ICD-10 deadline won't be delayed, Tavenner tells HIMSS

Providers, payers and claims clearinghouses can look for no relief from the looming, Oct. 1 compliance deadline for the nationwide conversion to the ICD-10 family of diagnostic and procedural codes, the head of the CMS said Thursday. But some case-by-case exemptions will be made for providers having a tough time meeting their Stage 2 meaningful-use targets, she said.

For the full article, click here.

How to Get In Contact with Your RCCO

The Regional Care Collaborative Organization (RCCO) connects Medicaid clients to Medicaid providers and also helps Medicaid clients find community and social services in their area. The RCCO helps providers to communicate with Medicaid clients and with each other, so Medicaid clients receive coordinated care. A RCCO will also help Medicaid clients get the right care when they are returning home from the hospital or a nursing facility, by providing the support needed for a quick recovery. A RCCO helps with other care transitions too, like moving from children's health services to adult health services, or moving from a hospital to nursing care.

Need more information on your RCCO? Click on the links below!

RCCO 1: Rocky Mountain Health Plan Accountable Care Collaborative - Member Handbook

RCCO 2: Colorado Access Regional Accountable Care Collaborative - Member Handbook

RCCO 3: Colorado Access Regional Accountable Care Collaborative - Member Handbook

RCCO 4: Integrated Community Health Partners - Member Handbook

RCCO 5: Colorado Access Regional Accountable Care Collaborative - Member Handbook

RCCO 6: Colorado Community Health Alliance - Member Handbook

RCCO 7: Community Care - Member Handbook 

To figure out which RCCO you are located in, please see our map below.

Information and map provided by Colorado.gov

Telehealth Webinar March 12, 2014

Improving Access to Quality Medical Care

The practice and delivery of healthcare is changing, with an emphasis on improving quality, safety, efficiency, & access to care. Telemedicine can help you achieve these goals! The University of Arizona Center for Rural Health & the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center invite you to a free webinar on the implementation and practice of telemedicine.

 For further details click here.

Additional Enhancements to the Novitas Solutions Website

 In continued response to customer feedback, Novitas Solutions will be making additional enhancements to the website effective March 3. Enhancements include:

· New pop-up selector box - Immediately after you select your jurisdiction from the Novitas Solutions Home Page, you will be required to select your Line of Business (LOB) - Part A or Part B. This will result in your seeing information specific to the jurisdiction and LOB you selected. You can switch between Part A or Part B at any time by using the link located above the left navigation menu.  

· Left navigation menu redesign - Rollout menus from each Center will now provide easy, one-click access to the most requested features within that Center. Simply roll-over or select the Center to access the available Rollout menus. Menus will be customized based on your LOB selection (Part A or Part B).

The Secret’s Out: The Key To Unlock Your Grantor’s Interest:

 Many successful grant writers agree that the key to unlocking the door of your grantor’s interest is simply through effectively answering the question: What is the need that my organization will address? It’s the single most important narrative that clearly and convincingly describes and demonstrates why the project should be funded (e.g., benefits, end products, etc.). The central goal, in any grant whether CREATE or other, is to convince the reviewers of the legitimacy of your problem. They want to know your solution is viable, and that you can execute/accomplish your solution. What a grant application essentially does is sell your need and solution to the funder. Here are a few tips in CREATE-ing your needs narrative?

 

•   Explain why your organization needs this grant? If you receive this grant, how would this grant benefit your organization? Describe and document your need. Support the existence of the project/request with data from surveys, patient call type reports, etc.

• What is the overall community need? How would XXX community benefit if you received grant funding? (e.g.; small rural volunteer led agency with only 6 trained paramedics whom service a large tourist community with increased service need during high ski season.

 

•   List past success with previous grant funds related to the current project.

 

For additional tips and more information about CREATE, contact Lakesha Jones, Grants Manager at (720) 248-2742 or by email at lj@coruralhealth.org .

 

12 Month Continuous Eligibility for Children in Medicaid or CHP+ Program

Beginning March 1^st, the 12 month continuous eligibility policy for children under the age of 19 in the Medicaid or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) programs will be implemented.  Continuous eligibility ensures children remain enrolled in either Medicaid or CHP+ for 12 months, regardless of whether their household experiences a change in income or size.  For more information on continuous eligibility, please see the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing’s frequently asked questions here or go to Colorado.gov/HCPF/ACAResources. 

 

CERT A/B MAC Outreach & Education Task Force

 The CERT A/B MAC Outreach & Education Task Force, a partnership of all A/B Medicare Administrative Contractors, created this Task Force Scenario: Documenting Therapy and Rehabilitation Services guide to educate providers on common documentation errors for outpatient rehabilitation therapy services. These widespread errors contribute to Medicare’s national payment error rate, as measured by the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program.

 For the full guide, please click here.