Take Advantage of Our RHC Services!

CRHC offers dozens of programs and services to help RHCs manage their finances, improve patient care, add Health Information Technology, stay current on CMS changes, be prepared for an unexpected RHC survey, recruit and retain healthcare providers, and more! Some services are offered completely FREE of charge, and fees for the rest are lower than you'll find anywhere else--some services, such as our Financial Excellence in Revenue Management (FERM) program, will immediately show financial returns that far exceed your original cost! Contact Rich Marquez at rm@coruralhealth.org or 303.577.0373 , or click here for more information.

Scholarship available for National Association for Rural Mental Health Annual Conference!

Join the National Association for Rural Mental Health in its annual gathering of people who care for the country. The NARMH Conference has been a celebration of the innovation that is the cornerstone of success in supporting recovery for persons challenged by mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This meeting is a place where persons in recovery, healthcare providers, family members, researchers, advocates, and policy makers join together to learn about effective programs and practices, explore new discoveries, and dialogue about rural behavioral health policy.

The Colorado Rural Health Center is a proud sponsor of the National Association for Rural Mental Health’s (NARMH) Annual Conference, scheduled for June 2-5, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. CRHC is offering one scholarship--a stipend of $500 to cover registration plus a portion of other associated costs--for a rural CRHC member to attend this year’s conference. To apply, please send a one paragraph email to Cherith Flowerday (cfl@coruralhealth.org) describing why you believe you should get this scholarship and how this year’s conference could benefit mental health services in your community. Potential topics include:

• Rural Behavioral Health Policy and Research
• Recovery Focused Rural Behavioral Healthcare
• Consumer and Family Voice
• Diversity and Culture
• Telehealth and Advanced Technology
• Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Development
• Innovative Practices and Programs for Adults, Children, and Families

For conference details, please visit the NARMH website.

Cultural Health Clearinghouse

July 22-23, 2010; Front Range Community College, Westminster, CO
The goal of this conference is to develop a commitment among healthcare workers to identify and eliminate ethnic in-equities in health care quality, by understanding cultural and linguistic competence. By accepting specific training recommended in CLAS standards, healthcare workers are empowered to assume their professional role, in addressing this pressing health care crisis. For more information and to register, click here.

CHA Rural Hospital Conference

Join us at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, May 5-7. CRHC and CHA have collaborated to put together this year’s agenda of topics and speakers which includes: IT Security and Privacy, TrailBlazer and AHA updates, Workforce, Succession Planning , Sustainable Leadership, and more. A CRHC scholarship of $170 per CAH is available to help cover a portion of the registration fee. For more information and to register, click here.

Important RHC info - your assistance is requested

The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) are collaborating on an initiative to improve and enhance the quality and volume of technical assistance available to RHCs. In order to assist these organizations in knowing what types of education and support activities would be most helpful to the RHC community in your state, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. The survey will only take about 10 minutes of your time to complete and your answers will be extremely important in helping state offices of rural health learn about the needs of the RHC community.

Building Heart and Stroke Healthy Communities

May 26, 2010; 8:30-4:00; Colorado Springs
CDPHE’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Coalition 2010 Summit: Building Heart and Stroke Healthy Communities will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Colorado Springs on May 26. Learn about the steps your community can take to achieve recognition as a Heart and Stroke Healthy Community. To view a program fact sheet, click here. A limited number of lodging and mileage reimbursements are available from the State for attendees driving 100 miles or more one way to the meeting. For more information and to register, click here.

Credentialing Network – Join Now!

If you haven’t joined the Colorado Rural Credentialing Network yet, it’s not too late! As the State Office of Rural Health, CRHC has identified an increasing need to assist hospitals and clinics with credentialing issues. Credentialing of physicians and other healthcare practitioners has become a key risk management function for facilities, both large and small. Further, it has become a complex and seldom understood process. The CRHC Colorado Credentialing Network assists hospitals and clinics with credentialing issues specific to accreditation requirements, significant legislation, and civil litigation. For the annual $250 Credentialing Network membership fee, you’ll have access to a recording of the Network’s first educational webinar as well as the opportunity to participate in the three remaining quarterly webinars. You will also have access to a credentialing specialist for general questions as well as resources and networking.

