#United States #New York #Patient Engagement #Hospitals #Force Therapeutics

Overview of Compliance Success with Force Therapeutics

Recently, Force Therapeutics, a leading platform focused on managing the surgical episode of care, revealed some impressive statistics regarding hospital compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines. An astounding 84% of hospitals utilizing its patient engagement tools have already positioned themselves to meet the requirements of the Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Patient-Reported Outcome - Performance Measure (THA/TKA PRO-PM) well ahead of the mandatory reporting deadline scheduled for September 2025. This puts them in an excellent position to avoid potential financial penalties that could total millions of dollars.

Understanding the THA/TKA PRO-PM

The THA/TKA PRO-PM was introduced by CMS to enhance the quality of orthopedic surgery outcomes. It aims to capture vital data regarding patient-reported improvements in pain and mobility post-surgery. Given that procedures like THAs and TKAs are among the most frequent elective surgeries for Medicare patients, CMS established these measures to address discrepancies in clinical outcomes and practices that lead to unwarranted healthcare costs. Notably, this initiative is aligned with CMS's broader shift from a fee-for-service model to one focused on value-based care, ensuring that reimbursements link directly with patient outcomes.

The regulations require hospitals to collect and report comprehensive patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) along with various other data points, including risk and matching variables. Such data must be gathered not only before surgery (up to 90 days prior) but also one year after the operation for a minimum of half of all eligible patients. This entails not only efficient workflows for data collection but also necessitates ongoing patient engagement during a demanding one-year recovery phase.

Failure to meet these reporting thresholds means hospitals risk non-compliance with CMS's Inpatient Quality Reporting program, potentially leading to a staggering 25% reduction in annual payment updates for Medicare reimbursement across all claims, including those unrelated to orthopedics. Moreover, non-compliant hospitals may find themselves excluded from participation in CMS's value-based purchasing initiatives.

A Strategic Advantage for Hospitals

A key takeaway from hospitals successfully navigating compliance can be seen through the experience of an orthopedic chair from a prominent healthcare system in Connecticut:

“By leveraging the Force Therapeutics platform, we've not only safeguarded our PROs compliance with CMS regulations, but we've also prevented millions in potential penalties. It’s not just about compliance; it’s a strategic advantage that’s saving our organization substantial funds.”

The Force Therapeutics platform plays a crucial role in sustaining patient engagement, which is vital for achieving high PROMs collection rates, particularly one year post-surgery. The strategies include comprehensive pre-operative education and optimization, which features virtual group classes for patients, alongside post-operative resources like exercise videos and virtual check-ins.

Enhanced Engagement and Operational Efficacy

Force Therapeutics emphasizes not just regulatory compliance but also empowers hospitals with the necessary tools and guidance for future challenges. Here are a few standout features of the platform:

• - Robust Patient Education: Facilitate smooth form submissions by engaging patients throughout their surgical journey, leading to higher survey completion rates and improved patient satisfaction scores.
• - Gamified Treatment Plans: Encourage patient participation by allowing them to set recovery goals and earn rewards upon achieving milestones, infusing enjoyment into the recovery process.
• - Automated Reminders: Scheduled outcome forms, individualized check-ins, and timely notifications keep patients actively engaged while minimizing notification fatigue.
• - EHR Integration: Through seamless integration with Electronic Health Records, hospitals can quickly generate real-time data reports for submissions that align with CMS quality reporting programs.

Conclusion

For hospitals looking to maintain compliance and enhance operational efficiency, Force Therapeutics offers a comprehensive solution that not only addresses current regulatory requirements but prepares them for the evolving landscape of healthcare regulations and reimbursement policies. The alignment of such a platform with hospital objectives illustrates a forward-looking approach in navigating the complexities of modern healthcare.

By focusing on patient engagement and outcome improvement strategies, Force Therapeutics proves to be an invaluable partner for hospitals striving to deliver high-quality orthopedic care.