Household Water Well System Loan Program

RCAC (Rural Community Assistance Corporation) provides low interest loans to lower income rural residents in California, Colorado, and Utah to construct, refurbish, or replace their household water well system.

Residence must be in a rural town or community with a population not exceeding 50,000 in the state of California, Colorado, or Utah. Applicants must own and occupy the home being improved or be purchasing the home. New home construction and community water systems are not eligible. Household income may not exceed $48,516 for California, $49,793 for Colorado, and $46,711 for Utah.

For more information please click here.

CRHC can help!

Following our CAH Quality workshops we here at CRHC would like to highlight some of the services we can provide to help with your quality improvement needs.

The CAH Quality Network provides quarterly webinars surrounding quality improvement the upcoming topics are,

• July 18^th “Process for responding to Quality Concern”
• September 19^th, “Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Process”
• Nov 21^st, “Patient Engagement for Health”

Please contact Caleb Siem at cs@coruralhealth.org to ensure you are on the list serve to receive the invitations

CRHC is also pleased to provide

Quality Improvement Education Package

The Quality Improvement Education Package provides staff with education on three quality improvement (QI basics)

1.       Quality Improvement Team – Education about forming and utilizing a QI team

2.       PDSA (Plan Do Study Act) – teaches the PDSA cycle that facilities can then use to test and implement changes for improvement

3.       Process Mapping – on-site training with staff on tools and techniques to review current practice processes to understand and guide improvement

Management’s Role in Quality Improvement (QI) & Performance Improvement (PI)

This education program will help administrative and clinical manager and leaders enhance their role in QI/PI to lead the organization in attaining its goals. Topics covered include

1.       Aligning QI/PI efforts with the organization’s strategy

2.       Using QI as a strategy to accomplish goals

3.       Using data effectively

4.       Leading and coaching other in QI/PI initiatives

5.       Promoting and maintaining performance excellence

Free Telebehavioral Health Training and Technical Assistance Series

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/ Health Resources and Services Administration (SAMHSA-HRSA) Center for Integrated Health Solutions (CIHS) is sponsoring this Free Telebehavioral Health Training and Technical Assistance Series to HRSA-funded safety net providers and rural health clinics.

Please click here for an email outline.

Please click here for more information.

40th Anniversary Celebration!

The Eastern Colorado Council of Black Nurses (ECCBN) invites you to an evening of celebrating 40 years of servicing with “pride and integrity,” valuing diversity and “looking like those we serve.”

Recognition of Excellence and Scholarship Gala

Red Lion Hotel, Denver Southeast
Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 5:30pm – 11:00pm
Tickets are $50 each
Keynote Speaker Dr. Debra A. Toney

For ticket and event information, contact Odie Kennedy at 720-219-0193 or Chris Bryant at 720-377-7114

A Closer Look: Filling the Rural Provider Gap

Katja Austin is one of many amazing providers making a difference in the lives of rural Coloradans. The Colorado Rural Outreach Program helped Katja further her degree so she can provide a broader scope of practice to her community.

Meet Katja Austin: a wife, mother, volunteer and rural health care provider! Katja works at Middle Park Medical Center located in Kremmling, Colo. as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She practiced as a Registered Nurse for several years, but recently went back to school to further her education and earn an Advanced Practice Nurse degree.

Her broader scope of practice as a nurse directly benefits the community by reducing patient wait time and enabling the clinic to serve more patients. Unfortunately though, it left Katja and her family with significant loan debt. Working at a rural facility with salaries averaging twenty to thirty percent less than their urban counterparts did not make the financial burden any easier for Katja. Looking for ways to ease her loan debt without having to leave Grand County, Katja applied for loan repayment from the Colorado Rural Outreach Program (CROP) and was awarded in June of 2011.

CROP is a loan repayment program administered by the Colorado Rural Health Center that helps increase access to health care in rural communities. The program assists in the recruitment and retention of health care professionals that are so greatly needed in rural Colorado. Through CROP, every rural community has the opportunity to request assistance for their unique health care workforce needs. This flexibility creates a program that delivers a solution as unique as each rural community that applies.

Providing care and improving access in Grand County is of the utmost importance to Katja. She focuses on preventive health for women and children and enthusiastically volunteers her time at the local county schools, conducting growth and development classes and participating in school health fairs. “Ms. Austin never ceases to amaze me with the abilities she demonstrates as a provider. She always makes an extra effort to understand the patients’ individual needs and strives to improve the experience and overall care,” said Dr. John Wisneski, her attending physician.

