Friday, October 29, 2010

The Physicians' Role in Preventing Pertussis

Wednesday, November 17; Noon - 1 p.m.
CCIC and the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians is co-hosting a one hour webinar on the role of the physician in Pertussis prevention. This presentation, by Dr. Rober Brayden, MD, will feature the latest information on Colorado's 2010 pertussis cases, including epidemiological distribution and vulnerable populations along with a detailed review of Colorado's expanded recommendations for immunizing children and adults. It will also review how health care providers can help alleviate the increase in pertussis. For more information and to register, click here.

TrailBlazer E&M Coding and Documentation Resources

TrailBlazer’s Evaluation and Management webpage contains useful coding and documentation resources including the 1995 and 1997 guidelines as well as a pocket reference. To access TrailBlazer’s E&M webpage, click here.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Colorado Health Service Corps Awards $600,000 in Loan Repayment Program for Healthcare Professionals

The Primary Care Office at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has awarded $600,000 in loan repayment funds for healthcare professionals serving Colorado’s medically underserved. The Colorado Health Service Corps has granted loan repayment to health care professionals in some of the state's most underserved communities. This round of awards included:
  • Jess Adams, a dentist at Peak Vista Community Health Center in Colorado Springs
  • Eric Scotland, a dentist at Sunrise Community Health in Loveland
  • Sonia Grewal, a dentist at High Plains Community Health Center in Lamar
  • Nicholas Gagner, a dentist at Sunrise Community Health in Greeley
  • Terrance Wolbaum, a dentist at Sunrist Community Health in Greeley
  • Peter Marshall, a family physician at Pagosa Mountain Clinic in Pagosa Springs
  • Fiona Horgan, a physician assistant at Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics in Thornton
  • Daniel Hammond, a nurse practitioner at Centennial Mental Health Center in Sterling
  • Christie Wilson, a licensed clinical social worker at the Midwestern Center for Mental Health - Olathe Clinic in Montrose
  • Laine Covington-Goren, a licensed professional counselor at the Sterling Correctional Facility in Sterling
  • Erin Bennett, a licensed professional counselor at The Center for Mental Health in Gunnison
  • Darren Lish, a psychiatrist at the Department of Corrections/University of Colorado in Denver
Primary care physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, licensed mental health professionals and oral health professionals may be eligible for significant educational loan debt forgiveness of up to $105,000. To participate in the Colorado Health Service Corps, health professionals must be employed or seeking full-time employment, in an outpatient primary care practice in an area of Colorado with a health professional shortage. Successful applicants will demonstrate a commitment to caring for underserved people and agree to a term of service of two or three years.  Primary health providers who practice in rural and urban underserved communities may qualify.  The new applications period will begin November 1.

For more information on specific eligibility requirements and to complete the online application, visit http://www.coloradohealthservicecorps.org/ or call 303.692.2466.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

TrailBlazer Encore Presentations

TrailBlazer 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. For more information, click here.

TrailBlazer CAH Method II Professional Services WBT

November 2, 2010; 1:00-2:30 CST
This class is customized for CAHs and will cover the billing instructions and requirements specific to CAH Method II professional services. The presentation will also include information on the nature, intent and current findings of the CERT program and the RAC. For more information, click here.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

TrailBlazer CAH Manual

TrailBlazer has made some recent revisions to its CAH Manual. To access the updated manual, click here.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Budget crisis leads to new Medicaid payment delays

Medicaid providers will see additional payment delays in the first half of 2011 as the state works to close a $262 million budget gap, Gov. Ritter's office announced Friday. The governor's new spending plan avoids cuts to Medicaid payments, but saves an estimated $70 million in the remainder of the 2010-2011 fiscal year by further postponing payments.

The current two-week delay to Medicaid Fee-for-Service payments will be extended to three weeks. The delays will be spread out in one-week increments over the months of April, May and June, saving $55.1 million. Medicaid Managed Care payments will be delayed for one month, likely in June 2011, saving $15.2 million.

