Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Free Simulation Training Available to CAHs

Through a generous grant from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Work, Education and Lifelong Learning Simulation (WELLS) Center is pleased to offer 4 hours of free simulation training to Colorado’s rural critical access hospitals. The grant includes:
  • 4 hours Onsite Introduction to Simulation, Facilitation and Debriefing- Prepares facilitators on effective use of simulation and reflective thinking in debriefing
  • Scenario Development
  • 4 Hours Onsite Simulation Training including: Simulation Clinical Coordinator and Simulation Technical Coordinator, 1 mannequin and associated simulation equipment
 
Your hospital will only need to provide:
  •  Simulation training Facilitation and Debrief
  •  Facility Set Up – Equipment/Supply needs will be determined during scenario development process
  •  Staff preparation for simulation training: communicate expectations, goals, etc.
This is a unique opportunity to provide a dynamic training experience for your staff. In addition to training for individual disciplines, think about using simulation for inter-professional simulation training and process/systems review such as the implementation of a rapid response team or new patient safety policies and procedures. Please contact Heidi Miller, Business Specialist, at 720-848-5444 or via email at heidi.miller@uch.edu to schedule your training or if you need more information. Please click here for a listing of services and scenarios as a reference. WELLS Center will work with the educators to customize the scenarios for each facility.

Upcoming FREE Webinar: E&M Coding Fundamentals with Dr. Murphy


Friday, September 2nd, 2011  12:00 noon - 12:30 pmJoin us at high noon on Friday, for our First Friday lunchtime webinar. Donald Murphy, MD, is a board-certified geriatrician and Practice Group Leader of Senior Care of Colorado.
Become a Medicare Expert! During this live webinar, Dr. Murphy will address the fundamentals of E&M Coding for Medicare patients, as well as bonuses for rural physicians, including:
When to use E&M (vs. time-based billing)
History and exam tips
Key codes for typical geriatric visits
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) bonuses for primary care providers in qualifying ZIP codes

There is no cost to providers or practices to participate in this webinar! This program is fully funded by grants from the Colorado Health Foundation, the Kaiser Permanente Foundation, and Caring for Colorado.
The webinar is open to all primary care providers who care for Colorado seniors and their office staff members.
REGISTER NOW!
No cost to participate
Space is limited. Reserve your webinar seat now here

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Community Guide: A Resource to Improve Health and Prevent Cancer in your Area

Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ETThe Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide), a free resource, provides evidence-based recommendations and findings of the Community Preventive Services Task Force to help identify approaches and policies for improving health and preventing cancer in your community. During September’s NCI Research to Reality cyber-seminar, Shawna Mercer, Director of The Guide to Community Preventive Services, will discuss what the Community Guide is, it’s history, many helpful ways to use this resource, and future directions for the Community Guide. Additionally, Deborah Bauer, Partnerships and Dissemination Coordinator for the Community Guide, will interview community practitioner Myra Pinckney, Case Manager/Outreach Coordinator, St James-Santee Family Health Center, to discover how the Community Guide is being used at the local level to improve her organization’s breast and cervical cancer programs. Myra, the first place winner of the Public Health Foundation’s contest “I’m Your Community Guide,” will share lessons learned, barriers and facilitators to utilization, and the impact of the Community Guide on her program and community. Learn more about the Community Guide and Myra’s story.

Join us as we examine this important resource and how it can help you improve the health of your community and the programs, policies and research you implement!

DORA - Changes to the Physical Therapy Practice Act

A memorandum from DORA is available summarizing the legislative changes to the Physical Therapy Practice Act. The memorandum can be found here. As explained in the memorandum, some of the legislative changes have already become effective and others will be more fully implemented in the future.

Monday, August 29, 2011

New Issue Focuses on Palliative Care

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announces the August 31st issue of the Health Care Innovations Exchange.

The featured Innovations describe three programs that deliver palliative care in different settings.

The featured QualityTools provide health care professionals with resources and tools to support the development and quality improvement of palliative care programs.

More innovations and tools related to palliative care are available on the Innovations Exchange Web Site, which contains more than 625 searchable innovations and 1,625 searchable QualityTools.
Spotlight: Featured Video
Post-discharge Care Management Integrates Medical and Psychosocial Care of Low-Income Elderly Patients from the AHRQ Innovations Exchange

Award-Winning Video Series Frontline Innovators Making a Difference.
Events & Podcasts:
Join AHRQ’s Health Care Innovations Exchange for a free Web Seminar on Linking Clinical Care and Communities for Improved Prevention, on Thursday, September 1st from 2-3 PM ET. Register now for this free event.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Do you have an up-to-date Policy and Procedures (P&P) Manual?