CROP has not only helped Katja become more financially independent and feel valued by her clinic (as they applied for CROP on her behalf), but has blossomed out to positively affect the entire community. “We have implemented numerous community outreach programs impacted by the CROP grant,” said Katja. “We do free annual sports physicals in the local schools each year, allowing more children the opportunity to participate in sports with less financial stress on families. Many of these children may not have the opportunity to be seen by a health care provider unless an emergency occurs.”

In 2011 Katja won the Grand County Good Neighbor Award for her unfailingly kind support and concern for her patients. “Receiving the CROP grant has played a significant role in my ability to provide community outreach,” said Katja.

Since 2005 CROP has provided funding for 98 clinics and 168 health care providers. With strong support of organizations like the Colorado Health Foundation and health care stakeholders, the program continues to help more people and strengthen access to care for rural patients throughout the state.

written by Emily Berger

HIPAA Omnibus Rule: What You Need to Know for Your Practice

June 3, 2013, 6:00-7:15 pm 

After years of work the final HIPAA Omnibus Rule is here. The rule makes a number of changes including modifying the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules passed under the HITECH Act. This will affect what you and your practice team need to do in order to meet the strict patient privacy and data security requirements. Don't be left in the dark on the details of this critical rule and how it will impact your practice. Plan on attending an engaging and informative webinar with David Ginsberg, a leading authority in HIPAA privacy and security compliance and meaningful use.


 This free webinar is sponsored by the Colorado Medical Society.


The Colorado Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Colorado Medical Society designates this live webinar for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Attention Colorado CAH's.....

Please save the date for the annual CAH Workshop to be held October 16th at the Crowne Plaza in Colorado Springs. The annual CAH Workshop brings together Colorado CAH leadership to network and discuss Colorado’s CAH program strategic priorities, current updates, and issues impacting Colorado’s CAHs. We will send out additional details and registration information when it is available. Also CRHC’s Annual Rural Health Conference will be October 17th-18th following the CAH Workshop.

Free Telebehavioral Health Training and Technical Assistance Series

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/ Health Resources and Services Administration (SAMHSA-HRSA) Center for Integrated Health Solutions (CIHS) is sponsoring this Free Telebehavioral Health Training and Technical Assistance Series to HRSA-funded safety net providers and rural health clinics.

Please click here for an email outline.

Please click here for more information.

CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum....

Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2013;
Start Time: 2:00pm Eastern Time (ET)

Conference Leaders: Carol Blackford, John Hammarlund and Matthew Brown.
**This Agenda is Subject to Change**

I. Opening Remarks
Chair – Carol Blackford, Deputy Director, Chronic Care Policy Group, Center for Medicare
Co-Chair – John Hammarlund, Regional Administrator, Seattle Regional Office
Moderator – Matthew Brown, Office of Communications

II. Announcements & Updates

• Health Insurance Marketplace
• IPPS Proposed Rule
• MSA Changes and Medicare Telehealth Services

III. Open Q&A

This call will be Conference Call Only. Please dial in at least 15 minutes prior to call start time.

 Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID: 78861994.

For ODF schedule updates & E-Mailing List registration, visit our website at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/.

ICD-10-PCS Code Updates

The 2014 ICD-10-PCS (procedure) files are now available and posted on the CMS website. ICD-10-PCS will be used for coding inpatient procedures when the U.S. transitions to ICD-10 on October 1, 2014. ICD-10-PCS will replace ICD-9-CM, Volume 3. CPT codes will continue to be used for outpatient procedures and services. 

The new ICD-10-PCS files include: 

• Updated “Official ICD-10-PCS Coding Guidelines” with guidance from the ICD Cooperating Parties: CMS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Hospital Association, and the American Health Information Management Association 
• The 2014 ICD-10-PCS code tables and index, which add four procedure codes created to capture new technologies 

To find out more about the 2014 ICD-10-PCS files, see the accompanying “What’s New” document. The 2014 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs) and 2014 Reimbursement Mapping files will be released in October 2013. 

The FY 2014 ICD-9-CM procedure code files are posted on the Updates and Revisions to ICD-9-CM Procedure Codes website. There will not be any FY 2014 ICD-9-CM diagnosis files, as CDC is not updating ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes for FY 2014. 

