Excerpt from CMS QPP Small Practices Newsletter:

2025 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers Survey (CAHPS) for MIPS Survey Registration Now Open

Registration is open through June 30, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET for the CAHPS for MIPS Survey for the 2025 performance year. 

Who can register? 

• Groups, virtual groups, and APM Entities that intend to administer the CAHPS for MIPS Survey as 1 of their 6 quality measures for reporting traditional MIPS
• Groups, subgroups, and APM Entities that are registered to report the following MVPs and that intend to administer the CAHPS for MIPS Survey as 1 of their 4 quality measures:
• Adopting Best Practices and Promoting Patient Safety within Emergency Medicine MVP
• Advancing Cancer Care MVP
• Value in Primary Care MVP

 How to Register 

Groups, virtual groups, and APM Entities will register on the QPP website. You’ll need to have the Security Official role to register your organization. Please refer to the QPP Access User Guide (ZIP, 4MB) for information about obtaining a Security Official role for your organization. To register: 

• Sign in to QPP.
• Click Start Registration from the landing page.
• Click Register or Edit CAHPS Registration.

Subgroups interested in administering the CAHPS for MIPS Survey as 1 of their 4 required quality measures will need to complete their MVP registration prior to registering for the CAHPS for MIPS Survey. After completing the subgroup’s MVP registration, they will need to contact the QPP Service Center by email at QPP@cms.hhs.gov, by creating a QPP Service Center ticket, or by phone at 1‑866‑288‑8292 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET) to register for the CAHPS for MIPS Survey.

You must register by 8 p.m. ET on June 30, 2025. 

 Additional Resource

• 2025 CAHPS for MIPS Survey Registration Guide (PDF, 946KB)

Complete one or both of the interactive, self-paced eLearning modules on your computer or mobile device. Earn free contact hours!

PART 1 - About 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, with 90-95% of those having Type 2 Diabetes. (CDC) The majority of these people receive health care in the primary care setting (Pilla et. al). Physiologically, diabetes affects multiple organ systems, as well as the emotional well-being of the affected person. Medicine regimens can be complex, especially for an older person with other chronic conditions. To enable the practice staff to support the person with Type 2 Diabetes, this course uses case studies of familiar patients seen in primary care. Practical office-based clinical assessment and patient education concepts are presented. Basic pharmacology of diabetes drugs, laboratory tests used to assess and monitor the disease and common physical exam findings are covered. Register online at www.nwahec.org/75805

PART 2 - Managing diabetes requires much more than taking medicines and visiting the primary care provider’s office---lifestyle changes at the heart of a person’s very self are needed. People with diabetes are 2-3 times more likely to have depression than those without diabetes (CDC). Typically considered a lifelong chronic condition, Type 2 diabetes requires the affected person to incorporate it into their self-image and work every day on difficult behavior changes. Mood disturbances may also be the result of physiologic changes caused by the illness, or from medication side effects. Building on the foundation of Part 1 of this series, this module focuses on the impact a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes can have on the mental health of patients they see in primary care. Register online at www.nwahec.org/75808

Part 2 builds on the case study presented in Part 1, so you are encouraged (but not required) to take both modules.

There is no charge for either online course. Course registration is generously supported by the Division of Health Benefits.

NEW WEBINAR SERIES

NC Medicaid Provider Enrollment

NCDHHS-DHB Credentialing Committee Initiative Stakeholder Engagement Session#3

Please join NC AHEC and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Health Benefits (DHB), for the third stakeholder teleconference on June 25 from 2-3 p.m. to continue the discussion of a new initiative led in tandem with General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT). This initiative will establish a Credentialing Committee aimed at maintaining a high-quality, ethical, and competent provider network to support NC Medicaid beneficiaries.

This third forum will offer stakeholders:

• A collaborative forum to discuss the committee’s future role in the provider enrollment and credentialing process to determine compliance of regulatory requirements by NC Medicaid provider applicants.
• A deeper dive into the roles of committee members. 
• Status of committee bylaws.
• Review of frequently asked questions and answers pertaining to the development of this project.

These stakeholder engagement sessions will occur monthly, as follows, until the project implementation and are intended to be interactive as the Department values input from partnering stakeholders:

• June 25, 2025
• July 30, 2025
• August 27, 2025
• September 24, 2025

You are encouraged to submit your related questions and comments for targeted open discussion at the meetings to Medicaid.credcommittee.stakeholders@dhhs.nc.gov. We look forward to connecting with you!

We’re excited to share a new opportunity from SEAHEC: the Healthcare Mastery Series, a free three-part learning experience designed to strengthen your front office operations and clinical documentation practices.

This series offers practical tools and expert-led insights on:

• Front Office Professional– June 11 at 12 PM
• Point of Service Collections– June 18 at 12 PM
• Coding and Documentation: Revised Guidelines for Office and Hospital Evaluation and Management Coding– July 16 at 12 PM

Each session is a FREE, one hour and tailored to help your team enhance patient engagement, streamline workflows, and stay current with evolving standards in healthcare delivery. 

You can register for any or all of the webinars.

For more details, see the brochure HERE. 

