Month: March 2022

Billing and Coding Best Practices to Sustain Integrated Behavioral Health Services

Date: March 29, 2022

Billing and Coding Best Practices to Sustain Integrated Behavioral Health Services

This 60-minute, virtual peer learning office hours event is geared toward behavioral health service providers and individuals within health centers tasked with documenting, billing, and coding integrated behavioral health services. The event will include a brief presentation of integrated behavioral health documentation and billing and coding to support financial sustainability, followed by an interactive activity providing a series of behavioral health consultant clinical encounter examples to determine corresponding CPT codes and diagnosis. Finally, presenters will field specific questions related to integrated behavioral health services documentation, billing, and coding. 

Webinar Date: April 6, 2022

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET

Register Here

Participants may receive 1.0 CEs for attending this session.

Rural Hospital Profitability During the Global COVID-19 Pandemic Requires Careful Interpretation

Date: March 29, 2022

Rural Hospital Profitability during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic Requires Careful Interpretation

This findings brief describes the pre-pandemic (2011-19) trend of rural hospital profitability and explains why possible increases in reported profitability during the pandemic (2020-21) may mask the long-term financial challenges of rural hospitals.

  • In the nine years before the COVID-19 pandemic began (2011-19), the median total margin of rural hospitals was on a downward trajectory, ranging between 1.5% and 3.1%, and the percentage with a negative total margin was increasing.
  • In 2020, rural hospitals and urban Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) hospitals reported receiving over $32 billion in federal support, primarily from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), to compensate for loss of revenue and increased expenses from the pandemic.
  • The PRF and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and timing differences in reporting could temporarily distort reported profitability measures and conceal the long-term financial challenges facing rural hospitals.

PRF and PPP funds were an important financial lifeline for many rural hospitals. However, the PRF and PPP funds are temporary and will be fully distributed at some point in 2022. Unless Congress authorizes additional funding, we expect rural hospitals to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability.

Contact Information:

George H. Pink, PhD
North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
Phone: 919.843.2728
gpink@email.unc.edu

Additional Resources of Interest:

More information from the Rural Health Information Hub’s topic guide: Rural Health Policy.

Click to view Research Alert.

Second Listening Session on Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies

Date: March 29, 2022

Second Listening Session on Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies

Date: March 31, 2022

Time: 3:00 PM ET

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting the second in a series of public meetings to obtain feedback to help inform CMS’ development of an alternative coverage pathway to provide transitional coverage for emerging technologies. 

These meetings are part of several steps CMS is taking to help better achieve the goals of timely and predictable Medicare coverage of devices while ensuring that Medicare covers items and services on the basis of scientifically sound clinical evidence and with appropriate safeguards. 

CMS appreciates all of the helpful stakeholder feedback received during the first listening session on February 17.  The transcript and recording for the February 17 meeting can be found here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/transcripttransitionalcoverageofemergingtechwebinar02172022.pdf.  The framework for the second listening session on March 31 at 3:00 PM ET builds upon information gathered in the first session. 

During the March 31 listening session, CMS would appreciate receiving feedback on the following questions:

  1. Do stakeholders find CMS guidance on acceptable outcomes and durations of follow-up useful within specific therapeutic areas?
  2. Engagement with CMS should occur after the results of pivotal clinical trials are available, but early enough to expedite coverage after FDA market authorization.  As CMS streamlines the coverage review process, what is the appropriate timing of stakeholder engagement with CMS?
  3. As CMS works to provide a more collaborative evidence development process, what are stakeholders thoughts on:
    1. Should CMS provide early feedback on strengths and weaknesses of the available evidence based upon a preliminary systematic literature review?
    2. Should manufacturers propose a fit-for-purpose evidence development plan to resolve any evidence gaps identified during the preliminary systematic literature review as part of the national coverage determination process?
  4. How should CMS approach evidence development requirements for similar devices that are FDA market authorized after a Coverage with Evidence Development decision is finalized?