For those who choose not to join the Credentialing Network, a recording of the first educational webinar is also available for $149. Topics discussed on the webinar include: the purposes of credentialing, membership vs. privileges, components of the credentialing process, data verification and assessment, as well as hot topics. For more information, email jd@coruralhealth.org.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Provisions Impacting Institutional Providers (PPACA)

CMS is working to expeditiously implement these important provisions of PPACA. Providers will begin seeing payments under these provisions in the late April/early May time frame. Hospitals should be on the alert for more information about these provisions and their impact on past and future claims, and for more information pertaining to the PPACA. The 3401 sections of the PPACA are effective April 1, 2010, while Section 3137(a) has October 1, 2009, and April 1, 2010, effective dates. For more information, click here.

“Medicare Fraud and Abuse” Web-Based Training Course

The “Medicare Fraud and Abuse” Web-Based Training Course has been revised and is now available.The course provides helpful information for Medicare providers and suppliers involved in providing and billing for services to people with Medicare. This course provides information that will increase awareness of Medicare fraud and abuse, provide information regarding correct billing practices, and help Medicare providers, suppliers and staff to file claims correctly. The course offers continuing education credits; please see the course description page for details. To access the course, go to the MLN Products page and select the Web-Based Training Modules link in the Related Links Inside CMS section. Once the Web-based training courses page is displayed, select the “Medicare Fraud and Abuse” WBT from the list provided.

2011 CMS IPPS Proposed Rule

The 2011 CMS Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Proposed Rule was released in the April 19 Federal Register. Below are provisions that would affect CAHs:

• Reimbursement for Services of CRNAs (pg 532): CMS is proposing to allow hospitals and CAHs that are urban but have applied for and been granted rural status under Medicare law to receive reimbursement for anesthesia and related care furnished by qualified CRNAs on reasonable cost basis.
• Removal of the Annual Election Requirement on Maintaining Method II Payment (pg 560): CMS is proposing a change so that, once a CAH elects the Method II payment method for outpatient services that election remains in place until it is terminated by the CAH.
• Clarification of Which Provider Taxes May Be Allowable Costs (pg 566): CMS currently permits certain provider taxes to be treated as allowable costs if they are related to the reasonable and necessary cost of providing patient care and are actually incurred. CMS is proposing to clarify that FI/MACs will determine whether provider taxes are allowable on a case-by-case basis, based on reasonable cost principles and will determine if a reduction of the allowable tax expenses is proper to account for payments providers receive that are associated with the assessed tax.

More information including instructions for submitting comments to CMS can be found in the Federal Register by clicking here. Comments to CMS on the proposed rules are due by June 18.

Back to Basics--Why are the RACs Here?

April 28, 2010; 1:00pm MST
This webinar, presented by Rural Health Innovations, will provide an overview of Medicare reimbursement and the documentation areas targeted by the RACs. The goal of this presentation is to provide information to hospital staff which can result in more accurate documentation of services performed and fewer RAC denials. Registration is $99. For more information and to register, click here.

Don Berwick Nominated to be Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

President Obama nominated Dr. Donald Berwick to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services (CMS). Dr. Berwick currently serves as President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and is a professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. For more information, click here.

Short-Term "Jobs" Bill Passed

The Senate and House voted last week to pass H.R. 4851, legislation that will ensure that physicians who practice in hospital-owned outpatient centers qualify for health information technology incentives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and delay a 21% Medicare payment cut for physicians until May 31. For more information, click here.

TrailBlazer – Encore Web-Based Training Sessions

Encore presentations are offered as a refresher for those who attended a live Web-Based Training (WBT) or for individuals who were unable to attend the event when it was offered. There is no charge. For a list of available encore WBT, click here.

AHA Mission: Lifeline Symposium: Pursuit of Cardiac Clinical Excellence “The First 24 Hours”

May 27, 2010
The overarching goal of the symposium is to reduce mortality and morbidity for Colorado STEMI patients and to improve their overall quality of care. The symposium objectives are to: Address best practices for continuum of care for STEMI patients; identify the issues specific to rural communities and importance of promoting different solutions/protocols for rural vs. urban/suburban areas; utilize recommendations and best practices on a community level (no "one size fits all" solution); and apply concepts of establishing a STEMI system of care into your community. For more information and to register, click here.

