Premier's Advisor Line Webinar

We invite you to join us in this complimentary program as part of Premier’s Advisor Live webinar series that provides discussion on timely topics and best practices in healthcare.

CDC-NHSN's new ventilator-associated event surveillance definitions: Are you ready?


Tuesday, January 15, 2013
3 - 4:15 p.m. ET

Description 
The CDC has developed new surveillance definitions for ventilator-associated events, including ventilator-associated pneumonia for adults, scheduled for implementation in NHSN in January 2013.

This program will discuss:

• The rationale behind the new definitions, 
• Evidence supporting the new surveillance definitions, and 
• Practical strategies for successful implementation. 

Speakers

Michael Klompas MD, MPH, FRCPC, FIDSA
Harvard Medical School Department of Population Medicine
Brigham And Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

Moderator

Gina Pugliese, RN, MS , vice president, Premier Safety Institute®, Premier healthcare alliance 

Register
Register for the webinar at https://events.premierinc.com/ei/getdemo.ei?id=509&s=_3C80OA284.

Questions
If you have questions, please email advisorlive@premierinc.com or call the Premier Solution Center at 877.777.1552.

If you would like to receive all Advisor Live invitations, send a blank email to:
subscribe-advisorlivesubscription@lyris.premierinc.com

MLN Fact Sheets and Information for CAHs and RHCs

This weeks CMS Medicare FMS Provider Newsletter provides several articles, some released and some revised on various topics affecting health care facilities. Several topics mentioned, among many more, are listed below.

·         “Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: A Resource to Help Address Prescription Drug Abuse and Diversion” MLN Matters® Article — Released

·         "SoleCommunity Hospital” Fact Sheet — Revised

·         “Rural HealthClinic” Fact Sheet — Revised

·         “Discharge Planning” Booklet — Released

·         “Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System” Fact Sheet — Revised

·         New MLN Provider Compliance Fast Fact 

By clicking here, you can view the full CMS Medicare FMS Provider e-Newsletter. 

New Year’s Holiday Customer Service Units and EDI Availability

Novitas Solutions, Inc. will be observing the New Year’s holiday on Tuesday, January 1, 2013. Our business doors will be closed and the Customer Service Units will not be available. However, you may continue utilizing EDI services.

https://www.novitas-solutions.com/edi/ref-pub/bulletins/2012/12202012.html

Help Us Help You!!!!

Hello Rural Health Clinics,

Recently you received an email from Michelle Mills, Doug Miller and Sharon Adams regarding a rural health clinic data collection and reporting project that the Colorado Rural Health Center is working on with ClinicNET, our partner organization that advocates for all of Colorado's non-federally qualified safety net clinics. Increasingly Colorado's rural health clinics are acknowledged by state healthcare leaders, foundations, governmental entities and regulatory agencies as critical safety net providers. Your participation in the data collection project will help quantify the impact of your services on your community and Colorado's health care system at-large and grow the recognition of your work.

Please CLICK HERE to access the rural health clinic data collection survey.

Alicia Jiron is working exclusively on this project and she will be following up with rural health clinics to encourage and help facilitate their participation in this data collection effort.

Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for taking the time to make a difference!

"Evaluation and Management Score Sheet 101 Basics"

J12 and JH Part B Webinar Handouts: "Evaluation and Management Score Sheet 101 Basics" - January 3, 2013

If you are questioning the proper way to evaluate and manage your patient's claims, then this webinar is for you. We will discuss and review the principles of Medical Documentation, examine the Evaluation and Management (E/M) key components, while learning the format of the score sheet. We will also discuss the latest feedback from the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program and review self service options to help with your billing inquiries. Join Us!

please click here

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: A Resource to Help Address Prescription Drug Abuse and Diversion

MLN Matters® Special Edition Article #SE1250, “Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: A Resource to Help Address Prescription Drug Abuse and Diversion” was released and is now available in downloadable format. This article is designed to provide education on Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), which are designed to collect data on prescriptions of controlled substances in an effort to reduce prescription drug abuse and diversion. It includes background information about the Program and resources providers can use to help address and prevent prescription drug abuse.

Please click here for more information.

Request for Information Regarding Health Care Quality for Exchanges

CMS released a request for information regarding health plan quality management in Affordable Insurance Exchanges. This notice also offers the opportunity to provide recommendations on the most effective ways to enhance and align the quality reporting and display requirements for qualified health plans (QHPs) starting in 2016 in conjunction with existing quality improvement initiatives, such as the National Quality Strategy. Comments: No later than 5 p.m. on December 27, 2012. For more information, click here.

5 Infection Control Tools

An article on Becker’s Clinical Quality and Infection Control website outlines 5 tools for infection control. To access the website, click here.

Job Posting for the Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic at Craig

A Clinic Staff Supervisor position just became available for the Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic at Craig.

For more information on the position and how to apply, please click here.

To apply, please contact Jennifer Riley at the Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic at Craig at jennifer.riley@tmhcraig.org.

The Pediatric Associates of Montrose Team Up with the Trinidad RHC Clinic

The Pediatric Associates of Montrose, a private RHC, hosted the administrative team from the Trinidad RHC Clinic (Mt. San Rafael) this past Tuesday, Dec. 18. The power of collaboration was truly seen and felt as the two staffs partnered together to achieve common goals.

Amber Hickert and Shantel Tubbs, Office Administrator and Clinic Manager respectively, from the Pediatric Associates, graciously accommodated the visiting Quality Improvement team to observe EHR optimization, patient intake, provider scheduling, phone service, triage, billing, patient policies and other internal processes geared to achieve and maintain “Best Practice” benchmarks in the primary care setting.

Many thanks to The Pediatric Associates of Montrose for sharing their knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence!

Coding classes – sign up now!!

Meet your coding, reimbursement and compliance goals in 2013.

Topics covered include the following coding manuals: 

• 2013 CPT Professional 
• 2013 HCPCS 
• 2013 ICD-9

For dates and times, please click on the following links:

Alamosa - March 19, 20, 21, 2013
Rifle - May 21, 22, 23 2013

ARHPC Coding Certification Bootcamp in Rifle

Date: May 21, 22, 23 2013
Time: Day 1 and 2 = 8:30am - 4:30pm / Day 3 = 8:30am - noon
For more information and the registration form please click here.

Location: Grand River Hospital Conference Center / 501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO 81650

A nationally recognized ARHPC instructor (over 15 years of experience) will provide valuable
information needed to meet your coding, reimbursement and compliance goals in 2013.

Topics covered include the following coding manuals:
- 2013 CPT Professional
- 2013 HCPCS
- 2013 ICD-9

***All attendees MUST bring these coding manuals to the class ***

Books will be provided for attendees from hospitals participating in the FY2012 SHIP Grant.

All other attendees:
- may purchase books on their own
- or at a discount -- through CRHC -- when you register.

This class is approved for 18 hours of CEU’s and recognized by the ARHPC and AAPC
Upon successful completion of this bootcamp, attendees will be eligible to take the online coding
certification test through ARHPC at no additional cost.

Registration Deadline is Friday, March 8, 2012.
One registration form per individual please.

