Payment of the Enrollment Application Fee for Institutional Providers

Institutional providers (i.e., all providers except physicians, non-physicians practitioners, physician group practices, and non-physician practitioner group practices) must submit the application fee with their revalidation or other enrollment actions.  Institutional providers that submit enrollment actions using internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) pay the application fee during the online submission process.

Providers which submit the paper 855 will now pay the fee at https://pecos.CMS.hhs.gov/pecos/feePaymentWelcome.do.

Save The Date for the 2012 Annual Forum: Essential Perspectives for Safety Net Providers!!!

The Colorado Rural Health Center and ClinicNET will be co-hosting our annual 2012 Annual Forum in Denver, CO on April 11th, 12th, and 13th, 2012.  This year we are very excited to host this event at the Denver Sheraton West Hotel located just minutes from downtown Denver.  Please stay tuned for more details as they unfold and mark your calendars NOW for this educational opportunity and to network with other rural communities in Colorado.

Annual CRHC CAH Workshop – Register Today!

November 3-4, 2011CRHC’s Annual CAH Workshop will take place on November 3-4, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. This meeting is geared towards CAH CEO’s, CFO’s, and Quality Directors and all CAHs are invited to attend. This annual meeting provides participants the opportunity to discuss key accomplishments and goals, get updates on issues affecting Colorado’s CAHs, and provide input on CRHC’s programs and services for CAHs. This year’s agenda includes half-day CAH Cost Reporting/Financial Analysis and QI sessions on November 3 along with Roundtable Discussion, Policy and Legislative Update, CAH Roles in Building Healthy Communities, and CAH Strategic Priorities discussions on November 4. There is no fee for CAH staff to attend. Additionally, CRHC will pay for one night’s lodging for three staff from each CAH and up to $150 in mileage reimbursement per CAH. The CRHC room block at they Hyatt has been extended. Take advantage of the group rate and make your hotel reservations before they’re gone. The workshop registration deadline is October 28. For more information and to register, click here.

ICD 10 Billing & Coding Webinar - November 10th!! Register NOW!!

Thursday November 10th from 9am - 12pm MT
Susan Whitney with R.T. Welter & Associates, Inc. will be leading a webinar on ICD 10 Billing & Coding.   Participants will learn about ICD 10 Documentation as well as Billing & Coding updates.  Susan will identify practical ways to be proactively prepared for the future and discuss the November Coding Bootcamps scheduled around the state.   This educational activity is geared towards clinicians, billing and coding staff at rural hospitals and clinics. Registration is now open for this educational opportunity provided by CRHC and RT Welter and Associates. For more information and to register please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org or by phone at 303.309.6807.  Don't miss out,  register today!! All healthcare providers, particularly physicians, are invited to attend.

QHi Benchmarking Tool – Back to Basics Webinar

The next QHi Benchmarking Tool Back to Basics webinar will be on November 10, 2011 from 1:00-2:00 MST. During this webinar QHi will walk through the fundamentals of using the system. QHi is an online benchmarking tool geared towards CAHs and is available to all Colorado CAHs at no charge. For more information contact Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org.

Reduced Medicare Regulatory Burdens for Healthcare Providers Would Save Nearly $1.1 Billion.

On October 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) took steps to reduce unnecessary, obsolete, or burdensome regulations on American hospitals and healthcare providers. These steps would help achieve the key goal of President Obama’s regulatory reform initiative to reduce unnecessary burdens on business and would save nearly $1.1 billion across the health care system in the first year for a total of over $5 billion over 5 years.   CMS proposed two sets of regulatory reforms today, and finalized a third. All are designed to improve transparency and help providers operate more efficiently by reducing their regulatory burden. One set proposes updates to the Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs). The second set addresses regulatory requirements for a broader range of health care providers and suppliers who are regulated under Medicare and Medicaid. CMS also finalized a third rule reducing regulatory burden for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs).

CMS estimates that annual savings to hospitals from the proposed revisions to the Conditions of Participation could exceed $900 million in its first year as hospitals increasingly use this new flexibility. The Medicare Regulatory Reform rule could save up to $200 million in the first year. The final rule for ASCs could generate an extra $50 million in savings per year.

Taken together, these three rules would reduce hospital and other healthcare provider costs by nearly $1.1 billion the first year. These cost savings would come directly from reduced regulatory burdens, and are not accompanied by reimbursement reductions. As such, all of these savings would be available to help providers improve the quality of care they provide to Medicare beneficiaries and all Americans.
To view the proposed rules please click here.

