Contract & Network Update
With March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, it is one of the many preventive measures that our providers screen for regularly. The old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” from Benjamin Franklin, certainly expresses the importance that prevention plays as we transform our health care across the region from reactive to proactive.
According to the CDC, there has been an increase in the percentage of U.S. adults aged 50 to 75 years who were up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening which increased 1.4 percentage points, from 67.4% in 2016 to 68.8% in 2018. This represents an additional 3.5 million adults screened for colorectal cancer.
Colorectal Cancer screening has been one part of our MSSP and Commercial VBP arrangements as far back as 2014. We have seen significant improvement over the years related to many different variables such as pre-visit planning workflows, multiple options to complete the screenings that are available and supplemental data submission to our commercial payers to close open gaps. As you can see below, the ADK ACO has made significant improvement in the colorectal cancer screening in both our Medicare and Commercial populations.
A short review of the colorectal cancer screening criteria are:
- : % of adults 50-75 years of age who had appropriate screening for colorectal cancer
- : Patients 50-75 years of age with a visit during the measurement period
- : Patients with one or more screenings for colorectal cancer.
The following options are available to meet the screening criteria allowing the opportunity for shared decision making to occur at the annual well visit:
- Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) during the measurement period (2022)
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy during the measurement period or the four years prior to the measurement period (2018-2022)
- during the measurement period or the nine years prior to the measurement period (2013-2022)
- during the measurement period or the two years prior to the measurement period (2020-2022)
- CT Colonography during the measurement period or the four years prior to the measurement period (2018-2022)
In May 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released an updated guideline that expands the
recommended ages for screening to adults 45–49 because of increased incidence of colorectal cancer in
younger adults. In October of 2021, NCQA was seeking comments on proposed revisions to the measure for HEDIS Measurement Year 2022. At this time, for both CMS and Commercial measurement we are using the current age 50-75 as outlined in the current measure specifications. We will provide updates as we are notified by the payers of subsequent revisions.
Here are several links that have great resources for patient education and tool kits to assist you in the great preventive work that you doing.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/
https://med.virginia.edu/ccww/resources/understanding-cancer-toolkit/
ACO Spotlight
Champlain Valley Family Center- Recovery Campus
Champlain Valley Family Center- Recovery Campus (CVFC-RC) is a 16-bed, co-ed, drug and alcohol Residential Rehabilitation program for adults 18 and older. CVFC-RC opened its doors in 2018 in Schuyler Falls, NY. Each year, we serve approximately 175 individuals with substance use disorder, many of which are North Country residents. The approximate length of stay at CVFC-RC is 60-90 days.
While at CVFC-RC, residents are given comprehensive care that considers all the Social Determinants of Health. They will participate in individual, group, and family counseling. Every resident gets a psychiatric evaluation and continued mental health monitoring while in treatment. Individuals who are willing can explore Medication Assisted Treatment options such as Suboxone (sublingual medication) or Sublocade (injectable 28-day medication) for Opioid Use Disorder and Campral, Naltrexone, or Vivitrol (injectable 28-day medication) for Alcohol Use Disorder. We have a vocational counselor on site weekly to provide workshops on job hunting, resume building, and completing general vocational assessments. Parenting programs are available once a week for individuals who have children. We facilitate yoga, art, and many different recreational activities indoors and outdoors.
CVFC believes one of the most important aspects of treatment is planning a discharge that can set each individual up for success. There is a relapse prevention plan completed with each resident prior to discharge. Anyone discharged from the program is offered an outpatient substance use disorder treatment appointment, mental health appointment, a connection with Recovery Coaches/Peers, and a SAFE housing option. Local self-help meeting lists are also provided.
The goal of treatment at the Recovery Campus is to help each resident find their path to recovery. Questions and referrals should be directed to the Program Director, Jared Croy, at 518-643-0148 or via email at jcroy@cvfamilycenter.org.