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:
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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.