RHCs must have a current P&P Manual that addresses all regulations and outlines how the practice operates and follows the regulations.  A variety of RHC P&P manual resources are available including:
  • A full CMS RHC P&P Manual
  • Evaluation of current P&P Manual
  • Non-Clinic Member of Annual Review committee. CRHC can fulfill the annual non-clinic member role requirement and simultaneously assist the clinic with effectively updating P&Ps annually. 
For more information on the tools and resources available for your clinic please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Through a generous grant from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Work, Education and Lifelong Learning Simulation (WELLS) Center is pleased to offer 4 hours of free simulation training to Colorado’s rural critical access hospitals. The grant includes:
  • 4 hours Onsite Introduction to Simulation, Facilitation and Debriefing- Prepares facilitators on effective use of simulation and reflective thinking in debriefing
  • Scenario Development
  •  4 Hours Onsite Simulation Training including: Simulation Clinical Coordinator and Simulation Technical Coordinator, 1 mannequin and associated simulation equipment
Your hospital will only need to provide:
  •  Simulation training Facilitation and Debrief
  •  Facility Set Up – Equipment/Supply needs will be determined during scenario development process
  •  Staff preparation for simulation training: communicate expectations, goals, etc.
This is a unique opportunity to provide a dynamic training experience for your staff. In addition to training for individual disciplines, think about using simulation for inter-professional simulation training and process/systems review such as the implementation of a rapid response team or new patient safety policies and procedures. Please contact Heidi Miller, Business Specialist, at 720-848-5444 or via email at heidi.miller@uch.edu to schedule your training or if you need more information.

MM7517 – 2012 Annual Health Professional Shortage Area Bonus Payments


Effective: January 1, 2012  Implementation: January 3, 2012
Change Request (CR) 7517 alerts providers that CMS will provide the annual Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) bonus payment file for 2012. This file will be used for HPSA bonus payments on applicable claims with dates of service on or after January 1 – December 31, 2012.
The annual HPSA files will be posted on the CMS HPSA Web page on or about December 1, 2011. Physicians and other providers should review these files each year to determine whether they need to add the AQ modifier to their claim to receive the bonus payment or to see if the ZIP code area in which they rendered services will automatically receive the HPSA bonus payment.

MM7517, titled 2012 Annual Update for the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Bonus Payments , is available on the CMS MLN Matters® Web page.
Providers may reference CR 7517 , Transmittal 2274, dated August 12, 2011.
TrailBlazer Instructions
Visit the Here for information and links to HPSA-related Web sites.
View the Part B Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Bonus Payments job aid for billing instructions.

5.0 CEU's approved by the AAPC for the upcoming ICD-10 Billing & Coding Workshops!!!

Great news for those of you that have registered or still plan to register for the ICD -10 Billing & Coding Workshops CRHC will be hosting in September 2011. This program has the prior approval of AAPC for 5.0 continuing education hours. Granting of prior approval in no way constitutes endorsement by AAPC of the program content or the program sponsor. 
If you would like to register for these workshops please go to our website or click here.   You may also contact Courtnay Ryan at 303.309.6807 to sign up. See you all there!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Don't be caught off guard on that unannounced state survey!!

Call today to take advantage of CRHC's RHC Mock Survey service to ensure you are ready for the state!  Did you know that RHC's have recently been moved up in priority among facilities for the state to survey? With the RHC Mock Survey, clinics receive a comprehensive evaluation of compliance with existing requirements for certified RHC's.  This service includes onsite clinic inspection and basic review for RHC Policy & Procedures, review of the clinic's Annual Evaluation processes and review of medical charts ( paper or electronic). A professional follow up summary, recommendations, and report of findings is included.  To schedule your clinics mock survey or for more information, please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org or by calling direct 303.309.6807.

Announcing the Release of Revised and New CMS-855 Medicare Provider-Supplier Enrollment Applications

The US Office of Management and Budget recently approved changes to the Medicare Provider-Supplier Enrollment Applications (CMS-855) in order to update them from the 2008 versions, as well as the new CMS-855O application form used for the sole purpose of enrolling to order and refer items and/or services to Medicare beneficiaries. The revised and new forms are now available on the CMS Provider-Supplier website, here, Providers and suppliers enrolling for the sole purpose to order and refer are required to begin using the new CMS-855O form immediately. Providers and suppliers using the other CMS-855 forms to enroll in Medicare are encouraged to begin using the revised forms, though may continue to use the old forms through October 2011.

CMS to Release a Comparative Billing Report on Ordering Durable Medical Equipment: Diabetic Supplies

On Mon Aug 29 CMS will release a national provider Comparative Billing Report (CBR) focused on Ordering Durable Medical Equipment: Diabetic Supplies. This will be the first release of 5000 CBRs with two additional releases to follow (the second release of 5000 CBRs is targeted for Wed Sep 7; the third for Thu Sep 15).
CBRs produced by Safeguard Services under contract with CMS contain actual data-driven tables and graphs with an explanation of findings that compare a provider’s billing and payment patterns to those of their peers located in the state and across the nation. CMS has received feedback from a number of providers that this kind of data is very helpful to them and encouraged us to produce more CBRs.
CBRs convey billing information that can be used as an educational tool by providers in complying with Medicare billing rules and improve the level of care they furnish to their Medicare patients. These reports are not available to anyone but the providers who receive them. To ensure privacy, CMS presents only summary billing information; no patient- or case-specific data is included.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

CAH FLEX MBQIP Initiative

A new project led by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) called MBQIP (Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project) is a three-year initiative that will create a national database for benchmarking purposes and to inform the President as well as other federal officials on how well CAHs perform in quality improvement. MBQIP will allow ORHP to gain early access to data already being submitted to CMS Hospital Compare. ORHP will aggregate CAH quality data for national benchmarking that will include rural appropriate and relevant measures. With budget concerns at an all-time high, CRHC urges all CAHs to engage and commit by submitting data to Hospital Compare and by agreeing to grant ORHP access to that data. Please visit the MBQIP video posted on YouTube for a three-minute video that explains these efforts. To participate, complete consent forms, which are available here. For more information contact mm@coruralhealth.org or jd@coruralhealth.org.

