Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Program Application Available!

The application and materials for the fifth cycle of the Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Program, administrated by the Colorado Rural Health Center, are now available.
  • DEADLINE: Online Intent to Apply Forms — January 13, 2012 ; Applications — Noon (12:00 pm) February 15, 2012
  • ELIGIBILITY: Organizations that are located outside of Colorado's urbanized areas that provide outpatient primary care services—including medical, oral, and mental health
  • FUNDING PRIORITIES: Projects that support rural health infrastructure and
  • strengthen the capacity of rural entities to provide outpatient primary care services
  • AWARD AMOUNT: Maximum award is $50,000 per applicant
For more information on the grant application process, additional eligibility requirements and complete timeline, visit our website.
Questions? Contact Shelly Collings at 720.248.2742 or sc@coruralhealth.org.

Want to Learn More About Credentialing – Register Now for the 2012 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.

National Influenza Vaccination Week is December 4-10 – Get the flu vaccine, not the flu

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national observance that was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2005 to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination—as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine—after the holiday season into January and beyond. For the 2011-2012 season, NIVW is scheduled for December 4-10 and this year’s events will encourage everyone 6 months and older to “Get the flu vaccine, not the flu.”
Influenza is among the most common respiratory illnesses in the United States, infecting millions of people every flu season. An annual flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu and the flu-related complications that could lead to hospitalization and even death. Also, since flu viruses are constantly changing and immunity can decline over time, annual vaccination is needed for optimal protection.
Influenza can cause severe illness and even death for anyone, regardless whether or not they have high risk conditions. However, people with certain long-term health conditions are at much greater risk of suffering from serious flu complications, as demonstrated last season when 80 percent of adults hospitalized from flu complications had a long-term health condition (asthma, diabetes, and chronic heart disease were the most common).
What Can You Do?   National Influenza Vaccination Week presents a great opportunity for healthcare providers to educate seniors and others with Medicare that a flu vaccine is the first and best way to prevent influenza, and that it’s particularly important in people who are at higher risk of serious flu complications. It is also a great time to inform those with Medicare about other preventive services covered by Medicare that may be appropriate for them.
For More Information:
The CMS Guide to Medicare Preventive Services
Medicare Immunizations Billing Quick Reference Chart
CMS Adult Immunizations Brochure
Medicare Preventive Services Quick Reference Information Chart
The CDC Vaccines and Immunizations Web Page
Remember: The flu vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. The flu vaccine is NOT a Part D-covered drug.
For more information on coverage and billing of the flu vaccine and its administration, and related provider resources, visit 2011-2012 Provider Seasonal Flu Resources and Immunizations. For the 2011-2012 seasonal flu vaccine payment limits, visit http://www.CMS.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/10_VaccinesPricing.asp.

Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Groups Changes Name; Seeks New Members

The Advisory Panel on Ambulatory Payment Groups will now be known as the Hospital Outpatient Panel and the work of the panel is changing, too. The scope of work will now include supervision of outpatient hospital services. We have expanded the membership to 19, and we are currently soliciting 6 new members. We need volunteers from the rural and critical access hospital (CAH) communities. Nominations for the Panel are due by Tue Dec 27. If you would like to nominate someone, please send a complete application to Paula.Smith@cms.hhs.gov. Federal Register Notice “CMS-1593” includes details on what to include in the application.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Important Billing information for CAHs Paid Under Optional Method Regarding PCIP - TrailBlazer

Critical Access Hospital (CAH) providers were instructed to submit their National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) using the “other provider” field located in loop 2310C on the 4010A1 electronic claim format effective April 1, 2012. With the implementation activities to convert from the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC X12) Version 4010A1 to the Version 5010A2 format, loop 2310C was redefined to mean “other operating physician.” For providers using the 837I 5010A2 format, the correct loop is 2310D, “rendering physician”; however, Medicare systems are not updated to assign Primary Care Incentive Payment Program (PCIP) bonus payments to the NPI reported in this field. As a result, CMS plans to update system and billing instructions to address this change. In the meantime, to ensure there is not a delay in the PCIP bonus payments, CAH providers shall continue to submit claims using the “other provider” field, loop 2310C rather than in loop 2310D until further notice from CMS. For more information, click here.

