Prevention

The Prevention Program is designed to improve the quality and frequency of preventive health care services in order to optimize quality of life for people with Medicare. As a quality improvement organizations (QIO), CCME is working with participating primary care physician practices to implement care management processes, using their certified electronic health records (EHRs), that will focus on breast and colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings and influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations. This effort is supported by a new three-year contact with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), known as the 9th Statement of Work (SOW),

Activities
For this contract, CCME focuses prevention activities on these primary topics:

• Promoting care management processes for preventive services using EHRs.
• Completing assessments of care processes.
• Assisting with data submission.
• Monitoring statewide rates for mammograms, CRC screenings, influenza, and pneumococcal immunizations.
• Administering an assessment of care practices.
• Producing an Annual Report of statewide trends, showing baselines and rates.

Approach
In addition to the strong relationships CCME has built with the provider community and stakeholders groups, CCME offers a unique and innovative approach to prevention work. Our knowledge of clinical efficacy and expertise in health education, combined with our ability to coordinate with a variety of partners, result in strong and effective prevention activities we call the EHR Preventive Care Program. For the 9th SOW, CCME is using a new hybrid practice support model that includes both a proven collaborative approach and intensive on-site support for each participating physician practice. CCME’s hybrid support model assists physician practices in redesigning their preventive care management approach to help reach CMS prevention goals and spread change throughout the Carolinas.

Experience
CCME has extensive experience in assisting physician practices in implementing and improving care through EHR systems, and in developing interventions and care management tools to improve chronic illnesses, cancer screening, and immunization rates in previous contracts. CCME is committed to promoting the use of EHRs to improve the quality of care that patients receive. Through our previous work with physician practices, CCME is able to build on the progress made with providers and share lessons learned.

Services - Partnering with Local Physician Offices
Part of our work as the QIO in North and South Carolina is to provide in-depth assistance to a limited number of selected primary care physician offices participating in our current Medicare-sponsored prevention activities we call the EHR Preventive Care Program. CCME encourages any interested providers or organizations to use the resources posted on our website.

For more information on CCME's physician practice programs and services, please visit the Physician Offices section or CCME’s corporate website.