Has Your Facility Joined the National Partnership for Patients?

A new public-private partnership that will help improve the quality, safety, and affordability of health care for all Americans, the Partnership for Patients brings together leaders of hospitals, employers, physicians, nurses, and patient advocates along with state and federal governments in a shared effort to make hospital care safer, more reliable, and less costly. To help achieve these goals, public and private partners will develop models to deliver better care for patients that can be shared widely. The 2 major goals of the partnership are to: keep patients from getting injured or sicker; and help patients heal without complications. Nearly 4500 organizations – including more than 2000 hospitals – have pledged their support for the Partnership for Patients. For more information and to pledge your support, click here.

CDPHE/EMTS Section Organizational Update

All,
In support of the department’s commitment to provide efficient and effective services for Colorado’s EMS and trauma community, we are pleased to announce a few organizational changes within the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division and the Emergency Medical and Trauma Services section. I have accepted the role of Interim Deputy Director within the HFEMS division effective September 1, 2011. I will continue to be accountable for the general oversight and administration of EMTS section, as well as assuming a number of additional responsibilities within the Health Facilities and EMS Division. As one of two (2) deputy division directors in the organization under Director Nancy McDonald, details regarding my new assignments have not yet been finalized. However, I remain committed to maintaining a substantial role in Colorado’s EMTS system and look forward to continuing the outstanding work being done by our stakeholders, the department and those caregivers serving the citizens of our state each day.

Effective September 1st, Ms. Michelle Reese will assume the responsibilities of Interim EMTS Section Chief. Ms. Reese has served as the section’s Operations Program Manager and Deputy Section Chief for several years. Her experience and background in policy development, enforcement and EMTS systems development make her an excellent fit to assume responsibility for the EMTS section and managing the day-to-day activities of Colorado’s trauma and EMS system. She will continue to manage the investigations/enforcement component of the EMTS program as well. Mr. Sean Caffrey has accepted the role of Interim EMTS Operations Manager and will be responsible for managing the certification of EMS providers, support of the Emergency Medical Practice Advisory Council and providing technical system support across the state.
These organizational changes are being implemented to enhance and support the role of the Department of Public Health and Environment in discharging its responsibilities to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our patients and our providers. I truly believe that these adjustments, and those yet to follow, will improve the department’s role in patient care and I look forward to everyone’s continued energy, effort and support. Please feel free to contact me at anytime if there are questions or need for additional information.
Respectfully,
Randy
D. Randy Kuykendall, MLS, NRP
Chief, Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Section
Health Facilities and EMS Division

McKesson InterQual Care Guidelines Discount for Colorado CAHs

Discounts are available for Colorado CAHs to subscribe to McKesson InterQual Care Guidelines. In general, to be eligible you must be initiating or renewing a subscription and not currently subscribing through another hospital system or group. McKesson’s new offerings include 6 condition-specific criteria subsets for 2011 which are a transition from a “yes / no” utilization management clinical decision support tool into an integrated UM/CM solution. They have also recently launched the InterQual Learning Source (ILS) in which staff can receive both online self-paced and instructor-led training. For more information products and pricing, contact Dana Spiel at 480.203.2656 or danaz.spiel@mckesson.com.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Free webcast offered on ending bullying and toxic behavior in nursing

Join HCPro for a live, free, 60-minute webcast, A Conversation with Kathleen Bartholomew: End Bullying and Toxic Behavior Once and For All, Tuesday, October 4, 2011, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Eastern). During the presentation Bartholomew will share her experiences through true stories about the struggles she has faced and overcome, and give listeners the tools and strategies to end disruptive behavior once and for all. For more information and to register, click here.

New Online Immunization Training Series

The Vaccine Advisory Committee for Colorado, Colorado Immunization Program and Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition announce a new monthly webinar series, Immunization Essentials: Online Education for Health Care Professionals. Presented by the Colorado Immunization Program's public health nurses, these modules will keep you up-to-date on everything from vaccine schedules to storage, handling and administration. Register Now for the First Training: Vaccines and the Diseases they Prevent; Wednesday, August 31st, 2011. Continuing Education credit will be available upon completion of a pre- and post-evaluation. Click to Register for the 1 - 2:30 p.m. Training. Click to Register for the 3 - 4:30 p.m. Training. Please direct any questions to CCICOffice@childrenscolorado.org

AHA endorses mandatory flu shots for healthcare workers

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has endorsed mandatory patient safety policies that require healthcare workers to be vaccinated against influenza or wear a mask in the presence of patients during flu season. For more information about the AHA’s stance on this issue and links to resources click here.

A Special CMS Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum is scheduled for: Thursday, September 1, 2011 in order to provide additional training on FY 2012 SNF PPS policy changes

Thursday, September 1, 2011  Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET);Description: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a Special Open Door Forum that will be focused on Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) FY 2012 policy changes relating to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0. Subject matter experts will discuss new MDS 3.0 policies that will be implemented on October 1, 2011. A question and answer session for questions related to the FY 2012 policy changes discussed during the call will follow the presentations.
Target Audience: SNF providers, RAI coordinators, State RAI coordinators, therapists
Conference Leaders: Sheila Lambowitz, Gregory Price.
The following topics will be discussed:
  • Allocation of group therapy
  • Student supervision
  • Changes to the MDS Assessment Schedule
  • End of Therapy (EOT) Other Medicare Required Assessment (OMRA)
Clarifications
  • End Of Therapy with Resumption
  • (EOT-R)
  • COT OMRA
  • Transition timeline for new policies
SNF/LTC Special Open Door Forum Participation Instructions:
To participate by phone:   Dial: 1-866-501-5502 & Reference Conference ID#: 83517254.
Persons participating by phone are not required to RSVP.
Note: The lines for this call are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who wish to participate are encouraged to call-in as early as possible (up to 30 minutes prior to the start time for the conference) in order to have the best chance of participating. Additionally, as this conference will serve primarily as a repeat of the August 23rd National Provider Training call, we would ask that those who participated in that training call refrain from participating in this Special ODF, so as to reserve the limited space for those who were unable to participate in the August 23rd training.