You can register for the March 31 listening session by following the link below. If you previously registered for the February 17 session, you do not need to register again to attend the second session on March 31.

RSVP: https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_gfZYH-txQu2kP4MZVbMSJw

Please RSVP by Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 5:00 PM ET.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program Application Checklist

Date: March 25, 2022

The Health Resources and Services Administration has provided a helpful checklist to assist in preparing your Nurse Corps Scholarship Program application!

Nurse Corps Scholarship Program Application Checklist

  1. Complete your verification of acceptance or enrollment verification form. Start by speaking to your advisor or school registrar office. They will provide you the correct email address to input in the Portal application. 
  2. Email the Department of Education to attain a PDF copy of your official 2022-2023 Student Aid Report (SAR) with no missing pages so you can upload to your application. You can request updates on your SAR from the Department of Education by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
  3. Request academic transcripts from qualifying schools you have attended. If you have not completed one full academic term in the program you are seeking Nurse Corps Scholarship Program funding, you must submit an official or unofficial transcript from the most recently completed undergraduate or graduate academic program attended (or high school, if applicable). The uploaded transcript must be legible and include the applicant’s school name, courses taken, grades received for each course, and cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).
  4. Reach out to professors or professional mentors to ask them to write a letter of recommendation for you. If they say yes, ask them for a good email address to send correspondence.
  5. Review the two essay questions. Your responses must demonstrate: i) a thorough commitment to a career in nursing; ii) an interest/motivation to provide care to underserved communities and vulnerable populations; iii) relevant work experience and/or activities (e.g., community service, research, and internships) that may have prepared you to work with underserved populations.
  6. Prepare your resume in the format of your choice. Summarize your educational qualifications, work experience, and volunteer/community service in chronological order (newest to oldest experience). Don’t forget (if applicable) to list your nursing license number, license type (LPN or RN), the name that appears on your license (if different from name on your resume), state of licensure, and expiration date under a certification/licensure section. Be sure to also include any language proficiency skills.
  7. Scan a U.S. birth certificate, an unexpired U.S. Passport ID or U.S. Passport Card, a Certificate of Citizenship, a Naturalization Certificate, or a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) and save as a PDF for proof of U.S. citizenship. (Please note, the following are NOT acceptable as proof of citizenship: a driver’s license, social security card, or marriage license).

Read the Application & Program Guidance to learn more.

The Nurse Corps Scholarship Program (Nurse Corps SP) application cycle closes on May 5, 2022 at 7:30 PM ET.

Access your application

2022 Family Medicine Update – you don’t want to miss it!

Date: March 28, 2022

2022 Family Medicine Update

Webinar Dates:

  • May 5-6, 2022

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Offered both live in-person and virtually

At the 2022 Family Medicine Update, you will

  • Understand and be able to apply current best practices for management of NAFLD, bipolar disorder, and wound and lymphedema care
  • Review physician burnout and treatment
  • Be familiar skin biopsy indications, appropriate spinal surgery referrals, musculoskeletal treatment in sexual dysfunction, and in office PCOUS use
  • Receive a general update in pediatric dermatology, antibiotic stewardship and resistance, and USPSTF guidelines

Pre-Conference Workshop

  • Thursday, May 4, 12:00-5:00 PM
  • Serious Illness Care for Primary Care Clinicians
  • In this workshop, you will learn how to have conversations around serious illness; advance care planning, and psychosocial support for both patients and their caregivers. You’ll also get to hear from hospice nurses with their view on continuity of care.

Agendas will be posted on the website in the near future!

Accreditation Information

Activity approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Midwest Multistate Division, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.  

Midwest Multistate Division Provider Number MO1022-6

Credit for other disciplines may be awarded and will be added to the event information on our website.

NRHA’s Annual Conference will be a Hybrid Event

Date: March 25, 2022

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) wants everyone to get the most out of the nation’s largest gathering of rural health pros. That’s why NRHA’s 45th Annual Rural Health Conference will be NRHA’s first hybrid event.

