Webinars and Calls:
1.
The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis is pleased to announce
the Nursing Workforce Research Activities and Findings webinar in coordination
with the release of its most recent publication “The U.S. Nursing
Workforce: Trends in Supply and Education.” The National Center for
Health Workforce Analysis will present key findings on the supply, distribution
and education of RNs and LPNs from their report; with discussion topics
centered on key changes in nursing employment over the past decade and current
projects underway to address the supply and demand of the nursing
workforce. The study was able to look at the rural/urban split of
practicing RNs (including advanced practice RNs) and LPNs finding that 16
percent and 24 percent of RNs and LPNs respectively live in rural
communities.
The webinar will be held:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013; 2:00-3:00PM Eastern
Dial-in Number: 800-857-1222; passcode: 7298874
More on “The U.S. Nursing Workforce”
report can be found on the National Center’s website at http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/nursingworkforce/index.html.
2.
Thursday, May 16th at 2:00pm EST, the National Network of
Telehealth Resource Centers will be hosting a webinar “Creative Approaches to
Serving Patients, Saving Resources and Stretching Dollars.” Please join
us for the discussion https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/sbtelehealth/
3.
Thursday, May 23rd the National Network for Oral Health
Access and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health will be
holding a webinar focused on the recruitment and retention of oral health
providers in rural communities. This will be the first webinar in an
upcoming series.
The Affordable Care Act:
When open enrollment begins on
October 1, 2013, for the Health Insurance Marketplaces individuals will find a
shortened application process. The application for individuals is broken
down into five simple steps while applications for families will follow a six
step procedure. The simplification of the process will allow consumers to
see their entire range of health insurance options, including plans in the
Marketplace, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and tax credits
that can be used to help with paying premiums. Applications can be
completed online, by phone or by paper. Information on the updated
applications can be found at http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/other/index.html#hie
Policy:
The Medicare Hospital Inpatient
Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long Term Care Hospital Proposed Rule for
fiscal year 2014, is now available for public comment through June 25th.
The proposed rule in its entirety can be found at http://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx#special
A few of the proposed changes
that may impact rural hospitals include:
·
Changes to Critical Access Hospital conditions
of participation relating to payment for inpatient services;
·
Payments for residents training in approved
residency programs at Critical Access Hospitals;
·
Payment adjustments for Medicare
Disproportionate Share Hospitals;
·
Payment adjustments for low-volume hospitals;
and
·
Proposed changes to admission and medical
review criteria for hospital inpatient services under Medicare Part A.
The “Medicare Billing
Information for Rural Providers and Suppliers” Booklet (ICN 006762) has been revised and is now
available. This booklet is designed to provide education on Medicare rural billing and
includes specific information for Critical Access Hospitals, Federally
Qualified Health Centers, Home Health Agencies, Rural Health Clinics, Skilled
Nursing Facilities, and Swing Beds.
· The book is available at http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/Downloads/RuralChart.pdf
