Month: December 2023

Upcoming MBQIP Deadlines and Reporting Reminders

December 28, 2023

Upcoming MBQIP Deadlines and Reporting Reminders

Please see the schedule below for upcoming MBQIP deadlines and reporting:

  • January 3, 2024 – HCAHPS Q3 encounters (7/1/23 – 9/30/23)
    • Submission is through the HQR Secure Portal-Vendor
  • January 31, 2024 – EDTC Q4 2023 encounters (10/1/23 – 12/31/23
  • February 1, 2024 – OP-18 Q3 encounters
    • Submission is through the HQR Secure Portal-Outpatient
  • February 29, 2024 – Safe Use of Opioids – Concurrent Prescribing measure for CY 2023 encounters (1/1/23 – 12/31/23)
    • This measure is not currently being submitted for MBQIP but is available for reporting to CMS

MBQIP Data Submission deadlines can be found in the Technical Assistance & Services Center (TASC) MBQIP Toolkit

RQITA Monthly Edition: December 2023

December 28, 2023

RQITA Monthly Edition: December 2023

The December issue of RQITA monthly has been released. Each issue includes a wealth of information on the MBQIP Program including:

New Notice of Funding Opportunity – Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health (PCTE-PARB) HRSA-24-019

December 29, 2023

New Notice of Funding Opportunity – Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health (PCTE-PARB) HRSA-24-019

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to increase the number of trained physician assistants who choose to practice in rural areas after graduation.

The Primary Care Training and Enhancement: Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health (HRSA-24-019) aims to address the need to train primary care physician assistants to prevent, identify, diagnose, treat, and refer services for behavioral health conditions.

Eligible Applicants:

Only an academically affiliated physician assistant training program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education t=for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) may apply. To be eligible, your organization must be in:

  • The United States,
  • The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
  • The Northern Mariana Islands,
  • American Samoa,
  • Guam,
  • The US Virgin Islands,
  • The Federated States of Micronesia,
  • The Republic of the Marshall Islands, or
  • The Republic of Palau

The following program objectives must be met:

  • A 3-month minimum integrated behavioral health clinical rotation(s) in a rural primary care setting(s)
  • Develop program curriculum to address behavioral health and substance use disorders
  • Establish strategic partnerships that support primary care behavioral health integration in rural areas

HRSA anticipates awarding approximately $5 million to approximately 12 recipients through this funding opportunity.

For questions please contact:

View Funding Opportunity

Apply Now

2024 Rural Hospital Virtual Performance Improvement Conferences – Register Now

December 29, 2023

2024 Rural Hospital Virtual Performance Improvement Conferences – Register Now

Wintergreen, in partnership with the National Organization for State Office of Rural Health is hosting the second annual Hospital Performance Improvement Virtual Conferences specifically for rural hospitals and clinics. The two regional, three-hour sessions will be hosted by Wintergreen and will highlight actionable topics:

  • Harsh Realities of Rural Operations – Jonathan Pantenburg, Wintergreen
  • Policy and Program Priorities – Meredith Anderson, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
  • Eliminate the Ego in Rural Recruitment – Nicole Barbano, Hunter Ambrose
  • Benefits: Strategic Asset, Not Cost – Kristen Ogden, The Compliance Team
  • Harness Technology to Drive reimbursement – Bryan Richman, InnoVative Capital

Regions A, B and C: Wednesday, January 31st at 11:00 AM Pacific Time

Register Here for Regions A, B and C

Regions D and E:  Thursday, February 1 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time

Register Here for Regions D and E

NRHA Seeks Rural Healthy Aging Initiatives, Best Practices

December 29, 2023

NRHA Seeks Rural Healthy Aging Initiatives, Best Practices

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has partnered with the John A. Hartford Foundation to enhance access to resources for rural healthy aging and age-inclusive care by engaging stakeholders and disseminating information as a primary component of the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative. NRHA is producing a compendium of rural healthy aging initiatives and best practices.