From NC Medicaid:

Some private and commercial insurers already require these codes, so providers should check with their billing team to review relevant protocol. These F codes are required by NC Medicaid’s clinical policy and apply to all delivery claims (not just those that are globally billed).

NC Medicaid urges providers to begin using the new codes as soon as possible. After July 1, 2025, Medicaid claims for delivery will deny if 0500F is not in the patient's history. This change will apply to both NC Medicaid Managed Care and NC Medicaid Direct claims.

Details and Source: New F Codes: Capturing Prenatal and Postpartum Care Services

NEW WEBINAR SERIES

MEDICAID MANAGED CARE

Disaster Preparedness for Members with Chronic Conditions

June 12, July 15 and August 19

NOON - 1 p.m.

Please join us for a new webinar series focused on disaster preparedness for members with chronic conditions. This series will cover topics such as:

• Overview of Disaster Preparedness in North Carolina 
• Understanding At-Risk Medicaid Populations 
• General Preparedness for High-Risk Members 
• Condition-Specific Considerations 
• Sheltering in Place vs. Evacuation 
• Special Considerations for Populations with Disabilities 
• Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Preparedness 
• Building Resiliency and Promoting Equity 

The first webinar will take place on June 12, 2025, followed by July 15 and August 19. Register for this series by clicking on the button below. We look forward to connecting with you!

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced it is suspending eight improvement activities for the 2025 performance year.

The suspension is in accordance with the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Improvement Activities Suspension Policy finalized in the CY2021 Physician Fee Schedule final rule.  CMS intends to propose removing these improvement activities in future rulemaking.

MIPS Improvement Activities Suspended for PY 2025

CMS says that clinicians should select other improvement activities to complete.  However, if any of the suspended improvement activities have already been completed or were in the process of being completed, clinicians will still be able to attest to completing them and receive credit.  Please review the 2025 Improvement Activities Inventory for available improvement activities.

Visit the QPP website for more information.

Source: Improvement Activities Suspension Announcement, Small Practices Newsletter, 2025

The Practice Manager Boot Camp is designed to provide new practice managers with the information they need to run their practices effectively, for experienced managers seeking refresher training or to learn new skills, and for staff members with practice management or leadership responsibilities.

The next cohort for this virtual program begins on July 17,2025 and registration fee discounts are available for early registration.

Divided into a total of 36 on-hour sessions within nine separate modules, participants can choose to either register for the full boot camp  (with a 25% discount on the full registration fee), or for individual modules within it. 

The courses meet via live webinar on Thursday afternoons from 3:00-4:00 PM and are recorded for later viewing.

Learn more about the boot camp and individual modules.

If you have any questions, contact Jane Moran at jane.moran@sr-ahec.org!

Most eligible children will automatically qualify for the program and were auto enrolled by May 2, 2025. Children automatically qualify if they are eligible for any of the following programs: 

• Free and reduced-price (FRP) meals at schools by approved FRP application
• Food and Nutrition Services (also called FNS or food stamps)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program (CTFDP)
• Child is in Foster Care
• Child is enrolled in the McKinney-Vento program (experiencing homelessness or runaway)
• OR if they receive NC Medicaid benefits and have a household income below 185% of the federal poverty level

Families with children who qualify will receive a new 2025 SUN Bucks card in the mail.  

Families with questions can visit the website at ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks or call the NC SUN Bucks Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select a language, then select option 2 to speak with a SUN Bucks representative.

See the full Press Release from NCDHHS to learn more.

Webinar Series

CHW Integration: Strategies for Impact and Sustainability

You're invited to a two-part webinar series, CHW Integration: Strategies for Impact and Sustainability, focused on advancing and sustaining Community Health Worker (CHW) integration across North Carolina’s healthcare system. 

Hosted by NC AHEC, the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association (NCCHWA), and Freedmen’s Consulting, this series will explore strategies to strengthen CHW programs, align them with value-based care models, and support long-term sustainability through practical financing approaches.

These sessions are designed for CHWs, community-based organizations, healthcare practices, care management agencies, health system population health teams, and health plans. 

This event is sponsored by NC Division of Health Benefits (Medicaid) at no cost to participants. 

Part 1: May 19, 2025 | noon - 1 p.m. | REGISTER

Explore how CHWs are driving improvements in population health, enhancing care experiences, and helping to reduce costs. As healthcare moves from fee-for-service to value-based care, CHWs are becoming essential partners in delivering whole-person, community-centered care.

Tim P. McNeill, RN, MPH, will lead this session, highlighting the evolving role of CHWs and sharing promising models of integration from Alabama, New York, and Texas.

Part 2: June 4, 2025 | noon - 1 p.m. | REGISTER

Learn how financing strategies can support and sustain CHW integration across healthcare settings. As value-based care continues to expand, understanding how to fund and grow CHW programs is critical.

Tim P. McNeill, RN, MPH, will review current payment models and discuss their effectiveness in supporting CHW roles. This session includes a care transitions case study and tools to help develop a sustainable CHW integration strategy.

We hope you'll join us for one or both sessions! For questions about NC AHEC CHW Program, please visit our webpage .