A Message from the Executive Vice President Carlos F. Perez, MSN, RN-BC In the few months since our last issue, the world as we knew it has changed in significant ways. The coronavirus made its way around the globe and COVID-19 grew into a pandemic, with more than 2.16 million cases and over 118,000 deaths in the US. Businesses and schools were shuttered, and many of us were forced to learn how to embrace technology to empower remote work forces when possible. Read more here .

Published Study Shows Relationship between MedWise Risk Score TM and Medical Spending in PACE  By Ankur Patel, MD, MBA, FAASP Chief Medical Director In PACE, Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) are of particular importance. Yet, data suggest that the majority of ADEs are both predictable and preventable. I would like to share an important study with you. Association of a Novel Medication Risk Score with Adverse Drug Events and Other Pertinent Outcomes Among Participants of the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly is a review of a 12-month analysis of insurance claims to determine if the MedWise Risk Score TM (MRS), a feature of CareKinesis’ proprietary software, relates to medical costs. The retrospective study, by Tabula Rasa HealthCare’s Precision Pharmacotherapy Research and Development Institute , looked at the medical claims of nearly 2,000 PACE participants to determine their MRS. The study demonstrates that the MRS, derived strictly from a medication regimen`s pharmacological properties, was significantly associated with ADEs among PACE participants. Indeed, the study concludes that in PACE, on an annual basis each one-point increase in the MRS corresponds to: $1,037 in additional annual medical spending per participant; 3.2 additional annual emergency department visits per 100 participants;  2.1 additional hospitalizations per 100 participants; and  Nearly five additional participants out of every 1,000 participants having at least one ADE. However, this is likely a gross underestimation. The literature indicates that ADEs are widely under-reported, with several studies citing under-reporting rates that exceed 90%. Continue reading Dr. Patel's article here . Read the published study here .

Learn about our special incentive for new CareKinesis clients here .

Coming Soon: Clinical Documentation Excellence Online Education CareVention HealthCare is launching Clinical Documentation Excellence (CDE) Online Education. Available on-demand, 24/7, the course catalog focuses on the clinician’s role in risk adjustment and the development of skills using ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes, and is designed for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other clinicians who offer services in value-based care settings, such as PACE. The curriculum, developed by the physician-consultants of Capstone Performance Systems , offers more than ten hours of engaging content, including timely, relevant topics such as risk adjustment methodology, the provider’s role in risk adjustment, and documenting specific conditions such as heart failure and vascular disease. The CDE series is offered as individual modules or subscription packages; a certification (CDE-C) option is also available. Tabula Rasa HealthCare University (TRHCU) will accredit course offerings for appropriate CE credits. In support of improving patient care, TRHCU is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. CareVention HealthCare is a division of TRHC. For more information, email [email protected] .

Tabula Rasa HealthCare Welcomes New Chief Medical Director Ankur Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP Tabula Rasa Healthcare (TRHC), parent company of CareVention HealthCare, is pleased to welcome Ankur Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP, as Chief Medical Director. A geriatrician, Dr. Patel is the former Medical Director of Inspira LIFE, a PACE program in Vineland, New Jersey. He also served as Medical Director for Population Health and Clinical Advisor for the Inspira Innovation Center. As Chief Medical Director, Dr. Patel will assist with our remote patient monitoring protocols, CareVention HealthCare data analytics, and serve as an advisor to the Clinical Advisory Panel (CAP) of Medical Directors and TRHCU. Additionally, he will work closely with Richard Schamp, MD, TRHC's Chief Medical Officer, to support clients during this transformational time in healthcare.

COVID-19 Resources for PACE The COVID-19 Resources for PACE page on CareKinesis.com was created to assist you in the continuing fight against the pandemic. In addition to information on the COVID-19 test kits, you will find a variety of relevant articles and other resources, including: An informative article on Nutritional Considerations and COVID-19 by Richard O. Schamp, MD, Chief Medical Officer, TRHC The COVID-19 Drug Information Guide includes dosing, side effects, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters and interactions, and clinical trial evidence information on medications considered for treatment of the virus The TRHC Scientific Precision Pharmacotherapy Research & Development Institute's (SPPR&DI) comprehensive summary of potential off-label treatment options The COVID-19: Monitoring Symptoms and Medication Safety webinar recording and slide presentation CareVention HealthCare is committed to the wellness and safety of those we serve. If you have any questions about any CareVention HealthCare service, including CareKinesis, please contact [email protected] . View a special message of support from CareVention HealthCare team members here .

CareVention HealthCare Welcomes Full-Service PACE Partners   CareVention HealthCare welcomes new PACE organizations Gary and Mary West PACE and The PACE Place as full-service PACE partners. Both organizations will use CareVention HealthCare's full line of service offerings: medication safety management and pharmacy services (CareKinesis); EHR and integrated technology (Cognify); Third Party Administration (PeakTPA); and risk adjustment auditing and concurrent coding (Capstone). Gary and Mary West PACE , which opened in August 2019, serves the North region of San Diego and is sponsored by the Gary and Mary West Foundation, part of West Health, a family of nonprofit organizations founded by the Wests County in California. The PACE Place opened in March and serves participants in North Florida. The fifth PACE organization in the state, the program is a collaboration of Aging True Community Senior Services and Community Hospice & Palliative Care.   CareVention HealthCare is pleased to be partnering with these organizations and eager to support them in their PACE journey. For more information on CareVention HealthCare's full suite of PACE services, email [email protected].

