Novitas Solutions eNews: Jurisdiction H, Part A

Important Credit Balance Changes are HERE!

As previously posted, Credit Balance Certification pages and detail pages that contain invalid, inaccurate, or incomplete information will be rejected. Please see “How to Complete CMS-838 Credit Balance Reports” for the latest information on what is required when filing.

Changes to FAX Submission Method
In the past, only zero balance certifications could be received by fax. That has CHANGED! FAX all credit balance reports to 410-891-5230 unless remitting payment by check. Reports containing “Check” as method of repayment are the only reports that must be sent by mail.

Medical Policy

Fax Number Now Available to Submit IDE Applications to Novitas

Novitas is pleased to provide a new cost-effective and efficient way to submit IDE application packets. IDE application packets should now be faxed to Novitas at 410- 891-5231.

Starting October 1, 2015, hard copy application packets sent via mail will not be accepted. Novitas’ policy of not accepting e-mailed IDE application packets will remain unchanged. Please visit our Clinical Trials and Devices website for further information on submitting IDE applications to Novitas.

As always, if you have submitted an IDE application packet to Novitas and need to check the status, please continue to send an e-mail to: IDE_Status@novitas-solutions.com. You will receive a response within 10 business days.

Education & Training
July and August 2015 Medicare Symposiums

There is still time to register for our upcoming 2015 Medicare Symposiums!

Register today for our symposium in Little Rock, AR on Wednesday, July 29! This event will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Rock.

We will also be in Austin, TX on Wednesday, August 5! This symposium will be held at the Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark.

Join us, live and in-person, as we discuss what is new and exciting with Medicare. Topics this year include Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP), provider enrollment, and modifiers. Don’t miss your chance to interact with the Novitas Solutions Provider Outreach and Education team!

Find out what the Novitas Solutions symposiums have to offer by reviewing our course listings and agenda in the 2015 Medicare Symposium brochure on our website.

Registration is available for other symposiums, including:

• Baton Rouge, LA 
• Oklahoma City, OK 
• Frisco, TX 

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming symposium event!

Medicare Learning Network® MLN Matters® Articles

Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Articles from CMS
Revised:

• MM9167 - Quarterly Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Drug/Biological Code Changes - July 2015 Update

HHS launches multi-pronged effort to combat opioid abuse

HHS launches multi-pronged effort to combat opioid abuse

July 27, 2015

By: Jim Macrae, Acting Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Pam Hyde, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Andy Slavitt, Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The opioid crisis is affecting communities across the country. Deaths from drug overdose have risen steadily over the past two decades and have become the leading cause of injury death in the United States. Prescription drugs, especially opioid analgesics—a class of prescription drugs such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine and methadone used to treat both acute and chronic pain—have increasingly been implicated in drug overdose deaths over the last decade. From 1999 to 2013, the rate for drug poisoning deaths involving opioid analgesics nearly quadrupled. Deaths related to heroin have also increased sharply since 2010, with a 39 percent increase between 2012 and 2013. Given these alarming trends, it is time for a smart and sustainable response to prevent opioid abuse and overdose and to treat people with opioid use disorder.

READ MORE: HHS launches multi-pronged effort to combat opioid abuse

AgriSafe Webinar: Fall Prevention for Agricultural Producers

Fall Prevention for Agricultural Producers
Date: Thursday , August 27, 2015
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm Central Time

Summary:
This presentation on Fall Prevention for Agricultural Producers is designed for workers and management personnel in production agriculture. It can be applied to the family farm, ranch population, small agriculture business or larger work force in the agricultural industry.

Objectives:
At the end of this one hour training program, participants will be able to:

* differentiate between same level falls and elevated falls
* describe the hierarchy of hazard controls
* select proper fall protection systems
* increase their knowledge of rescue and training techniques related to fall hazards.

Register Here!

Weekly CREATE Bulletin

10 Steps to Success!

1. Contact CRHC CREATE staff for assistance and answers to your questions.

2. READ the grant guidelines and ask questions about things you do not understand.

3. Submit supporting financial documents such as the Organizational Budget, Profit and Loss Statement and Balance Sheet to help justify your need for funding.

4. Submit detailed information in your narratives to help the reviewer understand your need.

5. Clearly communicate the organization’s sustainability plan.

6. Apply and plan early to ensure you meet deadlines.

7. Make sure all program participants meet the eligibility criteria for reimbursement.

8. Ensure all of your expenses meet the reimbursement criteria

9. Ask your internal leadership for application support (letters, internal review before submittal)

10. Use the scoring tool posted on the CREATE website to self-score your application before submitting to make sure it’s perfect!



Thank you for all you do for our Colorado communities!

