Month: May 2022

NRHA Call for Proposals

Date: May 31, 2022

It’s the last day for you and your colleagues to speak in Kansas City

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is accepting session proposals through June 1 for the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Conferences, which will be held Sept. 20-23 in Kansas City, Mo, NRHA’s hometown.

The goal of NRHA’s RHC and CAH events is to share effective practices, policies, and information and provide insights and best practices addressing many of the access, quality, and patient safety issues confronted by critical access hospitals and rural health clinics.

RHC submissions of all kinds are welcome while five interest tracks are available for CAH Conference submissions: innovation, financial, leadership, quality, and best practices.

Join NRHA in the City of Fountains this fall and be part of NRHA’s fastest-growing events for rural clinic and hospital leaders, educators, staff, advocates, and other stakeholders

Submit presentations

Association Between Rural Hospital Service Changes and Community Demographics

Date: May 31, 2022

Association Between Rural Hospital Service Changes and Community Demographics

This brief investigated the association between the proportion of a rural community belonging to an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-identified priority population and local hospital service changes. The results suggest that recent trends in service availability are often similar when comparing hospitals in non-metro counties with larger versus smaller priority populations. In aggregate, from 2011-2017, hospitals in non-metro counties generally experienced a net decrease in the availability of obstetric services and skilled nursing services and a net increase in the availability of oncology services, hospital-based outpatient services, orthopedic services, and emergency psychiatric services. Aggregate changes in the availability of home health and chemotherapy were generally smaller in magnitude. These aggregate results are consistent with previous work on rural hospital-based service availability.

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:

Click to view Research Alert.

CMS Releases Analysis on 2022 Medicare Part B Premium Reexamination

Date: May 27, 2022

CMS Releases Analysis on 2022 Medicare Part B Premium Reexamination

New report requested by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra shows savings can be passed on to Medicare beneficiaries in 2023  

On May 27, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a report that recommends cost savings from lower-than-expected Medicare Part B spending be passed along to people with Medicare Part B coverage in the calculation of the 2023 Part B premium. Earlier this year, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra instructed CMS to reassess the 2022 Part B premium amount in response to a price reduction for Aduhelm™, a monoclonal antibody directed against amyloid for use in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Given the information available today, it is expected that the 2023 premium will be lower than 2022. The final determination will be made later this fall.

“At the Secretary’s direction, CMS reassessed the Medicare Part B premium and recommends that the identified savings be incorporated into the Medicare Part B premium for 2023,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Due to changes in the cost of Aduhelm™ and coverage since the premium was established, CMS recommends that the lower-than-anticipated spending in 2022 be incorporated into the 2023 Part B premium determination. The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to lowering health care costs for beneficiaries by increasing price transparency, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and connecting people to savings programs.”

Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical and health services not covered by Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility, hospice, lab tests, surgery, home health care.

As detailed in the report, when calculating the Part B premium, CMS builds in a reserve to ensure the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Fund remains adequately financed for the year. In 2022, CMS appropriately built in a reserve to ensure the SMI Trust Fund could cover the potential costs of Aduhelm™ and similar drugs. At the time CMS announced the premium in Fall 2021, Aduhelm™ cost an average of $56,000 per year, and CMS had not yet issued a National Coverage Determination (NCD). After the 2022 Medicare Part B premium was set, the manufacturer of Aduhelm™ reduced the price to an average of $26,200, and CMS finalized Medicare coverage with evidence development for Aduhelm™ and similar, future FDA-approved drugs with an indication for use in treating the Alzheimer’s disease. CMS determined that reflecting these savings in the calculation of the 2023 Medicare Part B premium is the most effective way to deliver these savings back to people with Medicare Part B. CMS is still assessing other current and projected Medicare Part B costs to inform the premium recommendation for 2023, which will be announced in Fall 2022 consistent with the statutory process.

In November 2021, CMS announced that the Part B standard monthly premium increased from $148.50 in 2021 to $170.10 in 2022. This increase was driven in part by the statutory requirement to prepare for potential expenses, such as spending trends driven by COVID-19 and uncertain pricing and utilization of Aduhelm™. Despite the increase, most people with Medicare saw a significant net increase in Social Security benefits due to a higher-than-usual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2022.