CMS IPPS 2012 Rules

CMS released a display copy of the 2012 IPPS final rule. In the rule, CMS is modifying its regulations to allow reasonable cost-based payment for ambulance services furnished by a CAH or by an entity owned and operated by the CAH as long as there is no other ambulance provider or supplier within a 35-mile drive of the CAH. CMS is also amending its regulations to permit Medicare to pay an entity owned and operated by a CAH based on 101 percent of reasonable costs for its ambulance services even if the entity is further than a 35-mile drive from the CAH, as long as it is the closest provider or supplier of ambulance services to the CAH. Other changes include add discharge status code 66 (Discharged/Transferred to CAH) to the MS–DRG GROUPER logic for MS–DRG 789 for transfer from IPPS Hospital to CAH, and allowing CRNA pass-through payments for hospitals and CAHs that have reclassified as rural under the regulations at § 412.103. To access the CMS IPPS 2012 Fact Sheet summarizing the changes including a link to the final rule, click here.

Anesthesiologist Services in a Method II CAH

On August 1, CMS issued a transmittal that clarifies payment calculations for anesthesia services performed by an anesthesiologist in a Method II CAH. This article highlights the revision to the “Medicare Claims Processing Manual,” Chapter 4, Section 250.3.2: “Physician Rendering Anesthesia in a Hospital Outpatient Setting.” This revision eliminates the 20% reduction applied to anesthesia services rendered by Anesthesiologists in a Method II CAH, effective for such services on or after January 1, 2008. For more information, click here.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Rural Health Open Door Forum

The next Rural Health Open Door Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, October 4, 2011 2:00pm-3:00pmET. This call will be Conference Call Only. Please see the Downloads section below for the full participation announcement. Thank you for your continued interest in the CMS Open Door Forums.
If you wish to participate, dial 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 83522688.

IHI On Demand Courses

IHI offers a number of On Demand Courses at no charge on various topics including intro to the model for improvement, building skills for data collection, delivering value for patients and populations, run and control charts, and the right treatment for the right patient. For more information, click here.

Telemedicine Services in Hospitals and CAHs

CMS issued a survey and certification letter in July regarding telemedicine services in hospitals and CAHs. The letter discusses new and amended rules effective July 5 that permit hospitals and CAHs to provide telemedicine services to their patients through written agreements with a distant-site hospital or a distant-site telemedicine entity. To access the document, click here.

TrailBlazer CAH Method I and II Calculators

TrailBlazer has developed two new Critical Access Hospital (CAH) payment calculators to assist Method I and Method II CAHs with payment explanation and calculation:
CAH Method I Calculator – Method I: Standard method – cost-based facility services, with billing of Part B for professional services.
CAH Method II Calculator – Method II: Elective method (optional method for outpatient services).
The CAH payment calculators can be accessed on the CAH page and the Self-Service Tools page on the TrailBlazer website.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Safety Net Clinic Week is Coming Soon—Are You Ready?

Safety Net Clinic Week is just around the corner, August 22-26. This week is a great opportunity to educate lawmakers and communities about the diversity of Colorado’s safety net. Many rural health clinics and community-funded safety net clinics will be participating by hosting state and federal elected officials to their clinics, holding community open houses, etc. Please click here to access a toolkit that will help clinics that would like to participate. Please contact Alicia or Sara to share what activities you are planning for the week or for assistance.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

RHC Needed for CHP+ Survey

Does your RHC accept CHP+ and Medicaid? Please contact Angela Marino if you would like to learn more about a time-limited survey project to collect data from several RHCs and FQHCs.

"Implementing Person-Centered Care in the Primary Care Setting"

Monday, August 29, 2011 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Denver Botanic Gardens - Gates Hall
What does person-centered care look like in a primary care setting? Why does it matter? And finally, how can you partner with the Colorado Health Foundation to advance the practice of person-centered care? For answers to these questions and more, join us for a special presentation from the Institute for Patient- and Family-Centered Care.

Why should you attend?  Experts from the Institute will give an up close and personal look at what person-centered care looks like in the real world of health care from the perspective of patients, families, staff, physicians and administrators. In addition, you will have an opportunity to provide input for how this practice should look in Colorado. Following the presentation there will be a question and answer session. This is an excellent opportunity to establish a relationship with the Institute to brainstorm projects.

What will we discuss?
How to define person- and family-centered care
How to recognize what person- and family-centered care looks and feels like
Why it is important
What are the benefits of providing person- and family-centered care
What tools should be used to create effective partnerships
How to identify consulting, training and technical assistance opportunities

In 2012, the Colorado Health Foundation will be funding organizations and projects that advance the practice of person-centered care. Brenda Sears, program officer for Health Care, will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about applying for grants in this area.

