Editor’s Note

As the landscape is transitioning from winter fields of snow to spring melting streams of water, I am struck by the image of a kayak making its way through treacherous white-water currents and confounding eddies.

ACEP and CEDR are negotiating a rapidly changing quality and reimbursement environment. As we continue to deal with the COVID19 pandemic, there is no easing of the new challenges ahead and the opportunities to seek solutions as exemplified by new acronyms such as CEDR 2.0 and MVP. In this issue the reader has the opportunity to learn how ACEP is navigating these challenges through leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and policy, i.e., the necessary tools to build and test the “kayaks” to successfully run the river.

Here are the updates, reports, and commentary from our ACEP CEDR contributors in this issue:

• Michelle Lin, CEDR Committee Chair, updates significant key developments for CEDR through engagement of ACEP at the leadership, committee, task force and staff levels.
• Aisha Terry, ACEP BOD liaison, reflects back on 2020 accomplishments and the challenges ahead for CEDR.
• Pawan Goyal, Associate Executive Director, Quality, takes a deep dive with timely analysis and commentary on MVP development.
• Dhruv Sharma, EQUAL manager, highlights E-QUAL program accomplishments in 2020 and current initiatives.
• Greg Neyman, Vice-Editor, Newsletter does a Q&A interview with Dr’s Venkatesh and Ravi on publishing the first research article based on CEDR data.
• Jeffrey Davis, Director of Regulatory Affairs delves into the details 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program Final Rule and implications for reimbursement and care.
• Aarti Gupta, Quality Measures manager, provides an update on CEDR quality measures for 2021.
• Mahita Beeram, our Fall 2020 Quality intern, shares her experience working with the CEDR Quality team.

While COVID 19 has challenged us to dramatically alter how we communicate with our patients and each other, what does not change is the drive to use quality to determine our path forward as a clinical specialty to advance emergency care.