People with Medicare coverage may be eligible for help paying their Medicare costs through the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP). CMS encourages people with Medicare to check their eligibility to receive financial assistance from MSP as they may also help pay Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments if individuals meet the eligibility criteria. People with Medicare can learn more about the Medicare Savings Programs by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or visiting Medicare.gov at https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/get-help-paying-costs/medicare-savings-programs.

The report and analysis of the reexamination of the 2022 Medicare Part B premium is available at www.cms.gov/files/document/cms-report-secretary-2022-medicare-part-b-premium-reexamination.pdf.

School Debt Relief For SUD Professionals Is Here

Date: May 26, 2022

School Debt Relief For Professionals Is Here

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment & Recovery Loan Repayment Program

You can receive up to $250,000 in loan repayment

Accepting applications now until July 7, 2022 at 7:30 PM ET

Are you a substance use disorder professional?

Pay off your school loans with up to $250,000 from the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) in exchange for six years of full-time service at an approved facility.

Apply if you are a behavioral health clinician or support worker, clinical support staff or trained in substance use disorder treatment.

Apply Now

Want More Information?

  • Attend the application webinar on Thursday, June 2, 2022 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET.
  • Visit the STAR LRP webpage for eligibility, online Q&A Sessions and more.
  • Subscribe for STAR LRP email updates.

REGISTER: Addressing Meth Use in the Midwest: Meth and Pregnancy

Date: May 26, 2022

REGISTER: Addressing Meth Use in the Midwest: Meth and Pregnancy

Use of methamphetamine impacts people across the Midwest in many ways. Join the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 7 Harm Reduction Workgroup for the ongoing series of brief, 30-minute webinars that explore tools and strategies to address meth use. The next webinar will address meth use and pregnancy and feature a presentation from Dr. Marcela Smid entitled “Mamas, Munchkins, and Methamphetamines.”

Date: June 29, 2022

Time: 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM CT

Register for the webinar here. 

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

For questions, please contact Rae Hutchison at CHutchison@hrsa.gov.

The Addressing Meth Use in the Midwest webinar series is hosted by the HHS Region 7 Harm Reduction Workgroup: the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA), Administration on Community Living (ACL), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

White House and HRSA Test-to-Treat for COVID-19 Webinar

Date: May 26, 2022

White House and HRSA on Test-to-Treat for COVID-19 –  Thursday, June 2 at 2:00 pm ET. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) invites you to join a webinar to share the White House’s call to action around Test-to-Treat as a strategy to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The webinar will feature HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and White House COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha as well as a moderated panel exploring safety-net provider perspectives. 

If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864; Webinar ID: 161 896 3980.

Celebrate #IamNHSC Day on June 1!

Date: May 26, 2022

Celebrate #IamNHSC Day on June 1!

As a part of the National Health Service Corps’ (NHSC) 50th Anniversary celebration, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is hosting #IamNHSC day on Wednesday, June 1, a day dedicated to the NHSC’s members, alumni, sites, and stakeholders, who have helped the NHSC reach 50 years of service. Join the celebration by posting a short video, photo, selfie, or short anecdote highlighting your NHSC story or advice for the next generation of providers. You might be featured on the NHSC’s social media!

On June 1, tweet, post, and share your NHSC pride on your social media accounts:

  1. Congratulate the Corps and share your service or support in a 20-30 second selfie video or photo.
  2. Post your video or photo to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using #NHSC50 or #IAmNHSC.
  3. Tag the National Health Service Corps’ Facebook page or @NHSCorps on Twitter.

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) Announcements

Date: May 26, 2022

Preparing for Medicaid/CHIP Unwinding. In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily waived certain eligibility requirements for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to help people keep their health coverage during the pandemic. However, with the public health emergency ending, states will soon be required to restart eligibility reviews for this public health insurance covering more than 83 million beneficiaries of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan. Nearly a quarter of individuals under age 65 who live in rural areas are covered by Medicaid. When the eligibility waivers end, some estimates count up to 15 million people will lose their coverage through a process called “unwinding.” To help states prepare for the change, CMS will host a monthly learning series from May through October of this year. The Communications Toolkit, linked in the headline above, has information to help beneficiaries understand the steps to renew their coverage.