Did You Know?

2012 Annual Participation Open Enrollment Period – Every year, Medicare contractors conduct an open participation enrollment period to provide eligible physicians, practitioners and suppliers with an opportunity to make their calendar year Medicare participation decision. Providers who want to maintain their current participation status do not need to take any action during the upcoming annual participation enrollment program.   Providers will not be receiving the usual Compact Disk (CD) from TrailBlazer announcing the annual open participation enrollment period. CMS has directed Medicare contactors to produce a postcard mailing, instead of a CD, for eligible physicians, practitioners and suppliers.  In early November the postcard announcing the open enrollment period was mailed to eligible physicians, practitioners and suppliers. Specific information about the annual open enrollment period, including the Form CMS-460, is available on TrailBlazer’s PAR Enrollment Web page.

Version 5010
Only 34 Days Until the HIPAA 5010 Compliance Date!
December 7, 2011, National Provider Call: Medicare FFS Implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 Transaction Standards – Register Now!
· CMS Office of E-Health Standards and Services Announces 90-Day Period of Enforcement Discretion for Compliance With New HIPAA Transaction Standards. (Compliance is still required by January 1, 2012!)
View the new Part A Version 5010 Claim Issue for information and adjustment instructions.
Visit TrailBlazer’s 5010 Information Web page to ensure you receive the latest information and important updates throughout the ANSI Version 5010 implementation. If you have any questions, please contact the EDI Helpline at (866) 749-4302.
Part A & B
MM7648 – 2012 Annual Update to the Therapy Code List.
Part A
New Short-Term PEPPER Now Available.
MM7617 – CY 2012 End Stage Renal Disease Payment Changes.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Top 10 CAH Deficiencies and What We Can Do About It…

January 27, 2012; 11:00-12:00
Please join the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) for this webinar with presenter Terry Mahar from Eide Bailly where we will focus on the top 10 most common deficiencies cited related to the CAH Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP) both in Colorado, as well as nationally. For each deficiency, the CoP will be reviewed and defined, and process improvement methods (i.e. changes in policy or practice, etc.) on how to be in compliance with that CoP will be discussed. This webinar will also review and discuss the newest revisions/additions to the Medicare CAH CoP’s. This webinar is FREE for all CRHC Member Colorado CAHs; $79 for all non-member Colorado CAHs, and $99 for all others. For more information and to register, click here.

, CMS announced a “90 day Enforcement Discretion Period” related to the 5010 HIPAA standard transactions

It is important to note that this is not delaying the federally mandated start date of January 1, 2011! However, it does give CMS the ability to enforce compliance in the first 90 days of 2011. You are required to continue “working …to become compliant with the new HIPAA standards..”
With this announcement we also strongly encourage all covered entities to determine how they must set up their software to allow generation of 5010 transactions for those payers who are ready on January 1st, and still allow 4010a transactions for non ready payers.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of E-Health Standards and Services Announces 90-Day Period of Enforcement Discretion for Compliance with New HIPAA Transaction Standards
Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of E-Health Standards and Services (OESS)announced that it would not initiate enforcement action until March 31, 2012, with respect to any HIPAA covered entity that is not in compliance with the ASC X12 Version 5010 (Version 5010), NCPDP Telecom D.0 (NCPDP D.0) and NCPDP Medicaid Subrogation 3.0 (NCPDP 3.0) standards. Notwithstanding OESS’ discretionary application of its enforcement authority, the compliance date for use of these new standards remains January 1, 2012 (small health plans have until January 1, 2013 to comply with NCPDP 3.0).  CMS’ Office of E-Health Standards and Services is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ component that enforces compliance with HIPAA transaction and code set standards.
OESS encourages all covered entities to continue working with their trading partners to become compliant with the new HIPAA standards, and to determine their readiness to accept the new standards as of January 1, 2012. While enforcement action will not be taken, OESS will continue to accept complaints associated with compliance with Version 5010, NCPDP D.0 and NCPDP 3.0 transaction standards during the 90-day period beginning January 1, 2012. If requested by OESS, covered entities that are the subject of complaints (known as “filed-against entities”) must produce evidence of either compliance or a good faith effort to become compliant with the new HIPAA standards during the 90-day period. OESS made the decision for a discretionary enforcement period based on industry feedback revealing that, with only about 45 days remaining before the January 1, 2012 compliance date, testing between some covered entities and their trading partners has not yet reached a threshold whereby a majority of covered entities would be able to be in compliance by January 1. Feedback indicates that the number of submitters, the volume of transactions, and other testing data used as indicators of the industry’s readiness to comply with the new standards have been low across some industry sectors. OESS has also received reports that many covered entities are still awaiting software upgrades.   Version 5010, NCPDP Telecom D.0 and NCPDP Medicaid Subrogation 3.0 standards represent significant improvement over the current standard versions. NCPDP Telecom D.0 addresses certain pharmacy industry needs. NCPDP Medicaid Subrogation 3.0 allows state Medicaid programs to recoup payments for pharmacy services in cases where a third party payer has primary financial responsibility. Version 5010 in particular provides more functionality for transactions such as eligibility requests and health care claims status Implementation of Version 5010 also is a prerequisite for using the updated ICD-10 CM diagnosis and ICD-10-PCS inpatient procedure code set in electronic health care transactions effective October 1, 2013.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Pediatric Environmental Health Resources for Community Health Professionals

