Registration Now Open for the Fall ICD 10 Workshops!!

Workshop: Turning ICD-9 into ICD-10
Presented by Todd Welter, MS, CPC and Susan Whitney, CPC, CPC-I.

Increased level of specificity in provider documentation is at the heart of the ICD-10 transition. All providers will need to be trained! Incomplete documentation will result in delays with claims submission and ultimately impact your revenue and cash flow! We will take the top diagnosis codes used in a rural health practice/setting and help you, and ultimately your providers, understand what changes will need to be made in the provider’s documentation to maintain timely and accurate claims submission and claims payments

To register please click on one of the four locations below. If you have any questions please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org   Hope to see you there!!

• September 18th - Holyoke, CO
• September 20th - Del Norte, CO
• September 25th - Grand Junction, CO
• September 28th - Webinar

Nursing Home Providers Given Opportunity to Participate in Landmark Quality Improvement Initiative

CMS is giving nursing home providers the opportunity to participate in a bold, new quality improvement initiative mandated through the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act requires CMS to establish standards relating to Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) and provide technical assistance (TA) to facilities on the development of best practices for QAPI. 


CMS QAPI Initiatives:

Five Elements: CMS has identified the following key concepts that are found throughout effective quality systems and are the framework for establishing a QAPI program: Design and Scope; Governance and Leadership; Feedback, Data Systems, and Monitoring; Performance Improvement Projects; and Systematic Analysis and Systemic Action.
QAPI Tools and Resources: CMS, in collaboration with their contractors, University of Minnesota and subcontractor Stratis Health, are continuing to identify and design effective QAPI tools and resources specifically for nursing homes.

Technical Assistance: CMS contractors are testing QAPI tools, resources, and approaches to providing TA in a multi-year demonstration project with a small group of nursing homes. These materials will be made available to all nursing homes following testing.
The Nursing Home Quality Improvement Questionnaire: In another collaborative effort, CMS’ contractor, Abt Associates, Inc., and their subcontractor, the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care, designed a questionnaire to identify the quality systems and processes nursing homes currently have in place, as well as assess the extent to which these systems and processes function to help nursing homes recognize and address quality issues. This information will help CMS and our contractors refine the QAPI components.
The Nursing Home Quality Improvement Questionnaire will be administered to a representative sample of 4,200 randomly selected nursing homes in two waves: 
Summer 2012: First wave of data collection

    Objective: Establish a baseline of QAPI practices in nursing homes and gather information on the challenges and barriers to implementing effective QAPI programs

2013-2014: Second wave of data collection

Objective: Assess the development of QAPI systems, determine what types of TA to make available to nursing homes in the future, and determine the potential impact of TA in advancing QAPI in nursing homes

Nursing home providers participating in the data collection effort will be given the option of completing an electronic questionnaire available via the internet or a hard copy questionnaire mailed directly to their facility. The questionnaire will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Nursing homes participating in the data collection will not be identified by name or any other identifying information.   
Your participation in this survey effort is crucial to the goals of CMS in aligning QAPI Technical Assistance with provider needs. Check your Quality Improvement & Evaluation System (QIES) mailbox for notification that you have been selected to participate in this important information gathering.
CMS is being supported in this effort through partnership with the following organizations: American College of Health Care Administrators, American Health Care Association, Leading Age, Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes, American Medical Director’s Association, and National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care.

Save the Date!! Rural Health Professions Institute Session

“Cultural Competence and Caring for the Rural Veteran”     brought to you by Virtual VA eHealth University 2012

Course Credit: Continuing education credits will be submitted to EES for approval for accreditation. Attendees must pass the test at the conclusion of the sessions to receive credit.

Target Audience: EVERYONE will learn and benefit from this session!! Check out the variety of other classes, there is one for YOU!

For participation in these broadcasts you will need:

• A computer with audio
• Internet connection
• Your time and undivided attention

Registration:

If you are not presently enrolled in MyVeHU Campus, you will need to enroll in the Campus by clicking on the “Enroll Now” icon prior to registering for the session. You can access the MyVeHU Campus “Enroll Now” icon by selecting the registration link below.