PACE providers and the regional care coordination organizations (RCCOs) that are part of the new Medicaid accountable care collaborative will be exempt.

Friday, October 22, 2010

ASAP - An Electronic Publication of the Colorado Medical Society

1. Know your Medicare options
Medicare annually provides physicians with an opportunity to amend their Medicare participation status. From approximately Nov. 1 until the end of December, physicians may choose whether to be "participating" or "non-participating." Unless Congress takes other action, the decision you make in the next few weeks will be binding throughout 2011. Physicians must decide 2011 status by Dec. 31, 2010.

This week, AMA President Cecil B. Wilson, MD, will present a free webinar intended to help you make the best decision for your practice. "Understanding Your Medicare Choices: Preparing for the 2011 Medicare Participation Decision" is scheduled for 5 pm MST on Wednesday, Oct. 27. You may access additional information and register for this webinar by clicking here.

The AMA has other tools available in its online Medicare Participation Kit. These tools include a Medicare payment calculator to help you estimate how much your total revenues from Medicare would change if you switched your status, a Medicare participation guide, and more.

2. CMS Member Survey - Time is running out!
Members have approximately one week to complete the 2010 CMS Member Survey. The survey is the primary way that the Board garners input from its rank and file members. If you have not already done so, please click here to take the survey.

CMS - Submission of Informational Only Claims by CAHs for Electronic Health Records (EHR) Purposes

On October 15, CMS issued transmittal 2066 explaining a change request to the Medicare Claims Processing Manual. Acute care hospitals already submit informational only bills for purposes of including Part C days in the Disproportionate Share (DSH) calculations. However, Maryland waiver hospitals and CAHs do not currently submit informational only bills. In order for CMS to capture Part C days for purposes of calculating EHR payments, Maryland waiver hospitals and CAHs must submit informational only claims to Medicare, effective for discharges October 1, 2010. Informational only claims are claims billed for patients enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan. For more information, click here.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

CRHC CAH Advisory Council Meeting and Pre-Conference Board Workshop

November 4-5, 2010; DoubleTree Denver Southeast
CAH CEOs are invited to join us at this all-day meeting where we will discuss CAH accomplishments and goals. The all-day meeting on November 5 will include sessions on HIT, Community Benefit Assessments, Leadership, and Round-Table discussions. The meeting will be preceded by a half-day Board Workshop on November 4 for CAH CEOs and their Boards. CRHC is offering partial mileage and lodging reimbursement for one person from each CAH. There is no fee for additional CAH staff or board members to attend. For more information and to register, click here.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

AgriSafe Webinar: Pesticides and Respiratory Health Effects in the Agricultural Health Study

October 28, 2010; 12-1pm CT
Presenter: Jane Hoppin, ScD. National Institute of Environmental Health Studies, National Institute of Health

Session link: http://uiowa.na5.acrobat.com/jhoppin/

Enter your name in the guest login box and click on 'Enter Room'

Survey from the Colorado Chapter of the March of Dimes

The Colorado Chapter of the March of Dimes is exploring the value of additional tools regarding education on the topic of full-term deliver. They are developing a Colorado-specific health campaign to help more of our state’s babies be born healthy and on time and are looking for input via a survey. If you’re a mom, a mom-to-be or a woman planning to be a mom someday, click here to access the survey. If you’re a physician, click here to access the survey. For more information, click here.

CMS Information - Influenza Vaccine

For information about Medicare’s coverage of the influenza vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for health care professionals and their staff, please visit http://www.cms.gov/AdultImmunizations.