Thursday, December 8, 2011 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EST (2:00 PM – 3:30 PM MST)
This session will discuss resources and strategies for assisting primary care providers and other community health workers in addressing common pediatric environmental health issues. Topics will include taking an environmental exposure history; pediatric environmental health case studies; and how to access free medical consultation and training through the Rocky Mountain Region Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit.

Agenda:
2:00 PM to 2:10 PM – Welcome and Introductions
Alicia Aalto, Children’s Environmental Health Coordinator, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
Cherri Pruitt, Maternal and Child Health Regional Consultant, US Health Resources and Services Administration, Region VIII

2:10 PM to 2:25 PM – Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty (PEHSU) Units, A Network of Experts in Children’s

Environmental Health and other Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)’resources for health professionals
Michael T. Hatcher, DrPH Chief, Environmental Medicine and Education Services Branch Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, ATSDR

2:25 PM to 3:10 PM – Pediatric Environmental Health

Taking an environmental exposure history
Case studies
How to access free medical consultation and training through the Rocky Mountain Region Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) Unit (PEHSU) Mark Anderson, MD, Director, Rocky Mountain Region PEHSU Director

3:10 PM to 3:25 PM – Answers to Questions Posted by Webinar Attendees

3:25 PM to 3:30 PM – Events/Initiatives/Updates/Opportunities for Collaboration

Facilitator: Alicia Aalto, Children’s Environmental Health Coordinator, US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EST (2:00 PM – 3:30 PM MST)
This session will discuss resources and strategies for assisting primary care providers and other community health workers in addressing common pediatric environmental health issues. Topics will include taking an environmental exposure history; pediatric environmental health case studies; and how to access free medical consultation and training through the Rocky Mountain Region Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

ICD-10: The Key to a Successful Transition

One-day training workshops for Colorado CAHs & Rural Hospitals
  • February 21, 2012 - location tbd
  • February 22, 2012 - CRHC Office – Aurora, CO
  • February 23, 2012 - location tbd
Workshop Objectives:
  • Demonstrate the conversion from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10 for the three most common inpatient diagnostic  cases for all short term and acute care and critical access hospitals
  • Gain an understanding of the productivity and documentation issues in the conversion
  • Gain an understanding of the budget dollars needed to be incorporated into the hospital’s strategic plan
  • Planning for your transition: budget, training, staffing, etc.
 Workshop Includes:
  • Printed course materials
  • 6 hours of CEUs recognized by the AAPC and ARHPC for each participant
  • 1 year membership to the Association of Rural Health Professional Coders (ARHPC) for each participant – i.e. access to consultants/specialists to answer your questions
Who Should Attend:
Everyone throughout the hospital who needs to know about the changes from ICD-9 to ICD-10 and the impacts it can have on your organization


  • FY2011 SHIP grant participants: FREE (unlimited number of attendees)




