A critical opportunity for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)  The Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) is a critical opportunity for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) aiming to improve care coordination while reducing healthcare costs. For organizations looking to join or renew their participation in MSSP for a Jan. 1, 2026, start date, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released key application deadlines that ACOs must follow.  Key application dates  Application period opens: May 29  Final submission deadline: June 12, at noon (ET)  All applications must be submitted through the ACO Management System . To ensure a smooth application process, ACOs should review the Medicare Shared Savings Program Overview and plan accordingly.  How DataGen supports ACOs  Successfully participating in MSSP requires robust data analysis  and financial benchmarking. DataGen provides tailored solutions to help ACOs navigate the complex...

The implications of Medicare payment policy changes can be both significant and complex. For healthcare providers, hospital administrators and policy analysts, understanding these potential adjustments is essential for financial planning and advocacy.   DataGen’s recently released 2025 Potential Medicare Changes Analysis report offers an in-depth evaluation of how proposed changes could impact Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) payments across various care settings, including inpatient hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies and more.  Here’s a breakdown of the key findings and insights from our report, providing annual impact estimate breakouts for all proposals from 2026 to 2035.*  What DataGen’s potential Medicare changes analysis covers  The potential Medicare changes analysis reviews Medicare payment scenarios policymakers are considering to achieve long-term deficit reduction and improve payment policies. It evaluates the financial impact o...

*Updated in 2025 Public health is trapped in an inverse relationship. It supports many needs with few resources. The Commonwealth Fund's report,  U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective, 2022: Accelerating Spending, Worsening Outcomes , found that the U.S. spends twice as much on healthcare than the average, high-income country. In particular, we spend more on healthcare treatment and less on prevention, a primary focus of public health.  In CNN's response to The Commonwealth Fund's 2022 report , Jacqueline Howard interviewed Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, who stated, “[W]e don’t do as much primary care prevention as the other nations, and we still have a public health system, which is fractured . . . [We also] under-invest compared to other industrialized nations in societal things. They spend their money on providing upfront support for their citizens. We spend our money on sick care.” If you work in a he...

  Fourth quarter 2024 Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System data submission (SOD) due dates are coming up — and so are the final warning and statement of deficiency issue dates for Q3 2024. Here are the key dates hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers need to know to remain SPARCS compliant.  [Download our quarterly calendar here]  Key compliance dates for SPARCS data: Q3 and Q4 2024  Q3 2024 SPARCS compliance deadlines: Discharge months July - September  March 15  Final/third warning for Q3 2024 data   Facilities that have not resolved their Q3 2024 data errors after receiving three warnings will be issued an SOD.   April 15  SOD issued for Q3 2024 data   Facilities will be issued an SOD on this date.  Q4 2024 SPARCS compliance deadlines: Discharge months October - December   March 31  Submission deadline for Q4 2024 data   Ensure your data are accurate and submitted on time to...

A stronger patient safety culture is achievable   Having accurate, reliable data is the foundation of a strong patient safety culture. Without it, healthcare facilities struggle to make informed decisions based on their  Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®)  results. Ensuring SOPS® data accuracy is critical, as even small discrepancies can impact the effectiveness of patient safety initiatives.  Watch the last video from our six-part patient safety culture series Access the full video on our YouTube:  6️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: Ensuring Data Accuracy The importance of data accuracy in SOPS® surveys  When healthcare organizations conduct SOPS® surveys, they rely on staff participation to provide genuine insights into their safety culture. However, collecting data is only the first step. If the data are inaccurate or incomplete, leadership may draw incorrect conclusions about their hospital's patient safety culture, potentially leading to ineffective...

Understanding your patient safety culture survey data  Conducting an Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) assessment is a critical step in improving patient safety, but the real value lies in what healthcare facilities do with their results. Many organizations focus on identifying weaknesses, but it's just as important to recognize strengths. So, once you've collected the data, what's next? Watch the fifth video from our six-part patient safety culture series Access the full video on our YouTube:  5️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: We Collected the Data, Now What? Step 1: Compile the data into a usable format  After gathering responses, the priority should be organizing the data into a format that facilitates analysis. This means:  creating tables, graphs and charts that provide clear insights;  benchmarking results against the AHRQ national benchmarks ; and  comparing unit-level performance within a hospital or across facilities.  Step 2: Analyze benchma...

How leadership sets the example for patient safety culture  Building a strong patient safety culture starts at the top. When hospital leadership actively supports the Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) , it encourages staff participation and reinforces a commitment to continuous improvement. Without leadership buy-in, staff may see patient safety surveys as a low priority, leading to disengagement and missed opportunities for meaningful change.  Watch the fourth video from our six-part patient safety culture series Access the full video on our YouTube:  4️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: Set the Example The critical role of leadership in SOPS® participation   Successful SOPS® survey participation depends on visible leadership endorsement. When executives and senior management express enthusiasm for patient safety culture surveys, that energy spreads throughout the organization. Staff members are more likely to engage when they see leadership prioritizing feedback ...

