Month: February 2023

Webinar –NRHA’s Rural Hospital HR Certification Program

February 28, 2023

Webinar – NRHA’s Rural Hospital HR Certification Program – Wednesday, March 8 at 12:30 PM

The increasing rates of employee burnout and turnover coupled with the struggle to recruit and retain staff are just some of the everyday obstacles faced by rural hospital HR Leaders. Along with constantly changing policies and regulations and a lack of resources across the board, there has never been a more crucial time to support rural hospital HR Leaders.

Do any of these topics concern with you?

  • Recruiting
  • Retention
  • Burnout
  • Culture
  • Staff & Organizational Training/Development
  • Labor Laws & Regulations
  • Communication
  • FTEs, Productivity, & Payroll
  • Budgeting
  • Employee Engagement
  • Employee Benefits

Learn about how NRHA’s Rural Hospital HR Certification Program can provide the network, knowledge, and tools for your rural hospital’s HR Leaders! Join NRHA on March 8th at 12:30 pm to learn about this one of kind program, created by rural hospital HR executives for rural hospital HR executives.

Register Here

Missouri Immunization Conference 2023

February 24, 2023

Missouri Immunization Conference 2023

Event information and registration is available online. April 26 & 27, 2023 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center – Columbia, MO

Purpose

The 2023 Missouri Immunization Conference brings together bright minds to give talks that are action-oriented on a wide range of subjects related to immunizations to foster learning and inspiration, as well as provoke conversations that matter and actions that lead to increased vaccination rates for Missourians. The theme of this year’s conference is Vaccines: The Building Blocks of Better Health.

Target Audience

  • Physicians
  • Advanced Practice Providers
  • Nurses
  • Pharmacists
  • Public Health Professionals
  • Hospitals & Ambulatory Care Staff
  • Long-term Care Facilities
  • Private healthcare providers

Learning Outcomes

  1. Participants will self-report increased confidence in their ability to advocate for immunizations
  2. Participants will self-report an increase in knowledge about evidence-based strategies to increase immunization rates, address vaccine hesitancy, and combat vaccine misinformation.
  3. Participants will self-report increased confidence in their ability to educate patients on vaccine preventable diseases and how to prevent them.

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.

Contact hours will be awarded.

LPC, Social Work, Psychology, 50-Minute Hour CEs

The University of Missouri Continuing Education for Health Professions (CEHP) is part of an accredited university in the state of Missouri. As such, this program meets the requirements for Licensed Professional Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers with Missouri licenses.

Public Health Emergency (PHE) 1135 Waivers: Updated Guidance for Providers

February 24, 2023

Public Health Emergency (PHE) 1135 Waivers: Updated Guidance for Providers

On February 9, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 will end on May, 11, 2023. COVID-19 remains a significant priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and over the next several months, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work to ensure a smooth transition.  During the PHE, CMS has used a combination of emergency authority waivers, regulations, enforcement discretion, and sub-regulatory guidance to ensure easier access to care during the PHE for health care providers and their beneficiaries.

Some of the flexibilities that were created during the pandemic were recently expanded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.  Others, while critical during our initial responses to COVID-19, are no longer needed. CMS has made further updates to our CMS Emergencies Page with useful information for providers – specifically around major telehealth and individual waivers – that were initiated during the Public Health Emergency (PHE).

Please reference the following guidance in response to the PHE ending May 11, 2023:

Provider-specific fact sheets about COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) waivers and flexibilities: https://www.cms.gov/coronavirus-waivers

CMS COVID-19 Waivers and Flexibilities for Providers include:

  • Physicians and Other Clinicians
  • Hospitals and CAHs (including Swing Beds, DPUs), ASCs and CMHCs
  • Teaching Hospitals, Teaching Physicians and Medical Residents
  • Long Term Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities and/or Nursing Facilities)
  • Home Health Agencies
  • Hospice
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
  • Long Term Care Hospitals & Extended Neoplastic Disease Care Hospitals
  • Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
  • Laboratories
  • Medicare Shared Savings Program
  • Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies
  • Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans
  • Ambulances
  • End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Facilities
  • Participants in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program
  • Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Department of Health & Human Services Fact Sheet

Announcing the First CMS Health Equity Conference

February 24, 2023

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, will host its inaugural CMS Health Equity Conference on June 7-8th, 2023. The free conference will be held at Howard University’s Armour J. Blackburn University Center in Washington, D.C. for in-person participation as well as streamed virtually for online participation. The conference will convene leaders in health equity from federal agencies, health provider organizations, academia, community-based organizations, and others, both in person and virtually. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from CMS’s leadership on recent developments and updates on CMS programs; up-to-date research on health equity; discuss promising practices and innovate solutions and collaborate on community engagement efforts.

Based on the CMS Framework for Health Equity 2022-2032, conference attendees will share research, ideas, and initiatives that are measurably reducing disparities in CMS programs and increasing equity for all.

Academics, researchers, community organizations, and others are encouraged to submit presentation proposals beginning on February 27th, 2023. Projects must be piloting or researching health equity solutions that align with the CMS Framework for Health Equity 2022-2032 priority areas. Key research findings and projects will be highlighted at the conference. 

Information and guidelines for submitting proposals can be found on the conference website. CMS will also be hosting a webinar on submitting proposals on March 16th from 12-1pm EDT. Register for the webinar here.

CMS is pleased to host the CMS Health Equity Conference, and looks forward to your attendance. 

Webinars – Custom Learning Systems: Become a 5 Star Provider of Choice

February 17, 2023

Webinars – Custom Learning Systems: Become a 5 Star Provider of Choice

The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) is pleased to share several Custom Learning Systems webinars, available to our Missouri Rural Health Partners. These webinars are available to your organization and staff at no charge to you.