For a direct link to the registration page, please click here

Once you are on the Virtual VeHU registration page, scroll down until you see Friday, August 17, 2012, and select the session: 404-Cultural Competence and Caring for the Rural Veteran. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the “Register” icon. You are now registered for the session.

Funding Opportunity Announcement - Caring for Colorado

Investing in Colorado’s Health Care Safety Net - Building Organizational Capacity for the Future
Grant awards will be used to support technical assistance and implementation activities geared towards strengthening the capacity of Colorado’s safety net clinics.

Deadline for Applications:  August 14, 2012 at 5:00pm MDT
Application instructions and materials can be accessed, submitted and completed via the Caring for Colorado Foundation website at www.caringforcolorado.org.
Caring for Colorado Foundation will host a webinar to share information about the funding opportunity and to answer applicant questions on Wednesday, July 11th at 9:30am MDT. Participants must register in advance at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/39hf3/register/8896760251764236032
For more information please click here

Funding Opportunity - Kaiser IHI Community Benefit Program

CRHC is pleased to offer this program which provides eligible rural safety net clinic leaders conference registration scholarships and travel support funding to participate in IHI courses. Funding is limited, apply today! For more information, click here.

IRS Proposed Rules for Tax Exempt Hospitals

The IRS released a proposed rule in the June 25th Federal Register for tax exempt hospitals. Specifically, these rules provide guidance on the ACA mandated requirements for hospital financial assistance and emergency care policies, charges for care provided to individuals eligible for financial assistance, and billing/collection policies. To access the proposed rules, click here. The IRS is accepting comments and requests for a public hearing through September 24, 2012.

TrailBlazer Rural Health Ask-the-Contractor Teleconference

ACTs provide a forum for providers to ask TrailBlazer specific questions concerning Medicare billing policies and procedures, identify provider issues and share information. This Rural Health ACT is intended for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The next TrailBlazer Rural Health ACT will be on 7/11/12 from 9:00-10:00MST. For more information and to register, click here.

Patient Fall Prevention Resources

The Safe from Falls Campaign by the Minnesota Hospital Association has a number of tools and resources available for download from their website including checklists, assessments, and patient education materials. For more information go to http://www.mnhospitals.org/index/tools-app/tool.362.

Important June Deadlines.....

 HIPAA 5010 Deadline is June 30 
Medicare Fee-For-Service Will Reject 4010 Transactions After June 29th
After June 29, any Medicare Fee-for-service claims submitted in version 4010 format will be rejected back to the submitter with the following message: "MSG-117 ON JUL 1, 2012, C LMS MUST BE ASC X12 V5010". All claims received after normal close of business cutoff times on June 29, 2012 must be sent as ASC X12 ver. 5010 or NCPDP D.0.  Providers that are still conducting one or more of the Version 4010 transactions electronically, such as submitting a claim or checking claim status, or rely on a software vendor, billing service or clearinghouse to do this on their behalf, are affected.
In addition, beginning July 1, 2012, the Coordination of Benefits (outbound ASC X12 837) and Health Care Claim Status Response (ASC X12 277) transactions will be sent in version 5010 only.
Medicare FFS will be allowing an additional 30 days to complete the transition to the ASC X12 Health Care Claim Payment/Advice (835), also called the Remittance Advice. Therefore, as of August 1, 2012, Medicare FFS will be generating only the 5010 version of the 835 Remittance Advice for all trading partners.  For more help with Version 5010 upgrades and Medicare claims, contact your MAC (Medicare Administrative Contractor). If you have difficulty reaching a MAC, send an email describing your issue, with "5010 Extension" in the subject line, to ProviderFeedback@cms.hhs.gov.