TrailBlazer CAH/RHC Tools

TrailBlazer has posted a number of updated tools and links for CAHs and RHCs on their website including:

• Medicare Billing Information for Rural Providers and Suppliers
• CAH Method I and CAH Method II Calculators
• Primary Care Incentive Payment Program (PCIP) Eligibility Tool
• Waiver of Deductible and Coinsurance for Preventive Services Job Aid
• CAH Manual

For more information, click here

Influenza Immunization Proposed Rules

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is working with stakeholders on drafting a rule for influenza immunization of healthcare workers. Thank you to those of you who have provided comments on previous drafts of this rule. An updated draft has been released and is available by clicking here.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org by COB Thursday, October 27.

Centura is Live on CORHIO!

All Centura facilities went live on CORHIO on October 24, 2011. By connecting its current electronic health record with CORHIO’s secure network, Centura's physicians and other medical care providers from across the state are linked to important real-time health information about their patients.

Centura Health Uses Industry-Leading Technology to Improve Care Coordination For Residents in Metro Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Summit County and Cañon City.

To read Centura Health's press release, click here.
To read CORHIO's press release, click here.

Revisions to Medicare Conditions of Participation Proposed

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released proposed revisions to the Medicare Conditions of Participation for hospitals including Critical Access Hospitals (CAH). Some of the proposed revisions include privileging for non-physician staff, incorporating a nursing care plan into an interdisciplinary care plan, and changes to nursing services to allow for the preparation and administration of drugs. Under these revisions, the “direct services” requirement for CAHs would be removed and gives CAHs flexibility in determining whether to provide these services directly, under contract, or through another arrangement. Access the proposed rules here. Please send any comments or questions to Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org.

Don’t miss the opportunity to offer loan repayment to your healthcare providers!

Do you have a healthcare provider at your facility who is interested in loan repayment? Let them know that the Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) Loan Repayment Program fall 2011 application cycle will open November 1st, 2011. The application cycle is open for one month, closing on November 30th, 2011.
Up to $105,000 for a 3-year commitment is available to your primary care healthcare providers!CHSC provides loan repayment to fully trained primary care providers in exchange for either a two or three-year full-time service obligation in an underserved community. After completing their initial years of service, loan repayors may apply for additional years of support! Eligible providers include primary care Family Physicians, Internists, OB/GYNs, Pediatricians, Dentists, Psychiatrists, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Dental Hygienists and licensed mental health professionals.
Many types of healthcare facilities are CHSC eligible sites including Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Community Health Centers, and safety-net clinics.

To find out more about the CHSC Loan Repayment Program, please visit here.

Would you like to speak with someone to find out if your facility is eligible for loan repayment? Contact Colorado Provider Recruitment (CPR) at cpr@coruralhealth.org or (303) 832-1668.
Thank you,
Colorado Provider Recruitment Team

HHS Releases Final Regulations for ACOs, Announces Advance Payment Model

The Department of Health and Human Services released final rules for the voluntary Medicare Shared Savings Program aka Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and also announced an Advance Payment model available to physician-owned and rural ACOs. The final rule has several changes from the original proposed rule, including that Rural Health Clinics are now eligible entities to form and participate in ACOs. CRHC will closely review the final rule and Advance Payment model and communicate with our members in coming weeks about the potential impacts and opportunities for rural communities. Please contact Sara if you have questions or comments. Click here to read more.

Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement ( QAPI)

Did you know CRHC can provide comprehensive QAPI development and implementation? Our Quality Improvement specialists are skilled in these processes and are available to come out to your clinic and assist you with any barriers you're currently facing.  A five-module QAPI manual is also available for purchase as a toolkit for clinics to adopt QAPI in five clinic practice areas including patient satisfaction, childhood vaccine program, provider credentialing, missed appointment "no show" and chronic disease management-diabetes.  For more information on our quality improvement services and how CRHC can help you, or to have a skilled specialist come out to your clinic for an assessment, please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org

Influenza, H1N1 and Pneumococcal Services Provided in an RHC/FQHC

TrailBlazer has posted information, guidance and resources for RHCs and FQHCs regarding Influenza, H1N1, and Pneumococcal services and vaccines for Medicare beneficiaries. To access the updated information, click here.

Title: CRHC’s 2012 Membership Drive Now Underway!

Over the past 20 years, CRHC has become our state’s most trusted resource for rural healthcare. In the current economic landscape, it is more important than ever that we continue to support and advocate on behalf of rural healthcare and the safety net community. We remain loyally committed to ensuring our members have the resources and support they need to keep their communities healthy and vibrant. CRHC is well positioned to provide 20+ more years of support to ensure access to healthcare for all Coloradans, and we recognize that our work would be impossible without the dedication of our loyal members.

 

CRHC has three levels of membership to suit your organizational/individual needs:

• Investing Member
• Classic Sponsor
• Partner

Joining is easy. Click here to join today!

