News

June 15, 2021 DPP4 Inhibitors vs GLP-1 Agonists There are no guidelines that support the combined use of a GLP‐1 agonist and a DPP‐4 inhibitor. More and more evidence is showing that the use of DPP4 Inhibitors and GLP‐1 Receptor Agonists in combination, is a practice worth changing. Together, this combination does not provide clinical benefit due to similar mechanisms of action (see picture below). More on, ADA and AACE Guidelines prefer GLP1‐RA over DPP4i for patients with established ASCVD or indicato...

June 8, 2021 Tele-Care Coordination is Available for your Patients   “Tele-Care Coordination” services are available to your patients by referral. This service aims to provide more care in the home environment, allowing us to visualize the patient and their surroundings for greater quality of care and easier understanding on both ends.   Using Persivia, our Population Health Software, patients are connected to our licensed Care Coordinators who assist with disease education and management, rou...

June 2, 2021 Mclaren Physician Partners Spring Key Staff Meeting Please join us for our MPP Key Staff meeting  via webinar on  Tuesday, June 22, 2021 12:00 pm –1:30 pm Presenting updates on:  McLaren Physician Partners Website New Population Health Platform Accountable Care Organization Care Coordination 2021 CI Scorecard PCMH/PCMH-N   ***New for 2021 CI Score Card *** CI metric—Key Conversations Physician attendance achieves 10 points  Staff Champion attendance achieves 5 point...

May 15, 2021   Major Depressive Disorder   Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting an estimated 120 million people. 1 Screening is to be done once per year in the year that the patient is seen for an encounter. HEDIS measures the percentage of members 12 years of age and older who were screened for clinical depression using a standardized tool and, if screened positive, who received follow-up care    A positive screen MUST have a...

Family Practice Management (FPM) Supplement Introduction MPP Medical Leadership is providing the following resource to provide further education on Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) coding. The referenced supplement provides a review of risk-adjustment and explains how CMS combines HCC and a patient’s Risk adjustment Factor (RAF) to predict future costs. In addition, strategies on how to be successful in the Value-Based Payment environment are included. Please note: a subscription to AAFP/FPM is req...

May 1, 2021 New Treatment Option for CHF   More than 9 million people in the Unites States have congestive heart failure reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).  It is the most common diagnosis in hospitalized patients over the age of 65.  One of nine deaths have heart failure as a contributing cause and inflicts considerably quality of life.  It’s an illness that consumes healthcare resources.   Established therapies for chronic HFrEF include angiotensin receptor-neprilysn inhi...

April 19, 2021 AETNA Medicare Advantage Contract with McLaren    Last Fall, MPP announced the new Value Based Contract that was signed with AETNA for their Medicare Advantage insurance product encompassing all McLaren regions in Michigan.  This new product offers provider gain sharing based on attaining quality and cost of care performance metrics.   At that time the agreement was limited to all McLaren hospitals and all active McLaren Medical Group providers.  MPP is pleased to...

Chronic Kidney Disease Approximately 11% of U.S. adults have CKD, many of whom are elderly. The condition is usually asymptomatic until its advanced stages. Most cases of CKD are associated with diabetes or hypertension. eGFR is considered the best screening tool for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) eGFR Calculator Treatment of early stages of CKD is generally targeted to comorbid medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, to reduce the risk for complications and progres...

2021 Specialist VBR Results BCBSM of Michigan has released the results of the 2021 Specialist Value-Based Reimbursement (VBR) program. The VBR program is initiated through the Physician Group Incentive Program (PGIP) and your participation is administered by McLaren Physician Partners (MPP) . The quality care that Specialists are providing to their patients allows them to earn Specialist Value-Based Reimbursement. In 2021, 70% of MPP Specialists achieved VBR.   Specialist physicians participating i...

Appropriate Treatment of the Adult Upper Respiratory Infection Adult upper respiratory infection (URI) represents one of the most common acute illness seen in the outpatient setting. Adults ages 19 – 39 are diagnosed with 2.2 URI per year and adults 40 and beyond are diagnosed with 1.6 URI per year.(1) In the United States, the annual costs associated with the inappropriate  utilization of antibiotics for treatment of URI in adults and children is $3 Billion dollars. 2 Inappropriate antibiotic pres...