Clarification on the Use of External Cause and Unspecified Codes in ICD-10-CM

Just as with ICD-9-CM, there is no national requirement for mandatory ICD-10-CM external cause code reporting. Unless a provider is subject to a state-based external cause code reporting mandate or these codes are required by a particular payer, reporting of ICD-10-CM codes in Chapter 20, External Causes of Morbidity, is not required. If a provider has not been reporting ICD-9-CM external cause codes, the provider will not be required to report ICD-10-CM codes in Chapter 20, unless a new state or payer-based requirement regarding the reporting of these codes is instituted. Such a requirement would be independent of ICD-10-CM implementation. In the absence of a mandatory reporting requirement, providers are encouraged to voluntarily report external cause codes, as they provide valuable data for injury research and evaluation of injury prevention strategies. 

Sign/Symptom/Unspecified Codes

In both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM, sign/symptom and “unspecified” codes have acceptable, even necessary, uses. While specific diagnosis codes should be reported when they are supported by the available medical record documentation and clinical knowledge of the patient’s health condition, there are instances when signs/symptoms or unspecified codes are the best choices for accurately reflecting the health care encounter. Each health care encounter should be coded to the level of certainty known for that encounter. 

If a definitive diagnosis has not been established by the end of the encounter, it is appropriate to report codes for sign(s) and/or symptom(s) in lieu of a definitive diagnosis. When sufficient clinical information isn’t known or available about a particular health condition to assign a more specific code, it is acceptable to report the appropriate “unspecified” code (e.g., a diagnosis of pneumonia has been determined, but not the specific type). In fact, unspecified codes should be reported when they are the codes that most accurately reflects what is known about the patient’s condition at the time of that particular encounter. It would be inappropriate to select a specific code that is not supported by the medical record documentation or conduct medically unnecessary diagnostic testing in order to determine a more specific code.

Keep Up to Date on ICD-10

Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources and the ICD-10 continuing medical education modules developed by CMS in partnership with Medscape to help you prepare for the October 1, 2014, deadline. 

Inpatient Prospective Payment System NPRM

On April 26, 2013 the CMS issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) and long-term care hospitals (LTCHs). The rule affects approx. 3,400 acute care hospitals and 440 LTCHs. Comments will be accepted until June 25.

• FY 2014 Payment Update: The proposed rule would increase IPPS operating rates by 0.8% after accounting for adjustments, such as the required recoupment (American Taxpayer Relief Act) of $11 billion in overpayments resulting from documentation and coding changes that occurred after CMS implemented new patient severity classifications in FY 2008. LTCH PPS payments would increase by 1.1%. 
• CAH Conditions of Participation (COP): The proposed rule clarifies the COPs to require that CAHs have the capacity to provide inpatient care on-site. Approximately 1% of CAHs do not currently provide inpatient services. 
• Graduate Medical Education (GME): The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposes to revise the GME policy addressing inpatient labor and delivery days in the inpatient Medicare utilization calculation. This may also impact "like hospital" determinations when considering designation as a sole community hospital or conversion to a CAH. CMS also proposes that a hospital may not claim FTE residents training at a CAH for indirect medical education (IME) and/or direct GME purposes. However, if a CAH incurs the costs of training the FTE residents while on rotation at the CAH, the CAH may receive 101% of those Medicare reasonable costs. 
• Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH): The ACA changes the methodology for calculating payments to DSHs, which serve a large proportion of low-income people, to account for the decreased in the number of the uninsured beginning in 2014. DSH payments will be reduced to 25% of the amount under current policy. The remaining 75% will be adjusted for decreases in the rate of uninsured individuals nationally, and then distributed to currently-eligible hospitals based on their share of uncompensated care relative to all Medicare DSH hospitals. 
• Value-Based Purchasing Program: The ACA adjusts payments to hospitals according to the quality of care they deliver. For FY 2014, CMS is increasing the percent reduction - the portion of Medicare payments available to fund the VBP Program's incentive payments - to 1.25%, which would provide approximately $1.1 billion. The NPRM also proposes new VBP measures. 
• New Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program: The ACA mandates a HAC program. Beginning in FY 2015, hospitals that rank among the worst quartile with regard to HACs will receive a 1% payment reduction. The NPRM proposes HAC ranking criteria and methodology. 
• Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program: The maximum payment reduction increases from 1% to 2% (statutory). CMS proposes to add two readmission measures for use in calculating FY 2015 penalties. 
• Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) Program: The American Taxpayer Relief Act extended the MDH program through FY 2013. The NPRM includes the expiration of the designation for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2013. 
• Low-Volume Hospitals: The temporary changes to low-volume hospital definition and payment adjustment methodology provided for by the ACA for FY 2011 through FY 2013 are expiring. CMS is proposing in FY 2014 to return the hospital definition and payment adjustment methodology that was in place prior to FY 2011. 

