CMS is anticipating Congressional action to avert the negative update for the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Therefore, CMS is extending the 2012 Annual Participation Enrollment Period through Tuesday, February 14, 2012. The enrollment period now runs Monday, November 14, 2011 through Tuesday, February 14, 2012.
The effective date for any participation status change during the extension, however, remains Sunday, January 1, 2012, and will be in force for the entire year.
Contractors will accept and process any participation elections or withdrawals made during the extended enrollment period that are post-marked on or before Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Compliance Deadline for the Transition to ASC X12 Version 5010 is Less Than One Week Away
Though CMS has announced an enforcement discretionary period of 90 days for Version 5010 compliance, the deadline remains Sunday, January 1, 2012. Enforcement will not be exercised until Sunday, April 1, 2012; however, it is important that organizations continue to complete the transition to Version 5010 as soon as possible, if they have not done so already.
Holding of Institutional Provider 2012 Date-of-Service Claims
As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implements calendar year 2012 changes, Medicare claims administration contractors will be holding some institutional provider claims containing 2012 services for up to the first 10 business days of January 2012 (i.e., Sunday, January 1, 2012, through Tuesday, January 17, 2012). Claims will be released as system testing is successfully completed, which we expect during that time frame.
The hold should have minimal impact on provider cash flow because, under current law, clean electronic claims are not paid sooner than 14 calendar days (29 days for paper claims) after the date of receipt. However, if you follow the status of your claim during the claims processing cycle, the claim status may not reflect what you would normally see because of the claims hold.
Medicare claims for services rendered on or before Saturday, December 31, 2011, are unaffected by the 2012 claims hold and will be processed and paid under normal procedures and time frames. We appreciate your patience as we implement calendar year 2012 changes.
The hold should have minimal impact on provider cash flow because, under current law, clean electronic claims are not paid sooner than 14 calendar days (29 days for paper claims) after the date of receipt. However, if you follow the status of your claim during the claims processing cycle, the claim status may not reflect what you would normally see because of the claims hold.
Medicare claims for services rendered on or before Saturday, December 31, 2011, are unaffected by the 2012 claims hold and will be processed and paid under normal procedures and time frames. We appreciate your patience as we implement calendar year 2012 changes.
Nursing Education and Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) 2012 Application Cycle Now Open!
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service (BCRS), is pleased to announce the 2012 application cycle for NELRP is now open and will remain open through February 15, 2012.
NELRP offers Registered Nurses (RNs), advanced practice registered nurses, such as Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and nurse faculty an opportunity to repay 60 percent of their outstanding qualifying educational loans in exchange for a two-year service commitment at a Critical Shortage Facility (CSF) or an accredited school of nursing.
This year, the program has been modified to adapt to changes in the nursing profession and to ensure support for communities with the greatest need.
For 2012, the program is reserving up to half of the award funding for NPs; the remaining funding will continue to support RNs and nurse faculty.
As in previous years, NELRP is expected to be competitive. If there are more qualified applicants than available funding, NELRP will prioritize applications based upon the following criteria:
Nurses at CSFs:
Preference will be given to nurses based on the greatest financial need, the type of facility, and the mental health or primary care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation. For more information on CSFs, HPSAs and funding preferences, review the Application and Program Guidance here
Nurse Faculty at Schools:
Preference will be given to faculty with the greatest financial need and to faculty working at schools of nursing with at least 50 percent enrollment of students from a disadvantaged background.
The deadline to apply to NELRP is February 15, 2012 at 5 pm ET. To learn more about NELRP eligibility and requirements, visit: here .
NELRP offers Registered Nurses (RNs), advanced practice registered nurses, such as Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and nurse faculty an opportunity to repay 60 percent of their outstanding qualifying educational loans in exchange for a two-year service commitment at a Critical Shortage Facility (CSF) or an accredited school of nursing.
This year, the program has been modified to adapt to changes in the nursing profession and to ensure support for communities with the greatest need.
For 2012, the program is reserving up to half of the award funding for NPs; the remaining funding will continue to support RNs and nurse faculty.
As in previous years, NELRP is expected to be competitive. If there are more qualified applicants than available funding, NELRP will prioritize applications based upon the following criteria:
Nurses at CSFs:
Preference will be given to nurses based on the greatest financial need, the type of facility, and the mental health or primary care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation. For more information on CSFs, HPSAs and funding preferences, review the Application and Program Guidance here
Nurse Faculty at Schools:
Preference will be given to faculty with the greatest financial need and to faculty working at schools of nursing with at least 50 percent enrollment of students from a disadvantaged background.