The Event is FREE
Kindly RSVP to Sara Overby

There is still room available in our September Billing & Coding Workshops

Billing & Coding Workshops Sept. 13th, 14th & 15th and  Live Webinar on Sept. 20th!!
We're extending the deadline this week to register for the ICD 10 Billing & Coding workshops.  Participants will learn about ICD 10, documentation, billing and coding updates and identify practical ways to be proactively prepared for the future. All healthcare providers, particularly physicians are invited to attend.  Can't make it to the workshops?? Too busy to escape the office and attend the workshops?  If so we will be conducting a  Live Webinar on September 20th!! To learn more about this opportunity and to register for these workshops/webinar please visit our September event calendar on the Colorado Rural Health Center website by clicking here or contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

CMS Announces National Version 5010 Testing Week

Monday, August 22, 2011 through Friday, August 26, 2011
The Version 5010 compliance date – Sunday, January 1, 2012 – is fast approaching. All HIPAA covered entities should be taking steps now to get ready, including conducting external testing to ensure timely compliance.   Are you prepared for the transition?

Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) trading partners are encouraged to contact their Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) now and facilitate testing to gain a better understanding of MAC testing protocols and the transition to Version 5010.
To assist in this effort, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in conjunction with the Medicare FFS Program, announce a National 5010 Testing Week to be held Monday, August 22, 2011 through Friday, August 26, 2011. National 5010 Testing Week is an opportunity for trading partners to come together and test compliance efforts that are already underway with the added benefit of real-time help desk support and direct and immediate access to MACs.

CMS encourages all trading partners to participate in the National 5010 Testing Week, including:
Providers;  Clearinghouses and Vendors.
More details concerning transactions to be tested are forthcoming from your local MAC. There are several State Medicaid Agencies who will also be participating in the National 5010 Testing Week; more details on Medicaid testing will become available soon.
Again, CMS National 5010 Testing Week does not preclude trading partners from testing transactions immediately with their MAC. Don’t wait until August! CMS encourages you to begin working with your MAC now to ensure timely compliance.
Note that successful testing is required before a trading partner may be placed into production.
We hope all trading partners will join us during the week of Monday, August 22, 2011 and take advantage of this great opportunity to ensure testing and transition efforts are on track!

For more information on HIPAA Version 5010, please visit the CMS dedicated 5010 website at http://www.CMS.gov/Versions5010andD0.

Patient Centered Medical Home Designation

The Colorado Rural Health Center team assists clinics in pursuing designation by the National Committee on Quality Assurance ( NCQA)as Patient Centered Medical Homes ( PCMH). This work involves facilitating a team based approach within the clinic in complying with a set of standards to organize care around the patients needs and to coordinate and track care over time.The PCMH is a healthcare setting that facilitates partnerships between the patient, provider, and family. Care is coordinated through disease registries,information technology,health information exchange, and other means to insure patients receive care where and when they need and want it in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.  For more information and to learn how we can help your facility please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth

NRHA president invited to Obama's rural economic forum today

President Obama is meeting with rural business leaders, farmers, and rural organizations today in Peosta, Iowa.
NRHA President Kris Sparks was invited and traveled to attend this rural economic forum.
As part of the forum, the White House announced a number of initiatives aimed at helping rural communities. Included in this announcement are two initiatives aimed at helping the rural health care safety net:
Critical access hospitals will now be able to recruit doctors from the National Health Service Corps.
Rural hospitals and rural clinicians will be allowed to access current HHS and USDA loan programs to help them purchase software and hardware needed to implement health information technology.
In a public response, NRHA stated the association is grateful to the president for his recognition of the longstanding challenges that rural hospitals face in recruiting physicians.
NRHA also added: "Rural hospitals face significant barriers to providing health care services in rural America. With traditional lack of access to capital, reimbursement inequities, and a crippling rural professional workforce shortage, it is of the utmost importance that any policies take these unique factors into account. Including Critical Access Hospitals in the National Health Service Corps program is a nice step forward in adding another tool to the toolbox that CAHs have to meet the needs of their communities and fulfill their mission as a vital cog in the rural health care safety net."

Physician recruitment solutions and HIT innovations will be highlighted during NRHA's Rural Health Clinic (Sept. 27-28) and Critical Access Hospital (Sept. 28-30) conferences in Kansas City, Mo. Participants will also get the latest from the White House Rural Council and policy updates from D.C.

Click here to register and save $100 today.

QHi Back to Basics Webinar

August 25, 2:00 to 3:00 Central TimeDesigned for those new to the Quality Health Indicators (QHi) Benchmarking Tool or those just in need of a refresher, this webinar will cover the fundamentals of completing the hospital profile, selecting measures, adding users, entering data and running reports. QHi is available to all Colorado CAHs at no charge. For more information, contact jd@coruralhealth.org