New 5-Hour Online Primary Care Course for Substance Use Professionals

The SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions (CIHS), in collaborated with the Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network and the Morehouse School of Medicine National Center for Primary Care, has developed a 5-hour self-paced online course for addiction treatment professionals considering career opportunities in primary care. The free course provides these professionals with resources and information to help them decide whether working in a primary care setting is right for them.

 

Of interest to individuals currently in training to provide substance abuse services, as well as practicing substance abuse treatment professionals, the online course follows four modules:

• What are key aspects of the primary care culture?
• What new language will I need to learn?
• What is my role and what difference can I make?
• What does it take for an addiction professional to succeed in a primary care environment?

The free Primary Care for Substance Use Professionals 5-hour Online Course will help you determine if this career option is for you. Begin the course today. NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, and the National Board for Certified Counselors offer five continuing educations credits (CEUs) for this course for a fee ($25.00 to earn 5.00 NAADAC CEUs and 5.00 NBCC clock hours).

 

 

Discounted Policy & Procedure Manuals!

Are you ready for the 

unannounced state survey? 

Is your clinic manual out of date? 

Spring is upon us, and that means the surveyors may be hitting the roads! This month CRHC is excited to offer you a special discount on our Policy & Procedures manual when you schedule your mock survey with our Quality Improvement Specialists. CRHC provides a comprehensive evaluation of compliance with existing requirements for certified RHC's. This service includes onsite clinic inspection and basic review for RHC Policy and Procedures.

Take advantage of scheduling the mock survey service now and receive $75.00 off the P&P manual for your clinic! Our QI specialists with review the clinics annual evaluation processes, as well as conduct a review of medical charts (paper or electronic). A professional follow up summary, recommendations, and report of findings is also included.

To receive this offer, please schedule your mock survey by May 24th. Services must be completed by early July, and the discounted Policy & Procedures manual is available to you upon payment. Please contact Samantha Hiner at sh@coruralhealth.org for questions or to schedule this service.

Temporary Billing Guidelines for Annual Wellness Visits and Initial Preventive Physical Examinations for Rural Health Clinics

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identified an issue with the January 2013 quarterly release that is impacting the payment to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) for Annual Wellness Visits (AWV) and Initial Preventive Physical Examinations (IPPE) services.

Although, AWV and IPPE are covered services for RHCs, the Fiscal Intermediary Shared System (FISS) is currently preventing the processing of these services at the all-inclusive payment rate.

Until system changes can be implemented in FISS, RHCs should follow the billing instructions outlined below to ensure there is no further delay in your Medicare payments:

• AWV services should be submitted to the Medicare claims administration contractor with revenue code 052X and HCPCS code G0438 or G0439. Please ensure no other services are reported on the claim with the same line item date of service as the AWV. 
• IPPE services should be submitted by itself on a separate claim to the Medicare contractor. When billing for an encounter/visit on the same day as an IPPE service, submit the first claim with revenue code 052X and no HCPCS/CPT code. The second claim should be submitted with revenue code 052X and HCPCS code G0402. 

Your Medicare contractor may have been holding these claims waiting for a system fix. Therefore, in order to prevent further delay in payments, your contractor will soon begin to return these claims to you. Please resubmit the claims using the billing guidelines as described above.

RHC providers should follow these billing guidelines until further instructions are given. Please contact your Medicare contractor if you have additional questions.

CHA/HIM Advisory Group Friday May 17,2013

Join us on May 17!

We encourage you to attend in person; however, if you are not able to attend in person:

The next meeting of the HIM/CHA Advisory Group will be on Friday, May 17th from 2:30 - 4:00 PM at CHA.

Title: CHA/HIM Advisory Group Friday May 17,2013
Date: Friday, May 17, 2013
Time: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM MDT

1.  Please join my meeting.
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/705872970

2.  Join the conference call:
Dial +1 (805) 309-0033
Access Code: 705-872-970
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
Meeting ID: 705-872-970

You can find the agenda by clicking here.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer
Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®/iPad®/Android™ smartphone or tablet

CMS ICD-10 Resources

The CMS website offers resources for providers, payers, and vendors to help prepare for the transition to ICD-10. Resources provide tips and advice on how to plan and execute your transition to ICD-10, including timelines, checklists, and fact sheets:

ICD-10 Basics
These resources will introduce you to ICD-10, explain why it's necessary, and give you the information you'll need to get started on your transition.