No matter where a person lives, getting older requires support – but rural adults face unique concerns not shared by their urban peers. In addition to economic factors, cultural and social differences, policies that don’t adequately acknowledge or serve rural  and geographic distance, older small-town residents must also grapple with traveling farther for care, fewer community spaces and activities, social isolation, hospital closures, and health care provider shortages. These issues put rural older adults at higher risk for worsening health outcomes.

If you are part of an organization with programs, models, or policy aimed at enhancing the quality of aging in rural communities, consider completing a submission form to be included in NRHA’s compendium.

This initiative will share resources with rural stakeholders and provide accessible and creative practices to rural communities.

Learn more about the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative

Complete a submission form

NRHA 2024 Rural Health Award Nominations Now Open

December 29, 2023

NRHA 2024 Rural Health Award Nominations Now Open

Nominations are now open for NRHA’s 2024 Rural Health Awards. Each year NRHA honors outstanding individuals and organizations in the field of rural health who have dedicated their time and talents to improving the health and well-being of others.

Previous Rural Health Award recipients have stretched the boundaries of possibility by forging innovative programs and services, making rural life healthier and more compassionate.

Consider nominating your favorite rural health individual, program or organization.

  • Selections made solely based on a 300–500-word narrative

Organizational Awards:

  • Outstanding Rural Health Organization
    • Recognizes any community-based group or organization that has improved access to health services and information for rural people through innovative, comprehensive approaches.
    • Factors considered include:
      • Outreach
      • Preventive health and education
      • Quality and efficiency of care
      • Strong community support and involvement
  • Outstanding Rural Health Program
    • Recognizes a community, regional or statewide program involving one or more health professionals or entities that promotes or facilitates the development of rural health delivery systems.
    • Factors considered include:
      • Coordination of services with other health care agencies to avoid duplication of services, networking and collaboration with other health care entities to achieve common goals
      • Innovation in development and implementation
      • Lasting impact on populations and areas served

Individual Awards:

  • Louis Gorin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Health Care
    • Award recipients selected based on their:
      • creativity
      • unselfishness
      • compassion and
      • cooperative attitude in seeking ways to make lasting contributions to rural health care
  • Rural Health Practitioner of the Year
    • This award is inclusive of all health disciplines
    • Factors taken into consideration include:
      • Providing outstanding care
      • Involvement in the community
      • Lasting contributions to the health care system
  • Outstanding Researcher or Educator Award
    • Criteria considered include:
      • Scope of accomplishments
      • Significance of the work to rural health
      • Sophistication of the scholarly effort
  • NRHA/JSI Awards
    • Eligible candidates include:
      • Individuals enrolled in an institution of higher learning in some form or capacity
  • Student Leadership Award
    • This award recognizes extraordinary leadership activities demonstrated by a student in the field of rural health.
    • Candidates will have displayed a vested interest in improving rural health care and demonstrated an ability to work towards this improvement
      • Efforts may include:
        • Organizing and directing rural health activities or groups
        • Significant achievements
        • Unique approaches to identifying or meeting needs
        • Commitment of time/effort
  • Student Achievement Award
    • This award recognizes extraordinary student-initiated activity within the field of rural health
    • Nominees will have significant accomplishments in:
      • Rural health care delivery
      • Education
      • Promotion
      • Research and/or advocacy

Nominations that do not meet the membership requirement will be disqualified without notice.

  • No more than three nominations per individual or organization
    • Only the first three nominations will be given consideration
    • Letters of recommendation or other materials are not allowed

NRHA accepts online submissions only and the deadline is Tuesday, February 20.

  • Click here to nominate an organization or program
  • Click here to nominate an individual

You can meet the winners during the NRHA’s Annual Rural Health Conference in New Orleans next spring.

Learn More about the NRHA Annual Rural Health Conference

NRHA Webinar – Latest CMS Updates and The Most Frequent Findings in Rural Health Care

December 19, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Latest CMS Updates and The Most Frequent Findings in Rural Health Care

CMS certification is not only necessary for CAHs and RHCs to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments, but also for payment from many private insurers and participation in Federal grants. Preparation for a CMS survey is critically important for CAHs and RHCs, as adverse CMS and survey outcomes can result in termination of your CMS certification.