 
Medicare E-Prescribing Deadline June 30
Medicare providers must file at least 10 electronic prescriptions by June 30 to avoid penalties under Medicare's e-prescribing program. The Medicare e-Rx Incentive Program requires filing at least 10 G-8553 codes by June 30th in order to avoid a 1.5% Medicare deduction in 2013. Note: if you were not a successful e-prescriber in 2011 you must file via claims. From calendar year (CY) 2012 through 2014, a payment adjustment that increases each calendar year will be applied to an eligible professional's Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services for not becoming a successful electronic prescriber. The payment adjustment of 1.0% in 2012, 1.5% in 2013, and 2.0% in 2014 will result in an eligible professional or group practice participating in the eRx Group Practice Reporting Option (eRx GPRO) receiving 99.0%, 98.5%, and 98.0% respectively of their Medicare Part B PFS amount for covered professional services.   The penalty is a 1.5 percent payment reduction for all Medicare claims filed in 2013. Physicians can apply for a hardship exemption but it must be done before June 30 deadline.   You can file for a hardship exemption through the Quality Reporting Communication Support Pageor by submitting one claim with the 'G' hardship codes by June 30, 2012. For more details you can review this MLN Matters. 

CMS Accepting Applications for Next Round of Advanced Payment ACOs
Notices of intent to apply to the Medicare Shared Savings Program are due June 29. Applications to Advance Payment Model are due Sept. 19.
As of Aug. 1, the CMS will begin accepting applications for a new round of Advance Payment ACOs, which offers upfront and monthly payments to health care providers who have come together to share responsibility and provide coordinated high quality care to their Medicare patients. Under the Medicare Shared Savings program the selected participants can use the payments to make important investments in their care coordination infrastructure. The program is designed to help smaller ACOs, with less capital, participate in the Shared Savings Program. Additional information can be found in a CMS fact sheet. 


 

Mission: Lifeline Transfer Strategies Webinar - June 27th

Register to attend the American Heart Association’s Webinar :    
MISSION: LIFELINE STEMI Transfer Strategies
Wednesday, June 27th : 3p-4p Eastern, 2p-3p Central

Mission: Lifeline will be hosting a webinar dedicated to Transfer Strategies for the STEMI Patient on June 27th. Our presenters are Dr. David Burt, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Emergency Department Physician, University of Virginia, and Dr. Tim Henry, Director of Research and Interventional Cardiologist, Minneapolis Heart Institute, and both well-known AHA M:L Volunteers and pioneers in STEMI Systems of Care. This webinar is intended for those internal to AHA and to our customers who face challenges in the transfer of the STEMI patient from STEMI referral centers to STEMI receiving centers. Examples of real life transfer hurdles and working solutions from all over the country will be used throughout the presentation. Approximately 20 minutes of the webinar time will be open to questions and discussions. We look forward to your attendance and thank you for all you do for STEMI patients.

Attendee Information
US/Canada Attendee Dial-in #: (888) 398-0518
Conference ID: 88613242

Attendee Registration URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8002012614/Registration.aspx?pageName=xxwmpnzbhr1520s1

New MedPAC Report Could Prove Harmful to Rural Patients and Providers; Your Voice is Needed to Tell the Real Story of Rural Health

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is an independent Congressional agency established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to advise Congress on issues affecting the Medicare Program, including analyzing access to care, quality of care, and other issues affecting Medicare. 

MedPAC released a report to Congress this week, Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, which examines issues central to the beneficiaries’ experience of the Medicare program. One chapter specifically examines care for beneficiaries in rural areas, including access to care for rural beneficiaries, the quality of the care they receive, special rural payments, and the adequacy of payments for rural provides.    

The Commission reported there is little differences in health care service use by Medicare beneficiaries between rural and urban areas, patient satisfaction is similar, there are no major differences in quality between urban and rural providers, and rural hospital payments and financial margins are ample.   