At the Classic Sponsor and Partner level memberships, your organization is given additional opportunities to support and reach out to rural healthcare providers. Please visit our website for more information on the benefits of each level. Feel free to contact Cari Fouts, Director of Communication & Development (mailto:cf@coruralhealth.org?subject=Membership%202012, or 303-565-5847) if you have questions about your membership or visit our website for more information.

 

With your support, we can continue to ensure all Coloradans have access to high quality healthcare services in 2012 and beyond.”

Annual CRHC CAH Workshop

November 3-4, 2011CRHC’s Annual CAH Workshop will take place on November 3-4, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. This meeting is geared towards CAH CEO’s, CFO’s, and Quality Directors and all CAHs are invited to attend. This annual meeting provides participants the opportunity to discuss key accomplishments and goals, get updates on issues affecting Colorado’s CAHs, and provide input on CRHC’s programs and services for CAHs. This year’s agenda includes half-day CAH Cost Reporting/Financial Analysis and QI sessions on November 3 along with Roundtable Discussion, Policy and Legislative Update, CAH Roles in Building Healthy Communities, and CAH Strategic Priorities discussions on November 4. There is no fee for CAH staff to attend. Additionally, CRHC will pay for one night’s lodging for three staff from each CAH and up to $150 in mileage reimbursement per CAH. The deadline to make Hyatt room reservations is October 20. The workshop registration deadline is October 28. For more information and to register, click here.

Now Available - Video Slideshow Presentations, Podcasts, and Written Transcript of the August 3 National Provider Call on “ICD-10 Implementation Strategies for Physicians

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released 4 podcasts and 2 video slideshow presentations from the August 3, 2011 National Provider Call on “ICD-10 Implementation Strategies for Physicians.”

Did you miss the August 3rd ICD-10 National Provider Call? The entire narrated presentation is now available on the CMS YouTube Channel as a video slideshow that includes the call audio and captioning. A second video slideshow from this National Provider Call is also available of Dr. Daniel Duvall’s presentation on “Implementation Strategies for Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners.”

Limited on time? Podcasts are perfect for the office, in the car, or anywhere you carry a portable media player or smartphone. The following podcasts are now available from the August 3 ICD-10 call:

• Podcast 1of 4: Welcome and Implementation Strategies for Physicians
• Podcast 2 of 4: Overview and Presentations by CMS Subject Matter Experts
• Podcast 3 of 4: Question and Answer Session
• Podcast 4 of 4: Question and Answer Session Continued

 

The podcasts, video slideshows, and written transcript are now available on the CMS website at http://www.cms.gov/ICD10/Tel10/itemdetail.asp?itemID=CMS1249632.

 

The 4 audio podcasts with corresponding written transcripts, as well as the full written transcript of the call can be accessed by scrolling to the “Downloads” section at the bottom of the page. To access the video slideshows, select the links in the “Related Links Outside CMS” section of the webpage.

Revisions to Medicare Conditions of Participation Proposed

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released proposed revisions to the Medicare Conditions of Participation for hospitals including Critical Access Hospitals (CAH). Some of the proposed revisions include privileging for non-physician staff, incorporating a nursing care plan into an interdisciplinary care plan, and changes to nursing services to allow for the preparation and administration of drugs. Under these revisions, the “direct services” requirement for CAHs would be removed and gives CAHs flexibility in determining whether to provide these services directly, under contract, or through another arrangement. Read the proposed rules here. Please send any comments or questions to Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org.

Medicare Preventive Services Series Part 1: Web-Based-Training Course Revised

This CMS online course is designed to provide education on Medicare-covered preventive services. It includes information on Medicare coverage of seasonal influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines. To access the WBT, please visit the MLN® Overview page at http://www.CMS.gov/MLNGenInfo and click on “Web-Based Training (WBT) Courses” in the “Related Links Inside CMS” section.

CMS RHC Fact Sheet - Revised Version Available

The revised “Rural Health Clinic” fact sheet (ICN 006398) is now available in downloadable format from the CMS Medicare Learning Network. It includes the following information: background, Rural Health Clinic (RHC) services, Medicare certification as a RHC, RHC visits, RHC payments, cost reports, and annual reconciliation.

2011 Version of Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage

In May 2011, CMS released an updated version of the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) (form CMS-R-131), which will replace the 2008 version of this form. The release date of "3/11" is printed in the lower left hand corner of the 2011 version. The ABN is used by all providers, practitioners, and suppliers paid under Medicare Part B, as well as hospice providers and religious non-medical healthcare institutions (RNHCIs) paid exclusively under Part A. Providers and suppliers are allowed to use either the 2008 or 2011 version of the ABN through the end of this year; beginning Sun Jan 1, 2012, they must begin using the 2011 version. Information and a copy of the 2011 version of the ABN (form CMS-R-131) can be found online at http://www.CMS.gov/BNI, under the "FFS Revised ABN" link.

