Week in Review, February 3-7, 2020

The new HMD PREP, 2nd Ed is now available. This online practice module contains 75 new or revised questions and includes explanations and up-to-date references based on the HMDCB blueprint. It will assess your knowledge and help prepare you for the Hospice Medical Director Certification Board exam. CME and MOC available.

AAHPM created this brief webinar to help you better understand the Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) and certification exams. The 14-minute webinar includes a brief background on HPM certification and continuing certification, answers to commonly asked questions, and helpful resources to help you prepare for the exam. Still have questions? Contact Julie Bruno.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services invited AAHPM and NCHPC partners to provide input as CMS updates the Hospice Compare online tool. Academy staff gathered input from the Hospice Medicine Council and joined a call to discuss what is most helpful to patients and providers and what should be changed to improve the information available for review.

AAHPM joined state medical associations and national medical specialty society partners in urging CMS to withdraw a proposed policy that’s expected to significantly reduce state and federal Medicaid funding. The groups sent a letter expressing concerns that the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule would create substantial gaps in state Medicaid budgets, exacerbate Medicaid physician shortages, and undermine vulnerable patients’ access to care.

AAHPM CEO Steve Smith participated in the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care board meeting with Diane Meier (CAPC), Edo Banach (NHPCO), Sean Morrison (NPCRC) and Ginger Marshall (HPNA). The Coalition’s mission is to present a united voice to the public and policymakers on behalf of providers, professionals and other organizations through advocacy that improves care of those with serious or life-threatening illnesses.

Solomon Liao, past AAHPM board member, has been elected as president of the Association of Specialty Professors for 2021. While in leadership, Dr. Liao will also represent the specialty of hospice and palliative medicine on the Board of the Alliance of Academic Internal Medicine, a great step forward for the field within internal medicine.

AAHPM board member Dana Lustbader was selected for a Technical Expert Panel to develop a Days at Home Quality Measure. The Panel is being convened by Yale New Haven Health Services Corporation – Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, under contract with CMS, to inform the development of a quality measure for patients with complex, chronic conditions spending days at home for use in CMMI models.

Leave a Comment