The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a conference call only Special Open Door Forum to discuss improvements to the Quality Improvement Organization Beneficiary Protection Program (BPP). The Special Open Door Forum will take place from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. (EST) on July 16, 2009.
CMS reports that this Special Open Door Forum (ODF) will address:
- CMS activities since the last ODF in October 2008
- Key concerns that providers and beneficiaries have about the current BPP processes
- What CMS is doing to improve BPP (particularly beneficiary complaint and related review processes)
- How CMS plans to accomplish such improvements
- CMS's next steps in transforming BPP
To participate by telephone, one must dial 1-800-837-1935 and reference conference ID 19705106. CMS reports that, beginning July 27, 2009, an audio recording of the Special ODF will also be posted here and available for downloading.
The BPP incorporates several Quality Improvement Organization functions, including:
- Quality of care reviews
- Reviews of beneficiary complaints
- Higher-weighted diagnostic related group reviews
- Utilization reviews
- Early readmission reviews
- EMTALA reviews
- Appeals of discharges from various provider settings
- Hospital preadmission reviews