Cardinal Health Foundation Invites U.S. Healthcare Providers to Apply for Grants to Improve Patient Safety

The Cardinal Health Foundation has announced that, for the fifth consecutive year, it will award more than $1 million in grants through its E3 - Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Excellence in Healthcare Program to help hospitals, health systems, community health clinics, and other nonprofit healthcare institutions in the United States improve the efficiency and quality of patient care. The RFP deadline is December 2, 2011. For more information, click here.

340B Peer-to-Peer Webinar Series: Preventing Diversion Systems for Verifying Patient Eligibility

The Health Resources Services Administration's Healthcare Systems Bureau - Office of Pharmacy Affairs is hosting a series of leadership webinars around the 340B Drug Pricing Program. A new community, 340B Peer-to-Peer, has been created in the Healthcare Communities Portal. All 340B eligible and covered entities are encouraged to join this group and to participate in this new innovative technical assistance model. The next webinar in the series is scheduled for October 26 from 2:00-3:00 EST. For more information and to register, click here.

IHI Open School - Patient and Family Centered Care Course

The IHI Open School for Health Professions is pleased to announce the release of PFC 101: Dignity and Respect, the 15th course in its growing catalog. Nurses, physicians, and pharmacists can now earn 22.5 contact hours with a one-year subscription. This course features five lessons filled with interactive elements to engage the learner:
Lesson 1: An Introduction to Patient- and Family-Centered Care
Lesson 2: First Impressions
Lesson 3: Privacy and Confidentiality
Lesson 4: Culture and Belief Systems
Lesson 5: Creating a Restful and Healing Environment

With courses in quality improvement, leadership, patient safety and patient- and family-centered care, the IHI Open School offers an easy and affordable way to expand your health care improvement skills. Access courses online anytime, anywhere, with a 12-month, single-user subscription. Or you can save by purchasing an organizational subscription with a group of co-workers. Courses are free for students, residents, and university faculty who teach courses. All other IHI Open School resources, including videos, case studies, and the Chapter Network, are available to anyone free of charge. For more information, click here.

Medical Equiptment needed for rural students!

Dr. Mark Deutchman, Director, Rural Track, School of Medicine, is currently seeking a donation of the following medical equipment for his Rural Track students:

• A “slit lamp” (used for eye exams)
• An electrosurgical machine

Please contact Dr. Deutchman directly if you are able to assist with either of these items or to discuss further per his contact information below.

Mark Deutchman MD

 

Professor, Dept. of Family Medicine

 Director, Rural Track, School of Medicine

 mark.deutchman@ucdenver.edu or  http://medschool.ucdenver.edu/ruraltrack

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for a cost effective non-biased peer review service?

Colorado Rural Health Center provides this service that is specialty-matched, confidential,  provides medical opinions from a rural provider, for a rural provider,  and is based on objective review of medical records. The program is a collaborative effort among Colorado's rural providers, and not only provides a cost effective way to manage peer review requirements, but also provides an effective means to improve patient care through identifying opportunities for process improvement. For more information on our Peer Review Network please contact Courtnay Ryan at 303.309.6807

2012 CRHC Colorado Rural Credentialing Network

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 Rural Credentialing Network assists hospitals and clinics with credentialing issues specific to accreditation requirements, significant legislation, and civil litigation. For more information and to register, click here.

TrailBlazer Provider Outreach and Education Webinars

TrailBlazer Provider Outreach and Education develops and promotes educational opportunities that enhance the Medicare knowledge of our providers and their staffs.
Part A
10/18/2011 – Ambulance Overview – Part 1.

10/25/2011 – CAH Updates and Changes.

11/08/2011 – Inpatient Hospital Policy and Billing.

11/09/2011 – Ambulance Overview – Part 2.

11/15/2011 – Short Inpatient Hospital Stays.

11/22/2011 – MSP Questionnaire.  

11/29/2011 – Top Billing Errors. 

Part B

10/18/2011 – Ambulance Overview – Part 1.

10/19/1011 – Evaluation and Management Modifiers.

10/26/2011 – Updates, Changes and Reminders.

11/02/2011 – ASC Billing Errors.

11/09/2011 – Ambulance Overview – Part 2.

11/09/2011 – IDTF Policy and Billing.

11/16/2011 – Understanding The LCD Process.  

11/30/2011 – Understanding the Medicare Remittance Advice.