Addressing Survey Fatigue to Improve Patient Safety Culture  Healthcare facilities rely on the Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) to assess their safety climate. However, survey fatigue can hinder participation and impact response rates. To ensure meaningful feedback, healthcare organizations must take strategic steps to encourage engagement while maintaining staff confidence. Watch the third video from our six-part patient safety culture series Access the full video on our YouTube:  3️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: How to Make an Impact 1. Flexible participation: A solution to increase SOPS® response rates  One way to combat survey fatigue is by varying staff participation. Instead of requiring all employees to complete every survey, healthcare facilities can rotate participation. For example, if a unit has eight nurses, four can take one survey while the others complete a different one. This method ensures valuable feedback without overwhelming staff.  Additionall...

Boosting safety and patient outcomes through SOPS® surveys  A strong patient safety culture is the foundation of high-quality healthcare. Healthcare facilities must actively engage their staff in Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) to gain critical insights into safety challenges and opportunities for improvement. High participation rates lead to more reliable data, helping organizations implement meaningful changes that enhance both staff confidence and patient outcomes. Here are four ways to boost safety and patient outcomes. Watch the second video from our six-part patient safety culture series Access the full video on our YouTube:  2️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: Boosting Safety and Patient Outcomes. 1. Confidentiality: A cornerstone of patient safety culture surveys  Ensuring anonymity in SOPS® surveys is essential to fostering open and honest feedback. Employees, from environmental services, e.g. EVS technicians, janitors or housekeeping staff, to senior surge...

Encouraging staff participation in Surveys on Patient Safety Culture (SOPS®)  Fostering a strong patient safety culture is essential for improving patient outcomes and ensuring high-quality care in healthcare facilities. One of the most effective ways to assess and enhance patient safety culture is through Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) , which provide critical insights into staff perceptions of safety in their healthcare facility.  Watch the first video from our six-part patient safety culture series Access the full video on our YouTube:  1️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: Encouraging Participation .  Why staff participation in SOPS® matters  Encouraging staff participation in Surveys on Patient Safety Culture is crucial for multiple reasons. Here, we’ll break down the major points while describing why it’s important to collect patient safety culture survey data .  1. Regulatory compliance  The Joint Commission requires healthcare organizations to a...

What are the financial risks in TEAM?  Hospitals are preparing for the launch of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) in 2026.   To help you understand both the opportunities and financial risks for participants, DataGen put together a comprehensive white paper, CMS Transforming Episodes Accountability Model Financial Risk Guide.   [Access it Now for Key Updates]  Keep reading for highlights of what’s inside.   Exploring the goals and structure of CMS TEAM Model  CMS TEAM Model is designed to enhance care quality and cost-efficiency. It aims to revolutionize how hospitals manage patient care over 30-day episodes for specific surgical procedures by holding them accountable for the quality and cost of care delivered.   As seen on CMS’ Transforming Episode Accountability Model overview fact sheet , this model not only seeks to improve patient outcomes, but encourages hos...

For practices recognized under the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, understanding and meeting the NCQA PCMH 2025 annual reporting requirements is critical to sustaining recognition.  NCQA continues to refine its NCQA PCMH standards and guidelines , emphasizing team structure, care continuity and data integrity. Here’s what your practice needs to do to stay compliant and ensure a smooth reporting process. This blog is a continuation of our piece back in July 2024, which listed three updates to NCQA PCMH's 2025 annual reporting requirements . What is NCQA PCMH?  The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a model of care that emphasizes care coordination, patient engagement and continuous quality improvement. The PCMH framework is designed to improve healthcare outcomes by fostering strong patient-provider relationships and enhancing team-based care.  Since its inception, the NCQA PCMH program has evolved to...

Accurate and standardized healthcare data are essential for informed decision-making and compliance. In New York state, the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) plays a critical role in collecting and analyzing patient data. Central to this system is the SPARCS data dictionary, a comprehensive resource that ensures consistency in data reporting across healthcare providers. This blog will explore the SPARCS data dictionary , including:  key components and practical applications;  how it can streamline healthcare operations; and   how understanding it can simplify your submission routines.   We will also cover SPARCS data automation and DataGen’s automated SPARCS data submission tool, UDS (UIS Data System™), and how it can help you achieve 100% accuracy and compliance with minimal effort.  Who should use this SPARCS data dictionary?   Key roles in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)  This SPARCS data dictionary is a valuabl...