Regional Update from the OPTN/UNOS Transplant Administrators Committee

TAC Charge The Transplant Administrators Committee considers issues related to the administration of transplant programs and provides input to other Committees and the Board with regard to the potential impact of developing policies and other OPTN requirements on transplant program operations. Through non-OPTN resources provided by UNOS as available, the Committee develops initiatives and tools that foster effective transplant program administration (e.g., the annual UNOS Transplant Management Forum, the transplant program staffing survey, and the standardized payer Request for Information (RFI) tool).

Staffing Survey Survey was released February, 2012 New this year are two ventricular assist device (VAD)–related fields: the number of post-VAD implant clinic visits in 2011 and the number of VAD coordinator FTEs Increased response last year in almost all organs Benchmarking data is only available to those programs completing their own information Survey will close June 30, 2012

Payer Work Group The updated UNOS RFI for 2012 is now available.  Please work directly with personnel assigned to completing it to ensure accuracy. The RFI is available on the Transplant Administrators web site at https://portal.unos.org/. 2012 Payer Meeting, July 2012 in Chicago Please send questions/suggestions regarding the RFI to the UNetsm Help Desk at UNethelpdesk2@unos.org or to Angel Carroll at angel.carroll@unos.org. The online RFI permits transplant centers to enter essential organ transplant program information and data in one location.  The completed RFI is readily available for insurance and managed care companies to review at their convenience. It was developed by the payer work group of the OPTN/UNOS Transplant Administrators Committee (TAC) in collaboration with UNOS IT staff. Although some payers may have their own RFIs or supplemental forms, the TAC recommends that all transplant programs complete the UNOS RFI.   Having the basic data in one place has proven an effective and efficient way to meet the payers request for annual transplant program information.  The RFI is available on the transplant administrators Web site. UNOS recommends that before completing the RFI, each transplant center review their January center-specific data tables.  These are available at www.srtr.org. The TAC recommends that each transplant administrator work collaboratively with the person(s) assigned to completing their center’s RFI to insure accuracy. The 2012 RFI was release at the end of January and is available for completion. The TAC will host the 2012 Payer meeting, July 2012 in Chicago. This is when the TAC Payer work group meets with the payers to discuss any issues with the UNOS RFI and to discuss any other payment issues.  If you have any questions/suggestions regarding the RFI, please contact the UNet Help Desk at UNethelpdesk2@unos.org or Angel Carroll at angel.carroll@unos.org.

Transplant Administrators Listserv Listserv guidelines have been recently updated with more clearly defined criteria for membership. Attachments submitted on the Listserv continue to be moved to the Transplant Administrators section of UNetsm under Resources for member reference (new updates quarterly). To join the Listserv go to: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TransplantAdministrators/ New process of Listserv application – applicant is asked for primary transplant administrator name and email. When membership confirmation is sent to the applicant, it is copied to the primary transplant administrator.

UNOS’ Transplant Management Forum will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary April 25-27, 2012 at the Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort in Puerto Rico. Registration is now open at unos.org Hot agenda sessions include: The Future of Transplant Administration, Healthcare Reform, SRTR Updates, CMS Surveys -second time around, QAPI and Dashboard Sharing, Living Donor Site Surveys, and Bylaws Rewrite. Hotel overnight rate is $198 which includes taxes, resort fees, maid fees, and bellman fees. Only other fees charged to room are incidentals Comparisons were done and flights to Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, are comparable to other U.S. destinations

Questions?