AQI collecting patient vaping data
July 2, 2020
NACOR News

AQI collecting patient vaping data

AQI's Anesthesia Incident Reporting System (AIRS) is now collecting and analyzing vaping-specific data to develop learning opportunities for anesthesia providers. By collecting vaping data through the online AIRS database, AQI can gain insights from anesthesiologists who are taking care of vaping patients to track trends among vaping. To enter vaping-related data, visit www.aqiairs.org and choose the Vaping Module.

AIRS is a nationwide system for collecting individual adverse events from anesthesia, pain management and perioperative care. AIRS reports are used to educate anesthesiology providers on how to reduce or prevent future similar events.

Key reminders for MIPS 2020

Quality Reporting practices should review the following MIPS Program changes for the reporting year 2020.

  • The minimum threshold for a neutral adjustment is an overall MIPS score of 45 points.
  • The payment adjustment is +/- 9% for the 2022 payment year.
  • The Quality Component is worth 45% of the overall MIPS score.
  • MIPS / QCDR measures must meet at least 70% data completeness.
  • For Group Practices reporting Improvement Activities, at least 50% of clinicians must perform the same activity for any continuous 90-day period.

For more information, email AskAQI@asahq.org.

Keeping provider lists up to date

Practices should routinely update provider lists in the NACOR Dashboard. AQI's NACOR uses the list as the record of truth for CMS data submission, as well as Provider Reconciliation/Invoicing. Practices should make sure the following items are correct:

  • TIN
  • Provider NPI
  • Provider Type
  • Provider Status
  • Report to CMS Status

This step-by-step guide helps practices through the updating process. For practices enrolled in individual reporting, mark the providers who have retired or left your practice as "removed" in the Status field and "No" in the Report to CMS field. For practices enrolled in group reporting, mark the providers who retired or left your practice prior to January 1, 2020, as "removed" in the Status field. Any providers who worked for your practice during the 2020 reporting year will be included in 2020 CMS data submission. Updating your list makes your practice reports easier to understand, clears up clutter and assists with the reconciliation billing process that will occur after the new year. For more information, email AskAQI@asahq.org.

Facility List auditing

The AQI facility list audit continues in progress. AQI wants to reduce the number of unused and duplicate facilities to clean up benchmarking data. Facility lists are important because it allows AQI champions to review benchmarking data and view performance of the practice facilities. To ensure your facility list is current, review these instructions on how to update your facility list: Auditing your Facility List (PDF). For more information or questions, email J.Ali@asahq.org or AskAQI@asahq.org.

Achieve your quality goals with NACOR®

Whether you're looking to report, track, and analyze data within your practice, on a national level, for MIPS, or to demonstrate value to administrators, AQI's NACOR® offers four service levels to accomplish your goals. Take time to determine if the NACOR service level you've been using still suits your practice's needs or if stepping up to the full-service of NACOR Quality Concierge® is a better option. Use these AQI educational resources to determine the level that best serves your practice's needs and be sure to contact AQI to enroll for 2020.

Next Office hours

AQI's regularly scheduled Quality Reporting Office Hours are scheduled at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 14. The June Office Hour recording and slides will be available on the AQI website soon.

2020 Reporting Deadlines

NACOR Registration: October 30, 2020

January through November 2019 data submission: January 29, 2021

Individual Quality Reporting Consent Submission: January 29, 2021

Improvement Activity Attestation: January 29, 2021

CMS Opt-Out for Individual Reporting: January 29, 2021

TIN/NPI Reconciliation: January 29, 2021

All data submissions: February 15, 2021

Contact AQI

Register: qcdr@asahq.org

NACOR Dashboard support: NACORSupport@asahq.org

Ask AQI: AskAQI@asahq.org



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