The deadline to apply to NELRP is February 15, 2012 at 5 pm ET. To learn more about NELRP eligibility and requirements, visit: here .
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Register NOW for 2012 Forum - Essential Perspectives for Safety Net Providers
Our annual event brought to you by the Colorado Rural Health Center and ClinicNET is just around the corner. Join us April 11th - 13th at the Sheraton Denver West in Lakewood, Colorado and participate in the numerous education, training and networking opportunities available to you. For more information on this event or to register please visit our website or contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org. See you there!
Upcoming CRHC Webinars
Please join CRHC for these upcoming webinars – click on the titles for more information and to register:
· Community Health Needs Assessments – January 11
· Top 10 CAH Deficiencies and What We Can Do About It… - January 27
· Utilization Management for CAHs – February 28
· CAH Swing Beds: Part I – March 20
· CAH Swing Beds: Part II – April 3
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Colorado Rural Credentialing Network – Register Now for 2012!
Credentialing of physicians and other healthcare practitioners is a key risk management function for facilities, both large and small. Further, it has become a complex and seldom understood process. CRHC’s Colorado Rural Credentialing Network provides rural hospitals and clinics with information, education, and resources pertaining to this important task. For an annual fee of $250 (CRHC members)/$375 (non-members), participants will have:
- Access to participate in quarterly interactive Educational Credentialing Webinars facilitated by an expert credentialing specialist
- Up-to-Date Tools, Resources, Templates, and Materials, Archived Network Webinars and Information (through a member-only website)
- Peer Networking opportunities
- No-Cost Access to a certified credentialing specialist for general credentialing questions
- Access to personalized credentialing consultations at a group discount rate
To join the 2012 Colorado Rural Credentialing Network, complete the registration form. Quarterly webinars will begin in February 2012.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
CRHC Webinar – Community Health Needs Assessments
Community Health Needs Assessments are a great way to highlight for the community the importance of local hospitals and clinics, both in regard to health and to economic impact! Please join CRHC’s Clint Cresawn on January 11 from 1-2pm for an informative webinar about new technical assistance packages designed to assist with community health needs assessments. Participants will learn about:
- Assessments as a way to mobilize and partner with community members around issues of health, healthcare, and healthy living
- Assessments as a way to make the economic case for supporting and expanding local funding of the local healthcare system
- Assessments as a Public Relations tool, garnering additional good will – and patients – for the facility
- Assessments as a way of educating community members and community leaders about local healthcare challenges and triumphs
By the end of this session, you will know how CRHC and Colorado STRIDES can assist you with all these items, as well as how we can help not-for-profit 501(c)3 hospitals conduct the new IRS required Community Health Needs Assessment. For more information and to register, click here.
- Assessments as a way to mobilize and partner with community members around issues of health, healthcare, and healthy living
- Assessments as a way to make the economic case for supporting and expanding local funding of the local healthcare system
- Assessments as a Public Relations tool, garnering additional good will – and patients – for the facility
- Assessments as a way of educating community members and community leaders about local healthcare challenges and triumphs
By the end of this session, you will know how CRHC and Colorado STRIDES can assist you with all these items, as well as how we can help not-for-profit 501(c)3 hospitals conduct the new IRS required Community Health Needs Assessment. For more information and to register, click here.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Colorado Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease and Pulmonary Disease (CCPD) Review Committee Survey
The Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease and Pulmonary Disease (CCPD) Review Committee is currently reviewing its funding priorities and strategic approach. As stakeholders of CCPD, the committee members value your input as they develop future strategic budgets for the CCPD grants program. Please provide your answers to the following questions by JANUARY 3rd, 2012 so that the Review Committee can make maximal use of your input in its decision-making process.
At its January 13th meeting, the CCPD Review Committee will invite further input from interested members of the community and respondents will have an opportunity at that time to elaborate on the responses they give here. Please provide answers on this survey, as the Review Committee will only accept public comment from those organizations that have provided responses on the survey. Additionally, feel free to forward the link to others who may be interested in providing their feedback.
If you consider you or your organization to be stakeholder of the CCPD, please click here to provide your feedback:
At its January 13th meeting, the CCPD Review Committee will invite further input from interested members of the community and respondents will have an opportunity at that time to elaborate on the responses they give here. Please provide answers on this survey, as the Review Committee will only accept public comment from those organizations that have provided responses on the survey. Additionally, feel free to forward the link to others who may be interested in providing their feedback.
If you consider you or your organization to be stakeholder of the CCPD, please click here to provide your feedback:
Top 10 CAH Deficiencies and What We Can Do About It…
Join CRHC for this webinar on January 27 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 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 non-member Colorado CAHs and $99 for all others. For more information and to register, click here.