  • Non-SHIP hospitals/CRHC Members: $49 per attendee




  • Non-SHIP hospitals/Non-CRHC Members: $99 per attendee



  • For more information – contact Danette Swanson; 303-577-0357; ds@coruralhealth.org
    To register – contact Courtnay Ryan; 303-309-6807; cr@coruralhealth.org
    CRHC is the recipient of the Federal HRSA Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) Grant: CFDA 93.301;
    Award 6 H3HRH00038-10-01

    Wednesday, November 23, 2011

    Primary Care Incentive Payment Program FAQs Posted to the CMS Website

    Per Section 5501(a) of the Affordable Care Act, the Primary Care Incentive Payment (PCIP) program authorizes an incentive payment of 10 percent of Medicare's program payments to be paid to qualifying primary care physicians and non-physician practitioners for services rendered from Sunday, January 1, 2011 to Thursday, December 31, 2015.

    CMS has published 22 FAQ items related to the PCIP program. These new FAQs can be found here. Alternatively, these FAQ items can be found by visiting the CMS Website and searching for “PCIP” or “Primary Care Incentive Payment.”

    Tuesday, November 22, 2011

    CMS Updates

    Effective: January 1, 2012   Implementation: January 3, 2012
    MM7533 – CY 2012 Medicare Rural Health Clinic and Federally Qualified Health Center Payment Rate Increases

    Change Request (CR) 7533 provides instructions for the Calendar Year (CY) 2012 payment rate increases for RHC and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) services.

    CMS is increasing the CY payment rates for RHCs and FQHCs effective for services on or after January 3, 2012, through December 31, 2012 (i.e., CY 2012) as follows:

    RHC upper payment limit – Per visit is increased from $78.07 to $79.48. The 2012 RHC rate reflects a 1.8 percent increase over the 2011 payment limit in accordance with the rate of increase in the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).
    FQHC upper payment limit – Per visit for urban FQHCs is increased from $126.22 to $128.49. The maximum Medicare payment limit per visit for rural FQHCs is increased from $109.24 to $111.21. The 2012 FQHC rates reflect a 1.8 percent increase over the 2011 rates in accordance with the rate of increase in the MEI.
    Medicare contractors will not retroactively adjust individual RHC/FQHC bills paid at previous upper payment limits. However, they have the discretion to make adjustments to the interim payment rate or a lump sum adjustment to total payments already made to take into account any excess or deficiency in payments to date.

    Education
    RHC Policy and Billing Web-Based Training (WBT) – December 6, 2011.
    (This Web-based training is intended to increase providers’ overall knowledge of RHC policy and billing)

    Did You Know? TrailBlazer provides recorded versions of most WBT sessions. Many providers and their staff find it difficult to attend Medicare trainings while keeping up with the demands of work. Encore presentations are posted on our Web site within a week following the training and are available 24/7. This means that you can take the encore presentation at your convenience. Visit the Encore WBT page and take advantage of this training today!

    ResourcesBookmark or add the RHC Web page to your favorites for a one-stop source of information. This page includes links to related notices, FAQs, upcoming events, publications and CMS resources.

    National Provider Call: CMS to Host its Twenty-first HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 - Save the Date

    Wednesday, December 7, 2011; 1:30-3pm ET
    Please save the date for the twenty-first National Provider Call on Medicare FFS’ implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 transaction standards on Wed Dec 7. The agenda and registration information will be provided soon. For more information on HIPAA 5010 and D.0 implementation, visit here.

    Wednesday, November 16, 2011

    CAH Method II – Payment for Multiple Surgeries

    On October 28, CMS issued a transmittal regarding clarifying payment for multiple surgeries in a Method II CAH effective April 2012. The article is based on Change Request (CR) 7587 which implements the multiple procedure payment reduction policy for CAH Method II providers. CR 7587 updates the “Medicare Claims Processing Manual” (Chapter 4, Section 250). To access the transmittal and MLN Article click here.