• FAQs: ICD-10 Transition Basics
• ICD-10 Transition: An Introduction Fact Sheet
• ICD-10 Basics for Medical Practices
• ICD-10 Basics for Payers
• The ICD-10 Transition: Focus on Non-Covered Entities

Checklists, Timelines, and Implementation Guides
Checklists and timelines provide an at-a-glance view of what you need to do to get ICD-10 ready. The ICD-10 implementation guides provide detailed information about the ICD-10 transition. Please note that the dates and milestones in these materials are recommendations only; you can adapt them to your needs for meeting the October 1, 2014, deadline.

Checklists with ICD-10 transition tasks and estimated timeframes

• Small and Medium Practices
• Small Hospitals
• Large Practices
• Payers

Timelines with suggested dates for important ICD-10 transition activities

• Small and Medium Practices
• Small Hospitals
• Large Practices
• Payers

Implementation Guides

• Small and Medium Practices
• Small Hospitals
• Large Practices
• Payers

Implementation Planning
Get step-by-step information to help you plan for the transition.

• Plan to Mitigate Risk for a Smooth Transition
• Planning Your ICD-10 Transition Activities for 2013
• ICD-10 Activities for 2013
• Simple Steps to Improve Clinical Documentation
• Develop Your ICD-10 Communication and Awareness Plan
• The ICD-10 Planning Checklist
• Review How You Use ICD-9 Codes
• Looking Back at Version 5010 and Ahead to ICD-10

Communicating About ICD-10
Communication between health care providers, software vendors, clearinghouses, and billing services is an important part of the transition process. Learn how to get the conversation started.

• Talking to Your Customers About ICD-10: Tips for Software Vendors
• Talking to Your Vendors About ICD-10: Tips for Medical Practices
• Communicating with Your Payers About ICD-10
• Communicating with Your Software Vendor

Medscape Education: CME Credits Available
Continuing medical education (CME) credits are available to physicians who complete the learning modules for small-medium practices or large practices, but anyone can take them and receive a certificate of completion.
Medscape Education Modules
Medscape Expert Article 

Keep Up to Date on ICD-10
Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare for the October 1, 2014, deadline. Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates and follow us on Twitter.

2013 Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) Application Cycle Open

In case you haven’t heard… the 2013 Faculty Loan Repayment Program (FLRP) application cycle is now open!  As a partner, you can help us spread the word.  We anticipate making 20 new awards this year.

The Faculty Loan Repayment Program supports health professions educators who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and serve a vital role in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. If you know any prospective applicants, or belong to an organization that would reach prospective applicants, make them aware:

• FLRP will provide a lump sum, up to a maximum of $40,000, for a two year service commitment.  In addition, FLRP requires a funding match from the applicant’s health professions school, which helps program participants further reduce their educational debt.
• FLRP participants who have additional qualifying loans once their service commitment is complete may re-apply for another two-year contract in exchange for additional years of service.
• The financial assistance offered through FLRP decreases the economic barriers associated with pursuing a career as a health professions educator preparing the next generation of health professionals.

Applications are due by 7:30 pm ET on June 27, 2013. 

As in previous years, FLRP is expected to be competitive.  If there are more qualified applicants than available funding, preference will be based upon: the amount of financial match from the applicant’s school; full-time faculty status; and demonstrated commitment to promoting health care careers.

Please direct prospective applicants to the FLRP website at http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/repayment/Faculty/ for more information and to begin the application process.  

Important Update on NHSC site recertification:

Some NHSC sites are required to recertify every three years to maintain their eligibility in the program. (Federal sites and sites that receive funding from HRSA as a Federally Qualified Health Center are not required to recertify, as long as they continue to receive Federal funding and meet NHSC requirements.) This process can be completed in the online Customer Service Portal during open recertification cycles based on the expiration date of the site.

Sites that were required to recertify by March 31, 2013, but did not do so, were deactivated on April 1, 2013. The next site application cycle will open on September 2, 2013 and will close on November 1, 2013. The revised date of September 2, 2013 represents a change from previous guidance and was pushed back so that sites can benefit from enhanced functionality in the online Customer Service Portal.

All new site applications received during the open cycle, with the exception of applications that require a site visit, will be processed prior to the opening of the 2014 NHSC Loan Repayment Application Cycle.

National Council May 22 Webinar

Register now for access information but note that registration does not guarantee your space on the webinar. Attendance is limited to the first 1,000 registrants that join at the time of the webinar — so sign in early. CEUs are NOT available for National Council webinars.

TOPIC Reducing Hospital Readmissions for Clients with Addictions
DATE Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 2:00pm-3:30pm EDT
SPEAKERS Christopher Wilkins, CEO, Loyola Recovery Foundation, Inc.