Monday, August 15, 2011

NRHA seeks nominations for 2012 leadership positions

The National Rural Health Association's strength and success is largely the result of leaders, members and staff working together with a common purpose to ensure the broadest range and highest quality of health care services to rural America.
Our annual nomination and election process is key to the ongoing need to maintain the flow of our volunteer leadership. We recognize that our members all are busy people asked to wear many hats. We ask that you give thoughtful consideration to wearing one more hat, that of an NRHA leader. Please read and seriously consider this invitation.
The Nominations and Credentials Committee is soliciting nominations for several NRHA leadership positions that will begin Jan. 1, 2012.
NRHA leadership structure and leadership development path
For those of you not familiar with NRHA structure, the Board of Trustees is made up of the officers, constituency group (CG) chairs, the chair of the State Association Council (SAC), the chair of the State Office Council (SOC) and the chair of the Rural Health Congress (RHC). The officers are elected by the full membership. The chairs of the constituency groups, the Rural Health Congress, State Office Council and the State Association Council are elected by the membership of their respective groups. The Board of Trustees has responsibility for governance, development of policies and the financial well-being of the association.
The Rural Health Congress determines the association's positions regarding public policy. It is comprised of representatives elected from each constituency group – one for every 50 voting members – as well as the Board of Trustees, State Association Council representatives, State Office Council representatives, and the five most recent past presidents of the association (not including the current past president).
The present recommended leadership path to assist nominees in preparation for volunteer leadership is to serve in a committee volunteer position first, then serve as a Rural Health Congress constituency representative or a state representative on either the State Association Council or the State Office Council and, finally, serve as a member of the Board of Trustees (see the nominee qualifications and responsibilities).
This recommended path provides volunteer leaders with an appropriate base of knowledge about the workings of the association and relevant current policies and issues to serve in the upper leadership positions.
2012 leader nominations sought
Nominations are being sought to fill the following positions. Each of the positions will serve two-year terms and may serve up to three consecutive terms. The only exception is the president-elect, who serves one year in that role, the following year as president, and his or her final year as past president.
OfficersPresident-elect
Secretary
Constituency Group Chairs
Hospitals and Community Health Systems
Research and Education
Statewide Health Resources
Students
Rural Health Congress (The number of open positions per constituency appears in parentheses following the constituency group name.)

Clinical Services (5)
Diverse Underserved Populations (1)
Hospitals and Community Health Systems (10)
Rural Health Clinics (3)
Research and Education (2)
Statewide Health Resources (2)
Students (6)

Nominee qualifications and responsibilities
NRHA bylaws require that any officer nominees must have been an association member for at least three years to be eligible for nomination; additionally, president-elect nominees also must have served at least one year on either the Board of Trustees or the Rural Health Congress. Please note that all elected leaders are responsible for paying their own expenses to participate, including travel expenses.
If you already hold a position, you may want to consider running for re-election to that position, within the parameters outlined in the association bylaws (most positions are limited to three two-year consecutive terms) or running for election to another position. Members are encouraged to nominate themselves. You may also nominate a qualified member for election to a position or nominate a current leader for a new position. If you choose to nominate someone other than yourself, please assure that the individual signs the consent to serve (Part 5) on the nomination form.

Making a nomination

NRHA members may download the nomination form by clicking here. This form should be completed for any candidate whose name is being submitted for one of the leadership positions listed above. You may copy the nomination form as needed if you wish to nominate more than one person. To be considered for inclusion on the 2012 slate of candidates, nomination forms must be completed, including the signed consent to serve (Part 5), and returned to the NRHA with a postmark no later than Sept. 1, 2011.

Visit http://nrha.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xNjY1NzYzJnA9MSZ1PTEwMDk5OTg4MDYmbGk9NzUyNDg5Ng/index.html to access nomination forms and to learn more about NRHA's volunteer leadership positions.

Bill would extend mortgage insurance program to all CAHs through 2016

Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced legislation (S. 1431) that would extend through July 2016 an exemption that allows all CAHs to participate in the Federal Housing Administration's Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program. Without the exemption, which expired July 31, many rural hospitals would not qualify for the low-cost loan insurance based on patients' average length of stay, raising their financing costs for construction and renovation loans. Since 2006, 10 rural hospitals in 10 states have received mortgage insurance through the program as a result of the exemption. For more information, click here. If your CAH has participated in this program and you have feedback about this exemption, please contact jd@coruralhealth.org or ss@coruralhealth.org.

Information You Need: CMS Fraud Prevention Initiative

If you help people with Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you should know about an expanded federal government effort to reduce fraud and other improper payments in these health care programs to help ensure their long-term viability. 
Significant progress in the fight against health care fraud has already been made as shown by the federal government’s recovery of a record $4 billion last year from people who attempted to defraud seniors and taxpayers.  The Affordable Care Act provides additional resources and tools to enable the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand efforts to prevent and fight fraud, waste and abuse. The CMS Fraud Prevention Initiative aims to ensure that correct payments are made to legitimate providers for covered appropriate and reasonable services in all federal health care programs. 
Fraud prevention efforts focus on moving CMS beyond its former “pay and chase” recovery operations to a more proactive “prevention and detection” model that will help prevent fraud and abuse before payment is made.  A good example is the recent CMS announcement that for the first time, through the use of innovative predictive modeling technology similar to that used by credit card companies, the agency will have the ability to use risk scoring techniques to flag high risk claims and providers for additional review and take action to stop payments and remove providers from the program when necessary.  
Yet, as important as these aggressive new initiatives are, the first and best line of defense against fraud remains the health care consumer.  You can help by making sure that Medicare beneficiaries have the information they need to identify and report suspected fraud.  This information is available in the CMS Fraud Prevention Toolkit on the web by clicking here.
The web site contains materials to help you inform Medicare beneficiaries about how to protect themselves from becoming a victim of fraud and how to report it.  Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Friday, August 12, 2011

IHI National Forum Funding Available

Through a generous grant from Kaiser Permanente, CRHC is able to offer limited funding to help rural clinic leaders attend Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) conferences and seminars, including IHI’s National Forum in December. IHI, world-renowned for their work to improve healthcare and patient safety, helps accelerate improvement by cultivating concepts for improving patient care, and helping health care facilities put those ideas into action. For more information about funding eligibility and application requirements, contact jd@coruralhealth.org.