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 2012 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program application cycle is open. The application cycle is open from December 13, 2012 to May 15, 2012.
Up to $60,000 for a 2-year commitment is available to your primary care healthcare providers (based on HPSA)!
NHSC provides loan repayment to fully trained primary care providers in exchange for a two-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 health care facilities are NHSC eligible sites including Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Community Health Centers, and safety-net clinics.
To find out more about the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, please visit http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/.
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) 832-7493.
Up to $60,000 for a 2-year commitment is available to your primary care healthcare providers (based on HPSA)!
NHSC provides loan repayment to fully trained primary care providers in exchange for a two-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 health care facilities are NHSC eligible sites including Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, Community Health Centers, and safety-net clinics.
To find out more about the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, please visit http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/.
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) 832-7493.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
2012 ICD-10-CM Code Updates Now Available from CMS
CMS has posted the 2012 ICD-10-CM code updates to the CMS website, including the 2012 ICD-10-CM index and tabular, code titles, addendum, General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), and reimbursement mappings files. The 2012 ICD-10-CM files contain information on the new diagnosis coding system, ICD-10-CM, that is being developed as a replacement for ICD-9-CM, Volumes 1 and 2. These files are available on the 2012 ICD-10-CM and GEMs webpage at http://www.CMS.gov/ICD10/11b14_2012_ICD10CM_and_GEMs.asp. To access the files, scroll to the bottom of the page to the “Downloads” section.
The 2012 ICD-10-PCS (procedure) files were posted in June on the 2012 ICD-10-PCS and GEMs webpage at http://www.CMS.gov/ICD10/11b15_2012_ICD10PCS.asp.
The 2012 ICD-10-PCS (procedure) files were posted in June on the 2012 ICD-10-PCS and GEMs webpage at http://www.CMS.gov/ICD10/11b15_2012_ICD10PCS.asp.
Providers Not Required to Supply Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (ADI) Certification Information via Enrollment Process
In January 2012, all Part B suppliers including physicians, and non-physician practitioners performing the technical component of advanced diagnostic imaging services—also known as ADI—who are paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will need to be accredited by one of the CMS-approved accrediting organizations. The accreditation organization will transmit all necessary data to CMS on an ongoing basis. Your Medicare billing contractor will receive these data from CMS. Due to this file being received at CMS from the accrediting organizations, it is not necessary for the providers to supply the ADI information on their respective 855 form(s) or in the PECOS enrollment system.
Reminder: When submitting your information to the accrediting organization, make sure you provide the NPI that you used to register the legal business name of the facility in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). If you provided the incorrect NPI, please notify your accrediting organization as soon as possible.
See the following MLN articles for more information on the ADI certification requirement :
Accreditation for Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners Supplying the Technical Component (TC) of Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (ADI) Services
Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Enrollment Procedures
Reminder: When submitting your information to the accrediting organization, make sure you provide the NPI that you used to register the legal business name of the facility in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). If you provided the incorrect NPI, please notify your accrediting organization as soon as possible.
See the following MLN articles for more information on the ADI certification requirement :
Accreditation for Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners Supplying the Technical Component (TC) of Advanced Diagnostic Imaging (ADI) Services
Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Enrollment Procedures
Attention Health Professionals: Information Regarding the Holding of 2012 Date-of-Service Claims for Services Paid Under the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
Attention Health Professionals: Information Regarding the Holding of 2012 Date-of-Service Claims for Services Paid Under the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
The negative update under current law for the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2012, eight business days from today. Consequently, as on numerous occasions in the past, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will instruct its Medicare claims administration contractors to hold claims containing 2012 services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for the first 10 business days of January (i.e., January 1, 2012, through January 17, 2012). The hold should have minimal impact on provider cash flow because, under current law, clean electronic claims are not paid sooner than 14 calendar days (29 days for paper claims) after the date of receipt.
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule claims for services rendered on or before December 31, 2011, are unaffected by the 2012 claims hold and will be processed and paid under normal procedures and time frames.
The Administration is disappointed that Congress has failed to pass a solution to eliminate the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula-driven cuts, and has put payments for health care for Medicare beneficiaries at risk. We continue to urge Congress to take action to ensure these cuts do not take effect.
CMS will notify you on or before January 11, 2012, with more information about the status of Congressional action to avert the negative update and next steps regarding the claims hold.
The negative update under current law for the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2012, eight business days from today. Consequently, as on numerous occasions in the past, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will instruct its Medicare claims administration contractors to hold claims containing 2012 services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for the first 10 business days of January (i.e., January 1, 2012, through January 17, 2012). The hold should have minimal impact on provider cash flow because, under current law, clean electronic claims are not paid sooner than 14 calendar days (29 days for paper claims) after the date of receipt.