Rural health advocates are concerned that inaccuracies in the report could be harmful to rural Americans. We know access to care and inadequate reimbursement rates in rural Colorado and across America are problematic and programs and policies aimed at fixing these issues are crucial and cannot be allowed to expire. A report released in April by iVantage Health Analytics, Inc. (which also used Medicare data), found that Medicare spending is 3.7% less per beneficiary in rural markets than in urban markets, even though this spending includes “special payments” provided to rural hospitals and practitioners. The report found that rural hospitals nationally have equal or better quality outcomes, and cost less per Medicare beneficiary than their urban counterparts confirming rural hospitals and clinics are a good value for patients and for taxpayers.   

Rural providers, patients and communities will pay the price if Congress acts based on information found in the MedPAC report, so we need your voice. We need data, stories, and examples to paint the real picture of rural health. CRHC staff will be traveling to Washington, D.C. in July to participate in NRHA’s March for Rural Hospitals and will be meeting with Colorado’s members of Congress. It is our chance to make your voice heard, so please contact Alicia Haywood or Jen Dunn with any questions you might have, as well as any information to illustrate the access and the financial challenges facing rural providers and patients.

Rural Surgeons Course Announcement

The American College of Surgeons is dedicated to improving the care of the surgical patient. Recognizing the importance of access to quality surgical care, we are supporting surgeons practicing in rural areas by offering a skills course tailored to the unique needs of rural surgeons. Please share this information with your local rural surgeons.
The American College of Surgeons’ Nora Institute for Surgical Patient Safety is holding its second annual skills course for rural surgeons.

“Advanced Skills Training for Rural Surgeons: Complex Wound Care and Specialized Diagnostic Techniques”
Saturday, September 29, 2012
98th Annual Clinical Congress Chicago, IL
8 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ 

This course is designed to address the scope of practice unique to the rural surgeon. The pre-course didactic portion will cover basic concepts of wound management, including facial and hand injuries and the basic principles of using skin flaps for wound closure. There will also be didactic material on the basic principles of ultrasound. The on-site portion of the course will utilize immersive simulation and hands-on mentored practice to present modules managing difficult wounds, including lacerations of the hand and face. The ultrasound module will include the use of ultrasound for diagnosis and treatment of breast lesions and central line insertion.
 Last year the course was sold-out so register early at http://www.facs.org/clincon2012/index.html#. For more information contact: skillscourses@facs.org.

Revenue Cycle Institute’s Free Monthly Tool

Each month HCPro’s Revenue Cycle Institute publishes a free sample tool or form for readers. This month’s tool— a level of care pocket card for inpatient admission— provides important information on the rationale for a hospital inpatient admission, as well as information on the appropriate use of observation services. To access the tool, click here.

Grants Training in Colorado Springs, CO - July 26-27, 2012

City of Colorado Springs and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grants workshop in Colorado Springs, July 26-27, 2012. This training is for grant seekers across all disciplines. Attend this class and you'll learn how to find grants and write winning grant proposals.
Beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county and state agencies as well as nonprofits, K-12, colleges and universities are encouraged to attend.  Multi-enrollment discounts and discounts for Grant Writing USA returning alumni are available. Tuition payment is not required at the time of enrollment.  Tuition is $425 and includes all materials: workbook and accompanying 420MB resource CD that's packed full of tools and more than 200 sample grant proposals. Seating is limited, online reservations are necessary.  Complete event details including learning objectives, class location, graduate testimonials and online registration are available here.

 Click here for full event details.

Save the Date for the Fall ICD 10 Workshops!!

The Colorado Rural Health Center and RT Welter & Associates are excited to announce we have confirmed the dates and locations for our fall ICD 10 workshops. Please stay tuned, more information and registration will be available next week for these educational opportunities throughout Colorado. We hope to see you there!

September 18th, 2012 - Holyoke, CO
September 20th - Del Norte, CO
September 25th - Grand Junction, CO
September 28th - Webinar

Please feel free to contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org if you have any questions.

Join us for a free webinar on RHC 101

Monday July 9th, 2012
Interested in learning more about certified Rural Health Clinics? The Colorado Rural Health Center is excited to bring you a FREE informatative webinar for Colorado Residents to learn about what an RHC is. We will discuss Policies and Procedures, Conditions of Participation, Compliance Issues and share resources that will be helpful to you along your journey.

