June 10 | 7–8 a.m.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) is an Advocate Aurora Health organizational and health equity priority continually needing to be integrated into our standard clinical practices. Learn how to update treatment plans based on evidence-based practices when caring for transgender and nonconforming patients.