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule claims for services rendered on or before December 31, 2011, are unaffected by the 2012 claims hold and will be processed and paid under normal procedures and time frames.
The Administration is disappointed that Congress has failed to pass a solution to eliminate the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula-driven cuts, and has put payments for health care for Medicare beneficiaries at risk. We continue to urge Congress to take action to ensure these cuts do not take effect.
CMS will notify you on or before January 11, 2012, with more information about the status of Congressional action to avert the negative update and next steps regarding the claims hold.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Only 18 Days Until the HIPAA 5010 Compliance Date!
January 1, 2012 – PC-ACE Pro32 Version 2.32 File Automatically Effective With ASC X12 5010. 
ASC X12 835 5010 Move-to-Production Procedures.
5010 Address and Nine-Digit ZIP Code Requirement.
Reminders:
ASC X12 837 5010 Move-to-Production Procedures.
5010 Testing Procedures Manual – Updated.
New CMS ICD-10 Articles.
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.
ASC X12 835 5010 Move-to-Production Procedures.
5010 Address and Nine-Digit ZIP Code Requirement.
Reminders:
ASC X12 837 5010 Move-to-Production Procedures.
5010 Testing Procedures Manual – Updated.
New CMS ICD-10 Articles.
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.
Requests For Supervision Level Changes For Hospital Outpatient Therapeutic Services
On Friday, December 16th, CMS published notice CMS-1586-N announcing the first semi-annual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment. This panel advises CMS on the clinical integrity of the APC groups and their associated weights and will now also review hospital outpatient supervision issues. The first meeting is scheduled for February 27, 28, and 29 and the agenda will include supervision of hospital outpatient therapeutic services. Presentations and written requests are due December 30, 2011 by 5 p.m. EST. Stakeholders interested in submitting requests for the February 2012 meeting for a change in the required supervision level for a given service should follow the presentation submission instructions in the notice and consider the following information from the 2012 OPPS/ASC final rule (76 Fed. Reg. 74370): The Panel will be charged with recommending to CMS a supervision level (general, direct, or personal) that will ensure an appropriate level of quality and safety for delivery of a given service, as defined by a HCPCS or CPT code. In recommending a supervision level to CMS, the Panel will assess whether there is a significant likelihood that the supervisory practitioner would need to reassess the patient and modify treatment during or immediately following the therapeutic intervention, or provide guidance or advice to the individual who provides the service. In answering that question, the Panel will consider the following factors but may also consider others as appropriate: Complexity of the service; Acuity of the patients receiving the service; Probability of unexpected or adverse patient event; Expectation of rapid clinical changes during the therapeutic service or procedure; Recent changes in technology or practice patterns that affect a procedure's safety; The clinical context in which the service is delivered. All requests for a change in the required supervision level must include justification for the change in supervision level that is sought per HCPCS code, supported to the extent possible with clinical evidence. Please refer to the 2012 OPPS/ASC final rule for further information.
Final Board of Health Rule Draft: HCW Influenza Vaccination
The Department has posted the final draft of the HCW Influenza Vaccination proposed rule. A summary of the highlights of the proposed rule are below:
Any licensed healthcare entity that, using its own methodology, can guarantee at least 90% of its healthcare workers received the influenza vaccine during the prior year shall be exempt from the more specific requirements of the rule as long as the licensee uses the same or a more stringent methodology for the current influenza season. [See §10.5]
All licensed facilities that provide acute care or long term nursing care must have a policy regarding the vaccination or masking of its healthcare workers during influenza season. [See §10.8(A) & (B)]
Acute care facilities must have a procedure to maintain documentation and submit yearly reports regarding the vaccination or medical exemption of its employees and volunteers. Long term nursing care facilities must maintain documentation and submit annual reports regarding the vaccination or medical exemption of all its employees and all its volunteers with direct patient care. [See §§10.8(C) & 10.9]
All other licensed healthcare entities not mentioned above must perform an assessment of its healthcare workers and patient clientele, adopt a policy regarding the vaccination or masking of its employees, and report its employee vaccination rate to the Department on an annual basis. [See §§10.10 through 10.12]
Please read the Statement of Purpose to gain a better understanding of the rationale for the proposed rule. The public hearing on this rule has been rescheduled for February 15, 2012. The exact time of the hearing has not yet been determined, and the agenda for the meeting will be available approximately 10 days before the hearing. All Board of Health hearings are open to the public and individuals may participate in the rule-making process by providing written comments to the Board ten days before the hearing or by making oral comments during the hearing.