To register please click here

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

CMS Innovation Center Announces Participating Payers for Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative

Today the CMS Innovation Center announced agreements with 45 commercial, federal and State insurers in seven markets across the country to participate in the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative, a new multi-payer model designed to strengthen the primary care system and improve quality while lowering costs.  Under the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative, CMS will pay primary care practices a care management fee to support enhanced, coordinated services. Simultaneously, participating commercial, State, and other payers are also offering an enhanced payment to primary care practices that provide high-quality primary care.  Insurers in Arkansas, Colorado, New Jersey, Oregon, New York’s Capital District-Hudson Valley Region, Ohio and Kentucky’s Cincinnati-Dayton Region, and greater Tulsa, Oklahoma signed agreements with CMS to participate in this initiative.  Approximately 75 primary care practices will be selected to participate in the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative in each designated market. Interested primary care practices in each of the markets should complete the application pre-screen tool. This is the first step in applying for the program. Practices will not be allowed to submit an application without a completed application pre-screen tool.  The Comprehensive Primary Care initiative is a four-year initiative administered by the Innovation Center. Applications will be accepted until July 20.

For more information on this initiative, visit innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/comprehensive-primary-care-initiative

Join us for a Free Webinar on RHC 101!

Monday July 9th, 2012
Interested in learning more about certified Rural Health Clinics? The Colorado Rural Health Center is excited to bring you a FREE informatative webinar for Colorado Residents to learn about what an RHC is. We will discuss Policies and Procedures, Conditions of Participation, Compliance Issues and share resources that will be helpful to you along your journey.

To register please click here

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

SAVE THE DATE - ICD 10 Workshops are coming soon!

The Colorado Rural Health Center and RT Welter & Associates are excited to announce we have confirmed the dates and locations for our fall ICD 10 workshops.  Please stay tuned,  more information and registration will be available next week for these educational opportunities throughout Colorado. We hope to see you there!

September 18th, 2012 - Holyoke, CO
September 20th - Del Norte, CO
September 25th - Grand Junction, CO
September 28th - Webinar

Please feel free to contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org if you have any questions. 

Advance Payment ACO Model: New Opportunity To Apply

The Advance Payment ACO Model is an Innovation Center initiative for participants in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. It’s designed for physician-based and rural providers who have come together voluntarily to give coordinated high quality care to the Medicare patients they serve. Through the Advance Payment ACO Model, selected participants will receive upfront and monthly payments, which they can use to make important investments in their care coordination infrastructures.  CMS announced last October that applications would only be accepted for April 1, 2012 and July 1, 2012 start dates.  However, the Innovation Center has now announced that beginning August 1, 2012, it will be accepting applications for an additional round of Advance Payment ACOs that would begin on January 1, 2013.  Organizations interested in the Advance Payment ACO Model should start their application process by submitting a Notice of Intent to apply for the Medicare Shared Savings Program performance period that begins January 1, 2013. This Notice of Intent (NOI) is due June 29, 2012. Organizations that submit this NOI will then have the opportunity to submit applications to both the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Advance Payment ACO Model.  The Advance Payment ACO Model is an important part of the CMS Innovation Center’s work to help providers at all levels of readiness.  The CMS Innovation Center was created by the Affordable Care Act to test innovative payment and service delivery models that have the potential to reduce program expenditures while preserving or enhancing the quality of care. More information is at innovation.cms.gov.

Medicare Fee-For-Service to Reject Version 4010 Electronic Transactions July 1, 2012

Effective July 1, 2012 only ASC X12 Version 5010 (Version 5010) or NCPDP Telecom D.0 (NCPDP D.0) formats will be accepted by Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS). Providers that are still conducting one or more of the Version 4010 transactions electronically, such as submitting a claim or checking claim status, or rely on a software vendor, billing service or clearinghouse to do this on their behalf, are affected by this change. Now is the time to contact your software vendor, billing service or clearinghouse, when applicable, if you have not done so already to ensure you are ready. Transactions conducted by Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), fiscal intermediary (FI) or carrier telephone interactive voice response (IVR) systems, Direct Data Entry (DDE) and Internet Portals, for those contractors with Internet Portals, are not impacted.