If you have any questions about the CREATE Grant process, please contact Megan Lyda at ml@coruralhealth.org or 720-248-2742.

Next iCARE Webinar

The next monthly webinar for participants in the iCARE grant will take place on August 25th from 11-12. To register click here. Contact Caleb Siem at cs@coruralhealth.org with any questions.

MLN Connects Provider eNews

Read the eNews
View this edition as a PDF

In This Edition:
Countdown to ICD-10

• CMS and AMA Announce Efforts to Help Providers Get Ready For ICD-10 
• MLN Connects National Provider Call: Countdown to ICD-10 
• “ICD-10 Website Wheel” Educational Tool — Released 
• “Medicare FFS Claims Processing Guidance for Implementing ICD-10 — A Re-Issue of MM7492” MLN Matters® Article — Revised 
• Medicare Learning Network ICD-10 Products Available In Electronic Publication Format 
• Get Ready for ICD-10 with the CMS Infographic 
• ICD-10 Resources for Medicare Providers 

MLN Connects® National Provider Calls and Events

• IQCP for CLIA Laboratory Nonwaived Testing: Workbook Tool Webcast — Last Chance to Register 
• 2016 PFS Proposed Rule: Medicare Quality Reporting Programs Call — Last Chance to Register 
• ESRD QIP: Proposed Rule for Payment Year 2019 Call — Register Now 
• Check Out the MLN Connects Call Program Collection of Provider Resources 

CMS Events

• PERM Cycle 1 Provider Education Sessions 

Announcements

• Proposed Hospital Outpatient and ASC Policy and Payment Changes for 2016, including Two-Midnight Rule 
• New Initiative to Promote Value-Based Home Health Care 
• PV-PQRS Users: Do Not Log into the Portal until Further Notice 
• IRF-PAI Training Manual Updated with Information on New Items Effective October 1, 2015 
• EHR Incentive Programs: Reporting CQMs with a Zero Numerator and/or Denominator

CMS Begins Implementation of Key Payment Legislation

Proposed Update to Physician Fee Schedule is First Since Repeal of SGR

On July 8, CMS released the first proposed update to the physician payment schedule since the repeal of the Sustainable Growth Rate through the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). The proposal includes a number of provisions focused on person-centered care, and continues the Administration’s commitment to transform the Medicare program to a system based on quality and healthy outcomes.

“CMS is building on the important work of Congress to shift the Medicare program toward a system that rewards physicians for providing high quality care,” said Andy Slavitt, Administrator of CMS. “Thanks to the recent landmark Medicare and children’s health insurance program legislation, CMS and Congress are working together to achieve a better Medicare payment system for physicians and the American people.”

In the proposed CY 2016 Physician Fee Schedule rule, CMS is also seeking comment from the public on implementation of certain provisions of the MACRA, including the new Merit-based Incentive payment system (MIPS). This is part of a broader effort at the Department to move the Medicare program to a health care system focused on the delivery of quality care and value.

The proposed rule includes updates to payment policies, proposals to implement statutory adjustments to physician payments based on misvalued codes, updates to the Physician Quality Reporting System, which measures the quality performance of physicians participating in Medicare, and updates to the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier, which ties a portion of physician payments to performance on measures of quality and cost. CMS is also seeking comment on the potential expansion of the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative, a CMS Innovation Center initiative designed to improve the coordination of care for Medicare beneficiaries.

The proposed rule also seeks comment on a proposal that supports patient- and family-centered care for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries by enabling them to discuss advance care planning with their providers. The proposal follows the American Medical Association’s recommendation to make advance care planning services a separately payable service under Medicare.

The release of the rule triggers a 60-day comment period, during which time CMS welcomes the input of stakeholders and the public. A final rule will be published this fall.

For More Information:

Proposed Rule

Fact Sheet

SEMTAC July Meeting

EMS and Trauma Community,

The next quarterly business meeting of the State Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Advisory Council will be held Thursday, July 30, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Sabin Cleere Room 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver CO 80246

This is an open public meeting. Committee, task force and work group meetings will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2015.

Agendas, committee schedules and additional information are available on the SEMTAC Google Drive folder. The teleconference information for Wednesday’s committee meetings is listed on the committee day schedule, and the call in number to listen to Thursday’s SEMTAC meeting is 712-432-3100, conference code 767111.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please visit www.coems.info

Webinar: Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates

Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates
Sponsored by Life Systems International

Wednesday, August 5, 2015
12:00 - 1:00 PM Central Time

Join us to learn how Cardiac Rehabilitation can assist with your goal of reducing hospital readmission rates in addition to explaining the fundamental elements of a Cardiac Rehabilitation program.