All upcoming educational opportunities are posted on the Calendar of Events Web page.

CAH Updates and Changes – TrailBlazer Web-Based Training

October 25, 2011, 12:00-1:30 MST
This TrailBlazer class is intended for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Topics for discussion will include the updates and changes for calendar year 2011. There is no charge to attend. For more information and to register, click here

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Consumer Alert - October 9, 2011

Website Warned on Suggesting Linkage to Government Agency – Could Mislead Consumers

 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently become aware of a website that has the appearance of being an official government website for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.

This new website -here- is not maintained by any government programs and consumers are strongly urged not to submit any personal information requested by this website under the assumption that it is a government website.

CMS is taking the appropriate steps to protect consumers from being misled.

The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan made available through the Affordable Care Act makes health insurance available to people who have had a problem getting insurance due to a pre-existing condition.

The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan:

• Covers a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs.
• Does not charge you a higher premium just because of your medical condition.
• Does not base eligibility on income.

Individuals interested in this new federally backed program should visit: http://www.pcip.gov/ or call 866-717-5826.

Measuring Patients’ Experiences with Medical Homes Using the CAHPS Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Item Set

A Free Webcast Event : Thursday, November 3, 2011  2:00 – 3:30 pm E.T.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has developed a new CAHPS Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Item Set that can be added to the Clinician & Group 12-Month Survey to measure patients’ experiences with the domains of primary care that define the medical home. Join us on this free 90-minute Webcast to learn about—

• AHRQ’s research on the medical home
• The development of the CAHPS PCMH Item Set
• Use of the CAHPS PCMH Item Set with the 12-Month Survey to assess the quality of care provided by primary care practices
• The role of this patient experience survey in the National Committee of Quality Assurance’s PCMH Recognition Program

You will also have ample time to ask the speakers to respond to the issues that most concern you.

Who should attend?  Representatives of medical groups, health plans, health systems, survey vendors, individual clinicians, and other individuals and organizations interested in measuring and reporting on the quality of care in medical homes are encouraged to attend this Webcast.

For information about this Webcast and to register, visit here

CRHC Offers Free Lean/Six Sigma and QI Education to CAHs

Through CRHC’s iCARE (Improving Communication and Readmission), Colorado CAHs have access to free training in Lean/Six Sigma concepts and Quality Improvement Practices education. Participating CAHs receive technical assistance through webinars, online modules, and one-on-one consultations to help guide them through process improvement related to one of the iCARE projects three primary goals: Improving Communication in Transitions of Care; Maintaining Low Readmission Rates, and Improving Clinical Processes that contribute to readmissions, particularly for heart failure and pneumonia patients. For more information about participating in iCARE, contact Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org or Michelle Mills at mm@coruralhealth.org.

Grant Writing Workshop thru Susan G Komen for the Cure

Wednesday October 26th, 2011, Colorado Springs
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is conducting a grant writing workshop this year for Colorado non-profit organizations interested in applying for funds for breast cancer-related projects for 2012.

The workshop will have two sessions and include a networking lunch to encourage collaboration among prospective grantees and organizations providing education, screening and prevention, and financial services or other treatment support services in El Paso, Pueblo, and Teller Counties.

For more information and to register for this opportunity please click here

CO-OP Health Plans: Can They Help Fix Rural America's Health Insurance Markets?

Wednesday, October, 19, 2011, 11:00am Central (9:00am PT, 10:00am MT, 12:00pm ET)
Consumer-Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) programs are intended to create nonprofit health insurance issuers that would offer health plans to individual and small group markets. Part of the Affordable Care Act, CO-OPs could have a substantial effect on rural healthcare delivery systems.

In this webinar, Andrew Coburn, research professor at the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service, will discuss CO-OP program legislation and identify challenges to obtaining private health insurance in rural areas. He will also touch on opportunities and challenges of the CO-OP program in addressing limitations of the rural private health insurance market.

Joining Dr. Coburn will be Bill Oemichen, president and CEO of the Cooperative Network, serving cooperatives in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Oemichen served on the committee that wrote recommendations to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding CO-OP development.

Registration: To register visit the ReadyTalk website.

Annual CRHC CAH Workshop

November 3-4, 2011
CRHC’s Annual CAH Workshop (formerly the CRHC CAH Advisory Council Meeting) will take place on November 3-4, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. This meeting is geared towards CAH CEO’s, CFO’s, and Quality Directors and all CAHs are invited to attend. This annual meeting provides participants the opportunity to discuss key accomplishments and goals, get updates on issues affecting Colorado’s CAHs, and provide input on CRHC’s programs and services for CAHs. This year’s agenda includes Roundtable Discussion, Cost Reporting, QI Process Mapping, Policy and Legislative Update, CAH Roles in Building Healthy Communities, and CAH Strategic Priorities. There is no fee for CAH staff to attend. CRHC will pay for one night’s lodging for three staff from each CAH and up to $150 in mileage reimbursement per CAH. For more information and to register, click here.