Learn about our special incentives for clients who sign-on to use four CareVention HealthCare service lines here .

Jenn Ovide Joins CareVention Consulting CareVention HealthCare is pleased to welcome Jenn Ovide to the CareVention Consulting Technical Assistance Center (TAC) team as a Senior PACE Consultant. She joined the team in April. With more than 11 years of PACE experience, including as a Center Director and Executive Director for PACE programs in Virginia and Pennsylvania, Jenn brings strong operational and leadership expertise. She successfully led organizations through consolidations and acquisitions, and she has experience in the development and implementation of corrective action plans, training interdisciplinary team members, building teams, audit preparation, organizational operations, and workflow efficacies. Jenn earned her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University. CareVention HealthCare's TAC team offers services to organizations at every stage of PACE, from exploring and developing a program to improving and expanding an existing program. For more information, call (720) 937-8328.

Coming Soon: CareKinesis Chain of Custody App CareVention HealthCare is launching a new chain of custody product for our Pharmacy Services (CareKinesis) partners who receive participants' medications at the PACE location for in-home dispensing. The app allows PACE centers to track medication deliveries from the time a shipment arrives at the center until the medication reaches the participant or caregiver. Additionally, the app offers real-time functionality, so custody can be tracked at every point using a smartphone. The app will be available in late summer 2020. For information, please contact your CareKinesis Client Liaison or email [email protected].

Spotlight on Services: Clinical Documentation and Risk Adjustment Concurrent Coding Services Assure Compliance, Accurate Revenue The ICD-10 coding system used by CMS is complex. Inaccurate or incomplete coding can shortchange a PACE program – and put it at financial risk. CareVention HealthCare offers Concurrent Coding services through our Clinical Documentation and Risk Adjust Services unit (Capstone Performance Systems). Our experienced, certified Coders understand technical requirements for data collection and submission. All of our medical Coders are credentialed; credentialed Coders are recognized in the industry as experts in their field. Coding team members hold a variety of coding credentials with some team members holding multiple, specialty credentials. Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) are required to maintain credentials and ensure Coders are up-to-date on the latest information regarding code changes and coding guidelines.  Capstone is pleased to have the following credentials represented by our team members.   CPC – Certified Professional Coder CRC – Certified Risk Adjustment Coder COC – Certified Outpatient Coder CCA – Certified Coding Associate CCS – Certified Coding Specialist CBCS – Certified Coding and Billing Specialist CCC – Certified Cardiology Coder These credentials, along with a combined 100 years of experience in multiple specialties, give our team the versatility needed to provide the highest-quality services to our clients.  For information on our Coding services, contact [email protected] or (720) 937-8328.

CareVention HealthCare Welcomes Systems Trainer Joy Hohmann   Joy Hohmann has joined CareVention HealthCare’s EHR and Integrated Technology Solutions (Cognify|Mediture) as a Systems Trainer. Joy is a Certified Risk Adjustment Coder and has a BBA in Accounting from Fort Hays State University in Kansas. She has a background in health information management and previously served as the Center Manager for Bluestem PACE.

Save the Dates: Upcoming 2020 CareVention HealthCare Events   July 23-24 CareVention HealthCare Executive Directors Virtual Advisory Summit Mark your calendars for two afternoons of live-streamed best practices and timely topics, plus opportunities to network with your PACE peers. More details and formal invitation will be sent soon. August 18-19 TruChart User Group 2020 Virtual Conference Mark your calendar for this year’s TruChart User Group! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing restrictions on travel and meetings, our format for 2020 will be virtual. We hope you will join us and your fellow TruChart users for best practices and useful tips for using TruChart to its full advantage. More details and registration information for this live-streamed event will be forthcoming. Visit mediture.com/truchart2020 for more information or contact Miguel Delgado, Director of Learning Services for Cognify|Mediture, at [email protected] .   September 17-18 CareKinesis Clinical Advisory Panel All PACE Medical Directors of CareVention HealthCare clients are invited to participate. Learn the latest about precision pharmacotherapy, reducing medical expenses with the MedWise Risk Score, and more. Details and formal invitations will be sent in July. 

For information on the full line of services offered by CareVention HealthCare, visit CareVentionHC.com or contact [email protected]

CareVention HealthCare o ffers industry-proven, PACE-specific services including technical and operations consulting for all stages, EHR/integrated technology, clinical documentation and risk adjustment services, third party administration, and medication safety management and pharmacy services. CareVention HealthCare is a division of Tabula Rasa HealthCare (TRHC) offering services through CareVention Consulting, Cognify | Mediture, Capstone Performance Systems, PeakTPA, and CareKinesis.