Any licensed healthcare entity that, using its own methodology, can guarantee at least 90% of its healthcare workers received the influenza vaccine during the prior year shall be exempt from the more specific requirements of the rule as long as the licensee uses the same or a more stringent methodology for the current influenza season. [See §10.5]
All licensed facilities that provide acute care or long term nursing care must have a policy regarding the vaccination or masking of its healthcare workers during influenza season. [See §10.8(A) & (B)]
Acute care facilities must have a procedure to maintain documentation and submit yearly reports regarding the vaccination or medical exemption of its employees and volunteers. Long term nursing care facilities must maintain documentation and submit annual reports regarding the vaccination or medical exemption of all its employees and all its volunteers with direct patient care. [See §§10.8(C) & 10.9]
All other licensed healthcare entities not mentioned above must perform an assessment of its healthcare workers and patient clientele, adopt a policy regarding the vaccination or masking of its employees, and report its employee vaccination rate to the Department on an annual basis. [See §§10.10 through 10.12]
Please read the Statement of Purpose to gain a better understanding of the rationale for the proposed rule. The public hearing on this rule has been rescheduled for February 15, 2012. The exact time of the hearing has not yet been determined, and the agenda for the meeting will be available approximately 10 days before the hearing. All Board of Health hearings are open to the public and individuals may participate in the rule-making process by providing written comments to the Board ten days before the hearing or by making oral comments during the hearing.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Medicare FFS Revised ABN
The latest version of the ABN (with the release date of 3/2011 printed in the lower left hand corner) is now available for immediate use and can be accessed via the link below. Mandatory use of this version begins on January, 1 2012. All ABNs with the release date of 3/2008 that are issued on or after January 1, 2012 will be considered invalid. More information is available on the CMS website here.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
CONGRATULATIONS St. Thomas More Physician Group and Spanish Peaks Family Clinic !!
The Colorado Rural Health Center is proud to acknowledge two clinics in the Southeast region of the state for achieving Level III Patient Centered Medical Home ( PCMH) recognition. Way to go!!! Both St. Thomas More Physician Group of Canon City, CO and Spanish Peak Family Clinic in Walsenburg, CO have been working hard to reach this goal since 2009. These two clinics have successfully traveled the difficult journey toward this achievement and are leading the way in transforming patient care and healthcare services in Colorado! Thank you for your dedication to the patients you serve in your rural communities and keep up the good work!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
2012 CMS OPPS Final Rule with Comment Period
CMS is accepting comments on the 2012 OPPS Final Rule until Jan 3, 2012. The final rule includes sections addressing physician supervision in hospitals and CAHs. To access the rule and comment page, click here. For a summary of the rule, click here.
2012 Colorado Rural Credentialing Network – Register Now!
Register now for CRHC’s 2012 Colorado Rural Credentialing Network. This peer learning network provides rural hospitals and clinics:
- Access to participate in quarterly interactive Educational Credentialing Webinars facilitated by an expert credentialing specialist
- Up-to-Date Tools, Resources, Templates, and Materials, Archived Network Webinars and Information (through a member-only website)
- Peer Networking opportunities
- No-Cost Access to a certified credentialing specialist for general credentialing questions
- Access to personalized credentialing consultations at a group discount rate
Participation in the Credentialing Network is just $250/year for CRHC members or $375/year for non-members. The first quarterly webinar will be held on February 15. For more information and to register, click here.
Upcoming CRHC Webinars
CRHC is pleased to offer the following upcoming webinars. For more information and to register, click on each title.
