TJC Survey Experiences: Emergency Management

If you've been surveyed this year, you know that there continues to be an increasing focus on emergency preparedness and management. The Emergency Management tracer has become a separate Joint Commission survey activity, no longer paired with the Environment of Care session. For information from Courtemanche and Associates about what surveyors are looking for, click here.

State Maximum Allowable Cost List Survey

HCPF is developing a State Maximum Allowable Cost (State MAC) list which will become one of the pricing methodologies utilized when determining the reimbursement rate paid to pharmacies for dispensing prescription drugs to Colorado Medicaid clients. The State MAC list will be composed of specific prescription drugs that have a reimbursement rate based on the actual acquisition costs paid by pharmacies plus 18%, in accordance with the Department's rules. A survey has been developed so that the Department can obtain the prices paid by pharmacies to obtain certain prescription drugs. All pharmacies are encouraged to submit a completed survey so that each pharmacy's actual costs are taken into consideration when rates are developed for the State MAC list. The survey is available by clicking here. Please return the completed survey February 22, 2010. Please contact Kerri Coffey at kerri.coffey@state.co.us if you have any questions.

USDA Rural Development Funding Opportunities

Applications are being accepted for the Renewable Energy or Energy Efficiency Loans and Grants. For more information contact your local Rural Development Office. Applications are also being accepted for the Second Round of the Broadband Initiatives Program from February 15 - March 15, 2010. USDA Rural Development offers a 75/25 grant/loan program. More information is available HERE.

Immunization Training Grant RFA

The Colorado Immunization Program (CIP) at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has funds available to support local health agencies and non-profit community-based organizations with immunization-related education, training and technical assistance through staff attendance at one of the following immunization conferences:

1. National Immunization Conference
2. National Conference on Immunization & Health Coalitions
3. 13th Update: Travel MedicineThe application deadline as been extended until 5 pm on February 25th.

For more information, click here.

March 7-13 is Patient Safety Awareness Week

The goal of this week is to provide education and awareness for improving patient safety. The theme this year is "Let's Talk: Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare." This is an opportunity to engage and partner with patients, staff, physicians and visitors to foster communication and encourage action around patient safety. For ideas about activities to celebrate and raise awareness about Patient Safety practices, click here.

Depression Center Symposium for Primary Care Clinicians

April 9, 2010
The University of Colorado Depression Center will be holding on a symposium for primary care clinicians about managing depression in primary care. The speakers include Frank deGruy, MD, MSFM, Ben Miller PsyD, Tillman Farley, MD, Chris Schneck, MD, Rob Keeley, MD, and Cheryl Chessick, MD. The cost is $95. For more information, click here.

Federal Funding to Support HIT in Colorado!

On February 11th, the White House announced nearly $1 Billion in stimulus funding to support adoption and effective use of Health Information Technology (HIT). Colorado was awarded over $21 million in funding that includes $9.175 million for Health Information Exchange and $12.475 million for the Colorado Regional Extension Center. The Colorado Regional Health Information Organization (CORHIO) was awarded both the HIE and REC grants. However, multiple partners are included in the REC grant, including the Colorado Rural Health Center. As a REC partner, CRHC will be working directly with CORHIO to assist rural clinics and Critical Access Hospitals with the assessment, roadmapping, implementation, and effective use stages to be able to reach meaningful use and access their own incentive funding. Special thanks to all of you who wrote letters of support for the Colorado REC grant. As we learn more about how the grant will be executed and how the funding will support rural facilities, we will keep you apprised! If you have questions, please contact Cari Fouts at cf@coruralhealth.org .

TrailBlazer Job Aids

TrailBlazer offers a variety of training and educational materials known as job aids with easy-to-follow instructions and tips to assist providers in understanding the Medicare program in order to bill correctly. The "Published" date posted next to each document title, as well as the or icon, alerts providers of new or updated materials. For more information, click here.

Reducing Hospital Readmissions - An Action Guide

Avoidable hospital readmissions are under close scrutiny by policymakers, providing hospitals with added impetus to reduce costs and increase quality of care. The new Health Care Leader Action Guide to Reduce Avoidable Readmissions, funded and produced by The Commonwealth Fund, the John A. Hartford Foundation, and the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) of the AHA, provides a quick, simple resource for hospital leaders to get started on an action plan for reducing readmissions.

NEW Health Information Technology Program

CRHC is excited to announce a new consortium opportunity for Colorado's rural hospitals and clinics - the Technology for Healthcare Excellence (THE) Consortium! Through THE Consortium, expert advice, support, tools and resources are available to providers seeking to adopt or support their current HIT efforts, including assistance in achieving meaningful use for accessing Federal stimulus incentives. For a small annual fee, THE Consortium provides multiple cost-saving opportunities to its members. Over 20 rural facilities are currently participating in THE Consortium. To learn more, click here.

Colorado Rural Credentialing Network - Join Today!

Join the Colorado Rural Credentialing Network now to take advantage of the Network's benefits for 2010! For an annual membership fee of $250, participants will receive:

• Access to participate in quarterly interactive Educational Credentialing Webinars facilitated by an expert credentialing specialist (the Network's first webinar is scheduled for February 10!)
• Up-to-Date tools, resources, and materials, archived network webinars and information (through a member-only website)
• Peer networking opportunity
• No-cost access to a certified credentialing specialist for general credentialing questions
• Access to personalized credentialing consultations at a group discount rate

For more information and to register, click here.