To register, please click on the date next to the webinars you wish to attend. Clicking on the date will auto-generate a registration code unique to Missouri and waive registration fees.

Engage Series:

  • The Resilience Roadmap with Mark Black – “A framework for success in the face of adversity” – Friday, March 31, 2023 at 10:00 AM CT
  • The Staffing Fix with Clint Maun – “Stop the Bleeding: Find and Retain Quality Staff” – Monday, April 24, 2023 at 11:00 AM CT
  • Compassionate Accountability with Nate Regier – Overcome six compassion myths to improve the healthcare experience – Friday, June 9, 2023 at 10:00 AM CT

Everyone’s A Caregiver Mastery Series (EACM):

Elevate 23:

HCAHPS Breakthrough Series:

Having problems with registering? Contact Monique at (800) 667-7325 ext. 2202 or monique@customlearning.com

NRHA’s 46th Annual Rural Health Conference and 8th Rural Hospital Innovation Summit

February 21, 2023

NRHA’s 46th Annual Rural Health Conference and 8th Rural Hospital Innovation Summit

Don’t miss your chance to join NRHA and colleagues from across the country in America’s Finest City for the nation’s largest gathering of rural health professionals, a refreshing event in an ideal vacation locale.

NRHA’s 46th Annual Rural Health Conference and 8th Rural Hospital Innovation Summit are May 16-19 in San Diego, Calif. Plan to arrive early for the association’s groundbreaking and expanded 28th Health Equity Conference May 9-10 and 20th Rural Medical Education Conference May 10.

You’ll return to your rural community with a new wave of expertise from more than 80 innovative, practical, and cost-saving sessions and much more.

Be sure to register early to save hundreds on all of NRHA’s May events as well as accommodations.

Session topics include:

  • Preserving rural maternal health access and addressing disparities
  • Turning the tide on rural workforce and workplace trends
  • Enhancing the capacity of rural hospitals, clinics, and other facilities
  • The intersection of health equity and social determinants
  • Innovative payment models and financial strategies
  • Treatment of opioid use disorder and evidence-based programming
  • Community advancement of rural oral health and health equity
  • Expanding the use of community health workers
  • Rural resilience and disaster preparedness and much, much more

San Diego is known for its warm climate, swimming beaches, numerous parks, and ethnic diversity. Attendees will enjoy its relaxed pace, unique neighborhoods, energetic nightlife, and regional “Cali-Baja” cuisine with locally sourced ingredients.

With gentle surf, sparkling wide-sand beaches, a charming main street and great hotels, Coronado Island is perfect for a family vacation or romantic getaway. And immense Balboa Park is the site of the renowned San Diego Zoo, and numerous art galleries, artist studios, museums and gardens.

Register Now

Upcoming Webinar: RHCs & the Medicare Shared Savings Program

February 21, 2023

The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC), Center for Medicare, and Rural Health Value are hosting a webinar on rural health clinic participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). The webinar will be held on March 7 at 3:00 pm ET on Zoom. You must register in advance.

Speakers will include Dr. Doug Jacobs, Chief Transformation Officer at the Center for Medicare and Dr. Clint MacKinney, Co-Principal Investigator at Rural Health Value. Nathan Baugh and Sarah Hohman at NARHC will moderate the session. The will share an overview of the MSSP, highlight RHC opportunities, review 2024 MSSP changes, and provide time for Q&A. All interested members are encouraged to attend.

Register Here

Scholarships Available for NRHA’s San Diego Events in May

February 17, 2023

Scholarships Available for NRHA’s San Diego Events in May

Make a splash and bring rural health lessons home at NRHA’s 46th Annual Rural Health Conference and 8th Rural Hospital Innovation Summit May 16-19 in San Diego, Calif.

Arrive early to relax before our groundbreaking and expanded 28th Health Equity Conference May 16-17 and 20th Rural Medical Education Conference May 16.

Act now to apply for scholarships for those who would otherwise not be able to attend.

Register early to save hundreds on all of NRHA’s May events as well as accommodations. Don’t miss your chance to join NRHA and colleagues from across the country for the nation’s largest gathering of rural health professionals. You’ll return to your rural community with a new wave of expertise from more than 80 innovative, practical, and cost-saving sessions and much more.

NRHA Now Accepting RHC and CAH Conference Presentations

February 17, 2023

NRHA Now Accepting RHC and CAH Conference Presentations

NRHA is now accepting presentation proposals for our Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital Conferences.

The goal of NRHA’s Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital Conferences 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 CAHs and RHCs. Five interest tracks are available for CAH Conference submissions: innovation, financial, leadership, quality, and best practices. This year’s events will be held Sept. 26-29 in Kansas City, Mo., NRHA’s hometown. The deadline for submissions is May 31.

Submit Your Proposal

Chartis Study Shows More Rural Hospitals Slash Services

February 17, 2023

Chartis Study Shows More Rural Hospitals Slash Services

The Chartis Group released a study at NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute last week that found nearly 51 percent of rural hospitals have a negative operating margin and indicates the number of facilities eliminating services like obstetrics increased in 2022.

Experts say the REH designation could offer a lifeline, especially as pandemic relief dollars are tapped out and patient volumes fail to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to NRHA COO Brock Slabach. Around 500 rural health stakeholders traveled to Washington, D.C., for NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute to advocate in person for solutions to these and other pressing challenges. Check out all videos, data, advocacy materials, and other documents under the Agenda tab of the event page, as well as NRHA’s fighting for rural page and the conference app.

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