Questions? Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org
Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

Webinar: 340B Compliance and Audits: Conducting Effective Self-Audits

Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access (SNHPA) will be hosting a webinar on January 9 from 1:00-2:30 PM (Eastern), focused on 340B compliance and how to prepare for audits and additional scrutiny from the government and drug industry. This webinar will cover the following areas, among others:

• Overview on self-audits in 340B: current context, goals, processes and models 
• “Lessons learned” and best practices in self-auditing from an experienced 340B hospital system 
• Using the self-audit process and results to improve your 340B program

Registration: This event is limited to hospitals only and registration is required. Please note that instructions to join will be sent prior to the event. Registration fees are: SNHPA Enhanced Level Members: Free; SNHPA Standard Level Members: $50; SNHPA Prospective Members: $100. Please click here to register. If you prefer to receive the webinar audio via telephone, you can purchase it for an additional $25 per line. Please select this option when registering. The registration deadline is January 7.

CMS Recurring Update Notification for OPPS Final Rule.

CMS released its annual recurring update notification reflecting the claims processing-related changes implemented in the CY 2013 OPPS final rule. Hospitals and CAHs are encouraged to review the transmittal more thoroughly to assure that they are prepared to implement necessary changes for services provided on and after January 1, 2013. To access the notification, click here.

CMS National Provider Call – Medicare DSH Payment

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a National Provider Call on the Implementation of Section 3133 of the Affordable Care Act: Improvement to Medicare DSH Payments on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 from 1:30pm - 3:30pm ET. For more information, click here.

New Electronic Mailing List to Keep Medicare Fee-For-Service Providers Informed

The Medicare Learning Network® (MLN) now offers a weekly electronic newsletter, the CMS Medicare FFS Provider e-News . The clickable table of contents allows you to move directly to items of interest to you.

Content includes:

• Upcoming calls, meetings, and events; 
• Announcements on items such as the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10), the Electronic Health Record (EHR) incentive programs, Medicare enrollment, the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and new regulations; 
• Claims, pricer, and code updates; and 
• Updates on MLN products and MLN Matters® articles. 

To subscribe, all you need is a valid e-mail address.

FCC Establishes Healthcare Connect Fund

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced an order establishing a new Healthcare Connect Fund as part of a reform of the current Rural Health Care Program. The Healthcare Connect Fund will help expand access by connecting health care providers to broadband networks needed for delivery of telemedicine by:

• Removing artificial limitations on technology and provider type, 
• Encouraging consortia between smaller rural health care providers and urban medical centers to enable remote hospitals and clinics to draw on the medical, technical, and administrative resources of larger providers, 
• Requiring participants to contribute 35 percent of the costs, while affording health care providers access to lower rates through group buying, 
• Supporting broadband services purchased from diverse communications providers, while also allowing health care providers to construct new broadband networks when that is the most cost-effective option, and 
• Covering upgrades to higher speed service required for health care applications. 

In addition, the FCC announced the establishment of a new competitive Pilot Program with up to $50 million in funding over three years to test expanding broadband healthcare networks to skilled nursing facilities.

Additional information about the order will be shared via email and the Latest News section of the Rural Health Care Program website as it is released.

CDC Develops Handout to Help Adults Determine What Vaccines They May Need

The CDC recently posted a new handout titled Do You Know Which Adult Vaccines You Might Need? It lists vaccines an adult may need, based on age, travel, occupation, medical history, and vaccines previously received.services. It includes coverage, coding, billing, and payment information.

Go to CDC's Resources for Educating Adult Patients about Vaccines web page to download this handout or other resources, including brochures, flyers, and posters, as well as an e-card, podcast, and video.

The Contributions of Community Colleges to the Education of Allied Health Professionals in Rural Areas of the United States

The Rural Health Research & Policy Centers (RHRC) has released a new policy brief that examines the role community colleges play in the education of allied health professionals in rural areas.

Community colleges educate a significant portion of the nation’s allied health workforce. Because many rural areas face shortages of allied health professionals, this study’s purpose was to describe where community college allied health education programs (of those most relevant to rural health care delivery) were located in relation to rural populations and small rural hospitals. Using data from the Federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, U.S. Census, the Flex Monitoring Team, and the American Hospital Association, the locations of community college programs for 18 allied health occupations were analyzed in relation to rural populations and small rural hospitals across the United States.

The majority (62%) of people completing education in one of the 18 selected allied health occupations in 2007-08 did so at a community college. Overall, 73% of the U.S. rural population resided within a 60-minute drive to any community college with at least one of the selected allied health professions, compared with 99% of urban populations. Access varied by geographic region and occupation.

Many rural communities have limited access to a local community college source of education for allied health occupations. This is likely to be a barrier to recruiting, training, and retaining the health care workforce these communities need. Rural communities and policymakers can use these findings to help identify strategies to alleviate allied health workforce shortages. 

For the full brief and report, please click on the following links.

• Policy Brief 
• Final Report 

Contact information:
Susan Skillman, MS
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 206-543-3557
skillman@uw.edu

Additional Resource of Interest: 
More information about the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center

2013 SEED Grants Applications Now Available!!

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) sets aside a portion of its discretionary revenues for the Colorado Rural Health Seed Grant program. Seed Grant money is available for rural projects whose intent matches the mission of CRHC. Rural organizational members can apply for these grants in amounts up to $1,500.

For more information on Eligibility, Expectations, Examples, Application Process and Other Information, please click here to be sent to the CRHC Seed Grant website page.

A couple of changes have been made to the SEED grant application and process for the coming year. First of all, there will be only (2) deadline dates (April 30 and September 30) with a CRHC committee of four to review the proposals. Secondly, the application has been updated with just a few minor changes. Please review both the flyer and the application.

If you have any questions please get in touch with Kendra Brooks at kb@coruralhealth.org or 303.996.9698.

2013 Marva Jean Jackson Rural Community Scholarships

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) created the Marva Jean Jackson (MJJ) Rural Community Health Scholarships Program in 2003 to encourage rural facilities and communities to develop or support local scholarship programs. Many rural communities in Colorado experience a chronic shortage of healthcare providers. Evidence shows that one of the factors that can influence a provider’s decision to practice in a rural area is his “roots”: being from a rural area. Programs that support healthcare training and education for students from rural areas have proven to be effective tools in addressing rural workforce shortages.

A couple of changes have been made to the Marva Jean Jackson grant program for the coming year. First of all, applications will be accepted until November of 2013 and a CRHC committee of four will review the proposals. Secondly, the application has been updated with just a few minor changes. Please carefully review both the application and application guide.

For more information on the Marva Jean Jackson grant program, please click here.

If you have any questions please get in touch with Kendra Brooks at kb@coruralhealth.org or 303.996.9698.

Don’t Miss This Important Meeting Hosted by HCPF to Discuss Distribution of Savings to RHCs, FQHCs, BHOs and RCCOs

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is beginning a series of ongoing discussions bringing together the Regional Care Collaborative Organizations (RCCOs), the Primary Care Medical Providers (including FQHCs and RHCs), and the Behavioral Health Organizations (BHOs), with HCPF acting as a mediator, to discuss an equitable distribution of savings for these parties. The first of these discussions will be held at the next Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) Payment Reform Subcommittee meeting tomorrow, December 14th from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM in the 1st floor conference room at 225 E. 16th Avenue. The agenda can be found here, and the call in information can be found below.