Fall CROP Deadline: November 1

The deadline for the fall Colorado Rural Outreach Program (CROP) grants will be November 1, with awards being made on December 1.  CROP grants can be used for the payment of educational loans to help recruit or retain healthcare workers.  The criteria has changed slightly from past application cycles, and the new application is available on the CROP webpage.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

CAPS Joins the Fight Against Medication Errors

Medication errors are one of the most widespread and preventable causes of harm in modern healthcare. Now Consumers Advancing Patient Safety (CAPS) and more than a dozen other leaders in the field are teaming up to promote best practices to prevent them. Together with Joint Commission, the Society of Hospital Medicine and other leaders in hospital healthcare, CAPS has endorsed a new white paper that gives hospitals practical recommendations for implementing system-wide medication reconciliation programs. The white paper, Making Inpatient Medication Reconciliation Patient Centered, Clinically Relevant, and Implementable: A Consensus Statement on Key Principles and Necessary First Steps, is available - click here. It will also be published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Dorland Health Webinar: Leadership and Career Advancement; Key Competencies for Today’s Case Manager

Wednesday, October 20; 12:00-1:30EST
As healthcare reform unfolds, we will see care becoming more focused on wellness, disease prevention, health promotion and chronic illness management. The case manager's role will continue to serve as the critical link between patients and healthcare providers in the care continuum, but the landscape in which healthcare services are provided is changing. Discover what changes are anticipated in the profession of case management and how you can capitalize on these changes to advance your career by attending this webinar presented by Dorland Health. The registration fee is $329. For more information and to register, click here.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Board Position Available for Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network

The Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network is a private, nonprofit mental health agency serving Arapahoe and Douglas counties (except for the city of Aurora). They are currently seeking to add a Board member who is a physician interested in care integration.


The commitment (generally speaking) is 10 Board meetings a year (Wed. evenings), one committee meeting per month (generally early morning), one full day retreat a year (on a Saturday in the fall), and participation in 2 fundraisers (a luncheon in May and a wine-tasting in the fall). A physician who lives or works in the catchment areas would be a bonus.

Please contact Barb Becker (bbecker@admhn.org or 720.394.7836) to inquire about this opportunity.

Kaiser Permanente Colorado Diversity Scholarship Program

Applications Due January 21, 2011

  • Who is this for? Minority students pursuing health care careers
  • What do I need to know? This program was created as a community outreach effort to financially assist students pursuing an education for any career associated within healthcare.
  • When is it due? Deadline to submit applications: Jan. 21, 2011
  • How do I know if I'm eligible?
    • Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or GED recipient accepted into and entering post secondary school as a full-time student (e.g. college, university); OR active, full-time graduate or doctoral level student (e.g. graduate school, medical school, nursing school, etc.)
    • Applicant must be a student attending a nonprofit or publicly funded post-secondary institution
    • Applicant must have a minimum high school or post secondary GPA of 2.7 or GED Score of 520
    • Applicant must be a Colorado resident
  • How are applications evaluated?
    • Academic Achievement
    • Character Qualities
    • Community Outreach/Volunteer Activities
    • Diverse Populations/Under-representation in Healthcare Professions
    • Financial Need
    • Health Care Program
  • What do I need to do? Visit the website to access more information and/or an application.
Questions? Please email co-diversitydevelopment@kp.org or Andrea.N.Law@kp.org.

Flu Prevention Toolkit

For the fifth year, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is providing a Toolkit of resources about influenza prevention. Our goal is to mobilize and support the immunization of Colorado’s healthcare providers and the patients whose health you protect.

This year’s toolkit has two major improvements:
  1. The toolkit content is available exclusively on line at http://www.immunizecolorado.com/;
  2. We are pleased to offer a variety of newly designed marketing materials to educate Colorado’s providers and patients about the importance of getting a seasonal flu vaccination.
The “No Excuses” campaign materials can be ordered from our printing partner by going to: flutoolkit.thinkbigsolutions.com or by selecting “Order 2010-11 Marketing Materials” on the left hand menu of the Colorado Adult Immunization Coalition website http://www.immunizecolorado.com/. There is no charge for most of these materials but supplies are limited, so act soon!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Free Webinars from Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente Webinars offer interactive learning with a professional health expert and coach.  View the presentation through your computer's web browser and listen through your phone or computer headset. Most Webinars are free to Kaiser Permanente members and nonmembers.

Visit the Kaiser Permanente Webinar website to see what free webinars are being offered through January 2011.