CMS - Orders for Inpatient Admissions

CMS is in the process of clarifying the guidelines related to orders for inpatient hospital admissions and will formally release these clarifications in the near future. Contractors will follow the instructions here until formal guidelines are issued. For more information, click here.

Data Submission deadline has been extended until the end of the October!!

Data Submission has been extended and is now open until October 31st for data submission to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database. If you have already registered, please take the time to complete your data submission. 
First, please take a few minutes to view our submission instructional video for details on registering and submitting your medical office data to the submission system here.  Medical offices that have administered the AHRQ survey can now voluntarily submit their data to the Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database, which is open September 15 to October 31, 2011 for registration and data submission. Medical offices, health systems, or vendors in the United States that have already completed administration of the AHRQ Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture and are prepared to submit their data by October 31, 2011 are eligible.  
This database is a central repository for survey data from medical offices, health systems, or survey vendors that have administered the AHRQ medical office survey instrument. One of the purposes of the database is to produce comparative results to help medical offices identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in their patient safety culture. Comparative results are reported in the aggregate and do not include any information identifying participating medical offices.  
To register, please  click here

CDC Guide for Infection Prevention: Audioconference

October 19, 2011 2-3:30 p.m. ET
Premier invites you to participate in this program, as part of Premier's Advisor Live® audioconference series, featuring important healthcare information. This webinar will cover: Review data on outbreaks and patient notifications due to failure to follow basic aseptic technique and infection control; Discuss the newly released CDC Guide to Infection Prevention in Outpatient Settings: Minimum Expectations for Safe Care; Describe the results of a recent national survey on injection practices of clinicians in U.S. healthcare settings; Review resources, educational programs and materials available to promote awareness of safe injection practices and advance basic patient safety across the continuum. There is no charge to participate. Register now - as space is limited.

How can CRHC help you??

Did you know that CRHC has formed a partnership with CCHN to offer you LabCORP Services at a huge discount thanks to a group purchasing agreement?

CCHN has maintained a lab Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) with LabCorp and the Colorado CHCs for the past 7+ years and is opening up this opportunity to the CRHC membership (RHCs in phase 1 and CAHs in phase 2). This opportunity is currently available for RHCs.

 

• CCHN negotiates pricing and service delivery on behalf of the CO CHCs and then CO CHCs get very low pricing (up to 63% off of list) from LabCorp.
• The relationship has worked well during these 7+ years with CHCs receiving low cost lab work (cheaper than they could negotiate individually) along with excellent quality and customer service.
• The current term of the GPO is from November 1, 2009 to October 31, 2012
• CCHN goes through a competitive bid process every three years.
• CCHN will assist in resolving disputes between HCs/Clinics/CAHs and LabCorp
• CCHN monitors and evaluates LabCorp’s performance quarterly.
• CCHN will notify participating organizations the availability and fees of new technologies and/or methodologies developed by LabCorp

 

For more information please contact Michelle Mills at mm@coruralhealth.org or Michael Boyson, Director of Health Center Operation Division, CCHN at michael@cchn.org or by phone at 303.861.5165 ext. 245.

Centura Health’s Injury Prevention Summit

Friday, November 11, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.If you’re interested in injury prevention, come join us for Centura Health’s Injury Prevention Summit on Friday, November 11th at the Julie Penrose Health and Education Center in Colorado Springs. This one-day event promises to be a day of networking and learning with trauma experts and others in the field from around the state. Continuing education credits will be available. Anyone is invited to RSVP and attend.

Topics include:

• Injury Prevention – How Far We Have Come
• Data Collection – A Necessary Evil
• How Do You Assess Your Community
• Implementation – Getting to Work
• A Program That Works – Case Study
• It Takes a Village! Tapping Into Existing Resources & Building Community Partners
• Show Me the Money!
• Navigating the Federal and State Grant Process
• Are We Making a Difference?

Where: Julie Penrose Health and Education Center, next to the St. Francis Medical Center North Care Building (6071 E. Woodmen Rd., Colorado Springs)

Details: Lunch and CE credits provided

Cost: $25 registration fee

About the Centura Health Trauma System

Centura Health’s Trauma System provides an integrated network of specialty care designed to deliver optimal care of the trauma patient through dedicated leadership, expertise and best practices. With our 14 designated trauma centers, Flight For Life® Colorado and the state’s largest EMS support system, our patients have access to a dedicated network of hospitals and operating entities that provide the highest level of care at the most critical time of need. We partner with the communities we serve to provide inter-facility transport, quality and trauma designation review assistance, along with a wide variety of educational, injury prevention and research opportunities. This robust system of care promotes both our pre-hospital and facility partners’ success while providing optimal care to those we serve across the state of Colorado.