Call-in information:
Toll: 1-720-279-0026
Toll free: 1-877-820-7831
Passcode: 610450#
Mute/unmute: *6

2012 America's Health Rankings Released

This year's America's Health Rankings were released yesterday, on Tuesday, December 11, 2012.

The annual report uses four groups of health determinants (Behaviors, Community and environment, Policy and Clinical care) to determine the various health rankings of the 50 states. The desired outcome of the reports is to mobilize individuals and communities into action, hoping to better the state ranking and improve overall health for everyone.

Where does Colorado rank? For 2012, Colorado is ranked 11th overall, up three spots from 2011. According to the America's Health Ranking website, Colorado has "[l]ower prevalences of sedentary lifestyle, obesity, & diabetes than all other states" and a "[l]ow rate of preventable hospitalizations." Health challenges faced by Colorado include a low immunization coverage (ranked 45 in this area) and high geographic disparity (ranked 44 in this area).

For more information and interesting facts about Colorado (such as the percentage of child poverty decreasing from 18.5% to 15.5% in the past year) please visit Colorado's page at the America's Health Rankings website. Visitors can view individual state rankings, as well as compare states  in different areas of health. 

CRHC reactivates the GROW program

GROW is a proposal writing service available to groups, organizations, and communities in Colorado through Colorado Rural Health Center. The program goal is to provide proposal writing resources to ensure that comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare services are available at the local level in the state of Colorado.

For more information please click here to be directed to information about GROW on the CRHC website, or click here for the GROW flyer. 

If you are interested in exploring this opportunity please contact Kendra Brooks (kb@coruralhealth.org – 303.996.9698.

Characteristics of Rural RNs Who Live and Work in Different Communities

A new report from the National Rural Health Center (NRHC) examines the commuting culture of registered nurses (RNs) in rural areas.

Many registered nurses (RNs) living in rural areas of the U.S. leave their communities to work in other rural and urban communities. In an attempt to understand why, this study compared rural RNs who commute (work in different area types than those in which they live) to those who do not.

Using the 2004 National Sample Survey of RNs, the Economic Research Service (ERS) County Typology Codes, and Claritas population data, researchers examined commuters and non-commuters in terms of demographic and employment characteristics, the economic profiles of their residence and work counties, types of rural areas, and regions of the country. Rural RN “commuters” were more likely to be younger; work in hospitals; hold staff nurse, nurse clinician, or consulting positions; have changed employers in the prior year; and have higher salaries than “non-commuters.”

These findings suggest that policies supporting more competitive rural RN salaries could encourage more rural-residing RNs to work in the rural communities in which they live. Further study is needed to improve understanding of the impact of RN commuting on rural communities.

Contact information:
Susan Skillman, MS
WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 206-543-3557
skillman@uw.edu

For the full NRHC report
Policy Brief
Final Report

Additional Resources of Interest:

• Nurse Staffing and Rural Hospital Performance Improvement (Policy Brief)
• Use of Hospitalists in Small Rural Hospitals
• More information about the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center

 

ACC Payment Reform Subcommittee

HCPF’s ACC Payment Reform Subcommittee meeting will be on December 14. The meeting is a venue for RHCs, FQHCs, BHOs and RCCOs (Regional Care Collaborative Organizations) to discuss and provide input on Medicaid payment reform. RHC’s are encouraged to participate. See the call-in information below.

When: Friday, December 14, 2012 2:30 PM-4:30 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada).
Where: 225 E. 16th Avenue; Room 6 A/B

Call-in information:
Toll: 1-720-279-0026
Toll free: 1-877-820-7831
Passcode: 610450#

HRSA presents a HITQ Webinar Dec. 14

Health Resources and Services Administration 

Health Information Technology and Quality Webinar 

“Meaningfully Using Computerized Order Entry for Safety Net Providers” 

Friday, December 14, 2:00 PM ET

This webinar provides an understanding of how inpatient and ambulatory safety net providers can meaningfully use computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) defines CPOE as “the provider’s use of computer assistance to directly enter medication orders from a computer or mobile device. The order is also documented or captured in a digital, structured, and computable format for use in improving safety and organization.”

CPOE, a mandatory core measure for meaningful use for the CMS Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, can provide many benefits and challenges to safety net providers. These include increased patient safety, accurate communication between healthcare providers, and greater capturing of services for billing. Webinar speakers will discuss how they successfully implemented CPOE in their provider settings and how they overcame CPOE challenges in order to reap its benefits. (Registration Below)

Presenters Include:

· Raymond Parris, Chief Information Officer of Golden Valley Health Centers, Merced, CA
· Robbie Dewberry, Chief Executive Officer of Mitchell County Hospital District, Colorado City, Texas

Register here: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=3b12yzdojkqz

Questions for presenters are welcome ahead of the event and may be emailed to healthit@hrsa.gov

Previous HRSA Health IT and Quality Webinars can be access at HRSA Health IT and Quality Webinar website:  http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit/toolbox/webinars/index.html

Important News for CRHC CAHs and Hospitals Attesting for Medicaid EHR Incentives

Colorado Medicaid (HCPF) has extended the sixty day deadline after the end of the 2012 federal fiscal year for submission of either AIU or 90 day attestation. The new deadline is December 29, 2012. The attestation MUST BE submitted by this date which provides a 30 day additional grace period. Some of our CAHs have been anxiously awaiting the ability to submit their 90 day MU reporting for Medicaid and this will be welcome news since the attestation site is still not ready to accept 90 day reporting. A few of our CAHs have waited to submit their Medicaid AIU for 2012 until this week and they too will have a grace period.

If you have questions, please contact our Senior Advisor David Ginsberg at dg@coruralhealth.org.

The Current and Future Role and Impact of Medicaid in Rural Health

RUPRI (Rural Policy Research Institute)  has re-posted the Medicaid paper with a couple of updates to the Appendix table.

This brief outlines and describes the current Medicaid program and its importance to rural America, including data about the coverage it provides to rural people and its impact on rural health care provider income. It also discusses rural implications of program expansion to previously uncovered populations, and other changes states choose to make in how the program is financed and operated.

Please click on the following link to download a copy: http://www.rupri.org/Forms/HealthPanel_Medicaid_Sept2012.pdf

Rural Health Virtual Training Gateway

The National Rural Health Resource Center presents the Rural Health Virtual Training Gateway. The Rural Health Virtual Training Gateway newsletter was developed for the State Flex Programs, rural hospital contacts, rural networks, and those involved in rural health care across the country. The Newsletter highlights upcoming distance-learning educational opportunities that can be found on the National Rural Health Resource Center's Rural Health Virtual Training Gateway.

If you have any questions, or any educational opportunities that you would like posted, please contact Margo Kulseth at 218-727-9390 ext 239.

The National Rural Health Resource Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining and improving health care in rural communities. As the nation’s leading technical assistance and knowledge center in rural health, The Center focuses on five core areas:

• Performance Improvement
• Health Information Technology
• Recruitment & Retention
• Community Health Assessments
• Networking

For more information, please visit their website at http://www.ruralcenter.org.

RFP – Addressing Healthcare Surge in Rural Settings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthcare Preparedness Activity has released a Request for Participation (RFP) engage public health, healthcare and emergency managers from a rural community to participate in a workshop to develop an integrated plan to deal with a surge in patients during an influenza pandemic or other public health emergency in a rural area. The intent is to conduct the workshop in the summer of 2013. Please note that the deadline to notify the Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE) of a community's intent to apply is December 21. This intent to apply may be fulfilled via email or fax to the ORISE contacts listed in the RFP. The deadline to submit the full application to ORISE is January 15, 2013. For more information, click here.