    Tuesday, November 15, 2011

    Using the IHI Global Trigger Tool for Measuring Adverse Events

    The vast majority of adverse events (AEs) in hospitals are not detected even by commonly-used systems to measure patient safety. So how can hospital leaders know whether patient safety efforts are the right ones to apply, as Goethe suggests, or if those efforts lead to improvement? The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Global Trigger Tool (GTT) is a proven method of reviewing patient records using triggers to detect possible AEs. In a recent study, the IHI GTT detected ten times more confirmed and serious events than other methods.*

    IHI is pleased to announce that the developers of the original IHI GTT will be leading a new training on how to use this tool for improvement in the upcoming Web&ACTION: Using the IHI Global Trigger Tool for Measuring Adverse Events. These esteemed faculty members have refined the IHI GTT over time, based on experience in both using the tool and training thousands of reviewers. This three-part, web-based virtual program begins on February 14, 2012.

    Designed for team participation, this training will teach the proper use of this tool and accurate ways to measure the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to improve patient safety. Don’t miss this opportunity for your team to make significant strides in detecting and reducing AEs. Register for this program today.


    "Knowing is not enough - one must apply"
    -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    Register Now for the 2012 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.

    Monday, November 14, 2011

    Provider Capacity Demand Study

    If you have a backlog of work in your team or you find that your team is constantly in catch up mode you will find that by measuring demand, capacity and backlog, you are likely to find opportunities to make things better.  Measuring demand, capacity, activity, and backlog enables capacity problems to be resolved at the appropriate point of the system. By clearly understanding these four measures and identifying the bottleneck and it's constraint you can manage and plan, increase throughput, and focus improvement. For more information on this quality improvement service please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org

    CAH Capacity Building Award – Apply Online!

    The guidance and online application for the CRHC 2011/2012 CAH Capacity Building Awards is now available. Through these awards, Colorado CAHs are eligible for up to $5,000 in funding. Click here to access the guidance. Click here to apply online. Applications are due by December 2, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org.

    Friday, November 11, 2011

    CMS Education Resources - Update

    Please click on the link here to view the newly updated CMS Education Resources Page. 

    Thursday, November 10, 2011

    Now Available Online: List of Providers sent a Revalidation Request

    In response to provider requests, CMS has posted a listing of providers who have been sent a request to revalidate their Medicare enrollment information. The listing contains the name and national provider identifier (NPI) of each provider sent a letter, as well as the date the letter was sent. To see the listing, click on “Revalidation Phase 1 Listing” in the Downloads section of the Medicare Provider Supplier Enrollment Revalidation Page. NOTE: You must widen each column in the spreadsheet to view the contents. CMS will be updating this list monthly.  If you are listed, and have not received the request, please contact your Medicare contractor. Their toll free number may be found at Medicare Fee-For-Service Contact Information.

    For more information on revalidation of Medicare provider enrollment, see MLN article 1126 Further Details on the Revalidation of Provider Enrollment Information

    Two Upcoming Opportunities to Discuss Medicare ACOs and Advance Payment Model

    Tuesday November 15, 11:30am -1pm
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a call on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 11:30-1 pm MT to discuss the application process for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (to create Accountable Care Organizations) and the Advance Payment Model. The Advance Payment Model is intended to provide additional support through upfront resources to physician-owned and rural providers. In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. Registration will close at 10:00 pm on Tuesday, November 15 or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made. Please register early. Please click here for more details and instructions on registering for the National Provider Call.

    Wednesday, November 16, 5:00-6:30pmJoin CMS Director of Performance Based Payment Policy Staff John Pilotte for a discussion about the key features of the Medicare Shared Savings Program final rule on Wednesday, November 16 from 5:00-6:30pm at Colorado Medical Society/COPIC, 7351 E. Lowry Boulevard – Mile High Room – 2nd Floor, Denver, Colorado 80230. Teleconference information will be available for those who cannot attend in person. Please RSVP via email notification to CMSDenRegistration@cms.hhs.gov by close of business Friday, November 11, 2011. Include the following information in your email: (1) Name; (2) Title; (3) Organization; (4) Email address; and (5) Phone number. Following submission of your registration, you will receive a confirmation email. Advanced submission of questions is encouraged and can be included with your RSVP information. Time permitting, additional questions and comments will be accepted during the meeting.

    A Notice of Intent to Apply memo is currently available on the Shared Savings Program Application page and the program application will be posted to this website prior to the call. Call participants are encouraged to review the application prior to the call.