Presenter: Carl King, EdD, MAACVPR

Dr. King has more than 25 years of preventative Cardiology experience in various hospitals. Dr. King has had the honor of serving as the President of both the American Association of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) and the North Carolina Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Association (NCCRA). In addition, Dr. King is the President and CEO of Cardiovascular Consulting - which assists in creating new programs, as well as, help established programs achieve maximal performance and financial viability.

Learn more and sign up today!

Weekly CREATE Bulletin

Did you know that the CREATE Scoring Tool used in CREATE Review’s by the Financial Waiver and Expert Review Committee’s is posted on the CREATE website? This tool is an outstanding tool for self-evaluating and improving each section of your grant application. Before you submit your application for the next review, take time to self-score and also ask others in your agency to score your application and provide feedback. It’s up to you to make sure that your application directly speaks to the reviewer and provides enough detail that they can offer you high passing scores and a demonstrated understanding of your need for emergency or trauma education / training.

For more information or to apply for CREATE, contact Grants Manager, Megan Lyda at ml@coruralhealth.org or 720-248-2742.


Thank you for all you do for our Colorado Communities!

CY 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

On July 8, 2015 CMS published the proposed rule for the 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. We believe the following provisions are of interest to the National Association of Rural Health Clinics.

Proposed Chronic Care Management Benefit

As a part of their broader goal to integrate and coordinate services, CMS is proposing to extend the Chronic Care Management benefit to RHCs. Beginning on January 1, 2016 RHCs who furnish a minimum of 20 minutes per month of chronic care management (CCM) services to qualifying patients may begin billing for these services. RHCs would also be subject to all the other requirements of providing CCM services such as having up-to-date EHR software, maintaining an electronic beneficiary care plan, and beneficiary consent. You can find a primer on the current CCM benefit here.

The proposed rate for the CCM services will be based off the national average non facility payment rate for CPT code 99490 which was $42.91 per beneficiary per month in the first quarter of 2015. In evaluating the payment methodology for the CCM benefit, CMS specifically noted comments submitted by the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. CMS proposes to waive the face-to-face requirement in order to allow CCM services to be billed as part of the RHC benefit. We expect CCM services will be billed via the CPT code field on the standard UB 04 form. Further billing details will be released after adoption of a final rule later this year.

Proposed HCPCS Reporting Requirement for RHCs
CMS believes that requiring RHCs to report HCPCS (CPT) codes for all services would provide useful information on RHC patient characteristics, and the types of services being furnished by RHCs. As such CMS is proposing that all RHCs must report all services furnished during an encounter using standardized coding systems beginning January 1, 2016. The proposal requires an HCPCS (CPT) code to be reported along with the standard Medicare revenue code for each service furnished by an RHC to a Medicare patient. CMS is inviting comments from RHCs on the feasibility of updating their billing systems to meet the proposed implementation date of January 1, 2016.

Clarifying RHCs are not subject to PQRS Adjustments
CMS clarified that eligible professionals working in RHCs who perform non-RHC services (hospital inpatient visits, lab services, etc.) and bill Medicare Part B for these services, at RHCs are not subject to PQRS negative payment adjustments.

Comments Solicited for MIPS Low-Volume Threshold Exception

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) combines the PQRS, Meaningful Use, and Value Based Payment Modifier into one system called the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) beginning in 2019. MACRA requires the Secretary to create a low-volume exception, to exclude certain professionals who might otherwise qualify from the MIPS program. CMS is soliciting comments on what factor(s) should be used to establish this low-volume threshold.

New Exception to Physician Kickback Rule

CMS is proposing a new exception to the Physician Kickback Rule to permit remuneration from a hospital, FQHC, or RHC to a physician to assist with employing a physician assistant (PA), nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), or nurse midwife (CNM). As currently proposed, the exception only applies when the PA/NP/CNS/CNM is a bona fide employee of the physician. As such, CMS is soliciting comments as to whether or not the exception should also apply to independent contractors. Additionally, CMS is soliciting comments on two methodologies to determine the geographic area served by FQHCs/RHCs. These definitions are intended to apply to RHCs/FQHCs in the same way that they apply to hospitals and rural hospitals, for purposes of the remuneration exception.

Ambulance Fee Schedule - Extension of the Super Rural Bonus


CMS is proposing to amend federal code in order to extend the “Super Rural Bonus” rate modifier for ambulance services through January 1, 2018 in accordance with MACRA.


Ambulance Fee Schedule – Staffing Requirement Revisions
Current staffing requirements require that Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support ambulance providers must have two staffers present, but only one of these staffers must meet certain requirements. CMS is proposing to revise the staffing requirements such that all Medicare-covered (BLS and ALS) ambulance transports must be staffed by at least two people who meet the requirements of state and local law, in addition to the Medicare requirements. CMS believes these proposals would enhance the quality and safety of ambulances services provided to Medicare beneficiaries and strengthen the federal government’s ability to prosecute ambulance staffing violations.