Emergency Medical Services for Children National Pediatric Readiness Project – Upcoming Survey

HRSA’s Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) is currently working on the National Pediatric Readiness Project and the goal of the initiative is to survey every hospital emergency department in the U.S. (with the exception of psychiatric or other specialty hospitals with no E.D.). They are working with the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENP) to get the word out to all hospital emergency department nurse managers that this online survey is coming, and invite them to participate. Click here for a letter explaining the program. Click here for a fact sheet.

RAC Launches Rural Obesity Prevention Toolkit

In an effort to help rural communities better address the current obesity epidemic, the Rural Assistance Center has launched a Rural Obesity Prevention toolkit. This toolkit contains resources to help communities develop obesity prevention programs, building on best practices of successful obesity prevention programs.

Rural areas in the United States not only have a higher rate of obesity than urban areas, but they also face a different set of challenges when it comes to implementing a successful obesity prevention program. The Rural Obesity Prevention toolkit has the tools to help adapt obesity prevention programs to make them work for your rural community.

Content for the Rural Obesity Prevention toolkit was developed by the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis as part of the Community Health Gateway. The Gateway is designed to help rural communities learn about proven methods of providing rural residents with better access to health and human services. Development of these resources is part of an ongoing effort by NORC and RAC to provide innovative health and human services information to rural America.

Funding for this project is provided by the federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), part of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). To learn more about the Community Health Gateway and its current toolkits, visit www.raconline.org/communityhealth/.

For more information
Kristine Sande, RAC Program Director
701.777.6466

Yuma District Hospital Spotlighted for Patient-Centered Medical Home Model

Yuma District Hospital was recently interviewed for the online Becker's Hospital Review for their implementation of Patient-Centered Medical Home Model.

In the article, John Gardner, CEO of Yuma District Hospital, talks about the process involved in this model, the challenges the hospital faced, as well as the positive results that came from the transition.

For more information on the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model and Gardner's words of wisdom for those interested in bringing this model to their own facility, click here for the full article.

Important News for CRHC CAHs and Hospitals Attesting for Medicaid EHR Incentives

Colorado Medicaid (HCPF) has extended the sixty day deadline after the end of the 2012 federal fiscal year for submission of either AIU or 90 day attestation. The new deadline is December 29, 2012. The attestation MUST BE submitted by this date which provides a 30 day additional grace period. Some of our CAHs have been anxiously awaiting the ability to submit their 90 day MU reporting for Medicaid and this will be welcome news since the attestation site is still not ready to accept 90 day reporting. A few of our CAHs have waited to submit their Medicaid AIU for 2012 until this week and they too will have a grace period. If you have questions, please contact our Senior Advisor David Ginsberg at dg@coruralhealth.org

Updated MLN Swing Bed Fact Sheet

The Medicare Learning Network “Swing Bed Services” Fact Sheet (ICN 006951) was revised and is now available in downloadable format. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on swing bed services. It includes the following information: background, requirements that apply to hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals, and payments.

Rifle Coding Certification Date Change, Now May!

Date: May 21, 22, 23 2013
Time: Day 1 and 2 = 8:30am - 4:30pm / Day 3 = 8:30am - noon
For more information and the registration form please click here.

Location: Grand River Hospital Conference Center / 501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO 81650

A nationally recognized ARHPC instructor (over 15 years of experience) will provide valuable
information needed to meet your coding, reimbursement and compliance goals in 2013.

Topics covered include the following coding manuals:
- 2013 CPT Professional
- 2013 HCPCS
- 2013 ICD-9

***All attendees MUST bring these coding manuals to the class ***

Books will be provided for attendees from hospitals participating in the FY2012 SHIP Grant.

All other attendees:
- may purchase books on their own
- or at a discount -- through CRHC -- when you register.

This class is approved for 18 hours of CEU’s and recognized by the ARHPC and AAPC
Upon successful completion of this bootcamp, attendees will be eligible to take the online coding
certification test through ARHPC at no additional cost.

Registration Deadline is Tuesday, March 14, 2012.
One registration form per individual please.

Questions? Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org
Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

HCPF At A Glance Newsletter - November

Please find the link to the November edition of At a Glance here. This Department of Health Care Policy and Financing publication provides information on major initiatives including policy changes and program updates.

HIPAA PHI De-Identification Guidance Released

De-identification of PHI has become an increasingly complex issue and requirement with the increased use of electronic health records, health information exchanges and related. 

This past Tuesday, OCR released guidance regarding methods for de-identification of protected health information in accordance with the HIPAA Privacy Rule. This guidance fulfills the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) mandate that HHS issue such guidance. 

In response to this mandate, OCR collected research and views regarding de-identification approaches, best practices for implementation and management of the current de-identification standard and potential changes to address policy concerns. OCR solicited stakeholder input from experts with practical technical and policy experience to inform the creation of guidance materials by organizing an in-person workshop consisting of multiple panel sessions, each addressing a specific topic related to de-identification methodologies and policies. The workshop was open to the public and was held March 8-9, 2010 in Washington, DC. The guidance synthesizes these diverse perspectives. It can be found here. 

Announcement of Medicare Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Payment Rate Increases

The Medicare Learning Network (MLN) recently posted information in a MLN Matters® Article on Medicare Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) payment rate increases. 

Provider Types Affected

This MLN Matters® Article is intended for Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) submitting claims to Medicare contractors (fiscal intermediaries (FIs) and A/B 

Medicare Administrative Contractors (A/BMACs) for services to Medicare beneficiaries.

Provider Action Needed

This article is based on Change Request (CR) 8119 which informs Medicare contractors about the calendar year (CY) 2013 Payment Rate Increases for RHC and FQHC services. Make sure that your billing staffs are aware of these changes. See the Background and Additional Information Sections of this article for further details regarding these changes.

To see the full article, please click here.

AgriSafe Network Presents a FREE Webinar

TOPIC: Physical Assessments &Wellness Programs for Small Ag Businesses

PRESENTERS: Charlotte Halverson, BSN, COHN-S, AgriSafe Occupational Health Nurse
Carolyn Sheridan, BSN, AgriSafe Clinical Director

Upon conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify AgriSafe and OSHA health/wellness resources that are appropriate to production agriculture 
• Analyze the Return on Investment (ROI) and benefits of workplace wellness programs 
• Understand workplace physical assessments, including pre-employment/ post-offer physicals

When: December 12, 2012 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Central Time

Questions - Call LaVonne at 712-262-4947 or at llagrisafe@smunet.net
To register, click here.

CMS Request for Information Regarding Health Care Quality for Exchanges

CMS has issued a request for public comment for information regarding health plan quality management and reporting in Affordable Insurance Exchanges. The deadline to submit comments to CMS is December 27. For more information, click here.

Meaningful Use Stage I: Everything You Need to Know as an Eligible Professional

So what is Meaningful Use? How does it apply to you and your organization? Is there money out there waiting for you?

The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provide financial incentives for the “meaningful use” of certified EHR technology to improve patient care. To receive an EHR incentive payment, providers have to show that they are “meaningfully using” their EHRs by meeting thresholds for a number of objectives.