Reducing hospital readmissions is top priority across stakeholders, requiring creative interventions to change the treatment journey for individuals with addictions. Loyola Recovery Foundation, Inc. in Pittsford, New York is a community based non-profit organization providing sub-specialty behavioral health, health management, housing, and employment services to Veterans. Hear first-hand from the Loyola Recovery Foundation CEO and learn more about the innovative program they implemented — the mPOWER Project.

Currently funded by SAMHSA, mPower provides mobile patient opportunities for wellness, empowerment, and recovery to an identified cohort of high risk/high need veterans between the ages of 18-55, who have a diagnosis of substance abuse along with multiple physical and psychiatric comorbidities. The specific goal of this project is to reduce the target population’s utilization of addiction crisis, emergency medical, and emergency psychiatric services through the use of technology-based interventions. To date, this project has resulted in a 192% decrease in readmission rates, from an average of 3.9 readmissions to an average of 0.3.

During this webinar, Christopher Wilkins, CEO of the Loyola Recovery Foundation will:

•    Review the treatment challenges in implementing a program like mPower
•    Discuss integrated re-hospitalization prevention strategies
•    Discuss what has worked, what hasn’t, and next steps

Register FREE at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/198288386
This webinar is cosponsored with NORC and the N-ATTC.

Not able to attend live? Access free post-event recordings and PowerPoints at www.thenationalcouncil.org/cs/recordings_presentations.


Learn more about upcoming webinars at www.thenationalcouncil.org/cs/national_council_live/upcoming_webinars

Senator Michael Bennet to Keynote Healthy Transitions Colorado Kickoff July 8

When: July 8, 7:30-10:00am Where: University of CO Hospital, Anschutz Campus  Description: Join CIVHC and operating partners for the Healthy Transitions Colorado campaign launch where keynote speaker Senator Michael Bennet will kick off this collaborative, multi-organizational campaign to keep Coloradan's healthy and save millions of dollars in health care costs.    More Info and Registration

WHLI's Community Health Worker Workshop in Denver

The Women’s Health Leadership Institute’s Community Health Worker (CHW) training  program is coming to Denver!  

We are looking for experienced Community Health Workers to be involved in this wonderful institute and movement to improve health in our communities.  Entrance is limited and the application deadline is upcoming.   

When: June 12, 13, and 14

Who: Community Health Workers or similar who are part of Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming)

Where: Downtown Denver

How: The application must be submitted no later than Friday, May 24, 2013. Please email the application to Carmen Ferlan, Master Trainer Supervisor at cferlan@mariposachc.net

Note: This training is currently offered in English only.

Please click here for the official announcement.

Please click here for Frequently Asked Questions.

Please click here for the application.

Clinic Emergency Preparedness Training Rescheduled

Interoperability Communications Training and Planning for Brush, CO has been rescheduled for May 20th.

For more information and to register please click here.

http://www.coruralhealth.org/programs/emts/documents/CRHC-CCHNEPTrainingFlyer.pdf

Announcements from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy

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

      https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/health_wrkfrc_webinar/

      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 16^th 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 23^rd 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. 

To register visit: https://nosorh.webex.com/mw0307l/mywebex/default.do?nomenu=true&siteurl=nosorh&service=6&rnd=0.9154098310188442&main_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnosorh.webex.com%2Fec0606l%2Feventcenter%2Fevent%2FeventAction.do%3FtheAction%3Ddetail%26confViewID%3D1003794949%26%26%26%26siteurl%3Dnosorh

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

·         Individual application  http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/other/Files/AttachmentB_042913.pdf

·         Family application  http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/other/Files/AttachmentC_042913.pdf

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 25^th.  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

And, in text format only at http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/Downloads/RuralChart-Text-Only.pdf

2013 Immunization Schedule Palm Cards

The 2013 Immunization Palm Cards for the childhood immunization schedule, adolescent immunization schedule and screening are now available. The cards, from the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition, are available in child, adolescent and child screening schedules, and are laminated and hole-punched for easy attachment to a lanyard or badge. To order the 2013 cards, click here.

Webinar on Transitional Management Care (TCM) Codes

Transitional Care Management (TCM): Making it work for your patients and your practice 

Join us this Friday, May 10, at 12:15, for our First Friday lunchtime webinar. Click to Register Now!

MESA Founder and Faculty Member, Donald Murphy, MD, and Program Coordinator, Holly LeMaster, will delve into the new Transitional Management Codes. Medicare is taking the first steps toward Accountable Care Organizations and bundled payments with these new TCM codes designed for primary care providers. Learn the ins and outs of coding, documenting, and billing for these codes and hear about the issues other practices are experiencing in implementing TCM.

Download handouts here.

