HITECH Incentives Webinar

Webinar: "Understanding the HITECH Incentives"
When: January 14, 2010; 12:00pm-1:15pm
Topic: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is working to finalize the incentive funding details for CAHs and RHCs prescribed by the HITECH Act. During this webinar, David Ginsberg, President of PrivaPlan Associates, Inc., will review the latest information from the expected Interim final rule on: definition of Meaningful use; how providers will demonstrate or prove meaningful use; incentive funding specifics. For more information and to register, email sg@coruralhealth.org.

Colorado Stroke Symposium

December 10, 2009
The Colorado Stroke Symposium, sponsored by the American Heart Association, will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2009. Attendees will learn about Get With The Guidelines-Stroke, the American Heart Association's premier in-hospital process for continuous quality improvement for prevention of cardiovascular events and stroke. For more information and to register click here.

Recruitment & Retention Webinar

CHAMPS Webinar: "Successful Recruitment in Challenging Times"
Date/Time: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm MDT
Presenter: Cherith Flowerday, Workforce Programs Manager, Colorado Rural Health Center
Target Audience: Health center and clinic staff responsible for or involved in recruitment, providers, and interested local organizations and citizens. For more information, click here.
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credit: 1.5 hours of CME credit will be offered for this webcast; determination of credit is pending.
Registration: This event will take place online, and advance registration is required, preferably 24 hours before the event. To register, please click here. Handouts and log-in information will be emailed to all registrants the day before the event.
Cost: Attendance is free for participants from CHAMPS Organizational Members, including CME credit. Attendance is free for participants from CRHC Organizational Members; CRHC members will be charged $15 per person for CME credit after the event. Non-member participants will be billed $75/webcast link and $15/person for CME credit after the event.

To determine if your organization is a current CHAMPS member, please click here.
To determine if your organization is a current CRHC member, please call Andrea Williams at 720.248.2743 and reference this event.

Medicaid Outpatient Hospital Reimbursement

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) has submitted proposed amendments revising the Medical Assistance Rule for Outpatient Hospital Reimbursement, §8.300 which will reduce Medicaid outpatient reimbursement. Information about the rule and the upcoming rulemaking hearing can be found by clicking here. For more information, contact Judi Carey, HCPF MSB Coordinator at 303.866.4416.

IV Pumps Available

Platte Valley Medical Center has some Imed/Alaris Gemini IV pumps (1- 2- and 4-channel) that were recently taken out of service. If your hospital has a need for any of these IV pumps, please email jd@coruralhealth.org. Your facility would just need to cover shipping. Parts aren't available from Alaris any longer, but can be obtained from third-party dealers. Tubing is readily available because it is the same the new pumps use.

Recent Funding Opportunities

HUD 242 (FHA Section 242) - Helping Hospitals Get Capital Financing
Loan program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help hospitals finance new construction, refinancing, and modernization or to purchase major movable equipment such as hospital beds, wheeled equipment, and office machines. For more information, click here or call 202.708.0599.

2009/2010 CAH Capacity Building Grant - Applications due December 4!
CRHC has released its 2009/2010 CAH Capacity Building Grant Guidelines. The guidelines are accessible on CRHC's website by clicking here. Grant applications are due December 4, 2009. If you have questions or need additional information please email jd@coruralhealth.org.

Rural Emergency Responders Initiative
USDA Rural Development administers a direct loan and grant program to develop fire and rescue facilities and equipment in rural areas and towns with populations up to 20,000. For more information, click here.

NEW Credentialing Network

Register Now! The new CRHC Colorado Credentialing Network assists hospitals and clinics with credentialing issues specific to accreditation requirements, significant legislation, and civil litigation. For an annual membership fee of $250, CRHC’s Colorado Rural Credentialing Network provides rural hospitals and clinics with education, resources, and information facilitated by a credentialing specialist. For more information click here.

CMS Updates

CMS 2010 OPPS Final Rule - Physician Supervision Requirements
On October 30, 2009, CMS released the 2010 OPPS final rule. The final rule contains several changes to physician supervision requirements that will impact Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Click here for an explanation of the changes.