To date, CMS has paid $2.6 billion to eligible providers under both incentive programs, but there's still money on the table. This webinar will break the program down into manageable pieces so you feel confident moving forward.

Click here to register for this FREE webinar presented by CORHIO onThursday, December 6, 2012, 12:00 noon - 12:45 pm (MT). View the event flyer here.

Electronic Claim Submitters: Cutoff Time for Claims Filing

Electronic claims received after 3:30 Central Time (4:30 Eastern Time) will be considered received on the next business day. For example, claims received on Friday at 5:45 Eastern Time will be considered received on the following Monday. If the following Monday is a holiday then the claims will not be considered received until Tuesday.

Cahaba GBA will be closed New Year’s Day, on Tuesday, January 1, 2013. Claims submitted to meet filing timeliness deadlines must be submitted no later than 3:30 p.m. Central Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) on Monday, December 31, 2012 to be considered submitted in 2012. Claims received after the cut-off time on December 31, 2012 will not be considered received until Wednesday, January 2, 2013. If you submit your claims to us through a billing service or clearing house you will need to allow additional time, since your clearing house or billing service must first receive the claims from you before submitting them to us. Check with your clearing house or billing service to find out when they would submit your claims to Medicare.

Please visit the Cahaba GBA website at www.cahabagba.com for more information.

Hospital Outpatient Panel Update

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the following announcement related to the first meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment. As mentioned in the press release, this panel’s recommendations carry heavy weight on how rural hospitals administer outpatient therapeutic services to their patients. This meeting has become more critical with HHS’ announcement that it will end the direct supervision enforcement moratorium for Critical Access Hospitals and rural PPS facilities with fewer than 100 beds in January 2014. “The attached Federal Register notice announces the first semi-annual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment (HOP, the Panel) for 2013. The purpose of the Panel is to advise the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the clinical integrity of the APC groups and their associated weights, and hospital outpatient therapeutic supervision issues. “Of particular interest to rural hospitals and CAHs, the Panel will be reviewing recommendations from the public (including hospitals, organizations, associations) on the appropriate supervision level (general, direct, or personal) for individual hospital outpatient therapeutic services…” Click here for more information from NRHA about this announcement.

Position Opening for Hospital Preparedness Program Coordinator

Enjoy a small town atmosphere only 100 miles from Denver (Cheyenne), with no state income tax, and an average of 300 days of sunshine each year with nearby access to skiing, hiking, fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities. Build a satisfying career while making a difference to the citizens of the State of Wyoming. This position manages the grant funds and related program objectives of the Hospital Preparedness Program. Through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Office of Preparedness and Emergency Operations (OPEO), the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), provides funding for states to improve medical surge capacity, and enhance hospital and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) capacity for response to a local or statewide emergency.

For more information, please click here.

Announcing Registration for ARHPC Coding Certification Bootcamp in Rifle!

Date: March 13, 14, 15, 2013
Time: Day 1 and 2 = 8:30am - 4:30pm / Day 3 = 8:30am - noon
For more information and the registration form please click here.

Location: Grand River Hospital Conference Center / 501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO 81650

A nationally recognized ARHPC instructor (over 15 years of experience) will provide valuable
information needed to meet your coding, reimbursement and compliance goals in 2013.

Topics covered include the following coding manuals:
- 2013 CPT Professional
- 2013 HCPCS
- 2013 ICD-9

***All attendees MUST bring these coding manuals to the class ***

Books will be provided for attendees from hospitals participating in the FY2012 SHIP Grant.

All other attendees:
- may purchase books on their own
- or at a discount -- through CRHC -- when you register.

This class is approved for 18 hours of CEU’s and recognized by the ARHPC and AAPC
Upon successful completion of this bootcamp, attendees will be eligible to take the online coding
certification test through ARHPC at no additional cost.

Registration Deadline is Friday, March 8, 2012.
One registration form per individual please.

Questions? Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org
Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

National Medicare Training Program Update Webinar on Nov. 20

Please join us for the monthly National Medicare Training Program Update Webinar on Tuesday, November 20. We'll be sharing information on:

• Flu Vaccine 
• Plan Finder 
• Innovations Center 
• Enrollment Opportunities for People Affected by Hurricane Sandy 
• Pharmacy & Provider Access During Federal Disasters and Other Public Health Emergencies 

The National Medicare Training Program provides consistent, accurate, and reliable information for Medicare partners—professionals and volunteers who work with seniors and people with disabilities—to help people with Medicare make informed health care decisions.

When: Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m., ET
Call-In Number: 877-251-0301
Conference ID: 90024799
Webinar ID: https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/nmtpnov12/

Our policy experts will present the information via the web.

PLEASE JOIN BOTH THE AUDIO CALL AND THE WEBINAR

Important Meeting with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)

HCPF is holding a stakeholder meeting on Friday, November 16th at 2:30 PM to discuss the FQHC/RHC shared savings program. During the meeting, HCPF will be discussing ways to incorporate FQHC/RHC shared savings into Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC) shared savings and coming up with realistic solutions for the issues that have been brought up in previous meetings. HCPF would like to have a draft methodology for distributing savings by the end of November and will initiate discussions with CMS at that time.

If at all possible, please participate in this important meeting in order to have your voice shape this policy. Please contact Alicia Haywood at ah@coruralhealth.org with any questions.

Meeting Details
Friday, November 17th
2:30 – 4:30 PM
1570 Grant Street, Aspen Conference Room
Toll: 1-720-279-0026
Toll free: 1-877-820-7831
Passcode: 610450#
Mute/unmute: *6

Happy National Rural Health Day!!

 

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and State Offices of Rural Health have set aside November 15, 2012 as National Rural Health Day to showcase Rural America; increase awareness of the unique healthcare issues facing rural communities; and highlight the efforts of State Offices of Rural Health and others to address those issues.
Help CRHC Celebrate National Rural Health Day! CRHC has organized a number of events to celebrate National Rural Health Day. We will be hosting a luncheon at St. Vincent Hospital in Leadville, followed by a tour of the facility. Charles Reyman, Vice President of Communications at the Colorado Health Foundation, will be speaking as well. Congratulations to our coloring contest winners Izzy, age 8, and Fiona, age 7! Their winning drawings depict how they stay healthy in their community. Both are students at Cressen Elementary School in Cripple Creek, CO. Click here to view the entire collection of drawings submitted from the second and third grade classrooms at Cressen Elementary. Thank you to everyone who participated in our photo contest! The winners will be announce on Friday, November 16th. One winner per category (Colorado Landscape, Rural Life, Health Facilities) will be selected to receive a $25 gift card.

Thanksgiving Holiday Customer Service Units and EDI Availability

Attention Part B Providers:
Novitas Solutions, Inc. will be observing the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 22, 2012, and Friday, November 23, 2012. Our business doors will be closed, and the Customer Service Units will not be available. However, you may continue utilizing EDI services.

On November 22, 2012, the EDI platforms will be available for claim submission, report retrieval, and claim status inquiry. However, there will not be a batch claims processing cycle executed for this date. Medicare Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) files will not be generated on this day.

Electronic claims received after your end of day processing time on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, will be entered into the processing system on Friday, November 23, 2012. The reports for version 5010 files will be available shortly after the time of file submission.