White House and HRSA on Test-to-Treat for COVID-19 –  Wednesday, June 1 at 2:00 pm ET. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) invites you to join a webinar to share the White House’s call to action around Test-to-Treat as a strategy to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The webinar will feature HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and White House COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha as well as a moderated panel exploring safety-net provider perspectives.  If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864; Webinar ID: 161 896 3980.

The Implications of Long COVID for Rural Communities. Researchers from the Center for Rural Health Research at East Tennessee State University report that higher rates of infection and lagging vaccinations mean that the lingering effects, now called long COVID, are likely to have a disproportionate effect on rural communities. While symptoms and severity of long COVID can range from mild to severe, the potential impact on mental health, social function, and the ability to keep working can be substantial. Watch a presentation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on evaluating and supporting patients with cognitive symptoms following COVID.

Updated Chartbook Focuses on Rural Border Health. With facts and figures about health status, behavioral risk factors, mortality, and access to care, the resource aims to inform rural health policy for four states – Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas – along the U.S. southern border. The chartbook is a collaboration between the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP)-supported Rural & Minority Health Research Center and the National Rural Health Association.

Answer the call: 988 Lifeline Suicide & Crisis Network Jobs. On July 16, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) will transition to an easy-to-remember, 3-digit number (988). To strengthen and expand the existing network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers across the country, the Lifeline suicide & crisis network is looking to bring on new volunteers and paid employees to receive training to answer calls, chats, and texts from people in crisis. Since 1999, suicide rates in rural areas have been consistently higher than those in metropolitan areas.

Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Booster Shots. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommended a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 who completed their primary vaccination more than five months ago. The booster shot is 10 micrograms, the same dosage as the primary series for this age group. The CDC also strengthened its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least four months after their first. Visit COVID.gov to find nearby locations for masks, testing, vaccines, and treatment. 

CMS Advancing Rural Maternal Health Equity. The Office of Minority Health at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides a high-level summary of its Rural Maternal Health Initiative implemented between June 2019 and November 2021. The effort comes from the CMS Rural Health initiative, established in 2016 to meet the needs specific to these areas.

Heat-Related Illness: Know the Signs. As temperatures rise, the newly formed federal Office of Climate Change and Health Equity is tracking areas of the country expected to experience a high number of extremely hot days over the next few months. The health impacts of a heat wave like the one that hit states in the Northwest last summer, go beyond dehydration and heat stroke to include: increased hospitalizations for heart disease, worsening asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even an increase in violence, crime, and suicide. Last month, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services awarded $385 million to help households lower cooling and heating costs. Learn more online about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Ongoing: HRSA Payment Program for RHC Buprenorphine-Trained Providers. In June 2021, HRSA launched an effort to improve access to substance use disorder treatment by paying for providers who are waivered to prescribe buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) still have the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 payment on behalf of each provider who trained to obtain the waiver necessary to prescribe buprenorphine after January 1, 2019. Approximately $1.2 million in program funding remains available for RHCs and will be paid on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Send questions to DATA2000WaiverPayments@hrsa.gov. There is ongoing availability of a free online course for waiver eligibility training from the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine and the Providers Clinical Support System.

2022 Care of the Older Adult Conference

May 27, 2022

Registration is open for the 2022 Care of the Older Adult Conference

Date: August 19 and 20, 2022

Location: Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia, Missouri

Make plans to join the University of Missouri Continu7ing Education for Health Professions for this 2 day conference that will provide health professionals the opportunity to gain knowledge in interdisciplinary approaches to clinical management and ethical treatment of older adults, a forum to discuss complex care issues common to all who care for the older adult and an awareness of innovative models of geriatric care delivery. The focus is on promoting excellence in gerontology health care by keeping abreast of the latest evidence-based practice.

Target Audience:

  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Nursing Home Administrators
  • Pharmacists
  • Psychologists/Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Other professionals involved in the care of older adults

Visit the University of Missouri Continuing Education for Health Professions website for conference information and to register

The conference agenda will be posted in the near future!

 

Accreditation

Physician

Activity approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

Nurse

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

The following credits will be pursued

  • Pharmacy
  • Certified Medical Director (CMD)
  • Nursing Home Administration
  • American Academy of Family Physicians
  • Pharmacotherapeutic
  • LPC, Social Work, Psychology for Missouri Licenses