Welcome to the monthly QIO eNews. We provide you with the latest tools, resources, and learning opportunities that can be shared with your staff, residents, patients, and community members.

Looking Ahead: A New Chapter in QIN-QIO Healthcare Initiatives

As we approach the conclusion of our current QIN-QIO contract, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your engagement and support over the past five years. Your collaboration with Qsource has been invaluable in advancing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) initiatives.

The healthcare landscape has undergone significant changes during this time, particularly due to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. We deeply appreciate your dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to delivering quality care for our Hoosier Medicare beneficiaries.

With the current contract set to end on November 7, 2024, we look forward to exciting new opportunities. As CMS regionalizes the QIN-QIO contracts, we anticipate changes ahead and are eager to work closely with CMS and our partners to transition into the next phase of healthcare improvement initiatives.

We are confident that, together, we will continue to drive meaningful progress in the years to come. Thank you once again for your partnership and ongoing dedication to improving healthcare for Hoosiers. Qsource resources will remain available to you at Qsource QIO Resources.

Warm regards,
The Qsource Team

October is Health Literacy Month

In August, the Office of Minority Health released its 2024-2026 Language Access Plan that outlines strategies to advance language access in our policies, programs, and operations, and solidifies OMH’s commitment to facilitating meaningful access to resources for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP). To learn more, visit Language Access | Office of Minority Health (hhs.gov).

Check out the latest Coverage to Care (C2C) resources helping consumers understand their coverage and the preventive services available. These resources also help partners and providers serve individuals in their community:

• C2C Overview Fact Sheet – Learn how C2C can benefit you whether you’re an individual managing coverage for you and your family or an organization helping those in your community. Available in English and Spanish.
• Returning to the Community: Health Care After Incarceration – Now available in seven additional languages to help formerly incarcerated individuals access health care services.
• Manage Your Health Care Costs – A series of tools for assisters and other community organizations to help consumers understand the cost of care and whether they can afford it. The resource’s updates simplify the language for individuals, families, and navigators who assist with coverage enrollment.
• View all C2C resources here.

Additional information and resources on health literacy can be found at the following websites:

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Center for Health Care Strategies
• Plain Language
• Guide to Using Simple Words and Phrases
• National Institute of Health
• Health Equity – Qsource QIO Resources.

Resident Right's Month

October is Residents’ Rights Month, an annual event designated by Consumer Voice to honor residents living in all long-term care facilities and those receiving care in their home or community. This year's Residents' Rights Month theme is The Power of My Voice. To learn more, visit the National Consumer Voice website.

In Case You Missed It....

In recognition of Healthcare Quality Week and National Pharmacy Week (October 20 to October 26) we invite you to revisit the following resources.

• QI Back to Basics
• Adverse Drug Events: Strategies for Improving Care (qsource.org)
• Psychotropic Use in Acute Care Vs. Long-term Care
• Considerations for Anticoagulant Use in Long-Term Care Presentation
• Know the Facts and Risks of Opioid Medications
• Tips Related to Drug-Related Injuries 

This material was prepared by Qsource, a/an Network of Quality Improvement and Innovation Contractors under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. 24.QIO.10.056