Community Health Needs Assessments
January 11, 2012, 1:00-2:00
Top 10 CAH Deficiencies and What We Can Do About It…-
January 27, 2012 11:00-12:00
Utilization Management for Critical Access Hospitals
February 28, 2012, 11:00-12:30
Community Health Needs Assessments
January 11, 2012, 1:00-2:00
Top 10 CAH Deficiencies and What We Can Do About It…-
January 27, 2012 11:00-12:00
Utilization Management for Critical Access Hospitals
February 28, 2012, 11:00-12:30
National Health Service Corps CAH Announcement
The Health Resources and Services Administration has released its 2012 guidance for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program (LRP), which includes a pilot program that expands eligibility to CAHs and eligible clinicians working in CAHs: primary care physicians; psychiatrists; nurse practitioners; certified nurse midwives; and physician assistants. CAHs and interested clinicians should review the 2012 guidance. CAHs that want to become service sites have to be in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and meet other basic program requirements). Once they are approved as service sites, their clinicians can apply for loan repayment. The NHSC will pay up to $60,000 for an initial 2 years of full‐time clinical practice to clinicians serving at an NHSC‐approved service site with a HPSA score of 14 or higher. Applicants working at NHSC‐approved service sites with HPSA scores of 13 or lower are eligible to receive up to $40,000 for an initial 2 years of full‐time clinical service. The NHSC will pay up to $60,000 for an initial 4 years of half‐time clinical practice to clinicians serving at an NHSC‐approved service site with a HPSA score of 14 or higher. Applicants working at NHSC‐approved service sites with HPSA scores of 13 or lower are eligible to receive up to $40,000 for an initial 4 years of half‐time clinical service. The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) and the NHSC have conducted Webinars related to this change (http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/downloads/criticalaccesspresentation.pdf). The NHSC has a contact available to answer questions: Lindsey Toohey (ltoohey@hrsa.gov). For additional program details, please see the 2012 NHSC Loan Repayment Program At-A-Glance Fact Sheet , the NHSC Loan Repayment Program Announcement Flyer and the complete Application and Program Guidance. Click here to read the full announcement.
Tuesday, December 13, 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. For a full list of recent resource links and articles please click here
Join CAH MBQIP – Tell Your Story
The Federal 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’s MBQIP 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.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Free Benchmarking Resource for CAHs
The Quality Health Indicators (QHi) benchmarking tool is an online system geared towards CAHs and small rural hospitals under 50 beds. The majority of Colorado’s CAHs are QHi users, which enables participating hospitals to benchmark various clinical quality, financial, patient satisfaction, and operational measures against other CAHs in the state and around the nation. For more information about signing up for QHi, contact jd@coruralhealth.org.
Revised CMS Interpretive Guidelines for Hospitals and CAHs
Clarification is provided for existing hospital regulations 42 CFR 482.13(a) and (b), and new 42 CFR 482.13(h), concerning hospital patients’ rights, including advance directives and visitation rights. Clarification is provided for existing CAH regulations at 42 CFR 485.608(a), concerning compliance with Federal laws and regulations, including regulations governing advance directives and required patient disclosures. Guidance is provided for new 42 CFR 485.635(f), concerning CAH patients’ visitations rights. To access the CMS transmittal explaining the updates, click here. Click on the links below to access the revised documents. Please let CRHC know if you have any questions or concerns about the updates at jd@coruralhealth.org.
Appendix A - Hospitals: http://cms.gov/manuals/Downloads/som107ap_a_hospitals.pdf
Appendix W - CAHs: http://cms.gov/manuals/Downloads/som107ap_w_cah.pdf
Appendix A - Hospitals: http://cms.gov/manuals/Downloads/som107ap_a_hospitals.pdf
Appendix W - CAHs: http://cms.gov/manuals/Downloads/som107ap_w_cah.pdf
NPR on CAHs: an overlooked perspective
The Dec. 8 NPR piece produced by Kaiser Health News (KHN) didn’t report that Medicare costs are lower for rural patients than their urban counterparts. Medicare spends 4.5% less per beneficiary for rural residents compared to those living in urban areas, according to a recentStroudwater report which used 2008 Dartmouth Atlas data. The value that rural providers (including Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite, La.) bring to the Medicare program is evident, even including alternative payment methodologies applied to small, rural facilities. Closing Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and sending their patients to large, urban hospitals will in fact not save money, but cost more.
Rural communities struggle with disproportionate share of poverty, obesity and chronic conditions when compared to an urban environment. Independent studies have affirmed the quality of rural health care providers. For example, rural hospitals have lower risk-adjusted rates of potential safety-related events (Jollife, 2003), rural hospitals have significantly lower adverse event rates than urban counterparts (Whitener and McGranahan, 2003) and rural hospitals have significantly lower rates of post-operative hip fracture, hemorrhage and hematoma (Cromartie, 2002).
The article accurately portrays the difficulty that small, rural hospital administrators have in running a hospital located in a rural environment. NRHA congratulates
Rural communities struggle with disproportionate share of poverty, obesity and chronic conditions when compared to an urban environment. Independent studies have affirmed the quality of rural health care providers. For example, rural hospitals have lower risk-adjusted rates of potential safety-related events (Jollife, 2003), rural hospitals have significantly lower adverse event rates than urban counterparts (Whitener and McGranahan, 2003) and rural hospitals have significantly lower rates of post-operative hip fracture, hemorrhage and hematoma (Cromartie, 2002).
