Network Patient Activity Report (NPAR) Frequently Asked Questions

ADDRESS/NEPHROLOGIST TRACKING

Q: When will we update address, nephrologists, & Medicare Status?

A: On the “Ending Patient Population Report” or “Missing Addresses Report” sent on a

Quarterly basis

Q: Can we submit address & nephrologist changes on a monthly basis instead?

A: Yes. You can attach any updates you wish to make monthly instead of quarterly to the back of the Network Patient Activity Report

ARRANGEMENT/ORDER OF PATIENT INFORMATION

Q: Do we need to alphabetize the patient names on the NPAR?

A: You can report patients on the NPAR in whatever manner makes sense for you. (Some

options: Alphabetically; By Date; By Event Type)

DEATH EVENTS

Q: I already counted the patient as a loss when they discontinued. Do I still need to report their death on the NPAR?

A: Yes.

Q: For a patient who discontinued & died, what date do I use as the date of loss for the death event?

A: Use the date the patient died as the date of loss for the death event (see chart under discontinue)

DISCONTINUE EVENTS

Q: How long after a patient discontinues are we supposed to follow them?

A: You must follow the patient for 30 days following the discontinue event. You are

responsible for the 2746 form if the death occurs within these 30 days

Q: What do I use as the date of loss for a discontinue event?

A: Use the patient’s last date of dialysis as the date of loss. If the patient dialyzed in the hospital

after dialyzing at your facility, use the hospital date. This date should always match the date

filled in on #13f of the ESRD Death Notification

Q: A patient died and discontinued. Which event do I report?

A: Report both events

Ex. Kathy Kidney chose to discontinue dialysis 01/14/08. Her last date of dialysis was

01/10/08. She passed away 01/16/08. This would be reported on the NPAR as follows:

Lastnm	SSN	DOB	Gender	Zip	Date of Addition, Loss, Neutral Event	Addition 1=New ESRD 2A = Transfer In	Loss 7=Discontinue 8=Death
Firstnm
Kidney	xxx-xx-xxxx	01/01/35	F	55555	Date of Loss = Last Date of Dialysis Ever 01/10/08		7
Kathy
Kidney	xxx-xx-xxxx	01/01/35	F	55555	Date of Loss = Date of Death 01/16/08		8
Kathy

DISCONTINUE EVENT CONT.

Q: I still don’t understand the date I use if the patient discontinued. I have all of these different dates reported to me and am confused about which one to use as the discontinue date of loss.

Ex. The nephrologist called me (the facility) 01/15/08 and told me he/she had just seen the patient and the patient said they were stopping dialysis. The patient called me 01/16/08 and told me they were stopping dialysis. The pt’s next treatment was scheduled to be 01/17/08. Their actual last date of dialysis was 01/14/08, however we didn’t officially discharge them from our system until 01/20/08. What date to I use as the date of loss?

A: The Network only wants the patient’s last date of dialysis reported as the date of loss. In this example it would be 01/14/08.

DUE DATE

Q: When is the Network Patient Activity Report due?

A: The NPAR is due on the 10^th of the following month. If the 10^th falls on a weekend or

holiday, the NPAR is due on the next business day

E-MAIL

Q: Can we send the NPAR to the Network via e-mail?

A: Due to security reasons, we will not accept Network Patient Activity Reports via e-mail.

Please mail your NPARs. If you do not believe your NPAR will be received by the Network

by the due date, please fax and mail the NPAR.

INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE EVENT

Q: I believe I have an event that qualifies as an “Interruption in Service” – what do I do?

A: Please contact the Network as we are dealing with these on a case-by-case basis.

Q: What date do we use for the “Date of Event” for a 15=Interruption in Service event?

A: Use the last day the patient dialyzed at your facility

RESTARTS AND RETURN AFTER TRANSPLANT

Q: A patient is returning after having at transplant. Are they a restart (3) or a return after transplant (4A/B).

A: They are a return after transplant (4A/B). A restart is for patients returning after a discontinue (7), recover function (9), or Lost to Follow-up (10) event.

NOTE: Event 4A/B – Dialysis After Transplant is only used for patients returning to dialysis after the kidney transplant has failed. Patients whose kidney transplant has not failed who are dialyzing at your facility temporarily are not reported to the Network.

TRAINING

Q: How do we report training?

A: This version of the NPAR does not track training. If a patient begins training, they will be reported as a Neutral Event. Use the first date training began as the date of event

Ex. 1: Norman Nephron has been at your facility doing in-center HD. He has decided to switch to CAPD. He starts CAPD training 01/02/08 and completes 01/11/08. This would be reported on the NPAR as follows:

Lastnm	SSN	DOB	Gender	Zip	Date of Addition, Loss, Neutral Event	Addition	Loss	Neutral Event	Modality
Firstnm
Kidney	xxx-xx-xxxx	01/01/35	F	55555	Date Trng begins 01/02/08			11	Training Modality CAPD
Kathy

Ex. 2: If Daisy Dialysis was a new ESRD patient at your facility 01/05/08 doing CAPD training she would be reported as follows:

Lastnm	SSN	DOB	Gender	Zip	Date of Addition, Loss, Neutral Event	Addition	Loss	Neutral Event	Modality
Firstnm
Dialysis	xxx-xx-xxxx	01/01/45	F	55555	New ESRD Date/ Date Trng begins 01/05/08	1			CAPD
Daisy

TRANSFERRING VISITORS

Q: A visitor ended up staying at our facility for greater than 30 days. How do we handle this?

A: If a patient dialyzes at your facility for greater than 30 days, you need to transfer the patient in. Please contact the facility the patient is coming from to let them know you are transferring the patient in and report this event on the NPAR. Use the 1^st date the patient dialyzed at your facility, NOT the 31^st day.

TRANSFER OUT FOR TRANSPLANT

Q: What date do we use as the date of loss for a “Transfer Out For Transplant” (5a/b)?

A: Use the date of the day before the transplant.

Ex. If a patient had a transplant 01/30/08, report the date of loss as 01/29/08

Northwest Renal Network

March 7, 2008