HQIP Rural/CAH Meeting - Your Input Is Needed!

CRHC and CHA have been participating in the Hospital Quality Incentive Payment (HQIP) committee to help Medicaid develop a quality improvement and incentive program as part of the Hospital Provider Fee legislation. Incentive payment measures are being proposed in the areas of hospital readmissions, emergency room use, healthy behaviors and patient safety, and we need your input to develop specific measures applicable to Rural and Critical Access Hospitals! The minutes from the first meeting, held on April 9, are available by clicking here.

As mentioned in the minutes, we'd appreciate your input on the following: What care coordination activities and community health promotion activities do your hospitals do? Responses can be emailed to jd@coruralhealth.org by April 16.

The HQIP Rural/CAH group has two future meetings scheduled. Call-in information is available for those who cannot attend in person.

• Friday, April 23, 3-4:30p (CRHC offices, 3033 S. Parker Road, Aurora, CO)
• Thursday, April 29, 10a-12p (tentative during CHA/CRHC Rural Hospital Advisory Council meeting, CHA offices)

To RSVP for any of these meetings, please email Jen Dunn at jd@corurualhealth.org.

RGK Foundation Funding Opportunities

The RGK Foundation opens its next round of funding opportunities which support a range of programs in such areas as education, community and health. The medicine/health grant program will support programs that promote the health and well-being of children, access to health services and foundation-initiated programs. Grants range from several thousand to $150,000; the average foundation grant is $25,000. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations such as hospitals, educational institutions and governmental institutions with 501 (c)(3) status. All applicants first must submit a letter of inquiry completed online. For more information, click here.

Attend the CHA Rural Hospital Conference

Join us at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, May 5-7. CRHC and CHA have collaborated to put together this year’s agenda of topics and speakers which includes: IT Security and Privacy, TrailBlazer and AHA updates, Workforce, Succession Planning , Sustainable Leadership, and more. A CRHC scholarship of $170 per CAH is available to help cover a portion of the registration fee. For more information and to register, click here.

April 5-11 is National Public Health Week and April 7 is World Health Day!

CMS reminds health care professionals that Medicare provides coverage for a variety of preventive services. Medicare patients can lead longer, fuller and healthier lives by taking advantage of the following covered preventive services:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
• Adult immunizations
• Bone mass measurements
• Cancer screenings
• Cardiovascular screenings
• Diabetes-related services and screening
• Glaucoma screenings
• Smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling
• Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE)

Resources:

• The Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Preventive Services Educational Products Webpage provides descriptions and ordering information for MLN preventive services educational products and resources
• The “Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Physicians, Providers, Suppliers and Other Health Care Professionals” is a comprehensive resource that contains coverage, coding and payment information
• The “Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services” chart contains coverage, coding and payment information in a quick reference format
• The “Preventive Services Educational Products” document contains links to downloadable versions of MLN preventive services products, including brochures, quick reference guides and more

Physician Signature Guidelines (Change Request 6698) WBT

Since Medicare contractors and other safeguard programs are tasked with measuring, detecting and correcting improper payments in the fee-for-service Medicare program, documentation and physicians’ signatures are more important than ever. This Change Request (CR) updates information regarding physicians’ signatures and legible identifiers in the form of a handwritten or electronic signature, and adds e-prescribing language as it pertains to signatures.  For more information, click here.

TrailBlazer: CAH Documentation and CERT Web-Based Training.

May 11, 2010, 10:00am-12pm CST
This TrailBlazer session will focus on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), which will include tips on proper documentation for Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) and Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT). There is no charge to attend this training. For more information and to register, click here.

CMS Announces Series of Nationwide RAC 101 Calls

Please visit the CMS RAC website for more information.

• April 28, 2010 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call, 877.251.0301
• May 4, 2010 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call for Home Health and Hospice Providers, 877.251.0301
• May 5, 2010 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call for DMEPOS, 877.251.0301
• May 12, 2010 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call for Physicians, 877.251.0301

In addition to the national calls, CMS has released a RAC 101 video. To access the video, click here.

Register now for The Forum 2010!

