Month: December 2020

How to Design Value‐Based Care Models for Rural Participant Success: A Summit Findings Report

The Rural Health Value team recently released a Summit Findings report focused on design of value-based care models to support rural health organization participation and success.

How to Design Value‐Based Care Models for Rural Participant Success: A Summit Findings Report

Based on the input from a two-day virtual summit of rural participants in value-based care models and programs, this report summarizes themes and actionable recommendations that can be used by those designing and supporting value-based care models to improve the viability, relevance, and likelihood of rural health care organization participation and success.

Direct Link: https://ruralhealthvalue.public-health.uiowa.edu/files/Rural%20VBC%20Summit%20Report.pdf

Top resources on the Rural Health Value website:

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Announcements

December 17, 2020

HHS Report: Strengthening the Entry-Level Health Care Workforce. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) commissioned an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities for this segment of the health care workforce that includes community health workers, behavioral health peer support, and home health aides. Forecasting a shortage across professions, the report identifies entry-level positions as one option for expanding community-level capacity while also increasing employment opportunities.

CMS:  Rural-Urban Disparities in Health Care in Medicare. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses two sources of information in this summary of the quality of care received by Medicare beneficiaries. The first source is the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) and its survey on health care experiences (e.g., ease of getting needed care, how well providers communicate, etc.). The second is the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) with information collected from medical records and administrative data on the technical quality of care for a variety of medical issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease. 

COVID-19 Partner Update December 21, 2020: COVID-19 Response Vaccine Update

Please join the weekly partner call for updates on the COVID-19 response, including new resources for the private sector and the general public.

Date: Monday, December 21, 2020

Time: 2:00—3:00 p.m. CT

CDC Speakers

  1. Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and Lead for the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force
  2. Ms. Michelle Putnam, Deputy for Partnerships and Risk Management, CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response (Moderator)

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and Lead for the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force will present. Michelle Putnam, Deputy for Partnerships and Risk Management, CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response, for the Partnership Strategy Unit will moderate. Dr. Messonnier will provide updates on the current status of COVID-19 vaccines.

Please submit your questions by 12/16 so that we can group similar questions and answer as many as possible. Please email eocevent337@cdc.gov with “Partner Call 12/21” in the subject line.  

 Register in advance for this webinar: COVID-19 Response Vaccine Update

The call will be recorded and posted with previous Partner Update webinars here. 

Quarterly 340B Program Registration

Quarterly 340B Program site registration is open from January 1 to 15, 2021. Health centers will be able to register a site that has been verified as implemented and with a site status reflected as “active” in EHBs Form 5B through Friday, February 26, 2021. After that date, the system will close to prepare for the April 1 start.

Email the 340B Prime Vendor Program or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET) to register a new site or ask questions. You will need to provide the following information when calling:

  • Health center name.
  • Site/clinic name.
  • Site IDs for all sites.
  • HRSA/BPHC grant number.
  • Contact name and email address.
  • Authorizing official name and email address.

The authorizing official will receive an email message that the account is unlocked and a registration may be submitted.

COVID-19 Vaccine Codes: Updated Effective Date for Pfizer-BioNTech

MLN Connects Special Edition – Monday, December 14, 2020

On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID‑19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 for individuals 16 years of age and older. Review Pfizer’s Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) regarding the limitations of authorized use.

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), Medicare will cover and pay for the administration of the vaccine (when furnished consistent with the EUA). Review our updated payment and HCPCS Level I CPT code structure for specific COVID-19 vaccine information. Only bill for the vaccine administration codes when you submit claims to Medicare; don’t include the vaccine product codes when vaccines are free.

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