There is never any cost to providers or practices to participate in these webinars.

REGISTER NOW!

Transitional Management Care

Friday, May 10
12:15 - 12:45 pm 

No cost to participate

This program is fully funded by grants from the Colorado Health Foundation, the Kaiser Permanente Foundation, and Caring for Colorado.

Open to all primary care providers who care for Colorado seniors and their office staff members.

THE Consortium Webinar - HIPAA Omnibus Follow-Up

HIPAA Omnibus Follow-Up -- Deeper Dive

Please join us for THE Consortium webinar on Thursday, May 16, 2013 from 12:00pm - 1:15pm where we will discuss the HIPAA Omnibus Rule in greater depth than at our recent presentations. The deeper dive will focus on:

• Handling patient requests for restrictions on disclosures to health plans
• Providing immunization records to schools
• New Breach notification procedures
• What you should be doing NOW to be ready for the September 23rd deadline for compliance

Click here to register.

There's Still Time - ICD Bootcamp!

Meet your coding, reimbursement and compliance goals in 2013.

Topics covered include the following coding manuals:

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

SPACE IS FILLING UP! 
There are a limited number of spaces still available - get your registration in today!

These classes are normally offered at over $2,000.00 per person. Save your time and money by attending our three day workshops. It's amazing what you'll learn!

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Rifle, CO.
May 21, 22 & 23, 2013
Grand River Hospital Conference Center/501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO
Click here to register

Questions? Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org

Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

Webinar Series on Customer Service, Improving Patient Experience and Achieving "Always" Satisfaction

Save the Date!

CRHC will host a series of webinars presented by Impact! Communcations entitled Fail-Safe Strategies for Achieving “Always” Patient Satisfaction in the Real Rural World. 

This three part series (two, 1-hour webinars and one 2.5-hour onsite workshop) is designed to give participants solid and immediate strategies and tools to:

• Identify strengths and improve areas of weakness with respect to internal communication and patient interaction
• Create an awareness of how personal behaviors impact patient perceptions
• Formulate a right-sized strategy that cements behaviors for an “always” culture of commitment, reinforcement and accountability
• Teach every employee how to speak directly to the heart of any patient-satisfaction survey tool

More information to come on the following webinars:

The Challenge of Change – Part One Webinar – August 19, 2013 – 11 am - 12 pm MT
The Promise of Excellence – Part Two Webinar – September 10, 2013 – 11 am - 12 pm MT
Shift Happens! Making the Connection between Customer Service, Culture Change and Communication – Part Three Workshop - October 16, 2013 at the Annual CAH Workshop

Details and registration to come! Please contact Caleb Siem at cs@coruralhealth.orgwith any questions or for more information.

Interoperability Communications Training and Planning

Colorado Community Health Network and the Colorado Rural Health Center have partnered with Magnum Solutions, LLC to provide interoperability communications training and planning to Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers to support mass casualty and disaster response efforts.

Course objectives include:

• Discuss the importance of IS 100 (Intro to ICS) and IS 700 (NIMS)
• Discuss the Basic Incident Command Structure Terminology Applicable to Rural Health Clinics.
• Illustrate a facility Incident Command Structure and Identifying a basic communication plan that would allow for interoperable communications.
• Demonstrate interoperability communications between a clinic and outside agency during a mass casualty event through the use of Mutual Aid Channels on the Digital Trunked Radio System.
• Discuss the capacity in which a clinic would respond to a mass casualty event in their community using specific examples.

The course will be offered May 20, 2013 at:

East Morgan County Hospital

2400 W. Edison

Brush, CO 80723

9:00AM-12:00Noon

For more information on class dates and registration, please click here.

Medicare Claims for Incarcerated and Unlawfully Present Beneficiaries

Generally, Medicare does not pay claims for items or services furnished to a beneficiary in state or local custody under a penal authority or for services rendered to an alien beneficiary who was not lawfully present in the United States (unlawfully present) on the date of service.

The Medicare Claims Processing Manual, IOM 100-04, Chapter 1, Section 10.4 states:

·         Under Section 1862(a)(2) of the Social Security Act “the Act”, the Medicare program does not pay for services if the beneficiary has no legal obligation to pay for the services and no other person or organization has a legal obligation to provide or pay for that service.

·         Under Section 1862(a) (3) of the Act, if services are paid for directly or indirectly by a governmental entity, Medicare does not pay for the services.

These provisions are implemented by regulations 42 C.F.R.§411.4, 411.6, and 411.8, respectively.