Along with NRHA’s proud return to hosting live educational events, NRHA will continue to offer a limited virtual option for those unable to attend the onsite Albuquerque events. All virtual rates equate to 50 percent of the corresponding in-person rates.

For virtual attendees, all plenary sessions will be streamed live while selected concurrent sessions will be recorded for later viewing as indicated in the agenda.

All recordings and available materials for applicable NRHA’s Annual Conference, Rural Hospital Innovation Summit, Health Equity Conference, and Rural Medical Education Conference sessions will be available through the event app and virtual environment for up to three months following the events to those who are registered.

As a reminder, NRHA’s in-person registration rate includes access to all live educational sessions, meetings, networking opportunities, and food and beverages, all set in the Land of Enchantment. In-person attendees can also access all recorded content, so you can catch up later on what you might have missed.

Scholarships toward the cost of onsite registration are now available on a first-come, first-served basis for students and attendees who would otherwise not be able to attend.

To ensure attendees are as safe and comfortable as possible, NRHA has updated our masking policy according to CDC guidelines as seen on each event page. NRHA also asks that all onsite attendees be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 either upon registration or before the event.

Register now to take advantage of discounts, and book accommodations soon – one hotel is already full and attendance is growing fast.

NRHA is so excited to see everyone in Albuquerque this spring – it has been a long time coming.

Webinar: COVID-19 Impact on Emergency Preparedness for RHC

Date: March 25, 2022

This session will explore additional requirements and revisions made to emergency preparedness for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) due to COVID-19 with focus on how and what to update in the current plan, how to incorporate new requirements into “practice exercises”, as well as other practical applications. The session will be structured to ensure ample time for participant questions.

Learning Objectives – Following the session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe two new requirements or updates to emergency preparedness rules for RHCs
  • Detail how the RHC might incorporate new requirements into their practice exercises
  • Identify needed revisions to their current emergency preparedness plan

Webinar Date: March 29, 2022

Time: 3:00 PM ET

Register Here

FREE 11-Part Webinar Series: HCAHPS Hospital of Choice

Date: March 25, 2022

The Missouri Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, through the State Office of Rural Health Grant, has partnered with Custom Learning Systems to offer all Missouri rural hospitals with unlimited, FREE ACCESS to an 11-part webinar series: HCAHPS Hospital of Choice. The webinar series flyer, HCAHPS Hospital of Choice, provides additional information.

All webinars are scheduled at 12:00 PM CT on a Wednesday each month. 

Click HERE to register for this free, 11-part webinar series. Enter “E9_MDHSS” in the “My Sponsor Codes” to receive free registration.

Need registration help?

Contact Annie at 800-667-7325 x-2219 or annie@customlearning.com

 

Webinar – Rural Health Quality: How CMS Initiatives Improve How We Measure and Address Gaps in Care

Date: March 28, 2022

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a webinar, “Rural Health Quality: How CMS Initiatives Improve How We Measure and Address Gaps in Care,” to highlight unique challenges surrounding quality measurement in rural settings.

Webinar Dates and Times:

Early registration is suggested since space is limited. 

HHS Call – COVID-19 Uninsured Program/Coverage Assistance Fund

Date: March 25, 2022

Due to high demand, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is holding a second session. Like many of you, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) was not able to join the March 25, 2022 conversation but will plan to participate on the March 29, 2022 conversation and report back any findings.  

Please join Administrator Carole Johnson from the HRSA to learn more about the COVID-19 Uninsured Program and the COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund.

As you may be aware, due to a lack of additional COVID funding from Congress, HRSA’s COVID-19 Uninsured Program stopped accepting claims for testing and treatment on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET. The Uninsured Program and the COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund will also stop accepting vaccination claims due to a lack of additional COVID funding from Congress on April 5, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET.

Administrator Johnson will share the latest updates followed by Q & A. 

Webinar Date: March 29, 2022

Time: 12:30 PM ET

Register in advance for this meeting.