Comments

Comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on September 8, 2015, you may submit comments electronically at www.regulations.gov

Colorado Opioid Epidemic Symposium

Colorado Opioid Epidemic Symposium: Best Practices for Opioid Management

Dx: e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) call prescription drug overdose deaths
one of the four most serious epidemics facing the nation. As recently as 2011, Colorado ranked #2 in
the nation among young adults ages 12-24 for misuse of prescription painkillers. In the US, enough

opioid painkillers are dispensed by pharmacies to supply every citizen with enough pills to take one every four hours, around the clock, for a month.

Sig: Become conversant in best practices for opioid prescribing. Develop skills to manage high risk
populations. Learn how to facilitate inter-agency collaboration to reduce prescription drug abuse in
your community. Coordinate with behavioral health professionals to identify and treat mental illness
and addiction.

CME available!

When: September 24th-25th, 2015
Where: Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs

Registration information coming soon!

CMS and AMA Announce Efforts to Help Providers Get Ready for ICD-10

CMS and AMA Announce Efforts to Help Providers Get Ready for ICD-10

With less than three months remaining until the nation switches from ICD-9 to ICD-10 coding for medical diagnoses and inpatient hospital procedures, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA) are announcing efforts to continue to help physicians get ready ahead of the October 1 deadline. In response to requests from the provider community, CMS is releasing additional guidance that will allow for flexibility in the claims auditing and quality reporting process as the medical community gains experience using the new ICD- 10 code set. For more details, please see the joint announcement on the CMS ICD-10 website.

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

Webinar: Physical Activity and Obesity

Physical Activity and Obesity: How to get your patient moving!
Tuesday, July 14, 2015 ~ 12:00pm
(12pm PDT; 12pm Arizona; 1pm MDT; 2pm CDT; 3pm EDT)

Learning Objectives:
1. Be able to identify the 3 levels of Physical Activity Guidelines that affect patients with obesity
2. Define NEAT and describe the difference and impact of moving from sedentary to light activity

3. List the Exercise Rx Top Ten

Weight Loss and Weight Management: Current Theories & Best Practices
This four session, interactive webinar series brings together national leaders in nutrition, exercise and bariatric medicine who will address what is needed to have a successful weight loss and management program for children and adults in family and community practice settings. The series will start with a presentation and discussion on dynamic energy balance, an important new perspective on what metabolic changes occur during weight loss and how these changes have to be taken into account as part of a weight loss program. The second session will focus specifically on exercise and energy expenditure and weight loss. The final two sessions will present pediatric and adult case studies to highlight the promoters and challenges that lead to successful patient care, in regards to weight loss and maintaining weight loss.

For more information and registration instructions go to

http://telemedicine.arizona.edu/distant-education/upcoming-workshops

PQRS toolkit for CAH II Providers

Click here to download the PQRS toolkit for CAH II Providers.

AgriSafe Webinar: Hearing Conservation Program Adapted to Agriculture

Hearing Conservation Program Adapted to Agriculture


Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST

Summary:
The Hearing Conservation Training program will assist agriculture-based employers with an understanding of an

OSHA hearing conservation program related to agricultural operations. This includes OSHA standards and the types of hearing protection that meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standards. Training includes all aspects of a hearing conservation program including: noise level standards, work area surveillance, written worksite specific procedures, medical evaluation, , care and storage of protective equipment and program evaluation.

Objectives:
Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the required components of the OSHA hearing conservation program (monitoring, testing, protective equipment, training, and recordkeeping).

2. Recognize OSHA hearing conservation program components that relate to agricultural operations.

3. Describe established time weighted averages and decibel ratings present in agricultural settings.

4. Locate a minimum of three reliable resources that provide workplace hearing conservation program development tools and educational materials.

Register Now!

Strategies to Address Opioid and Prescription Drug Misuse

HRSA is pleased to announce a 5-part Learning Series brought to you by a collaborative effort with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Central Rockies Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network (ATTC) that will outline Strategies to Address Opioid and Prescription Drug Misuse in the healthcare setting. This Learning Series is offered free of charge to all clinicians serving HRSA programs. Please share this opportunity widely within your program and with colleagues. Continuing Education is being pursued for a variety of health professions. Please take a moment to explore this link: http://attcnetwork.org/regional-centers/content.aspx?rc=centralrockies&content=STCUSTOM1 or click the link or image below to view event dates, topics, details, and registration.