    Wednesday, November 9, 2011

    TrailBlazer Medicare Education Listserv

    TrailBlazer Provider Outreach and Education develops and promotes educational opportunities that enhance the Medicare knowledge of our providers and their staffs. All upcoming educational opportunities are posted on the Calendar of Events Web page.
    Web-Based Training:
    11/09/2011 – Ambulance Overview – Part 2.
    11/10/2011 – Provider Enrollment Revalidation Resources.
    11/15/2011 – Short Inpatient Hospital Stays.
    11/22/2011 – MSP Questionnaire.
    11/29/2011 – Top Billing Errors.
    12/06/2011 – RHC Policy and Billing.
    12/20/2011 – ESRD Overview.
    12/20/2011 – Medical Review/Appeals Process.

    THE Consortium November Webinar: 5010 Readiness & Medicaid Incentive Program Update

    Join us for the November Consortium webinar, 5010 Readiness & Medicaid Incentive Program Update on Thursday, November 17th from 12:00pm-1:15pm MT where we will update you on the Medicaid Incentive Program for Colorado and where we will help you get ready for 5010.

    5010 transactions will be upon us in less than six weeks and for some providers could result in significant cash flow problems. This webinar (a repeat of one we did earlier) will give you tools and information to ensure you are as prepared as possible.

    To register, click here.

    CoverColorado Soliciting Feedback from Providers

    CoverColorado, the insurance plan for individuals with pre-existing conditions, is soliciting feedback from all health care providers caring for CoverColorado members on its provider fee schedule that was implemented April 1, 2011. CoverColorado seeks provider input to evaluate the effectiveness of the present schedule and inform any potential changes to the 2012 fee schedule. Written comments are due by December 20, 2011 and can be emailed or submitted to: CoverColorado Attn: Executive Director, Fee Schedule, 425 South Cherry Street, Suite 160, Glendale, CO 80246. CoverColorado is also holding an open meeting on Tuesday, December 13 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm in the Molly Blank Auditorium at Denver's National Jewish Hospital where comment will be taken.

    Tuesday, November 8, 2011

    FREE Webinar on helping pregnant women quit smoking available

    Dear partners in health,

    A recording of last month's webinar on helping pregnant women quit smoking is now available by clicking HERE and selecting the "Training" tab. Please share this with your colleagues through your networks or by clicking the "Forward Email" link below.
    The Webinar, "Tools to Help Pregnant Women Quit Smoking: Motivational, Pharmacological, and Behavioral Strategies," was originally presented Oct. 19 by Dr. Heather LaChance for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
    This webinar provides essentials of smoking cessation for prenatal and postpartum women. This seminar discusses how smoking impacts mothers' and infants' health, and details the dangers of secondhand smoke. It reviews the treatment options for smoking cessation, including pharmacotherapy, best practices and brief motivational counseling options. You will learn specific counseling strategies to motivate smokers and the tools to work with smokers who are ready to quit. Finally, you will learn about the prenatal tobacco cessation campaign and see materials designed to inspire smokers to engage in smoking cessation.

    We hope those of you who could not attend the original Webinar find the archived recording and resources useful.

    Invitation to Join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for an Accountable Care Organizations Discussion

    November 16, 2011 5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. (MST)
    Please join us on November 16, 2011 for an in-person meeting with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Director of Performance Based Payment Policy Staff, John Pilotte, to learn about the key features of the Medicare Shared Savings Program final rule. Mr. Pilotte will discuss new initiatives that will assist providers in working together through Accountable Care Organizations when caring for people with Medicare and new tools that will improve the quality of care for all patients.

    REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Please RSVP via email notification to CMSDenRegistration@cms.hhs.gov by close of business Wednesday, November 9, 2011.
    Include the following information in your email:
    (1) Name; (2) Title; (3) Organization; (4) Email address; and (5) Phone number
    Following submission of your registration, you will receive a confirmation email. If you are unable to attend in-person, we will provide you with teleconference information.
    This meeting is intended to outline the CMS’ goals in implementing various Medicare ACO initiatives. It will be held at the Colorado Medical Society/COPIC, located at: 7351 E. Lowry Boulevard –
    Mile High Room – 2nd Floor, Denver, Colorado 80230




    .

