Administrative Memos

200407

FROM: Theodore O. Will, Chief Executive Officer
DATE: Sep 10, 2004
SUBJECT: PEPPER: QUALITYNET EXCHANGE, E-MAIL AND CURRENT AND FUTURE DATA RELEASES
IPRO CONTACTS:

Kathy Terry, Ph.D., Senior Director, Medicare/Federal Health Care Assessment, Extension 226

As you are aware, IPRO has been disseminating a quarterly release of the data tool called PEPPER (Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report) through QualityNet Exchange* since January 2004. The tool contains hospital-specific, ranked, and statewide data for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) target areas. These target areas focus on discharges at risk for payment errors due to incorrect DRG coding and/or potential unnecessary admissions. Focus areas include one-day stays, readmissions, and clusters of DRGs including Pneumonia, Septicemia, Respiratory Distress, Fractures, Esophagitis, Nutritional and Metabolic Disorders, Chest Pain, Heart Failure, and Stroke.

Effective upon release of this quarter's data and quarterly thereafter, IPRO plans to use electronic mail only to notify hospitals of the PEPPER data updates. Hospitals can expect to receive updated data every 3 to 4 months. To ensure receipt of the e-mail notifications, please review the information included as Attachment A which lists the IPRO liaison, HPMP liaison and QualityNet Administrator(s) for your hospital along with the e-mail addresses currently on file at IPRO. Each of these contacts will receive an e-mail when PEPPER data is released.

To revise or correct the e-mail addresses listed, please provide change the information directly on Attachment A and fax the form to IPRO at 516-326-6176, attention Veronica Rothwell-Baumann.

As with all PEPPER releases, IPRO recognizes that there may be some effort needed on all of our parts to ensure data access; we are ready to assist hospitals in this effort as needed. In addition, IPRO's website provides additional information which may be used to assist your hospital with these PEPPER data. Information available at www.ipro.org/hpmp includes: a recorded statewide training for PEPPER, frequently asked questions including demonstration data, the Users Guide, a recorded powerpoint presentation on PEPPER, and more.

Should you have any questions or comments about this memorandum and/or the data please contact Dr. Kathy Terry, Sr. Director, Data Analysis and Evaluation, Medicare/Federal Health Care Assessment at 516-326-7767, extension 226.

* QualityNet Exchange is the web portal that provides secure, interactive applications for the exchange and input of privacy data between healthcare providers and the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) responsible for their state.