The article accurately portrays the difficulty that small, rural hospital administrators have in running a hospital located in a rural environment. NRHA congratulates
Friday, December 9, 2011
CMS Launches Medicaid.gov Website
The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) is pleased to announce the initial launch of http://medicaid.gov/, the first Federal government website devoted to the policies -- and the people -- of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This website is the culmination of efforts at the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services to revitalize and reorient the information the Federal government makes available about these programs. As part of its commitment to transparency and information sharing, Medicaid.gov brings to the forefront the items that States, the health policy community and other stakeholders have said they care about most, including: our Federal policy guidance; lists of pending and approved waivers; highlights of Affordable Care Act implementation efforts; State-specific program information and data; and improved search capabilities.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Join us! : 2012 North Carolina Agricultural Medicine: Occupational and Environmental Health for Rural Health Professionals Course
This course will provide basic information and skills to enable rural health care professionals and health and safety educators to learn the fundamentals and practical aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of occupational illnesses and injuries in the farm community.
Successful completion of this course allows health care participants to join AgriSafe® as a Provider Member. AgriSafe® Provider benefits include clinical resources, technical assistance, continuing education, and use of the trademarked name AgriSafe® in promoting agricultural health services. AgriSafe membership is also available to individuals and organizations.
is appropriate for nurses, nurse practitioners, farm worker health outreach staff, physicians, physician assistants, allied health professionals, veterinarians, emergency medical technicians, health educators, Cooperative Extension agents, occupational safety professionals and others interested in agricultural safety and health.
Training is provided jointly by faculty of Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH), the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, and other skilled agricultural health and safety professionals from across NC and beyond.
For more information and/or to register, please click here
Successful completion of this course allows health care participants to join AgriSafe® as a Provider Member. AgriSafe® Provider benefits include clinical resources, technical assistance, continuing education, and use of the trademarked name AgriSafe® in promoting agricultural health services. AgriSafe membership is also available to individuals and organizations.
is appropriate for nurses, nurse practitioners, farm worker health outreach staff, physicians, physician assistants, allied health professionals, veterinarians, emergency medical technicians, health educators, Cooperative Extension agents, occupational safety professionals and others interested in agricultural safety and health.
Training is provided jointly by faculty of Iowa's Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH), the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, and other skilled agricultural health and safety professionals from across NC and beyond.
For more information and/or to register, please click here
Webinar: Top 10 CAH Deficiencies and What We Can Do About It
January 27, 2012, 11:00-12:00 MST
Please join 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 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 Colorado CAHs that are CRHC Members; $79 for non-member Colorado CAHs, and $99 for all others. For more information and to register, click here.
Please join 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 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 Colorado CAHs that are CRHC Members; $79 for non-member Colorado CAHs, and $99 for all others. For more information and to register, click here.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Only 30 Days Until the HIPAA 5010 Compliance Date!
90-Day Period of Enforcement Discretion for Compliance With Version 5010 Deadline – CMS recently announced a 90-day enforcement discretion period for all HIPAA-covered entities regarding the Version 5010 (ASC X12 Version 5010) transition.
The compliance deadline for the implementation of Version 5010 is still January 1, 2012; however, CMS will not initiate enforcement action until March 31, 2012. CMS made this decision based on industry feedback that many organizations and their trading partners were not ready to finalize system upgrades for this transition.
· New CMS ICD-10 Articles.
Reminder:
· National Provider Call: Medicare FFS Implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 Transaction Standards – Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 1:30–3 p.m. ET.
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.
The compliance deadline for the implementation of Version 5010 is still January 1, 2012; however, CMS will not initiate enforcement action until March 31, 2012. CMS made this decision based on industry feedback that many organizations and their trading partners were not ready to finalize system upgrades for this transition.
· New CMS ICD-10 Articles.
Reminder:
· National Provider Call: Medicare FFS Implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 Transaction Standards – Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 1:30–3 p.m. ET.
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.
Free Quality Improvement and Lean Six Sigma Training
CRHC’s iCARE (Improving Communication and Readmission) offers Colorado CAHs the opportunity to receive free Quality Improvement training. Participating hospitals select a project focus and then can choose to take advantage of free Quality Improvement Practices Education and/or Lean Sigma Healthcare Yellow Belt or Green Belt training. The concepts hospitals learn through these trainings will help teams make improvements related to iCARE and can be applied to other areas throughout the hospital. All trainings are conducted remotely through webinars and conference calls to reduce away-time for staff and travel expenses. For more information about iCARE, click here
Looking for a cost effective non-biased peer review service?
Our program offers specialty - matched, confidential, medical opinions from a rural provider, for a rural provider, 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 a process improvement.