    Innovation Advisors Program - Apply Today

    Want a front row seat for exciting work going on at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI)? Interested in expanding your skills around system improvement? Applications are now available for the Innovation Advisors Program which aims to help professionals deepen skills that will drive improvements to patient care and reduce costs.
    More information and the program background can be found here.  The deadline to submit applications is Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Applications for the Innovation Advisors Program can be accessed here. Interested parties may obtain answers to questions by emailing IAP@orau.org.

    For more information about the CMS Innovation Center, please visit: the innovations site.

    Monday, November 7, 2011

    Join CAH MBQIP – Tell Your Story

    The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) recently kicked off a new Critical Access Hospital initiative, MBQIP, the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project. With more national attention on quality and reporting, this initiative takes a proactive and visionary approach to ensure CAHs are well-equipped and prepared to measure and demonstrate quality. Through this voluntary program, CAHs agree to give ORHP access to the data their hospital is submitting to CMS. This data will be aggregated to benchmark, demonstrate improvements, share best practices, and to generate reports to aid CAHs and states in their quality improvement activities. There is additional information about MBQIP in this YouTube video from HRSA’s Senior Health Policy Advisor, Paul Moore. To join MBQIP, contact Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org. Additionally, through CRHC’s iCARE Program (Improving Communication and Readmission) your facility has access to free technical assistance to help your hospital make improvements in many of the same areas ORHP is focusing on. For more information and to join iCARE, click here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact mm@coruralhealth.org or jd@coruralhealth.org.

    2011/2012 CAH Capacity Building Award – Apply Online by December 2!

    CRHC has released the guidance and application for the 2011/2012 CAH Capacity Building Awards. Through these awards, Colorado CAHs are eligible for up to $5,000 in funding. Click here to access the guidance. Click here to apply online. Applications are due by December 2, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org.

    November is National Diabetes Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month

    Please join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this November during National Diabetes Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month in raising awareness about diabetes, diabetic eye disease, the importance of early disease detection, and the related preventive health services covered by Medicare.

    Diabetes can lead to severe complications such as heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, nerve damage, and amputation among others, and it’s a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma. People with diabetes are more susceptible to many other illnesses such as pneumonia and influenza and are more likely to die from these than people who do not have diabetes. Among U.S. residents aged 65 years and older, 10.9 million (or 26.9%) had diabetes in 2010. Currently, 3.6 million Americans age 40 and older suffer from diabetic eye disease. Education and early detection are major components to combating this disease.
    Help protect the health of your Medicare-covered patients by informing them that Medicare covers several diabetes-related preventive services for eligible beneficiaries including diabetes screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy, diabetes supplies, glaucoma screening, and vaccinations for pneumonia and influenza. Advise them that the early detection and treatment of diabetes can prevent or delay many associated illnesses and complications. Encourage utilization of these important preventive services as appropriate. And remember, many of these services require an order or referral for coverage by Medicare. Please ensure that you provide your Medicare patients with the appropriate documentation so they can receive the services needed to help prevent, treat, and manage the disease.

    Friday, November 4, 2011

    Has Your Facility Joined the 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 major 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. 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.

    CRHC Webinar: Reducing Costs and Improving Effectiveness...You Really Can Do Both at the Same Time

    November 15, 2011, 11:00am-12:00pm
    CRHC is pleased to announce a webinar Tuesday November 15 from 11:00am to 12:00pm to discuss recent successes and techniques Colorado CAHs have used to improve their care and business processes through the application of a new CRHC service offering, Lean Sigma Healthcare (LSH). Rather than adding another layer of complexity to your already overloaded staff, LSH provides them with a project management framework that ensures the projects you are now doing are completed on time, within budget, and have the staying power to achieve their objectives over the long run. For more information and to register, click here.

    Frontier Focus: CMS Email Box for Questions Re Medicare Provider Enrollment Revalidation

    On October 27, 2011, CMS conducted a national provider call to discuss the revalidation of Medicare provider enrollment information. Prior to the call and during the call, attendees were given an email address to submit their questions regarding the revalidation initiative.
    The email address given at the time was not the correct email address. The correct email address to submit questions related to the provider enrollment revalidation is listed below. Please share this email address with your members and other stakeholders who may have attended the call. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

    The correct email address is nationalprovidercalls@cms.hhs.gov .