For questions regarding the Learning Series objectives, agenda, registration, continuing education, or problems with the web page or web links, contact:


Rori Douros, Training Coordinator
Central Rockies ATTC
Utah Addiction Center/University of Utah
Email: rori.douros@utah.edu
Toll-free: 855-801-4237
Direct: 801-581-8967


HRSA SAMHSA learning series announcement 508.pdf

Weekly CREATE Bulletin

Deadlines can really creep up on you! Can you believe it’s already July? Our first CREATE deadline of the new fiscal year is next Monday, July 13th!

Are you planning on applying for CREATE so you or others in your organization can attend the National EMS Safety Summit (August 26 -28)? Then you need to apply by Monday!

If you have any questions about the CREATE Grant process, please contact Megan Lyda at ml@coruralhealth.org or 720-248-2742.


Thank you for all you do for our Colorado communities!

Behavioral Health Integration: FREE Continuing Education and Webinar Series

Increasing Access to Integrated Behavioral Health Services:
A Webinar Series

This series is designed to assist health and human service providers working in a variety of settings with recognizing common behavioral health care issues among diverse populations and developing strategies for increasing aspects of integrated behavioral health care.

July 9, 2015: An Introduction to Habilitation Therapy for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
July 16, 2015: What is SBIRT and why should we use it?
July 17, 2015: An Introduction to Telemental Health
July 23, 2015: Prescription Drug Abuse: Let’s Stop the Epidemic
July 30, 2015: HIV and Behavioral Health: What Providers Need to Know
July 31, 2015: The toxic legacy of lead: It's negative impact on behavior in children and society

CONTINUING EDUCATION
Applications for continuing education credits have been submitted (by the Institute for Research, Education, and Training on Addiction) to the following organizations:
• AACN - American Nursing Credentialing Center
• AACME - Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
• PA CADC - Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors
• Social Work - Issued by the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
• NAADAC - The Association for Addiction Professionals

This webinar series is jointly offered to you by HHS-funded training programs located in Region III, in collaboration with the Regional Office (Region III) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS-funded training programs located in Region III include:
• Area Health Education Centers
• Central East Addiction Technology Transfer Center
• Pennsylvania/Mid-Atlantic AIDS Education and Training Center
• Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Programs (formerly the Geriatric Education Centers)
• Institute for Research, Education, and Training on Addiction
• Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
• Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit
• Primary Care Associations
• Region III Public Health Training Center
• Maternal and Child Health Leadership Training Program
• Region III STD and Reproductive Health Training and Technical Assistance Center
• STD/HIV Prevention Training Center at Johns Hopkins

There is something here for everyone! See inside for more information and to register!

Lifestyle Coach Training in Denver

The Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center (DTTAC) at Emory University is hosting a Lifestyle Coach Training for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in Denver, Colorado September 1-2, 2015.

DTTAC Lifestyle Coach Training is a highly interactive, 2-day, in-person training with an expert DTTAC Master Trainer that provides Lifestyle Coaches with the skills, knowledge and experience that they need to successfully facilitate the proven-effective lifestyle change program. DTTAC Lifestyle Coach Training:

• Features an interactive, small group format with hands-on practice in group facilitation techniques
• Includes detailed review of National DPP curriculum, developed by CDC in collaboration with DTTAC
• Offers continuing education credits for dietitians, certified diabetes educators, and nurses
• Is open to organizations that have pending recognition or will apply for CDC recognition and includes the most up-to-date information on the recognition process and the national program 

Dates: Tuesday, September 1 - Wednesday, September 2nd 2015; 9:00 am – 5:00 pm both days

Location: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Building A, Carson Room (first floor)
Denver, CO 80246
Free visitor parking is available onsite.

Fee: $750 per person (online payment available).
The fee includes all training materials.
Participants will break for lunch on their own.

Register: Please click here to register: http://www.cvent.com/d/5rq40f or contact DTTAC at dttac@emory.edu for more information

Learn more about DTTAC Lifestyle Coach Training.

CEUs Now available for CA-UTI How-to Guide

Physician and nursing continuing education credit is now available for the IHI How-to Guide: Prevent Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections, which provides guidance for implementing key evidence-based care components for preventing catheter-associated UTIs. Learn more here.

Weekly CREATE Bulletin

It’s a New (CREATE) Year, Make It Your Best!

July 1 marked the beginning of a new fiscal year for our CREATE grant program. We have updated guidelines, deadlines and a new standard course list. Click the links below to find this important information:

Click here for the 2015 – 2016 Guidelines!

Click here for the 2015 – 2016 Financial Waiver Guidelines!

Click here for the updated Standard Course Cost List!

Thank you for all you do for all our Colorado communities! We are here to support you, so please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns.