Claims (837 I and P)
All claims received after normal close of business cutoff times on June 29, 2012 must be sent as ASC X12 Version 5010 or NCPDP D.0. Any Medicare FFS claims received in version 4010 format after normal close of business on June 29 will be rejected back to the submitter. The specific message you receive if a claim is rejected will depend on your MAC. A detailed list of 4010 rejection error messages by MAC can be found on the Important 4010 - 5.1 Rejection Information Page.

Claim Status (276/277)
The last Claim Status Inquiry will be accepted in version 4010 at the end of the business day on June 29, 2012. Following that date, all Claim Status activity will be in ASC X12 Version 5010.

Remittance Advice (835)
During the transition period Medicare FFS experienced issues with the Remittance Advice (835); therefore Medicare FFS will be allowing an additional 30 days to complete the 835 transition. Information will be forthcoming concerning the final cutoff and cycle timing for the Remittance Advice.

Coordination of Benefits (837)
CMS has directed its MACs, FIs, and carriers to begin sending all claims to the Coordination of Benefits Contractor (COBC) in version 5010 as of June 29, 2012. This will ensure that all claims that the COBC will issue to COB payers as of its July 2, 2012 evening crossover claims cycle will be properly transmitted in the version 5010 format. Therefore, all COB payers will have to be in version 5010 COB production by June 29, 2012.   

Medicare FFS will continue to coordinate additional outreach and education activities and messages throughout June. In addition, Medicare FFS will be participating in a series of Regional Webinars on Wednesday, June 20. Please watch for listserv messages on registering for these calls.

For more information on ASCX12Version 5010 and NCPDP D.0, please visit the Versions 5010 and D.0 website.

CMS Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment meeting set for August

The second semi-annual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment will be Aug. 27, 28 and 29. The purpose of the panel is to advise the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 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. More information on the process to submit recommendations for this meeting and on recent changes to the supervision level for individual outpatient therapeutic services can be found online here and in this document and the preliminary decisions can be found here. Presentations and comments must be sent to CMS by 5 p.m. EDT July 27. The deadline for meeting registration and for requests for special accommodations is 5 p.m. EDT August 17.

Free Educational Webinar Series: Effective Appeal Strategies to Overturn RAC Denials

Be our guest for another free educational webinar series.

Title: Effective Appeal Strategies to Overturn RAC Denials
Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM Central Time

Ever since the Recovery Audit Program (formerly RAC) program rolled out nationally, revenue take-backs by Medicare's Recovery Auditors have grown at an unrelenting pace.  In a poll taken during a recent NRHA webinar, critical access and rural hospitals reported they are "greatly concerned" by the prospect of giving back reimbursement that was banked as long as three years ago.  In this one-hour webinar for NRHA members, Craneware's Senior VP of Consulting Services, Karen Bowden, RHIA, will identify the top areas that leave hospitals vulnerable to Recovery Audit take-backs. Bowden will show examples of processes and errors that inevitably put hospitals in indefensible positions when they undergo Recovery Audit complex reviews. She will also demonstrate that hospitals don't have to tolerate problems that lead to take-backs.  Karen Bowden has worked in hospitals and with hospitals for over 25 years, including a three-year post at a rural hospital in upstate New York.