HCPF Medicaid Provider Bulletin

The August bulletin from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) contains information about Developmental, Depression & Autism Screening; Providers Serving Pregnant Women Office-Administered Injections; Labor Day Holiday; DME Oxygen Policy; DMEPOS Supplier Accreditation; FQHC/RHC Billing Update when Primary Diagnosis Is a BHO Covered Diagnosis; CMS DRG System Reminder; Pharmacy Save the Date; No Rate Reduction for FY 2011-12; Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Calculation Changes; State Maximum Allowable Cost (State MAC) Information; Pharmacy Email Distribution List; DUR Board News; Correct Procedure Codes for Speech Therapy Services; August & September 2011 Workshops; Certificate of Medical Necessity for Oxygen Benefits and Questionnaire #16 - Oxygen Contents in Excess of 6 Liters Per Minute. To access the August bulletin, click here.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

2011-2012 Emergency Preparedness (HPP) funding for Rural Health Clinics

Greg Jones with CDPHE/EPRD will host a conference call on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 9:00AM to present the 2011-2012 RHC deliverables as well as the reimbursement procedure. There are some changes to the deliverables, so please have someone at your clinic make time to call in to hear firsthand what they are and to be able to ask questions. Additional information including the deliverables, procedures, and forms will be emailed to you from Greg Jones prior to the call.

If your clinic has not participated in past HPP funding, this is an opportunity to learn how to get involved and be reimbursed up to $4,000 for some activities that you are probably already doing.

If your emergency preparedness contact information has changed, please email this to Ron Seedorf at rs@coruralhealth.org and Greg Jones at greg.jones@state.co.us so the appropriate staff receives all the latest information.

The conference call information is:
Dial the Conference access number: 1-866-427-0084
Dial the room number : *2433054*
(Note: the star key must be pressed before and after your room number)
Wait to be added to the conference. A roll call of participants will be conducted at the start of the meeting.

For any question or concerns about the emergency preparedness funding contact:
Ron Seedorf
Emergency Preparedness Manager,  Colorado Rural Health Center
T: 970.302.9021
rs@coruralhealth.org

ClinicNET and CRHC release and Patient Centered Medical Home Landscape Brief.

Quality care delivered in a PCMH model is enabled by health information technology, health information exchange and the use of registries and other tools to assure that patients get culturally and linguistically appropriate care when and where they need it, provided at an appropriate health literacy level.
ClinicNET and the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) support the PCMH model and provide services to assist clinics in pursuing PCMH certification or designation.

To read the article in full and to learn more please click here

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Did you register for the September ICD 10 Billing & Coding Workshops?

September 13th, 14th & 15th
Don't forget to register for the billing & coding workshop coming to an area near you in September!  Participants will learn about ICD 10, documentation, billing and coding updates and identify practical ways to be proactively prepared for the future. All healthcare providers, particularly physicians are invited to attend.  Can't make it to the workshops?? We will also be offering a Live Webinar on September 20th!! To learn more about this opportunity and to register for these workshops/webinar please visit our September event calendar on the Colorado Rural Health Center website by clicking here or contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org

Physician assistants group lauds bill to extend IT incentives eligibility

The American Academy of Physician Assistants heralded new legislation that would extend electronic health-record Medicaid incentive payments to all physician assistants who meet certain criteria in serving Medicaid patients.

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Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.) this week introduced the Health IT Modernization for Underserved Communities Act (PDF), which aims to amend the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to let physician assistants be eligible for Medicaid incentive payments for adopting and using certified electronic health-record systems, regardless of whether they practice at a rural health center or a federally qualified health center.

According to the AAPA, the HITECH Act now offers incentive payments to physicians and nurse practitioners who provide primary care to the requisite 30% threshold of Medicaid patients but limits EHR incentive payments for Medicaid services provided by physician assistants in rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers overseen by PAs.

"The ultimate beneficiaries of electronic medical records are patients," AAPA President Robert Wooten said in a news release, "and this bill extends the promise of improved medical care to the Medicaid patients served by a physician assistant."

The legislation has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Read more: here

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Not sure if RHC status is right for you?

The RHC Financial Feasibility Study evaluates a prospective RHC's existing payer mix ( private pay, Medicare and Medicaid) to determine if conversion to the RHC model would be appropriate in order to maximize reimbursement rates.  For more information and to schedule a financial feasibility study for your clinic please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org or by telephone at 303.309.6807.

Free Webinar - How to Avoid Missed Opportunities

August 18th, 2011
10:00am PST, 12:00pm CST, 1:00pm EST

Don't miss out on this Free Webinar featuring Elizabeth Woodcock!  Learn how to Manage Appointments - No Shows to Zeros: How to Avoid Missed Opportunities. For more information and to register please click here

AHRQ’s National Resource Center for Health IT Upcoming Webinar

August 18, 2011, beginning at 2:30 p.m., EST, AHRQ’s National Resource Center (NRC) for Health IT will host a 90-minute Web-based teleconference covering the unique challenges of providing care to elderly patients in hospital, home or nursing care settings. This webinar will present innovative ways that care is being provided to the elderly using health IT. To register for this teleconference, please visit: here

Pharmacies: Receive Updates Fast

Would you like to receive updates regarding pharmacy related changes for Medicaid? Please send an email to Colorado.SMAC@hcpf.state.co.us and ask to be added to the email distribution list.