If you have any questions about the CREATE Grant process, please contact Megan Lyda at ml@coruralhealth.org or 720-248-2742. 

ICD-10 Quick Step 4

ICD-10 Deadline October 1, 2015: Talk to Your Vendors and
Health Plans

Get Ready Now with the New CMS Quick Start Guide!

While ICD-10 is almost here, you still have time to get ready. But you must get ready now.

Each day this week we are highlighting 1 of the 5 steps from the new Quick Start Guide:
1) Make a Plan, 2) Train Your Staff, 3) Update Your Processes, 4) Talk with Your Vendors and Health Plans, and 5) Test Your Systems and Processes. Today our focus is:


Step: 4 Talk to Your Vendors and Health Plans

• Call your vendors to confirm the ICD-10 readiness of your practice’s systems 
• Confirm that the health plans, clearinghouses, and third-party billing services you work with are ICD-10 ready 
• Ask vendors, health plans, clearinghouses, and third-party billers about testing opportunities

Tips 

• You can use forms available in the Road to 10’s Template Library to guide discussions with vendors, health plans, clearinghouses, and billing services 
• Double check that you’ve identified all systems that use ICD codes—e.g., practice management systems, electronic health record (EHR) products—when contacting vendors 
• Update contracts with vendors and health plans as needed 
• Transition costs for small medical practices could be substantially lower than projected earlier: 
• Many EHR vendors are including ICD-10 in their systems or upgrades—at little or no cost to their customers 
• Software and systems costs for ICD-10 could be minimal for many providers 

To learn more about getting ready, visit cms.gov/ICD10 for free resources including the Road to 10 tool designed especially for small and rural practices, but useful for all health care professionals.

340B Re-Certification

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) is required to re-certify all participating hospitals enrolled in the 340B Program annually to ensure all hospitals are appropriately listed on the 340B database and that all hospitals remain compliant with the 340B Program requirements. The re-certification period will be August 5th-September 9th, 2015. To help covered entities with recertification the OPA will hold a webinar on July 8th, 2015 at 12 PM EST. Please see the detail information regarding the webinar below:

Meeting Name:

HRSA OPA 340B Hospital Recertification
When: July 8th, 2015 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET
Conference Number(s): 888-790-1763
Participant Code: 7334728

To join the meeting:
https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/hr2015_webinar/

In addition to the webinar, OPA suggests the following steps to ensure a smooth re-certification:

Visit the 340B Program database and verify that your hospital's information is correct and that the listed sites remain eligible to participate in 340B. It is the covered entities responsibility to keep its 340B database record up-to-date, this includes contract pharmacies. The database record should reflect the hospital's current information. If your entity's record is incorrect, please update it prior to the re-certification process by submitting an online change request to OPA. Questions regarding registration, change requests, or re-certification may be directed to the 340B Prime Vendor Program at 1-888-340-2787, or by sending an e-mail to ApexusAnswers@340bpvp.com.

Webinar: Understanding the Two Midnight Rule

New Educational Event Added to July Events Calendar

The following webinar has been added to the July 2015 Events Calendar:

07/23/2015 Understanding the Two Midnight Rule

Register today to reserve your seat!

ACC: Seeking County Input on Medicaid Enrollment

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is seeking stakeholder input regarding the enrollment of residents from Elbert and Larimer Counties in the Accountable Care Collaborative (ACC). The ACC is Medicaid’s primary health care delivery system in Colorado. The ACC consists of seven Regional Care Collaborative Organizations (RCCOs) that connect Medicaid clients to Medicaid providers and help clients find community and social services in their area.

Purpose
The Department would like to hear from the residents of Elbert, Larimer, and Weld Counties regarding the factors that are important to them when accessing health care. This information will inform the regional ACC enrollment strategy for Medicaid clients of Elbert and Larimer Counties.
On April 21, 2015, the Department announced key decisions that have been made for the next version of the ACC that will be in place starting July 1, 2017. The Department will contract with one administrative entity in each region of the state to be responsible for the duties currently performed by the Regional Care Collaborative Organizations (RCCO) and Behavioral Health Organizations (BHO). To make this integration possible, the regional enrollment map was changed. While the Department has come to a decision regarding where the majority of the counties will be assigned in the new regional map, there are two counties where further stakeholder input is necessary: Elbert and Larimer.