On Thursday, November 22, the Professional Provider Telecommunications Network (PPTN) and the Interactive Voice Response Unit (IVR) will be available.

On November 23, 2012, the EDI platforms will be available for claim submission, report retrieval, and claim status inquiry. There will be a batch claims processing cycle, and Medicare Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) files will be generated.

 For more information please click here

Rx Remote Solutions New CRHC Sponsor

Colorado Rural Health Center is proud to announce a new group purchasing solution to its members with sponsorship support from Rx RemoteSolutions. 

Rx RemoteSolutions supports the hospital pharmacy service by maintaining continuity of care and patient safety either after department hours, during periods of peak demand or other times of need with remote order entry and verification services. They provide patient-centered, safe, efficient, and cost-effective medication order verification and processing services from a centralized office. They also meet The Joint Commission and CMS standards, HIPAA regulations and applicable state licensing requirements. 

Carl Geberbauer, Divisional Vice President of Rx RemoteSolutions says, “We are honored to be a supporter of CRHC.” Each CRHC member who becomes a client of RemoteSolutions will receive access to Rx Intelnet, an internet based proprietary, proven pharmacy practice resources and hundreds of effective policies, protocols, tools and more for everyday pharmacy practice. In addition, alert memos, updates and newsletters (clinical, purchasing and regulatory) and access to pharmacy practice web pages covering the breadth of pharmacy services will be provided.

Thank you to Rx RemoteSolutions for their continued support of rural health in the state of Colorado!

Press Release regarding Quality Improvement

Below is a link for the press release from Clinical Colleagues regarding a new Quality Improvement Program, available to hospital anesthesia departments
Please click here to read the full article

Is your CAH signed up for iCARE?

Hospitals’ avoidable readmission rates have come under close scrutiny by payers and policymakers because of the potential of high savings associated with them. Tackling this issue is an opportunity to improve quality and reduce costs in the health care system. Although readmission rates among Colorado CAHs, by virtue of their volume, may be small, there is opportunity for our state to stay ahead of national trends, spotlight the great services Colorado CAHs are providing, make improvements in processes that will help maintain low readmission rates and continue to showcase the hospital’s status as a leader in their community. The basic goals of this project, funded by Colorado’s Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant (Flex) (CFDA: 93.241; Grant Award: 2 H54RH00056-09-00) are to:

• Improve communications in transitions of care
• Improve the clinical process and systems to reduce readmissions, particularly for heart failure and pneumonia patients
• Maintain low readmission rates

When you join this project, along with a myriad of other resources that will become available to you, you will also have access to our password protected websitedesigned to provide you and your staff with tools and templates to assist you in implementing the changes you would like to see at your facility and in your community to help you reach these goals while at the same time improving quality, reducing costs and improving patient satisfaction.

For more information on iCARE or how you and your provider based clinics can join please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org or 303.309.6807

CMS Updates and Transmittals

CMS Medicare system update to include rendering line level NPI for PCIP payments to CAHs - On November 1, CMS issued a transmittal that updates Medicare systems to identify line level NPI information for purposes of PCIP payments to CAHS reimbursed under the optional method. View transmittal R2579CP. View MLN Matters article MM8030.

CMS transmittal on revisions to method of cost settlement for inpatient services for rural hospitals On October 26, CMS replaced transmittal R84DEMO, containing information on the revisions to the method of cost settlement for inpatient services for rural hospitals participating under demonstration authorized by Section 410A of the Medicare Modernization Act. View transmittal R85DEMO.

CMS transmittal on payment of global surgical split care in a Method II CAH with modifiers -54 and/or -55 On October 26, CMS replaced transmittal R2510CP, containing instructions on implementing the payment methodology for global surgical split care submitted with a modifier 54 and/or 55 for CAH Method II providers. View transmittal R2574CP.

CMS 2013 OPPS final rule On November 2, CMS issued the 2013 OPPS final rule. View the fact sheet.

CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule On November 2, CMS issued the 2013 Physician Fee Schedule final rule. View the fact sheet.

Don’t miss your chance to become a National Health Service Corps approved site!

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) cut-off date for new sites to apply is December 15, 2012. For more information and eligibility requirements please click here.


Why become a NHSC approved site?
Assistance in helping you attract and retain qualified and dedicated primary care providers
Opportunities to network with other NHSC-approved sites and community organizations
Direct access to State Primary Care Offices (PCOs) that provide assistance with increasing access to primary health care services in your community
Membership in a network of partners who are dedicated to providing care in communities with limited access to health care
For more information and eligibility requirements please click here.
The next new site application cycle will begin July 1, 2013.

HRSA’s “Primary Care for All” upcoming events:

Login to PrimaryCareForAll.hrsa.gov this month to participate in one of these exciting upcoming events! Live webinars address hot topics in public health and offer practical tips for you to implement into your practice. Virtual coffee shop discussions feature subject-matter experts and the opportunity to ask questions and to connect with other NHSC members and alumni working across the country. View the full calendar of events.

CAH Board Finance 101

CRHC offers training for CAH Boards consisting of an on-site half-day session which will include individualized hospital-specific information about CAH financial statements, cost reports, Medicare & Medicaid payments and other pertinent information related to health care payment policy. For more information and pricing contact Jennifer Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org.

Dear All Kids Covered member

Friday, December 7, 2012 from 10:30-12:15.

As discussed at our November Coalition meeting, starting Jan. 1, 2013, women in the CHP+ Prenatal program from 133 – 185 % FPL will be moved to Medicaid. HCPF sent all women enrolled in the CHP+ Prenatal Program a letter regarding the change – some women will need to switch providers if their provider does not accept Medicaid. If you get questions about this letter, HCPF is emphasizing that patients ask their doctors if they take Medicaid and directing patients whose doctors do not take Medicaid to a hotline number (303-839-2120, or 1-888-367-6557) with their doctor or midwife’s contact information or to find a new provider. (If their doctor takes Medicaid, then they can stay with their current doctor.)

Here is a link to the letter on HCPF’s website.

National Rural Health Day Webinar Presentations

Even though National Rural Health Day is “officially” two days away, we’ve already started the celebration! We kicked things off yesterday with our first webinar, The Basics of Rural Health, and we’re following that up with a slate of webinars the rest of the week – including two today! Be sure to check out the 2012 National Rural Health Day Webinar Presentations section on the National Rural Health Day website for links to yesterday’s webinar and registration information for the rest of this week’s presentations.

Save the Date: April 3-5, 2013

The Forum is a two-day conference that will bring together participants from all over Colorado and the surrounding states. It serves as an essential educational, training, and networking event for all safety net clinics, members of the clinic team, and other interested parties. This is the 13th annual Forum, and the fourth year in which CRHC has partnered with ClinicNET to put on the event. This partnership allows and expanded reach which includes other states and clinic types in order to address the issues facing all safety net providers.

More information will be released as the event nears - registration will open at the end of December.

Hotel Information:
Location:
Sheraton Denver West Hotel
360 Union Blvd. Lakewood, CO 80228

Has Your CAH Joined MBQIP?

The Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) is a federal CAH quality initiative from the Office of Rural Health Policy to demonstrate the work CAHs are doing in the areas of quality improvement and patient safety. Over 80% of CAHs across the country are participating in this initiative. If you hospital hasn’t signed up, it’s not too late. Information is posted on CRHC’s website here, or you can contact jd@coruralhealth.org.