For more information about the event, visit http://www.centuratrauma.org/. To register, please contact Sherrie Rozwick, sherrierozwick@centura.org or 719-776-5926.

Make Sure You Know How to Meet Version 5010 Level II Compliance

The Version 5010 compliance deadline is less than 90 days away.

All entities covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) must be ready to implement the Version 5010 transaction standards by December 31, 2011. In order to meet this compliance deadline, you need to conduct both Level I Internal Testing, and Level II External Testing of transactions.

Level I Internal Testing allows you to identify and address any potential issues that may arise in advance of testing with external business partners. If you have not yet done so, take action now to complete your internal testing as soon as possible. By now, you should have completed Level I Internal Testing, and begun Level II External Testing.  For Level II External Testing, you should identify the business partners you currently conduct transactions with, and create a schedule and timeline for external testing with each partner. If you trade with a large number of business partners, identify priority partners to conduct testing with first.

To meet Level II compliance, business partners that should be included in external testing include:

• Billing services
• Clearinghouses
• Pharmacies
• Entities responsible for coverage and benefit determinations
• Payers

To ensure a smooth transition during Level II External Testing, you should first test the transactions you currently use on a daily basis, such as:

• Claims
• Eligibility determinations
• Remittances
• Referral authorizations

 After testing your daily transactions, you are ready to test all remaining transactions to ensure that you are fully compliant for Level II External Testing.

Please visit the ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare, and to download and share the implementation widget today!

CRHC Webinar: The Business Side of Quality with Darlene Bainbridge

October 18, 1:00-2:30
This decade will be a time of important choices by most healthcare leaders about their business philosophies and approaches to quality. How organizations manage quality and how high they set the bar will play a significant role in determining critical business outcomes. A hospital can easily satisfy the next survey but financially, operationally and reputationally fail if its quality activities do not support it in practicing up from the rules with the goals of securing relationships, productivity and outcomes where we get it right the first time. During this session, presented by Darlene Bainbridge, we will discuss the business side of quality and taking the next steps in having our quality programs help us to secure stronger futures. This webinar is free for all Colorado CAHs; $99 per line for all others. For more information and to register, click here.

Funding Opportunity Announcement from HRSA

For Information on this announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Health Resources and Services Administration, please click here

Diabetes Update - Learning Collaborative Webinar Event

Friday 10:30-11:30 AM (CT): Diabetes Update
With Dr. Maria Collazo-Clavell
Consultant, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic and is an Associate Professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Diabetes affects 25 million Americans at a total cost of $174 billion. In addition to diabetes-related complications and premature death, people with diabetes have medical expenditures approximately 2.3 times higher than those without diabetes. In this diabetes update we will share the latest recommendations for managing type 2 diabetes and:

• Discuss recent controversies surrounding DM2 management
• Identify HgbA1c, blood pressure and lipid management goals
• List third treatment options when metformin and sulfonylurea are insufficient
• Describe the role of incretin therapy in DM2 management

Register >>

Rx Review Program Recruits Participants

The Rx Review Program is a voluntary participatory medication review for Medicaid clients who have multiple prescription needs. Clients that have claims for five or more drugs totaling more Page 2 of 2
than $2,000 per month or those having six or more narcotics claims each month for three consecutive months may be eligible to participate.   Pharmacists participating in the program will review all prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and nutritional supplements; identify drug-drug interactions, drug duplication or use of multiple providers, and ensure conformity with the Preferred Drug List. Patient participation is voluntary; client pharmacy benefits will not be affected in any way.
If you would like more information, or you are a pharmacist interested in participating, please contact Tammie Ruiz.

National Provider Call: Revalidation of Medicare Provider Enrollment – Save the Date

Thursday, October 27, 2011; 12:30-2pm ET
CMS will hold a National Provider Call to discuss the revalidation of Medicare provider enrollment information. Most providers and suppliers who are enrolled in the Medicare program will have to revalidate their enrollment which will be reviewed under the new risk screening criteria required by the Affordable Care Act Section 6401(a). Learn what you can expect and how to prepare for this process.
Target Audience: All providers and suppliers enrolled with Medicare prior to March 25, 2011 and which expect to receive payment from Medicare for services provided.
Agenda will include:

• What is Revalidation?
• ACA Screening Requirements
• Electronic Funds Transfer
• Streamlining the Process
• Phased Revalidation
• Tips on Revalidation
• Question and Answer Session

Registration Information: Will be made available soon on the CMS website and announced in future communications.  For more information about provider enrollment revalidation, review the Medicare Learning Network’s® Special Edition Article #SE1126 “Further Details on the Revalidation of Provider Enrollment Information.”