Rural hospitals and rural health clinics have unique challenges, such as limited resources.

Join the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, to hear from former CMS surveyor, John Berry, about the latest updates affecting rural hospitals and rural health clinics and the most cited CMS CfCs and CoPs.

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Discuss CMS QSO Memos and Notifications affecting rural hospitals
  • Most frequent CMS findings in CAHs
  • Most frequent CMS findings in RHCs

When: Tuesday, January 16, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 pm CST

Click here to register

NRHA Webinar – Navigating Change: Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals in a Rising Rate Environment

December 19, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Navigating Change: Strategies for Critical Access Hospitals in a Rising Rate Environment

In today’s evolving landscape, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) face pressing challenges requiring substantial financial investments. This study delves into the complexities of securing resources for:

  • Securing resources for CAHs
  • Factoring in interest rates
  • Project costs
  • Cash flow
  • Cost-based payments

An analysis reveals that, despite the backdrop of rising interest rates and construction costs, current trends should not deter CAHs from pursuing long-term capital investments. The reimbursement system acts as a safeguard, softening the impact of market fluctuations on rural healthcare.

Join Stroudwater Capital Partners CEO, Brian Haapala, to explore project sizing, early investments, and the advantages of the cyclical interest rate cycle for your organization’s benefit. Discover how to address the unique needs of rural healthcare amidst a rapidly changing financial environment.

When: Wednesday, January 17, 2:00 – 3:00 pm CST

Click here to register

NRHA Webinar – Safe by Design: ER Designs to Accommodate Behavior Issues

December 19, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Safe by Design: ER Designs to Accommodate Behavior Issues

Emergency rooms serve as a single-entry point for a variety of patients into a hospital. From sick children and expecting mothers to victims of violent crime and traumatic incidents, the ER has to accommodate a wide range of needs, and increasingly, this includes behavioral health patients.

Intentional design is critical to the overall safety of hospital staff, patients, and visitors. When designing Emergency Rooms for behavioral health patients, preserving security for patients and staff, security should be the number one priority.

Crucial security considerations during design include:

  • Direct linking of the ED to the behavioral health ward
  • Controlling access to all spaces
  • Anti-ligature and tamper-proof features
  • Limiting or enhancing patient privacy with clear sight lines depending on patient acuity
  • Administration of bathroom access
  • Designing nurse stations close by the ED holding rooms

These elements and more will be discussed in this lecture by two subject-matter experts, Connor Crist and Megan Vaeth.

When: Tuesday, January 23, 2:00 – 3:00 pm CST

Click here to Register

NRHA Webinar – Finding Financial Support for Prescription Medications and Understanding the Medicare Reforms to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs

December 28, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Finding Financial Support for Prescription Medications and Understanding the Medicare Reforms to Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs

The inability to pay for essential medical care is not just a significant problem for the uninsured but also for people who have health insurance. Recent polling by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that 47% of U.S. adults said it is very or somewhat difficult to afford their healthcare costs, and about 50% said they would be unable to pay a $500 unexpected medical bill without borrowing money.

This is where the PAN Foundation comes in – to serve as a critical safety net for hundreds of thousands of underinsured patients each year. As an independent, national 501(c)(3) organization, PAN helps people across the country get the medications and treatments they need by assisting with their out-of-pocket costs and advocating for improved access, affordability, and equity for all.

Join PAN’s Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer, Amy Niles, as she explores the important role PAN plays every day in connecting patients with the lifesaving care they need and deserve. During this webinar, Amy will walk through how healthcare providers and pharmacists can help their eligible patients find and apply for grants through PAN’s easy-to-use application process. Finally, Amy will review Medicare reforms, now law, that will lower costs for people on Medicare.

Attendees will walk away from this webinar with a better understanding about:

  • The role of charitable foundation assistance programs and why they are needed
  • How to connect patients with assistance through PAH’s disease specific funds
  • The Medicare reforms enacted through the Inflation Reduction Act (August 2022) that will improve access to care for millions of people on Medicare

When: Thursday, January 25, 1:00 – 3:00 pm CST

Click here to register