Medicaid and CHP + Policy Changes

 Pending approval from the Medical Services Board, January 2013 will bring policy changes for CHP+ and Medicaid.
We will have an in-depth discussion about the policy changes, and question / answer period around these topics.

• Aligning Medicaid Eligibility for Children at 133% FPL
• Increasing Medicaid Income Eligibility for Pregnant Women
• CHP+ HMO Enrollment
• Elimination of CHP+ at Work Program
• Children of State Employees to be Eligible for CHP+


Register for a session now by clicking a date below:
 Tue, Dec 4, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM MST
 Wed, Dec 5, 2012 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM MST
 Thu, Dec 13, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM MST

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration
with information you need to join the Webinar.



 

Free CAH Benchmarking Tool

Quality Health Indicators (QHi) is an online benchmarking tool geared towards CAHs. Over 200 hospitals in 14 states across the country are using the system. All Colorado CAHs have access to QHi at no charge. If you are interested in finding out more about the system or are using the system and just in need of a refresher, QHi will be holding a Back to Basics Webinar on November 28 from 1:00-2:00 MST. During the webinar, QHi will walk through the live site demonstrating how to: add users, change passwords, complete the hospital profile, select measures, enter data, connect with Best Practice facilities and run reports. For more information, contact jd@coruralhealth.org.

At a Glance

Please find the link to the October edition of At a Glance below. This Department of Health Care Policy and Financing publication provides information on major initiatives including policy changes and program updates. Please feel free to share it with your colleagues.

Thank you for your interest!
At a Glance

Medicare Learning Links from CMS

· New Informational Unsolicited Response (IUR) Process to Identify Previously Paid Claims for Services Furnished to Incarcerated Medicare Beneficiaries - MM8007

 · New Informational Unsolicited Response (IUR) Process to Identify Previously Paid Claims for Services Furnished to Medicare Beneficiaries Classified as "Unlawfully Present" in the United States - MM8009

 · Medicare System Update to Include Rendering Line Level National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) for Primary Care Incentive Program (PCIP) Payments to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) - MM8030

 · Enforcing Interim Billing for Partial Hospitalization Services - MM8048
https://www.novitas-solutions.com/bulletins/mln/index.html

 http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM8007.pdf

 http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM8009.pdf

 http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM8030.pdf

http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM8048.pdf

CMS Medicare FFS Provider e-News

 Thursday, November 1, 2012 — CMS Issues 2 Payment Rules



On November 1, CMS issued two final regulations updating Medicare payment rates and policies in CY 2013 for services furnished by physicians and other practitioners, and hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers.   

The final CY 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) rule will be published on November 16, 2012. It will take effect January 1, 2013 with a comment period that closes on December 31, 2012.

§ Final Rule with comment period
§ Fact Sheet

The final CY 2013 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) rule will be published on November 15, 2012. It will take effect January 1, 2013 with a comment period that closes on December 31, 2012.

§ Final Rule with comment period
§ Fact Sheet

Online ICD 10 Training is Available to You!

 

 Do any of these apply to you??

• Too busy to go to ICD-10 training?
• Perhaps, you’ve attended ICD-10 Workshops, but would love additional training?
• Is your budget stretched thin already -- and you wish you could find an unbelievable bargain for your staff to learn ICD-10 and how to become proficient with the rules and regulations of the future?
• If you answered yes to any of the above questions, CRHC can help now!!

 

Take advantage of this opportunity to enroll in the following online courses that will prepare you and your organization for the successful transition to ICD 10. These courses will provide you with history, structure, functions, guidelines and the terminology needed to ensure accurate and efficient billing processes. Whether you are a new coder, an advanced coder with years of experience, or a health care provider -- you will find value in this timely information. For more information on a specific course, please click on the links below. If you are employed by a Colorado Critical Access Hospital (CAH) or a rural PPS hospital with less than 49 beds, you are currently participating in the FY2011 SHIP Grant Program – and -- your online classes are FREE to all hospital staff!!! click here to get started now! If you are a Rural Health Center (RHC) or other rural health care facility in Colorado, please click here for a class listing and the opportunities available to you! CEU’s are available for all classes. Don’t wait…get started today!

 

 

 

 

For more information or questions, please contact Danette Swanson, HIT Program Coordinator, at ds@coruralhealth.org

CMS issues preliminary decisions on recommendations of outpatient payment panel on supervision levels for select services

On September 24, CMS posted information on the hospital outpatient payment panel regarding the appropriate supervision levels for individual hospital outpatient therapeutic services. To view the panel’s decisions and recommendation, please click here

Hospital Intranet Case Study: Register for this FREE webinar

Wednesday, October 24, 2012 , 9:30am Mountain

In the 21st century, the internet has become a vital resource for everyday life. Many innovative healthcare organizations have made a web-based employee intranet portal an equally critical component in their operation.

Well-designed intranet portals allow an organization's employees to easily access and publish key departmental and organizational wide information from the cafeteria menu for the day to on-call schedules, clinical protocols, and e-learning. The hallmarks of a robust intranet include increased productivity, the ability to truly go paperless, workflow automation, and seamless integration with other web-based applications.

In this webinar you will learn firsthand how and why Kathryn McKinney, Director of Public Relations and Marketing and Randy Kelly, Webmaster, at mid-sized Union Hospital in Elkton, MD, and their colleagues replaced their previous intranet with HospitalPortal.net at their facility. Additionally the Union Hospital team will demonstrate this on their intranet portal to show how their hospital uses it daily to manage communications, broadcast information, and manage policies and procedures. The demonstration will highlight Union Hospital's most compelling uses of the portal.

View this webinar to see how a hospital intranet can help your organization manage communications internally as well manage your organizational and departmental policies and procedures.

Register at our website now! Limited space available.

ICD 10 is Closer Than it Seems!!

Meeting with Your ICD-10 Project Team

To make sure your organization successfully makes the switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 by the October 1, 2014, compliance deadline, it will be important to meet with your ICD-10 Project Team regularly to discuss transition activities, challenges, and needs.

Preparing for Your ICD-10 Check-in Meeting
As you hold in-person check-in meetings or conference calls, it is helpful to establish a day and time when the meeting will occur each month (e.g., 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month), so that all team members know that ICD-10 is a priority for your practice. As the transition date approaches, you should switch to more frequent meetings, weekly or bi-weekly.

To make sure the check-in meetings are productive, consider the following tips for holding an effective meeting:
Create an agenda. Developing and disseminating a brief agenda prior to the meeting will help keep the conversation on track and will allow team members to prepare their updates.
Reserve time for questions. Remember to set aside time at the end of the meeting for questions from project team members.
Take notes and draft action items. Following each meeting, distribute key takeaways and action items to the team to keep everyone informed about any important decisions made and individual responsibilities.

During meetings, team members should plan to discuss:
Progress on ICD-10 transition activities. This will help to keep the team up to date on each individual's assigned tasks. It may also be helpful to use this time to set deadlines and goals for completing task activities.
Upcoming education opportunities. Share information about local events or online trainings on ICD-10 that may benefit the team. Also, feel free to distribute ICD-10-related articles to keep the team informed about the latest ICD-10 news.
Best practices. Have you done or did you hear about a novel way to address part of your transition to ICD-10? Take this time to share that information, and discuss how it can be applied in your group's implementation plan.
Challenges encountered. Use this time to discuss any challenges the team has encountered, and brainstorm ways to successfully overcome these obstacles.