April 19-21, 2010; Red Lion Hotel Aurora, CO

Registration for the Forum 2010 is ongoing. Please visit the CRHC website for registration, sponsor and exhibitor information. An updated Forum agenda with session descriptions is now available. All session presentations and handouts will be available for download (for registered attendees only) beginning on April 12. For more information contact Rich Marquez, RHC Program Coordinator at rm@coruralhealth.org or 303.577.0373.

Hospital Licensure Standards - Important News

The Colorado State Board of Health approved amendments to regulations on hospital licensing standards on March 17 that are scheduled to go into effect May 1st and involve new licensing fees for clinics. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), federally certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) are exempt from these regulations and therefore, hospitals that own provider-based RHCs will not be subject to these new rules. For hospitals that own provider-based clinics that are not certified as RHCs, please contact Terri Hurst, Policy Analyst at th@coruralhealth.org, to learn more about how these new regulations may impact you.

Take Advantage of Our RHC Services!

CRHC offers dozens of programs and services to help RHCs manage their finances, improve patient care, add Health Information Technology, stay current on CMS changes, be prepared for an unexpected RHC survey, recruit and retain healthcare providers, and more! Some services are offered completely FREE of charge, and fees for the rest are lower than you'll find anywhere else--some services, such as our Financial Excellence in Revenue Management (FERM) program, will immediately show financial returns that far exceed your original cost! Contact Rich Marquez at rm@coruralhealth.org or 303.577.0373 , or click here for more information.

CRHC's Financial Excellence in Revenue Management for Healthcare Providers

With the ever-changing healthcare environment, it is crucial to have up-to-date and accurate financial management strategies. We offer an array of support services from coding, operations and credentialing management to contract negotiations, start-up assistance, and a total access billing and revenue service. We offer rural practices an unparalleled level of experience, support, reporting, and client access to real-time data. We understand that cash flow is crucial and the life line of your practice and we are ready to assist you with strategies that ensure you the best chance at success and profitability. For more information, please click here.

Reminder – Obtaining the PS&R Via the Redesigned PS&R

This is a reminder to all providers of the requirements of CR 6519, dated June 12, 2009, which notified providers that the new, redesigned Provider Statistical and Reimbursement (PS&R) system (PS&R Redesign) is now operational.

Providers are now responsible for obtaining their own PS&Rs to be used for filing all cost reports with Fiscal Years (FYs) ending on or after January 31, 2009.

The PS&R Redesign allows users the ability to download summary PS&R reports via the Internet. Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs)/Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) will no longer produce and distribute these summary reports to their providers. It is the providers' responsibility to obtain their own PS&R needed to file their cost report.

The PS&R Redesign utilizes Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Systems (IACS) for authentication and security purposes. To obtain a PS&R, providers must first establish an IACS account and also be approved for PS&R access prior to attempting to access the PS&R Redesign. The provider IACS verification process includes the submission of supporting documentation and may take several weeks to complete the entire process. TrailBlazer strongly encourages all providers not currently approved for PS&R access to begin their IACS registration immediately to ensure they will be able to access IACS and the PS&R Redesign well in advance of their cost report due date.

More information regarding the IACS process is available on the CMS IACS Web page.

The CMS PS&R Redesign Web page contains an overview of the system, user manuals, quick guides and other helpful information.

TrailBlazer Rural Health Ask-the-Contractor Teleconference

April 14, 2010, 12:00pm-1:30pm MST
ACTs provide a forum for providers to ask TrailBlazer questions concerning Medicare billing, identify provider issues and share information. TrailBlazer is conducting a Rural Health ACT to discuss agenda items received from providers, Medicare updates and enhancements to the TrailBlazer website specific to CAHs, FQHCs, and RHCs. For more information and to register, click here.

Holding Claims for Services Paid Under the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

CMS is working with Congress, health care providers and the beneficiary community to avoid disruption in the delivery of healthcare services and payment of claims for physicians, non-physician practitioners and other providers of services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). As you are aware, the Temporary Extension Act of 2010, enacted March 2, 2010, extended the zero percent update to the 2010 MPFS through March 31, 2010.