CRHC Regional CAH Board Workshops “Connecting with the Community: The Board’s Trusteeship Role”

• October 10, 4:00pm-7:30pm – Yuma, CO
• October 11, 4:00pm-7:30pm – Walsenburg, CO

 The CRHC is pleased to present upcoming regional workshops with Charney Associates’ board and governance expert and CEO, Bill Charney. For more information and to register, click here. Please note: the Grand Junction Workshop originally scheduled for October 6 has been canceled.

Annual CRHC CAH Workshop

November 3-4, 2011
CRHC’s Annual CAH Workshop (formerly the CRHC CAH Advisory Council Meeting) will take place on November 3-4, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. This meeting is geared towards CAH CEO’s, CFO’s, and Quality Directors and all CAHs are invited to attend. This annual meeting provides participants the opportunity to discuss key accomplishments and goals, get updates on issues affecting Colorado’s CAHs, and provide input on CRHC’s programs and services for CAHs. This year’s agenda includes Roundtable Discussion, Cost Reporting, QI Process Mapping, Policy and Legislative Update, CAH Roles in Building Healthy Communities, and CAH Strategic Priorities. There is no fee for CAH staff to attend. CRHC will pay for one night’s lodging for three staff from each CAH and up to $150 in mileage reimbursement per CAH. For more information and to register, click here.

CRHC Webinar: The Business Side of Quality with Darlene Bainbridge

October 18, 1:00-2:30
This decade will be a time of important choices by most healthcare leaders about their business philosophies and approaches to quality. How organizations manage quality and how high they set the bar will play a significant role in determining critical business outcomes. A hospital can easily satisfy the next survey but financially, operationally and reputationally fail if its quality activities do not support it in practicing up from the rules with the goals of securing relationships, productivity and outcomes where we get it right the first time. During this session, presented by Darlene Bainbridge, we will discuss the business side of quality and taking the next steps in having our quality programs help us to secure stronger futures. This webinar is free for all Colorado CAHs; $99 per line for all others. For more information and to register, click here.

2012 CRHC Rural Credentialing Network – Register Now!

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 Rural Credentialing Network assists hospitals and clinics with credentialing issues specific to accreditation requirements, significant legislation, and civil litigation. For more information and to register, click here.

CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum

The next CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, 2011 from 1:00pm-2:00pmET. If you wish to participate, dial 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 83522688. For more information, click here

Open Enrollment for CAHs for National Health Service Corps

The National Health Service Corps is excited to announce that Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) may now apply to become an NHSC approved site. To apply, please visit here and click on the “Become an NHSC Site. Apply Here.” button. As part of the online application, you will be asked to select your site type. Please note you can find “Critical Access Hospital” under the “Other Health Facility” option on the list. By becoming an NHSC-approved site, you will gain the ability to recruit NHSC primary care providers in communities with limited access to care. In order to be eligible, CAHs must be aligned with an outpatient setting and must engage in primary health care and related inpatient services. For more information about the Corps, site eligibility, and what it means to be an approved site, we encourage you to review the updated NHSC Service Site Reference Guide and Frequently Asked Questions document, which can be accessed at this site.

2012 ICD-10-PCS GEMs Files Now Available from CMS

 Is your organization preparing for a smooth transition to ICD-10 on October 1, 2013?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the 2012 ICD-10 Procedure Coding System (PCS) General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs) files to the CMS website. These files are available on the 2012 ICD-10-PCS and GEMs webpage  here.To access the files, scroll to the bottom of the page to the “Downloads” section.

 

Also available on the 2012 ICD-10 PCS and GEMs webpage:

• Official ICD-10-PCS Coding Guidelines
• 2012 Version – What’s New
• Code Tables and Index
• Code Descriptions – Long and Abbreviated Titles
• Development of the ICD-10-PCS
• ICD-10-PCS Reference Manual and Slides
• Addendum

Coming December 2011—The 2012 ICD-10-CM (Diagnosis) files, the diagnosis GEMs, and the Reimbursement Mappings.  The CMS ICD-10 website at www.cms.gov/icd10 is a valuable resource to help you prepare for the U.S. health care industry's change from ICD-9 to ICD-10 for medical diagnosis and inpatient procedure coding. Bookmark this website and check back frequently for the latest news, resources, compliance timelines, and teleconference information, or get notification of website updates by signing up for the CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates mailing list.