Keep Up to Date on ICD-10.
Please visit the ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare.

Colorado Rural Credentialing Network

Provides rural facilities with information, education, and resources pertaining to medical staff credentialing. Members receive: access to quarterly webinars; up-to-date tools and resources; peer networking; and access to a credentialing specialist. 

If you are interested and would like to learn more about this service through CRHC, please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org

Acute and Chronic Pain Management Seminar

 

 Thursday, November 15, 2012   5:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m. 

 

University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO Education 2 North Building; Room 2104

• Colorado Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force Present
• Acute and Chronic Pain Management:
• Responsible Opioid Prescribing
• For physicians, dentists, nurses with prescriptive authority

 

  Buffet Dinner at 5:00 p.m., Seminar from 6:00–9:30 p.m.

 Topics include: Acute pain management, chronic pain management, Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, prescribing liability

 

FREE   Limited seating, pre-registration required   Live streaming webinar available, pre-registration required

 

How to do the Managed Care Dance – What You Need to Know to Participate in Networks

 

Date: October 16, 2012, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. EDT

Don’t miss an important webinar led by speakers with extensive experience in the managed care industry.  Managed care and managed behavioral healthcare play a critical role in the delivery of behavioral healthcare services. Whether Medicaid, Medicare, or commercial insurance, providers need to know how to effectively participate in managed care networks.   CIHS will host a webinar for community-based providers — whether they are community health centers, mental health centers, substance abuse treatment organizations, HIV/AIDS clinics, maternal and child health organizations, or others — to learn how to effectively apply and gain acceptance on managed care provider panels. For integrated care to succeed, providers and managed care and managed behavioral healthcare organizations need to work together effectively on behalf of enrollees. 

 

Webinar presenters will provide details on:

• The goals, structure, and components of managed behavioral health care organizations;
• The managed behavioral healthcare organization credentialing process, including the criteria and standards many behavioral health organizations use to select quality network provider partners;
• A range of reimbursement models used by managed care entities;
• Specific strategies and key “relationship points” for partnering with BHOs, particularly as related to primary and behavioral healthcare integration.

 

  Participants will hear examples of successful integration-focused provider partnerships that move towards meeting the triple aim of better healthcare, better health, and lower cost through improvement.

Audience: Personnel from community-based provider organizations, both behavioral health and primary care

 

Presenters:

Pamela Greenberg, President and CEO, Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness

Jim Clarkson, Vice President, ValueOptions Grants Management Practice, Emerging Markets Group

ValueOptions

Deb Adler, Senior Vice President, Behavioral Network Services, OptumHealth

 

Register today: http://www.integration.samhsa.gov/about-us/webinars

 

 

Online ICD 10 Training is available to you!!!

Too busy to go to ICD-10 training?

Perhaps, you’ve attended ICD-10 Workshops, but would love additional training?

Is your budget stretched thin already -- and you wish you could find an unbelievable bargain for your staff to learn ICD-10 and how to become proficient with the rules and regulations of the future?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, CRHC can help now!!

Take advantage of this opportunity to enroll in the following online courses that will prepare you and your organization for the successful transition to ICD 10. These courses will provide you with history, structure, functions, guidelines and the terminology needed to ensure accurate and efficient billing processes. Whether you are a new coder, an advanced coder with years of experience, or a health care provider -- you will find value in this timely information. For more information on a specific course, please click on the links below. If you are employed by a Colorado Critical Access Hospital (CAH) or a rural PPS hospital with less than 49 beds, you are currently participating in the FY2011 SHIP Grant Program – and -- your online classes are FREE to all hospital staff!!! click here to get started now! If you are a Rural Health Center (RHC) or other rural health care facility in Colorado, please click here for a class listing and the opportunities available to you! CEU’s are available for all classes. Don’t wait…get started today!

For more information or questions, please contact Danette Swanson, HIT Program Coordinator, at ds@coruralhealth.org

Is your CAH signed up for iCARE?

Hospitals’ avoidable readmission rates have come under close scrutiny by payers and policymakers because of the potential of high savings associated with them. Tackling this issue is an opportunity to improve quality and reduce costs in the health care system. Although readmission rates among Colorado CAHs, by virtue of their volume, may be small, there is opportunity for our state to stay ahead of national trends, spotlight the great services Colorado CAHs are providing, make improvements in processes that will help maintain low readmission rates and continue to showcase the hospital’s status as a leader in their community.  The basic goals of this project, funded by Colorado’s Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant (Flex) (CFDA: 93.241; Grant Award: 2 H54RH00056-09-00) are to:

• Improve communications in transitions of care
• Improve the clinical process and systems to reduce readmissions, particularly for heart failure and pneumonia patients
• Maintain low readmission rates

When you join this project, along with a myriad of other resources that will become available to you, you will also have access to our password protected websitedesigned to provide you and your staff with tools and templates to assist you in implementing the changes you would like to see at your facility and in your community to help you reach these goals while at the same time improving quality, reducing costs and improving patient satisfaction.

 

For more information on iCARE or how you and your provider based clinics can join please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org or 303.309.6807

 

 

Tuesday, September 25th RHC TA Call – “Establishing a Compliance Program for Your

The next RHC TA call will be held on Tuesday, September 25th at 2:00pm EASTERN. The call is entitled, “Establishing a Compliance Program for your RHC.” Our speaker will be Holly Louie, CHBME, a nationally recognized expert on compliance programs.

The presentation will last approximately 45 minutes, followed by time for questions and answers. If you have a question you would like to submit ahead of time, send it to: info@narhc.organd indicate “RHC TA Question” in the subject line. We will make every effort to see that the question is either addressed in the speaker’s presentation or during the post-presentation Q and A.  A copy of the slides will be available for download. You will receive a separate email giving you the web address where you can go to download the slides.

 Following is the call-in information:
Toll free: 866-431-5314 Passcode: 279279

Envisioning the Rural Health System of the Future Webinar

Thursday, September 20th at 1pm (EDT)
Please join us for Envisioning the Rural Health System of the Future – Webinar on Thursday, September 20th at 1:00pm (Eastern). You can register by clicking on link below or click on link provided on attached flyer. Dial in on Thursday to (877) 668-4493 (toll free) or (408) 600-3600 (toll) and enter access code 663 572 433.

For more information please click here

Register Now!! The Value of Vaccines

October 4th, 2:30 - 3:30pm

Register now to attend this seminar on October 4th, 2012 Presented by Robert Brayden, MD
Professor of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine
As providers and health care professionals, CCIC members know the health benefits of protecting one’s self from vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization.

To register or for more information, please click here

CMS Medicare Enrollment and Change of Ownership

Do you need help with your CMS Enrollment or Change of Ownership Forms?  The process to obtain enrollment in Medicare or change enrollment status can be time consuming and frustrating.  We will coordinate and facilitate enrollment with all state and federal forms including Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ( CMS) Form 855A for prospective RHC's, and CMS Form 29 for existing RHC change of ownership needs.  Return submissions of the CMS Form 855A is included.

For more information please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org