Additionally, Kaiser offers The Permanente Journal, a peer-reviewed journal of medical science, social science in medicine, and medical humanities.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

CDC’s Flu Talking Points 2010

The CDC recently released it’s 2010 talking points for the flu season.

Coverage and Access after Health Care Implementation: How will Colorado Communities Respond?

October 18, 2010; 8-11:45am

In 2014 the major coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act will be in place. Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans will become newly insured, but more than 100,000 will remain uncovered. What does this mean for local communities and their healthcare systems? How should communities prepare? What types of programs can be put in place to provide access to those not covered and for those who are? Please attend the Bringing Health Home Learning Collaborative Fall Meeting featuring presentations by the Colorado Health Institute on coverage after healthcare reform implementation in 2014 and by Joan Henneberry, executive director of Health Care Policy and Financing, on how communities can prepare.  The event is free but space is limited.

Please RSVP to spo@idcomm.com or phone: 303.520.3642.

Travel Stipends: The Colorado Health Foundation has announced that it will make travel stipends available to make sure that interested persons will not be deterred due to travel cost. If you need this type of support, please email.

CRHC CAH Advisory Council Meeting

November 4-5, 2010; DoubleTree Denver Southeast
CAH CEOs are invited to join us at this all-day meeting where we will discuss CAH accomplishments and goals. The all-day meeting on November 5 will include sessions on HIT, Community Benefit Assessments, Leadership, and Round-Table discussions. The meeting will be preceded by a half-day Board Workshop on November 4 for CAH CEOs and their Boards. CRHC is offering partial mileage reimbursement as well as partial lodging reimbursement for one person from each CAH to attend. For more information and to register, click here. Registration deadline is October 18.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Input Needed on Infectious/Medical Waste Management

The Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is revising the infectious waste management section of the state solid waste regulations and is looking for input from rural stakeholders to assist in developing best medical practices and to inform the process. Stakeholder meetings will be held monthly from October 2010-April 2011 (with audio conferencing available). Infectious waste/medical waste generators from rural communities are encouraged to participate in these meetings and/or provide written comments. For more information and a listing of stakeholder meetings, click here.

CMS Billing and Coding Guidance

CMS and the Medicare Learning Network recently released the Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter; the first in a series of publications intended to offer providers guidance on avoiding common Medicare billing and general errors. The quarterly newsletter will focus on top issues identified through various sources in each edition, according to CMS. For more information, click here.

Retain Your Healthcare Professionals!

CROP Deadline: November 1, 2010
Are you working hard to retain the healthcare professionals at your medical facility? Would you like some assistance doing so? The Colorado Rural Outreach Program (CROP) provides grants for loan repayment or bonuses, to assist in the retention of your valuable healthcare professionals. CROP is unique compared to other loan repayment programs because it is available to a wide range of healthcare professionals - all healthcare professionals are eligible, including, but not limited to, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, providers of mental health services, providers of dental health services such as dentists and dental hygienists, allied health professionals such as lab or radiology technicians, and pharmacists.

Please note that this fall’s round of CROP is different from rounds in previous years – rather than being for recruitment and retention grants they are only for retention grants. And, rather than the incentive being used for loan repayment only, this year’s awards also may be used to pay bonuses to healthcare professionals who no longer have student loan debt.

The deadline for the fall Colorado Rural Outreach Program (CROP) grants is November 1, 2010 with awards being made around December 1. To learn more or for an application click here. To talk with someone about CROP please contact Cherith Flowerday, Grants Manager, at 303.996.9698 or cfl@coruralhealth.org.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Challenges for Public, Rural Hospitals

One in 4 community hospitals in the U.S. are public hospitals owned by a government and as such, face unique challenges because they tend to be smaller, less technologically equipped and treat a population that receives lower income and is more likely to be uninsured or covered by Medicaid. That's the finding in a statistical brief by the federal AHRQ, which compared these 1,131 hospitals to their 2,944 private, not-for-profit counterparts and to all 5,162 community hospitals in 2008. Additionally, those public hospitals in rural areas, 724, tended to have more patients per nurse, a lower percentage of registered nurses among licensed nurses, and more patients diagnosed with a high severity of illness than the public hospitals in metropolitan areas.