    Thursday, November 3, 2011

    ICD 10 Billing & Coding Webinar - Next Week!! 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.

    Lodging Incentive – Economic Impact of Healthcare Training –– Limited Availability

    Colorado Rural Health Center’s Colorado STRIDES program is hosting a national training on:

    (1) economic impact analyses of healthcare
    (2) mapping and spatial data analysis
    (3) the new IRS-mandated community health needs assessment for nonprofit hospitals
    (4) budget studies for new or expanded health services

    Participants will learn to measure the economic impacts of the health sector on regions, counties, or zip codes in Colorado.Colorado Rural Health Center is hosting this year’s U.S. Western Regional Rural Health Works training! This 1-day national training event – held here in Aurora – is a great opportunity to take local, regional, and state attention to the importance of healthcare to economic development to the next level!
    This national training takes place here at Colorado Rural Health Center in Aurora, Colorado, on Tuesday, Dec 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The registration fee is only $49.
    Please note that participation is limited to the first 20 to register. For more information, or to register now, click here.
    As an additional incentive for the first 6 qualifying* attendees who contact Clint Cresawn, Colorado STRIDES Program Manager** after their registration, we can offer 1 night’s lodging as an extra incentive. You may contact Clint at ccr@coruralhealth.org.

    *In order to qualify for the offer of 1 night’s lodging, you must be from rural Colorado, provide proof of registration, and be a professional or committed volunteer in one of the following areas: Health, healthcare, or healthy living; economic development; community development; local or regional government.

    Wednesday, November 2, 2011

    Affordable Care Act Program to help healthcare professionals improve care for patients and reduce costs in their communities

    Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that it was accepting applications for a new Innovation Advisors program to help health professionals deepen skills that will drive improvements to patient care and reduce costs.  These health care improvements will benefit people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  Made possible by the Affordable Care Act, this initiative will be managed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center).

    “We seek to support and expand the number of health care leaders with the knowledge and the vision to find innovative ways to improve care for patients and use our healthcare dollars more wisely,” said CMS Administrator Don Berwick, M.D.  “The CMS Innovation Center is an ideal host for this network of experts.  It will support their work on efforts that can strengthen public-private partnerships and ensure patients can spend more time with their doctor and get higher-quality care and lower costs.”

    Under the new program, there will be up to 200 Innovation Advisors, including clinicians, allied health professionals, health administrators and others.  They will attend in-person meetings as well as remote sessions to expand their skills and knowledge, and apply what they learn in their organizations and areas.

    After an initial, intensive orientation phase, Innovation Advisors will work with the Innovation Center to test new models of care delivery in their own organizations and communities.  They will also create partnerships to find new ideas that work and share them regionally and across the United States.
    Innovation Advisors will be expected to commit up to 10 hours per week to the Innovation Advisor Program during the initial six months of the program, with part of that time devoted to seminars and instruction.  The rest of that time will be devoted to implementing the improvement project they propose in their initial application.  The Innovation Advisors who are selected will meet regularly to exchange insights, report on successes and discuss common challenges. 

    This initiative is just one of a number of efforts made possible by the Affordable Care Act to help bring better health and better health care not just to Medicare beneficiaries, but also to all Americans, while helping use healthcare dollars more wisely.  Already, more than 5,000 organizations have joined the Partnership for Patients and pledged to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and improve transitions in care.  The Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative will give providers flexibility to work together to coordinate care for patients over the course of a single episode of an illness.  The Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative will allow CMS and other payers, such as employer-based health plans, to align strategies designed to strengthen primary care services delivered to Medicare beneficiaries.
    Applications for the Innovation Advisors program are due on November 15, 2011.  Applications will be reviewed and Innovation Advisors will be notified of their selection by mid-December 2011. 

    More information, including a fact sheet, frequently asked questions, application and terms and conditions can be found at: http://innovations.cms.gov/innovation-advisors-program.  

    Tuesday, November 1, 2011

    Skilled Nursing Facility Claims Hold

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified a claim processing problem impacting Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) type of bills 18x and 21x containing Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code AAAxx and Revenue Code 0022.  We are holding these claims.  As soon as a system fix is in place and successfully tested, these claims will be released for processing. We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.