Meeting Information
Larimer County Meeting – Loveland
Wednesday, July 8th from 6:00-7:30pm
McKee Conference & Wellness Center
2000 Boise Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538
Friends Room

Larimer County Meeting – Fort Collins
Thursday, July 9th from 6:00-7:30pm
Fort Collins Senior Center
1200 Raintree Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80526
Prairie Sage 3 Room

Elbert County Meeting – Kiowa
Wednesday, July 15th from 6:00-7:30pm
Elbert County Administration Building
215 Comanche Street, Kiowa, CO 80117
BOCC Meeting Room

Weld County Meeting – Greeley
Monday, July 13th from 6:00-7:30pm
Weld County Administration Building

1150 O Street, Greeley, CO 80631
Events Room

A light dinner will be provided at all meetings. We encourage in-person attendance. To inquire about teleconference capabilities, provide feedback if you are unable to attend, or to be added to our distribution list, email RCCORFP@state.co.us. For more information regarding this effort and upcoming meetings, visit our RCCO Request for Proposals information webpage.

Reasonable accommodations for the meetings will be provided upon request for persons with disabilities. Please contact Lila Cummings at 303-866-5158 or Lila.Cummings@state.co.us or the Department 504/ADA Coordinator hcpf504ada@state.co.us prior to the meeting to make arrangements.

Registration Open for Three Upcoming ESRD QIP MLN Connects National Provider Calls

Registration Open for Three Upcoming ESRD QIP MLN Connects® National Provider Calls

CMS is hosting three ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) related National Provider Calls in July:

Wednesday, July 8; 1:30-3pm ET – ESRD QIP System Training

Thursday, July 9; 2-3pm ET – ESRD QIP: Reviewing Your Facility’s PY 2016 Performance Data

Thursday, July 29; 2-3:30pm ET – ESRD QIP: Proposed Rule for Payment year 2019
Call details can be found here, in this week’s issue of the MLN Connects® Provider eNews. Click here to register.

New Medicaid Diabetes Self-Management Education codes open

A message from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing: 

Exciting news! Medicaid is opening up two diabetes education G codes starting July 1, 2015. This will offer our members with diabetes more opportunities to learn about how to manage this chronic health condition. Medicaid members with a diagnosis of diabetes type 1, 2, or gestational diabetes are eligible for the classes. Providers interested in billing for these services must become an accredited program provider recognized by the American Diabetes Association’s Education Recognition Program (ERP) or the American Association of Diabetes Educators’ Diabetes Education Accreditation Program (DEAP). Details are included in the attached notice.

Please help us share this information by forwarding it to your respective networks. We believe that this is an important step towards helping our members become healthier and achieve better quality of life.

Get Ready for ICD-10 with the CMS ICD-10 Infographic

The ICD-10 transition is less than 100 days away, but there is still time to get ready.

Last week our daily Email Updates featured 5 steps for getting ready now. This week, we’re featuring an infographic that offers a visual overview of the 5 steps with links to more details.

Plan to work on the 5 steps at the same time. Remember that you do not have to necessarily complete one step before working on another step. Visit the Road to 10 tool to build an action plan using the 5 steps. A CMS online ICD-10 resource, Road to 10 was built by physicians for physicians.

Available below and on the CMS website, the infographic can be posted to websites and social media platforms if you would like to share it with colleagues. In addition to the full infographic, the CMS website includes a separate image for each of the 5 steps, with the CMS ICD-10 logo linking viewers to cms.gov/ICD10.

Medicare Part A and B News-July 1st, 2015

The following information is provided by Novitas Solutions.

Internet-based PECOS Signature Submissions

Novitas is currently receiving a high volume of duplicate certifications/signatures for Internet-based PECOS (Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System) CMS-855 submissions. This is a result of customers submitting both an electronic signature and a hardcopy/paper certification. When submitting an application via Internet-based PECOS, please elect only one method of submitting your signature; electronic OR hardcopy. For additional details, please review our educational article titled “Internet-based PECOS Signature Submissions” on our website in the Enrollment Center.

When submitting an application via Internet-based PECOS, please elect one form of signature submission.

1. Electronic Signature: Internet-based PECOS allows for the provider or Authorized/Delegated Official to electronically sign the application submission. Utilizing the electronic signature process will ensure faster application submission, resulting in an earlier effective date. This feature does not change who is required to sign the application.

OR

2. Hardcopy Certification Statement: After the ‘Submission Receipt’ page appears, the user will be notified to print the 2-page Certification Statement to be signed, dated and mailed to the Medicare Administrative Contractor. Please do not submit your certification using the certification pages from the paper CMS-855 enrollment applications.

Visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) website for more information related to Internet-based PECOS.

The Echo Effect of Project ECHO s Access to Specialty Care

The next WIHI broadcast — The Echo Effect of Project ECHO's Access to Specialty Care — will take place on Thursday, July 9, from 2 to 3 PM ET, and I hope you'll tune in.