CMS believes Congress is working to avert the negative update that will take effect April 1. Consequently, CMS has instructed its contractors to hold claims containing services paid under the MPFS (including anesthesia services) for the first 10 business days of April. This hold will only affect claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2010. In addition, the hold should have minimum impact on provider cash flow because, under the current law, clean electronic claims are not paid any sooner than 14 calendar days (29 for paper claims) after the date of receipt. Providers should be on the alert for more information about the 2010 MPFS update.

(CMS Learn Resource 201003-46, dated March 26, 2010, and Joint Signature Memorandum (JSM) 10201, dated March 25, 2010)

RAC Program Topics: New Issues, Documentation Limits and Physician Roles – A Free Webinar

Tuesday, April 20, 1-2 pm ET
Join McKesson for a free educational webinar with updates and discussions about the Recovery Audit Contractor program. Amy Reese from CMS will discuss steps you can take to prepare for an audit, an overview of new issues postings and the latest rules for documentation requests. In addition, Robert Roth, MD, from McKesson will talk about the key roles physician advisors and RAC physicians play in the audit process. For more information and to register, click here.

The Impact of the Patient Protection Act – A Free Webinar

April 16, 2010; 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM (CDT)
Join a free webinar hosted by Wipfli for a discussion on how the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act will affect your organization. Given significant changes coming immediately and in the years to come, it is essential that health care providers understand both the law's potential impact and those actions that can help an organization fare better under these changes. For more information and to register, click here.

CHA Rural Hospital Conference

Join us at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, May 5-7. CRHC and CHA have collaborated to put together this year’s agenda of topics and speakers which includes: IT Security and Privacy, TrailBlazer and AHA updates, Workforce, Succession Planning , Sustainable Leadership, and more. For more information and to register, click here.

CAH Method II Unlisted HCPCS Codes for Professional Services

Effective April 1, 2010, claims submitted by a CAH Method II provider containing unlisted HCPCS codes for the following professional services revenue codes will be Returned to the Provider (RTP): 096X, 097X, 098X. CAH Method II providers will need to determine a more specific HCPCS code for unlisted procedures rendered by a physician before resubmitting the claim. Providers unable to determine a more specific HCPCS code can contact the American Medical Association to request a code be assigned for the associated procedure. For more information, click here.

March 2010 TrailBlazer eBulletin

The March 2010 TrailBlazer eBulletin is now available on the TrailBlazer Newsletters webpage. The TrailBlazer eBulletins are posted monthly to ensure providers are kept abreast of national and local policies, program updates, new initiatives and significant changes to the Medicare program.

Health Care Reform Act – 340B Drug Pricing Program

The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (PPAC) signed into law last week included a change to an earlier provision that would have allowed CAHs to participate in the 340B program to receive discounts on prescription drugs. While an earlier provision would have allowed CAHs to participate in the program and receive discounts on inpatient and outpatient drugs, the PPAC now allows CAHs to participate in the 340B program only for outpatient drugs. CRHC is working with the National Rural Health Association to continue to advocate to change the PPAC to allow CAHs to participate in the program for both inpatient and outpatient drugs. We will keep you posted on any new developments.

CMS Approves Hospital Provider Fee

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has approved Colorado’s plan to charge a per-patient fee to hospitals in order to expand Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus eligibility and insure more state residents. Gov. Bill Ritter’s office said Thursday that it had received notice from CMS that it had given its OK to the hospital provider fee. Receiving approval means that the state can match each dollar collected by the fee with one from the federal government and double the amount it raises through the plan. For more information, click here.

HRSA Nursing Scholarship Program – Now Accepting Applications

Applications accepted April 1, 2010 through May 6, 2010
The Nursing Scholarship Program pays for tuition and education related expenses including books, clinical supplies and laboratory fees. In exchange, scholarship winners agree to at least 2 years of service at a health facility with a critical shortage of nurses. Preference is given to qualified applicants with the greatest financial need who are enrolled full-time in an undergraduate nursing program. It is expected that 500 awards will be made for the 2010-2011 school year. For more information, click here or call the HRSA Call Center at 800.221.9393.

Webinar: Strategies to Eliminate Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections

April 14, 2010; 2:30pm EDT
Central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are one of the most lethal types of complications, sickening thousands of hospital patients each year. Join a free webinar, presented by the Commonwealth Fund, to explore strategies from hospitals that have been able to "get to zero," with no infections over a sustained period of time. For more information and to register, click here.