For more information on our Peer Review Network, please contact Jennifer Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org
For more information on our Peer Review Network, please contact Jennifer Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org
Monday, December 5, 2011
Patient Safety Webinar – Getting Your Board on Board
Friday, December 9, 2011, 2:45pm-4:00pm (EST)
Interested in learning more about how to effectively engage executive leadership and board members in participating in patient safety initiatives? Sign up today for this free patient safety webinar hosted by the Partnership for Patients and the National Quality Forum. More details on the webinar are below:
WEBINAR TITLE: Getting Your Board on Board
SPEAKERS: Bernie Rosof, MD, Chairman, Board of Directors, Huntington Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, National Priorities Partnership Co-Chair Carol Wagner, RN, MBA, Senior Vice President Patient Safety, Washington State Hospital Association Rosemary Gibson, MSc, Patient Advocate and Author of the Treatment Trap and Wall of Silence and Section Editor, Archives of Internal Medicine Series, “Less is More”
Register today by clicking here.
Interested in learning more about how to effectively engage executive leadership and board members in participating in patient safety initiatives? Sign up today for this free patient safety webinar hosted by the Partnership for Patients and the National Quality Forum. More details on the webinar are below:
WEBINAR TITLE: Getting Your Board on Board
SPEAKERS: Bernie Rosof, MD, Chairman, Board of Directors, Huntington Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, National Priorities Partnership Co-Chair Carol Wagner, RN, MBA, Senior Vice President Patient Safety, Washington State Hospital Association Rosemary Gibson, MSc, Patient Advocate and Author of the Treatment Trap and Wall of Silence and Section Editor, Archives of Internal Medicine Series, “Less is More”
Register today by clicking here.
CMS/TrailBlazer CAH Notices
CMS and TrailBlazer have recently issues notices applicable to Critical Access Hospitals: Notification of Final Primary Care Incentive Payment Files for Payment Year 2012; MM7504 – Expansion of Medicare Telehealth Services for CY 2012. ; CMS-855A Application Guidance. For more information, click here.
Save the Date! CRHC’s Annual Regional CAH Quality Improvement Workshops and CAH Board Workshops
May 1, 2012 –Location: Eastern Plains, TBD
CAH Quality Improvement Workshop, 9:00am -3:00pm
CAH Board Workshop, 4:00pm-7:30pm
May 3, 2012 – Location: Southern Colorado, TBD
CAH Quality Improvement Workshop, 9:00am-3:00pm
CAH Board Workshop, 4:00pm-7:30pm
May 10, 2012 – Location: Western Slope, TBD
CAH Quality Improvement Workshop, 9:00am-3:00pm
CAH Board Workshop, 4:00pm-7:30pm
The Quality Improvement Workshops are geared towards all CAH Quality Directors and staff. The CAH Board Workshops are geared towards all CAH Boards and CAH staff. There is no charge for Colorado CAH Boards and staff to attend. Details, locations, and registration information will be available soon.
CAH Quality Improvement Workshop, 9:00am -3:00pm
CAH Board Workshop, 4:00pm-7:30pm
May 3, 2012 – Location: Southern Colorado, TBD
CAH Quality Improvement Workshop, 9:00am-3:00pm
CAH Board Workshop, 4:00pm-7:30pm
May 10, 2012 – Location: Western Slope, TBD
CAH Quality Improvement Workshop, 9:00am-3:00pm
CAH Board Workshop, 4:00pm-7:30pm
The Quality Improvement Workshops are geared towards all CAH Quality Directors and staff. The CAH Board Workshops are geared towards all CAH Boards and CAH staff. There is no charge for Colorado CAH Boards and staff to attend. Details, locations, and registration information will be available soon.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Webinar: Business of Telemedicine and Sustainability
Wednesday, December 14, 2011 12:00pm MST
The University of Arizona Rural Health Office and the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center invite you to a free webinar on the implementation and practice of telemedicine. This is an opportunity to learn:
Revenue and Expense considerations when developing a telemedicine program
Basic business principles as they relate to telemedicine sustainability
The Arizona Telemedicine Program's business Model
To register for this free webinar, go to: http://www.telemedicine.arizona.edu/upcomingworkshops.cfm
The University of Arizona Rural Health Office and the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center invite you to a free webinar on the implementation and practice of telemedicine. This is an opportunity to learn:
Revenue and Expense considerations when developing a telemedicine program
Basic business principles as they relate to telemedicine sustainability
The Arizona Telemedicine Program's business Model
To register for this free webinar, go to: http://www.telemedicine.arizona.edu/upcomingworkshops.cfm
Thursday, December 1, 2011
CAH Capacity Building Award – Application Deadline Dec 2!
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.
Revisions to Medicare Conditions of Participation
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.
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