HHS Strengthens HIPAA Enforcement
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an interim final rule with request for comments today to strengthen its enforcement of the rules promulgated under HIPAA. These HITECH Act revisions significantly increase the penalty amounts the Secretary may impose for violations of the HIPAA rules and encourage prompt corrective action. For more information, click here.

CMS Open Door Forum
Discussion from HHS on H1N1 will be held on Tuesday, 11/10/09 from 2pm-3pm ET. The call will discuss the Secretary of HHS invoking her waiver authority under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act. Requests by providers to operate under the flexibilities afforded by the waiver should be sent to the CMS regional office. CMS will be taking questions during this call. Call: 1-800-837-1935; Conference ID 3H1N1. For more information, click here.

Updated CMS Quarterly Provider Update (QPU)
The CMS QPU was updated on 10/22/2009 through 10/30/2009 to include recently published instruction(s) and/or regulation(s). Please view the October 2009 QPU What's New Page by clicking here.

IHI Expedition: Improving Your HCAHPS Score

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is offering its latest Expedition program, “Improving Your HCAHPS Score Through Patient-Centered Care”, for organizations that are committed to improving the patient experience and, along with it, their HCAHPS score. IHI offers a 50% enrollment discount for hospitals with less than 50 beds. For more information about this program, or to enroll, please click here.

Group Purchase Discounts

RAC Physician Advisor Discount
CRHC has negotiated a reduced pricing option with Executive Health Resources, Inc. (EHR),The Physician Advisor Company™, to provide RAC protective services. EHR teams are dedicated to ensuring medical necessity compliance and revenue integrity, and improving reimbursement while optimizing hospital efficiency and helping to increase quality of care. For more information about the available discounts, please contact Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org . To learn more about EHR, please visit their website by clicking here.

McKesson InterQual Care Guidelines
The discounts range from 22%-35% depending on the InterQual criteria set licensed. To be eligible for the discount you must be:

• A Colorado CAH Initiating or renewing a subscription
• Not currently subscribing through an agreement through another hospital system/group

For more information about the discount, , please contact Dana Spiel at McKesson at 480-203-2656 or danaz.spiel@mckesson.com.

Milliman Care Guidelines
A 10% discount if they license by December 15, 2009 (this discount will not be available in 2010!). The discount will be applied to the fees each year of a 5-year agreement. Please contact Rodger Hopkins, at Milliman (425-413-6584) or rodger.hopkins@milliman.com for more information or to attend a demonstration.

CAH Bed Limits & H1N1 Patients

In response to the recent H1N1 (Swine Flu) outbreak, President Obama and HHS Secretary Sebelius have officially declared a national state of emergency which will allow critical access hospitals to file a request to CMS that would temporarily waive the daily limit of twenty-five occupied beds for critical access hospitals. Though this does not indefinitely lift the limit, nor does it apply to any bed limits for which H1N1 patients are not a contributing factor, it does seek to address the current outbreak and address for surges in patient loads. The waiver is not automatic, and each CAH must submit an individual request to be reviewed by CMS in order for it to be granted. The request must be sent to their regional CMS office. Click here for your regional CMS office contact information. For more information see the links below:

• Explanation of 1135 Waivers
• CMS H1N1 Information Website
• Information Sheet from AHA

Section 1135 Waiver Requests for CAHs

November 10, 2009 from 2pm-3pm: H1N1 Discussion Call
The purpose of this third H1N1 call is to discuss the Secretary of Health and Human Services invoking her waiver authority under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act. We will be talking live questions during this call. If you would like to submit a question prior to the call, please send your question to: Pandemic@cms.hhs.gov. Put "November 10, 2009 Call" in the subject line. All callers please dial: 800.837.1935 and use Conference ID 3H1N1. Dial in at least 20 minutes prior to start of the call.