·         Sections 226 and 226(A) of the Act provide that no payments may be made for benefits under Part A of Title XVIII of the Act if there is no monthly benefit payable under Title II. Section 1836 of the Act limits Part B benefits to those who are either entitled to Part A benefits or who are age 65 and a United States (U.S.) resident, U.S. citizen, or a lawfully admitted alien residing permanently in the U.S.

Additional information will be posted on the Novitas Website at: https://www.novitas-solutions.com/claims/bulletins/index.html

OCR launches nationwide compliance review initiative to strengthen language access programs at critical access hospitals

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) today announced its national compliance review initiative, “Advancing Effective Communication in Critical Access Hospitals,” to support language access programs in these hospitals. In concert with the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, this initiative will ensure that language access is provided so that individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English or are limited English proficient (LEP) can effectively participate in, and benefit from, quality health care services. 

To lay the groundwork, in 2012, OCR piloted a ten-state, on-site examination of critical access hospitals (CAHs) located in each of the ten HHS regions to make certain that their programs comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in programs that receive federal funds. Further, Title VI requires recipients of federal funds, like critical access hospitals, to take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to their programs and services by LEP persons. 

For each CAH in this compliance review initiative, OCR examined demographic data from the hospital’s service area; conducted onsite visits; evaluated language access services policies and procedures; interviewed hospital staff and community stakeholders; and secured corrective action when compliance issues were discovered in the hospital’s language access program. 

OCR provided significant technical assistance to help CAHs audit and enhance their language access services. OCR is available to help all critical hospitals nationwide develop and implement a comprehensive language access program. Building on the success of the compliance reviews, OCR will continue the compliance review initiative by casting a wider net, conducting additional language access compliance reviews, and providing technical assistance to CAHs nationwide. 

Critical access hospitals seeking technical assistance should consult OCR’s report, “Advancing Effective Communication in Critical Access Hospitals", the HHS “Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons,” or call OCR at 1-800-368-1019 (voice) or 1-800-537-7697 (TDD). 

To access OCR settlement agreements, learn more about non-discrimination laws in health care and human service settings and stay informed on civil rights matters visit us at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr.

CMS ICD-10 Resources

The CMS website offers resources for providers, payers, and vendors to help prepare for the transition to ICD-10. Resources provide tips and advice on how to plan and execute your transition to ICD-10, including timelines, checklists, and fact sheets:

ICD-10 Basics
These resources will introduce you to ICD-10, explain why it's necessary, and give you the information you'll need to get started on your transition.

• FAQs: ICD-10 Transition Basics
• ICD-10 Transition: An Introduction Fact Sheet
• ICD-10 Basics for Medical Practices
• ICD-10 Basics for Payers
• The ICD-10 Transition: Focus on Non-Covered Entities

Checklists, Timelines, and Implementation Guides
Checklists and timelines provide an at-a-glance view of what you need to do to get ICD-10 ready. The ICD-10 implementation guides provide detailed information about the ICD-10 transition. Please note that the dates and milestones in these materials are recommendations only; you can adapt them to your needs for meeting the October 1, 2014, deadline. 

Checklists with ICD-10 transition tasks and estimated timeframes

• Small and Medium Practices
• Small Hospitals
• Large Practices
• Payers

Timelines with suggested dates for important ICD-10 transition activities

• Small and Medium Practices
• Small Hospitals
• Large Practices
• Payers

Implementation Guides

• Small and Medium Practices
• Small Hospitals
• Large Practices
• Payers

Implementation Planning
Get step-by-step information to help you plan for the transition.

• Plan to Mitigate Risk for a Smooth Transition
• Planning Your ICD-10 Transition Activities for 2013
• ICD-10 Activities for 2013
• Simple Steps to Improve Clinical Documentation
• Develop Your ICD-10 Communication and Awareness Plan
• The ICD-10 Planning Checklist
• Review How You Use ICD-9 Codes
• Looking Back at Version 5010 and Ahead to ICD-10

Communicating About ICD-10
Communication between health care providers, software vendors, clearinghouses, and billing services is an important part of the transition process. Learn how to get the conversation started.

• Talking to Your Customers About ICD-10: Tips for Software Vendors
• Talking to Your Vendors About ICD-10: Tips for Medical Practices
• Communicating with Your Payers About ICD-10
• Communicating with Your Software Vendor

Medscape Education: CME Credits Available
Continuing medical education (CME) credits are available to physicians who complete the learning modules for small-medium practices or large practices, but anyone can take them and receive a certificate of completion.
Medscape Education Modules
Medscape Expert Article 

Keep Up to Date on ICD-10
Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare for the October 1, 2014, deadline. Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates and follow us on Twitter.