Healthy Choice Hotline

This free tool can help improve the health of the families you work with. This program is intended for families with children 5-12 years old, and is available for any child regardless of weight.

The Healthy Choice Hotline is a series of seven automated calls provided through an interactive voice response system. It was developed by the Kaiser Permanente Pediatric Nutrition Services in collaboration with the actor/educators from Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre Programs and employs a creative "theatrical" presentation style. The calls connect your families to a personal family coach, Jumpin’ Jack Johnson. Each week your families will spend about 5 minutes with Jumpin’ Jack setting family health goals for healthier eating and a more active lifestyle. These entertaining calls are designed for the whole family.

The hotline was designed after a Kaiser Permanente study showed that interactive technologies have the potential to assist parents of overweight and at-risk children to promote health lifestyle behaviors for their families.  In the study, children whose parents completed at least six of the ten counseling calls over one year decreased their BMI z-scores significantly more than those that used workbooks or participated in group counseling.

Register to participate
Interested adults call the automated line from the Denver metro area at 720.857.7907 or outside the area at 866.868.7116. Participants do not need to be Kaiser Permanente members. For more information visit http://www.healthychoicehotline.org/ or call 303.239.7435.

Reasons to use the Healthy Choice Hotline:
  1. It works. It is based on a program that indicates parents who used the telephone support system for at least 6 calls were able to make changes at home that helped their kids move towards a healthy weight.
  2. Support hard to reach people. This program is available state-wide, to both Kaiser Permanente members and non-members.
  3. Calls are quick. The average call takes about 5 minutes to complete.
  4. The calls are personalized. Each call is set up so participants can select the topics that are right for them, their child, and their families.
  5. The calls are centered on health not weight. Calls will help participants adjust a home setting so that it is easier to make healthy food and physical activity choices. It doesn’t focus on weight loss or putting children on a diet.
  6. The whole family can benefit. The supportive calls focus on changing food and physical activity availability in the home and everyone in the house benefits. Research has shown that parents weight, eating, and physical activity habits improve as well when these changes at home are made.
  7. The information is practical. Each call includes practical tips and realistic goals.
  8. Scheduling is a breeze. The system is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
  9. Support is available. Participants (members and non-members) can request that a Kaiser Permanente dietitian call them directly.
Also available - New Video Resources

Shopping, Cooking and Snacking: Healthy Tips for Families
Created for busy parents striving to provide healthy meals for their families, these three short (3-6 minute) videos offer practical tips for shopping, cooking and preparing snacks. The segments feature Nora Norback, a Kaiser Permanente registered dietitian, who provides a clear roadmap for families often distracted by homework, full-time jobs and the convenience of fast food. http://www.youtube.com/kaiserpermanenteorg

Board Training Series

Join CRHC for these upcoming sessions in the 2010 Board Training series geared towards CAH/RHC CEOs and Boards:

Webinar: “CEO Evaluation: Are We Getting What We Asked For?” October 19, 2010; 4:30-6:00pm
One of the key responsibilities of a Board is to ensure a rigorous and fair assessment of CEO performance. This can only be achieved if written performance standards/criteria (policies) are in place. This webinar will show how once policies are in place, boards can systematically evaluate performance in a way that dramatically reduces the surprises and drama that often cause strife and dysfunctional Board/executive relationships. For more information and to register, click here. For more information and to register, click here.

Workshop: “Getting to Great Governance”, November 4, 2010: 12:00pm-4:00pm, DoubleTree Denver Southeast
This workshop will provide a compilation workshop, summarizing the key elements that are integral for effective board leadership, and providing a “road-map” of how a Board can put these pieces in place. Incorporating interactive group exercises to reinforce learning, participants will learn methods, benefits and challenges of implementing a governance framework providing role clarity, empowerment and accountability. For more information and to register, click here.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Register now for the Third Annual Colorado Entrepreneurship Marketplace!