Next RHC TA Call

The next RHC TA call has been scheduled for Friday, August 19th at 1:00pm EASTERN. The topic will be: “Becoming a Primary Care Medical Home: Why RHCs Should Consider Taking This Next Step?” We are fortunate that our speaker for this call will be Mary Takach, MPH, RN with the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP).
Mary is a program director at the National Academy for State Health Policy where she directs NASHP’s policy research focused on primary care, specifically patient centered medical homes, workforce, and delivery system issues. She is the lead researcher on a Commonwealth Fund multi-year project that is helping states advance medical homes in their Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs.
Mary is a well-respected speaker on the move to encourage primary care providers to establish patient-centered medical homes and the RHC community is fortunate to have such a well-regarded speaker for this important event.
RHCs must be a part of our nation’s healthcare delivery system as it moves forward and it is important for RHC staff to know what is behind the PCMH movement and why becoming a PCMH can be beneficial to Clinics, providers and patients. We hope you will join us on the 19th for this informative and educational program.
NARHC is planning a follow-up teleconference call on how to become a primary care medical home. Details on that follow-up call will be released when they are finalized.

To participate on the teleconference call :
Dial-in Information: 866-431-5314
Passcode: 325784
You are encouraged to dial in 5-10 minutes prior to start time using the Phone Number and Passcode above. This conference is scheduled for 1:00 PM (EASTERN) Friday, August 19, 2011 for a duration of 1 hour. Following a presentation of approximately 45 minutes, the phones lines will be opened so participants can ask questions of our speaker.

Registration for this call is not necessary. Please feel free to share this information with others you believe could benefit from learning more about this topic. The call is open to all interested individuals. We look forward to your participation on the 19th.

Monday, August 8, 2011

TrailBlazer Job Aid: Method II Overview for CAHs


TrailBlazer has recently updated is “Method II Overview for CAHs” job aid. To access the updated document, click here

Friday, August 5, 2011

Pharmacies: Save the Date

In preparation for the upcoming pharmacy reimbursement changes, the Department and ACS will be hosting a webinar on August 29, 2011 from 1:30 – 2:30. The webinar will focus on general reminders and will provide information regarding the methodology that will be used for pharmaceutical reimbursement. Details for accessing the session will be posted on the Department Web site on August 1, 2011.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Billing & Coding Workshops Coming to an aea near you!

Billing & Coding Workshop(s) & Webinar
September 13th, 14th ,15th, &  Live Webinar on the 20th, 2011

On October 1, 2013 ICD-10 will bring monumental changes to physicians and the healthcare industry.  This seminar will help you understand the changes that are coming and how to get prepared NOW!!!!
  • HIPAA 5010 Transactions Version Update:  What is it and why does it have to be implemented by January 1, 2012
  • Key implementation dates
  • Why ICD-10?  Why now?  Who is affected by the changes?
  • Key ICD-10 details, characteristics and guidelines
  • Steps to correct coding, code cross-walks and examples!
  • Steps to get prepared NOW– don't let your cash flow tank!
Please click on the registration links below for more information and to register. Or you may contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org and I would be happy to assist you.


September 13th, 2011 Sterling Regional Medical Center, Sterling CO
To register for this workshop please click here

September 14th, 2011Prowers Medical Center, Lamar, CO
To register for this workshop click here

September 15th, 2011 Springhill Suites - Marriott, Grand Junction, CO
To register for this workshop click here

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Information and Resources on the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)

In March of 2010, Congress passed and President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act—the new health insurance law. The law creates a new program – the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) -- to make health insurance available to individuals who have been denied coverage by private insurance companies because of a pre-existing condition. The PCIP provides a health coverage option if an individual has been without health coverage for at least 6 months, has a pre-existing condition or has been denied health coverage because of a health condition, and is a U.S. citizen or resides here legally. This program may be able to help individuals, if they have been locked out of the insurance market, until 2014. In 2014, individuals will have access to affordable health insurance choices through a new competitive marketplace called an Exchange and will no longer be discriminated against based on a pre-existing condition. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, runs the PCIP in 23 states. In the other 27 states, including Colorado, there are state-based programs. The program may vary depending on what state you live in. Check out the State Plans page to learn more about how the PCIP works in your state. For more information click here

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Care Learning Webinar: Legal Issues in the ED – Recommendations to Reduce Risk

August 23, 2011,
The emergency department (ED) is a high-risk area of liability for the hospital. This Care Learning seminar will focus on patient safety and risk management issues that healthcare providers face while caring for patients in this high-risk environment. Information will be provided on why ED practitioners get sued and how this can be avoided. The seminar will also cover the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) and the changes to community/shared call provisions in the 2009 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rules. The cost is $225 per connection. For more information and to register, click here.

Monday, August 1, 2011

HCPF – At a Glance

The July issue of At a Glance, providing updates from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), is now available. To access the publication, click here.

CDC Online Resources

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases 2011" course is now available in web-on-demand and DVD formats. This training program will provide the most current information in the constantly changing field of immunization. Each session includes case studies and a discussion of frequently-asked questions on each topic. The series is divided into nine modules, each 60 to 90 minutes in length. It is available in two formats: nine web-based modules or on DVD. Each module is separately accredited for Continuing Education. For more information, or to access the web-on-demand version,  click here