December 6, 2024

Registration Now Open: Revenue Optimization Virtual Conferences

Wintergreen in partnership with the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH), is hosting the 3rd annual Revenue Optimization Virtual Conferences. These regional, three-hour virtual sessions are tailored specifically for rural hospitals and clinics, offering practical revenue optimization strategies from the perspective of hospital and clinic operators.

Sessions will highlight:

  • Hospital and clinic alignment and designation options
  • Implementation of novel benefits and incentive programs
  • Rural-specific recruitment and retention strategies
  • Using technology to inform decision-making processes

Each FREE session is region-specific.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, January 22, 11:00 a.m. ET

Click Here to Register for Region C session

December 6, 2024

New Health Workforce Projections Data Available

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) just released the latest projections for the national supply, demand, and distribution of health care workers.

Use the Workforce Projections Dashboard to explore supply and demand trends by occupation, state, year, and more.

Check out Health Workforce projections for an overview of projections for different groups of workers, such as nurses and physicians, and details on our programs that seek to address future shortages.

Click Here to go to Workforce Projections Dashboard

Click Here to see Health Workforce Projections

December 6, 2024

New Funding Available for Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, HRSA-25-038, Apply by January 27

The Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program (Outreach) is open and accepting applications for the programs’ 4-year period of performance (May 1, 2025 – April 30, 2029). The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will make up to 50 awards to support rural communities to expand the delivery of health care services, HRSA-25-038.

These awards include:

  • An estimated 40 awards, each up to $250,000 per year, under the program’s regular track to support healthcare needs identified by the rural community applicant;
  • Up to 10 awards, each up to $300,000 per year, under the program’s special track to address the underlying factors that drive rural health disparities related to heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury/substance use, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, and maternal health.

Eligible applicants include:

  • Nonprofits having a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • State governments
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • City or township governments
  • For profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • County governments
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education

Click Here to Learn More and Apply

December 6, 2024

Upcoming Webinar – Addressing Barriers to MOUD Access at Rural Community Pharmacies, December 11

Join the Center on Rural Addiction (CORA) for “Addressing Barriers to MOUD Access at Rural Community Pharmacies”, on Wednesday, December 11.

The presentation will discuss barriers to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) access at community pharmacies including how this issue affects members of rural communities.

Learning objectives:

  • Describe barriers that impact MOUD dispensing in rural community pharmacies
  • Outline how barriers to pharmacy-based MOUD access impacts members of rural communities
  • Discuss how prescribers can work with rural pharmacies to support MOUD access
  • Identify resources that can be used to increase MOUD access at community pharmacies

Participants can expect 45 minutes of presentation followed by 15 minutes for questions.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, December 11, 11:00 a.m. CT

Click Here to Register

December 6, 2024

Upcoming Webinar – AgriSafe: Using Telehealth to Reach Agricultural Communities, December 10

This one-hour webinar will present the usefulness of telehealth communications as a way to promote and provide mental health services within agricultural communities.

The webinar will assist in helping understand the multiple benefits of utilizing telehealth from a logistical, financial, and clinical perspective and how the use of telehealth services can remove barriers that have traditionally deterred members of agricultural/rural communities from seeking mental health treatment.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, December 10, 1:00 p.m. ET

Click Here to Register

December 6, 2024

CMS Finalizes New Model to Improve Access to Kidney Transplants

On November 26, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule establishing a new, six-year mandatory model aimed at increasing access to kidney transplants.

Starting in July 2025, selected transplant hospitals will receive financial incentives to perform more kidney transplants.

The final rule also includes standard provisions for all mandatory CMS innovation center models starting after January 1, 2025.

Click Here to Read CMS New Model

Click Here to Read Final Rule

December 6, 2024

CMS Proposed Changes to Medicare Part C and D

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would revise the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Part D).

Proposals include:

  • Permitting Medicare and Medicaid coverage of anti-obesity medications,
  • Further clarifications to the rules on what MA plans must cover,
  • Limits on enrollee cost-sharing for behavioral health,
  • Expanded topics that agents/brokers must cover when assisting beneficiaries,
  • Parameters around the use of debit cards for supplemental MA benefits,
  • Codifying requirements for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, and
  • Integrating member identification cards for individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

As of January 2023, about 45 percent of rural Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in an MA plan.

Click Here to Learn More

Click Here to Read Proposed Rule

Click Here to Go to Medicare Prescription Payment Plan

December 6, 2024

CMS Seeks Feedback on Quality Measures for Medicare Hospitals, including REHs, Comment by December 30

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would like public feedback on 41 measures under consideration for quality reporting and value-based programs before the measures are formally proposed through the rulemaking process.

Categories of quality measures for hospitals receiving payment through Medicare, including CMS-designated Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) are:

  • Post-acute care/long-term care measures
  • Clinician Measures
  • Hospital Measures

For example, CMS would like early feedback on including the measure Median Time to Pain Medication for Patients with a Diagnosis of Sickly Cell Disease with Vaso-Occlusive Episode in the Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting Program, and the measure Proportion of Patients who Died from Cancer Admitted to Hospice for less than 3 Days in the Hospital Quality Reporting Program.

CMS will hold three listening sessions, one for each of these categories, December 17-19. Register to make live comments or ask questions during these sessions:

Click on the topic, below to learn more and register for the listening session:

Click Here for Instructions on Submitting a Comment

December 6, 2024

Webinar: How Health Systems and Hospitals Can Help Solve Homelessness, December 12

In partnership with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), Kaiser Permanente is co-hosting a webinar for leaders in health care, public health, and research.

During this session, USICH – which sets federal homelessness strategy – will discuss its recent guidance, “How Health Systems and Hospitals Can Help Solve Homelessness,” outlining effective strategies for compassionate and collaborative care for people without safe, stable housing.

This one-hour webinar will cover:

  • Why health systems and hospitals are vital for ending homelessness
  • The financial benefits for health systems and hospitals
  • How providers are implementing USICH’s guidance in communities

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, December 12, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET

Click Here to Register

December 6, 2024

State of the Primary Care Workforce, 2024

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) National Center for Health Workforce Analysis collects data, conducts research, and generates information to inform and support public and private-sector decision making.

This brief examines the supply of physicians, physician assistants (PA), and nurse practitioners (NP) practicing in primary care specialties:

  • Family medicine
  • General pediatric medicine
  • General internal medicine
  • Geriatric medicine

While rural areas generally have lower primary care physician ratios than urban areas, the data show that NPs and Pas are important in providing primary care in rural areas. Approximately half of PAs were interested in practicing in rural locations (44 percent), Medically Underserved Areas (58%), or Health Professional Shortage Areas (54%).

Click Here to Read State of the Primary Care Workforce, 2024