FAQs

General Questions

What is the GLPTN?

The Great Lakes Practice Transformation Network (GLPTN) is one of 29 Practice Transformation Networks (PTNs) funded by CMS to provide technical assistance and peer- level support to assist clinicians in delivering care in a patient-centric and efficient manner. Examples include providing dedicated coaches to help practices better manage chronic diseases, improving medication adherence, supporting improved patient access to practitioners through e-mails and other information technology applications, and helping to advance improved access to remote and virtual care.

The GLPTN aims to engage 11,500 clinicians across Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan through learning practices capable of providing better health and improved care at a lower cost for a population of more than 10 million Americans. The network will train and deploy 52 quality improvement advisors to coach clinicians through the five phases of patient-centric practice transformation, provide direct technical assistance on the Physician Quality Reporting System, and local quality improvement efforts to help prepare clinicians for participation in value-based payment systems.

Who provides GLPTN services?

Altarum Institute is the lead organization for Michigan, Purdue Healthcare Advisors is the lead organization for Indiana, and Northwestern University is the lead for Illinois. Services are provided through partnerships with each healthcare organizations across each state.

How many providers will the GLPTN service?

Up to 4,000 in the State of Michigan, 4,500 providers in Illinois, and 3,000 providers in Indiana.

When do GLPTN services begin?

Enrollment is open now with services beginning in Spring 2016.

Eligibility Questions

What are the eligibility requirements?

Providers eligible to receive GLPTN Technical Assistance include primary and specialty care physicians, nurse practitioners (including advanced practice registered nurses), physician assistants, and their respective ambulatory practices. Additional eligible providers include clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, registered dieticians, nutrition professionals, audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, optometrists, chiropractors, and dentists.

Please note, your organization is not eligible to participate with the GLPTN if you currently participate in any of the following: Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), the CMS Multi-Payer Advanced Primary Care Practice (MiPCT in MI), or are receiving services from one of the other 28 CMS-designated PTNs.

What types of providers are eligible for GLPTN?

Providers eligible to receive GLPTN Technical Assistance include primary and specialty care physicians, nurse practitioners (including advanced practice registered nurses), physician assistants, and their respective ambulatory practices. Additional eligible providers include clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, registered dieticians, nutrition professionals, audiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, optometrists, chiropractors, and dentists. Due to the quality measures of interest, TA will be particularly well suited, but is not exclusive, to primary care providers and providers in certain specialties, such as Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, or Geriatrics.

How do I enroll in GLPTN and/or verify my eligibility?

You can submit a brief application online and we will get back to you as soon as possible to verify your organization’s eligibility. Alternatively, you can also contact us at .

How much does it cost to enroll in the GLPTN?

Services are provided free of cost to eligible, enrolled providers.

Can I participate in more than one PTN?

Unfortunately not. Please contact us at if you are unsure which PTN should be servicing your organization.

Programmatic Questions

What is a Quality Improvement Advisor?

Quality Improvement Advisors (QIAs) are the expert staff guiding providers through the TCPI phases of transformation and providing technical assistance.

How much work/time is it to participate in the GLPTN?

The goal of the GLPTN Quality Improvement Advisors is to make GLPTN participation as easy, effective, and helpful as possible. This is accomplished by working with your practice to make sure your QI efforts are aligned and you are leveraging the same work and data for multiple programs whenever possible. Quality Improvement is a “team sport” involving providers, clinical support staff, and office staff.  QIAs will work with the practice team to make sure that providers are able to keep focused on doing what they do best: caring for patients. Exact level of effort or hours of work involved in GLPTN participation will vary by current practice situation, the practice’s QI priorities and their goals for getting value out of the GLPTN support. QIAs will work with an administrative lead from each office that will on average need to dedicate 15-20 hours over the full course of program participation. Clinical lead time is kept as minimal as possible and should average no more than 4-6 hours.

QIAs will meet practices and providers where they are: on their time, their space, their terms, and in support of their priorities.

What do I have to do as a GLPTN participant?

Ongoing participation in the GLPTN TA involves:

• Regularly communicate with your assigned QIA (updates, progress, barriers, etc.)
• Ensure provider(s) stay engaged and act as clinical champions
• Maintain basic project management tools in order to track and monitor progress of assigned tasks/deliverables
• Work with QIA and EHR vendor as needed to identify specific data and reporting requirements
• Agree to, and facilitate, sharing of aggregate data on selected quality measures, to be reported quarterly
• Work with QIA and practice team to identify opportunities for improvement (OFIs) informed by data
• Work with providers and staff to solicit input and ideas relating to performance/QI
• Learn about basic PI tools and techniques (lean, Six Sigma, PDCA, etc.) and use tools and techniques to drive/sustain improvements
• Participate in PQRS, if eligible, and the Value-Based Modifier Program