RHCs Eligible For Up To $2000 for Emergency Preparedness

All Colorado’s Rural Health Clinics are eligible to receive up to $2000 from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for completing emergency preparedness activities. RHC Program Manager, Toloa Pearl, will be contacting you soon to discuss your deliverable requirements.

H1N1 Vaccine and the RHC Cost Report

Like pneumococcal and influenza vaccines, clinics will capture the cost to administer the H1N1 vaccine on the cost report. Right now CMS approved cost report software can report and calculate costs to administer pneumococcal and influenza vaccine only. This means that CMS approved cost report software needs to be updated to capture cost to administer the H1N1 vaccine. Two new columns will be added to the vaccine section of the cost report:

1. H1N1 only
2. H1N1 plus influenza

The timeline for completing the updates to the software is not known however to-date CMS Regional Offices, MACs and approved CMS Cost Report Vendors have been notified. Clinics are advised to adjust their existing cost report vaccine logs as follows:

1. pnuemo
2. influenza
3. H1N1 only
4. H1N1 plus influenza

CMS Medicare Learning Network Publications

Now Available:

• The Medicare Physician Guide: A Resource for Residents, Practicing Physicians, and Other Health Care Professionals (October 2009) offers general information about the Medicare program, how to become a Medicare provider or supplier, Medicare reimbursement, Medicare payment policies, evaluation and management services, protecting the Medicare Trust Fund, inquiries, overpayments and fee-for-service appeals.
  Download The Medicare Physician Guide
• The Facilitator’s Guide: Companion to Medicare Physician Guide: A Resource for Residents, Practicing Physicians, and Other Health Care Professionals (October 2009) includes all the information and instructions necessary to prepare for and present a Medicare Resident, Practicing Physician and Other Health Care Professional Training Program, including instructions for facilitators, customization guide, a PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes, pre- and post-assessments, master assessment answer keys and a course evaluation tool.
  Download The Facilitator's Guide

November is Diabetes Month

Twenty-four million adults and children in the United States suffer from diabetes. Complications from diabetes can include increased risk of heart disease, blindness, glaucoma, nerve damage and kidney damage. However, detection and treatment of diabetes may prevent or delay many of these complications. As a health care professional who provides care to patients with Medicare, you can help protect the health of your patients by educating them about their risk factors and encouraging them to take advantage of Medicare-covered diabetes detection and treatment services. For More Information CMS has developed several educational products related to Medicare-covered diabetes-related services, including:

• The Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Physicians, Providers, Suppliers and Other Health Care Professionals - This recently revised comprehensive resource provides coverage and coding information on the array of preventive services and screenings that Medicare covers, including diabetes and glaucoma screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutritional therapy, and supplies and other services for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. Click here.
• Diabetes-Related Services brochure - This recently updated brochure provides health care professionals with an overview of Medicare's coverage of diabetes screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy, and supplies and other services for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. Click here.
• Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services - This double-sided chart provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered preventive services, including diabetes and glaucoma screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutritional therapy, and supplies and other services for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. Click here.
• The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Web Page - Provides descriptions and ordering information for MLN preventive services educational products and resources for health care professionals and their staff. Click here.
• Glaucoma Screening brochure - Click here for an updated brochure provides information on coverage for Medicare-covered glaucoma screenings, including the dilated eye examination.Information for your use and materials for consumers and health professionals developed by the National Diabetes Education Program are available by clicking here.

For more information about American Diabetes Month, please visit the American Diabetes Association Web site by clicking here.

Rural Health Care Leadership Conference

February 7-10, 2010 at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, Phoenix, AZ
The 23rd Annual Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, presented by Health Forum and the American Hospital Association, brings together top thinkers in the field, and offers you proven strategies for accelerating performance excellence and improving the sustainability of your rural hospital. The conference provides a unique focus on innovative ideas, thoughtful insights, and successful strategies for improving rural hospitals and developing rural health care leaders. Early Bird Tuition rolled back to 2004 rates! Reserve your spot by December 7, 2009 for the greatest savings. Click here for more information.