October 15, 2010; Limon, CO The Third Annual Colorado Entrepreneurship MarketPlace is coming to Limon! Register now to save! This event offers an opportunity for learning and networking among youth and adults interested in starting or growing their own business. Information sessions will include: Technology, Marketing, Financing, Diversity in Agriculture, Business Development, and Community Development. Registration includes MarketPlace sessions, two Keynote Speaker sessions, continental breakfast, lunch, access to the Exhibit Hall, access to "Colorado Corners - The Store at MarketPlace," and the Taste of the Eastern Plains Reception. An incredible experience full of education, networking, and access to resources awaits you in Limon!

Scholarships Are Available!
Over 60 scholarships have been purchased by organizations throughout the state. If you would like to apply for a scholarship please contact Michelle Alcott via email at malcott@ruralcolorado.org. If you or your organization would like to purchase scholarships for members of your community, please click here.

CAH Quality Improvement Workshop

November 4, 2010; 12:00pm-4:00pm; Denver, CO
This interactive session will provide CAH Quality Directors with new tools and ideas they can take back to their facilities to help them lead and energize their hospital’s quality improvement initiatives to increase quality and patient satisfaction, and reduce cost. For more information and to register, click here.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Billing, Coding & Documentation Workshops

R.T. Welter & Associates, Inc. will be leading a series of Billing, Coding, and Documentation workshops. Participants will learn more about ICD 10, Documentation and Billing/Coding Updates, and identify practical ways to be proactively prepared for the future.  This educational activity is geared towards clinicians, billing and coding staff at rural hospitals and clinics. All healthcare providers, particularly physicians, are invited to attend.

Board Training Series

Join CRHC for these upcoming sessions in the 2010 CAH/RHC Board Training series.

Webinar: “CEO Evaluation: Are We Getting What We Asked For?” October 19, 2010; 4:30-6:00pm

One of the key responsibilities of a Board is to ensure a rigorous and fair assessment of CEO performance. This can only be achieved if written performance standards/criteria (policies) are in place. This webinar will show how once policies are in place, boards can systematically evaluate performance in a way that dramatically reduces the surprises and drama that often cause strife and dysfunctional Board/executive relationships. For more information and to register, click here. For more information and to register, click here.

Workshop: “Getting to Great Governance”, November 4, 2010: 12:00pm-4:00pm, DoubleTree Denver Southeast

This workshop will provide a compilation workshop, summarizing the key elements that are integral for effective board leadership, and providing a “road-map” of how a Board can put these pieces in place. Incorporating interactive group exercises to reinforce learning, participants will learn methods, benefits and challenges of implementing a governance framework providing role clarity, empowerment and accountability. For more information and to register, click here.

Webinar – 340B Drug Pricing Program: Implication for CAHs

October 19, 2010; 12:00-1:00pm
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 expanded 340B Program eligibility for certain hospital types, including CAHs. As of August 2, 2010, the process for enrollment is in place and applications are now being accepted. During this webinar, Terry Mahar, RN MS, Senior Manager at Eide Bailly will discuss the implications of the 340B Program for CAHs including: eligibility, program benefits, and application process. For more information and to register, click here.

Watch and Download AHRQ Videos on YouTube

View, share, and download your favorite AHRQ consumer health videos on AHRQHealthTV, a free channel available on YouTube. More than 2 dozen videos are currently available on a variety of health topics, including: Taking Medications Safety; Questions to Ask Before Surgery; Tips for Going Home from the Hospital.

Monday, October 4, 2010

AgriSafe Webinar: Advancing Our Understanding of How Child Development and Supervision Relate to Pediatric Farm Injury

October 13, 2010; 12-1pm Central time

Session Objectives:

  • Promote an appreciation for how developmental processes can differentially influence risk or injury on farms at different stages in childhood
  • Share some research findings to illustrate how this approach can be applied.
  • Enhance understanding of how injury prevention approaches might be tailored based on developmental level of the child
To participate, click here and enter your name in the guest login box and click on 'Enter Room'.