Brought to you by NRHASC and sponsored by:
Space is limited.
Reserve your webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/370567818
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Join The Guideline Advantage™ Summer Webinar Series

 

The Importance of Data Analytics in Physician Practice

• Wednesday, June 13, 2012 2pm-3pm CDT / 3pm-4pm EST

 

Management of Hyperglycemia in T2DM: Update on the New ADA-EASD Position Statement

• Friday, July 13, 2012 1pm-2pm CDT / 2pm-3pm EST 

 

Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in People with Type 2 Diabetes 

• Tuesday, August 21, 2012 12pm-1pm CDT / 1pm-2pm EST

 

 For more information on this webinar series and to see the full schedule please click here

Share your MDH and LVH Story

NRHA NEEDS YOUR STORY. Help us tell Congress how the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) designation and Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) adjustment help your hospital increase services, maintain care and keep your doors open. If Congress does not act soon, MDH and LVH programs will expire. Share your MDH and LVH story with dlee@nrharural.org or emahn@nrharural.org. Don’t forget to join NRHA on July 30-31 in Washington, DC for our March for Rural Hospitals. 

Call your Members of Congress and tell them to act to protect rural hospitals. Visit NRHA’s action kit for talking points and RuralHealthWeb.org to register today for the free March for Rural Hospitals.

Companion Survey to the 5th Annual 2012 National Rural Emergency Department Study

Each year, iVantage Health Analytics analyzes data from hundreds of thousands of emergency department visits (2.8 million to-date) to establish performance trends in rural hospital emergency departments. This year, to enhance understanding of the trends and report results, iVantage is hosting a nationwide Companion Study open to all rural and Critical Access Hospitals in the United States. The survey results allow us to provide CAH and rural hospitals more in-depth qualitative information about Emergency Department operations and challenges.
Participating hospitals receive, free of charge:

Summary results of the national survey
Benchmarks comparing hospital ED performance to peer hospitals
5th Annual 2012 National Rural Emergency Department Study 

To answer the survey and receive your complimentary reports, click on the link below. All rural and CAH EDs are invited to participate, free of charge.

For more information please click here

Webinar: Innovating within Healthcare Reform: The Rural Response to Changing Payment and Delivery Models

June 12, 11:00-12:00 Although the federal healthcare reform mandate is clouded by the uncertainty of a judicial review, the healthcare world is changing rapidly. In this session, Ryan White from Eide Bailly, will discuss how rural healthcare facilities are aligning themselves to succeed in the healthcare payment and delivery systems of the future. Topics covered include payment reforms around reducing preventable admissions, value based purchasing, bundled payments, and ACOs. The goal will be to learn how to look at designing a financially sustainable healthcare delivery system for your local market, whatever its size, to emphasize better care, better health, and lower costs. This webinar is free for all CRHC-member hospitals and clinics; $79 for all others (invoiced after the webinar). For more information and to register, click here.

Check out CRHC's new Support Service Brochure for rural health clinics!

The Colorado Rural Health Center has revised the pricing structure for many of our technical support services as well as adding a few new services that we provide to rural health clinics throughout our state.  Our Quality Improvement Specialists are available to travel out to your clinic and assist you with anything from mock surveys ( so you're prepared for the unannounced one coming your way), to workflow, gap analysis, motivational interviewing and PCMH designation just to name a few. Please check out our new pricing and services by clicking here and opening up the support services pdf listed under publications.  You may also contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org to have one electronically sent to you or for more information on how we can help you.

Increasing the Number of Insured Coloradans

 

The Department is announcing two programs aimed at making it easier for Coloradoans to apply for Medicaid or CHP+ through the Program Eligibility and Application Kit (PEAK). The two programs may sound similar, but are different: 

PEAK Outreach Project The Department, through funding from the HRSA SHAP grant, has developed the Program Eligibility Application Kit (PEAK) Outreach Project with the purpose of increasing the accessibility to the PEAK Website for Coloradans. 

The Department is issuing a Request for Applications making funds available to community-based organizations to purchase and place desktop computers, laptops, or tablet computers, for example, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, at their locations in order to increase the accessibility for Coloradans to access the PEAK Website. 

 

The maximum funds that can be requested are: 

• Desktop Computer - $750.00 
• Laptop - $1,000.00 
• Tablet Computer - $750.00 

Applications for this program are due no later than June 11, 2012. 

 

 Click here  for more information about the PEAK Outreach Project, or contact Dave Ducharme.