Our guests will include:

• Sanjeev Arora, MD, FACP, FACG, Director, Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), Department of Internal Medicine, UNM School of Medicine 
• Donald M. Berwick, MD, MPP, FRCP, President Emeritus and Senior Fellow, Institute for Healthcare Improvement 

There’s telemedicine, and then there’s Project ECHO. Founder and director, Dr. Sanjeev Arora, makes the distinction so we don’t miss what’s groundbreaking about Project ECHO’s approach. While telemedicine focuses on bridging geographic divides that can separate patients from needed specialists, Project ECHO is on a mission to bridge divides within the provider community itself that prevent medical expertise from being shared and distributed more widely. With Project ECHO, primary care doctors and others working in underserved, isolated, or small community settings use videoconferencing to advance their skills and ability to handle complex cases because of what they learn from specialists some distance away. The goal is both simple and profound: a “democratization of knowledge” so that patients anywhere can receive the best care from the doctor or health care practitioner they have easiest access to, not the one they don’t.

What began in 2003 as a process for improving access to treatment for people in New Mexico suffering from Hepatitis C, now offers support and learning for 30 different diseases and conditions, impacting patients in some 22 states. Project ECHO, which stands for Extension for Community Health Outcomes, has migrated outside the US as well.

A lot of observers believe Project ECHO’s approach to expanding access to specialty care is disruptive in the best sense. That’s why we invite you to join us as we take a good, hard look at what difference this effort is making to patients and providers alike on the July 9, 2015, WIHI: The Echo Effect of Project ECHO’s Access to Specialty Care.

Dr. Arora will explain why he believes in what he calls the “force multiplier” effect of offering all those in a position to help patients the skills and knowledge to do even more by connecting with specialists who share the same goal. It’s both practical and philosophical. IHI President Emeritus and Senior Fellow, Dr. Don Berwick, will be joining the July 9 WIHI. As part of IHI’s Leadership Alliance, he’s championing a set of new rules for the radical redesign of health care, one of which is “Move knowledge, not people.” Project ECHO is a sterling example of what’s possible. We hope you’ll tune in to the July 9 WIHI!

You can enroll for the broadcast here. We'd also appreciate it if you would spread the word about the show via Twitter.

SAMHSA Topics in the News

[Webinar] Military Health System Health Innovations
July 8, 2015; 12:00-1:00 p.m. EDT
TRICARE and Military OneSource are co-hosting a webinar to discuss new health innovations developed to enhance the lives of service members and their families.
Learn more and register…


[Webinar] Clinician’s Guide: Assisting Family Members Coping with Traumatic Brain Injury
July 9, 2015; 1:00-2:30 p.m. EDT
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014) reports that in one year alone traumatic brain injuries (TBI) accounted for approximately 2.2 million emergency department visits, 280,000 hospitalizations, and 50,000 deaths. Those who survive a TBI may experience short- and long-term effects, such as alterations in thinking, sensation, language, behavior, and emotions, which affect the entire family. Family members are often at a loss to understand problematic behaviors and assist their loved one in daily routines and during times of stress.
Learn more and register…


Military Child Education Coalition 17th National Training Seminar
The 2015 National Training Seminar is a training event for anyone interested in serving and supporting military-connected children. The event provides an opportunity for attendees to engage with senior military and education leaders. This seminar provides in-depth coverage of current issues relevant to military-connected children during a period of significant change and challenge.
Learn more and register…


VA Releases Statement Following Supreme Court Ruling in Obergefell V. Hodges
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Obergefell v. Hodges that the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state.
Read more…


VA Provides Guidance to Same-Sex Married Couples Seeking Benefits
After close consultation with the Department of Justice, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is providing guidance to same-sex married couples on the benefits and services to which they are entitled under current laws and regulations.
Read more…


Rural Women Veterans’ Needs Assessed
Rural women veterans struggle daily with a myriad of issues that include homelessness, lack of vocational resources, domestic violence, lack of knowledge about VA disability benefits and substance abuse. Rural women veterans also face different challenges to access VA services and community resources than non-rural women veterans.
Read more…


New Pilot Builds Multi-Partner ‘Home Base’ for Oregon and Washington Rural Veterans
The Pacific Northwest continues to be a hub for military training, deployments, and separations. More than 1,000 service members will separate from the military each month through 2017 in Washington state alone, while a same number of the Oregon Guard members return this year from their deployment.
Read more…


Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Rural Primary CareThis toolkit, developed by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, contains the information and tools needed to implement state-of-the-art suicide prevention practices in primary care settings. Although the tools are designed with the rural practice in mind, most are quite suitable for use in non-rural settings as well. The toolkit includes sections on educating clinicians and office staff and developing mental health partnerships, as well as patient management tools and patient education tools.
View the full toolkit…