Rural Horizons Spotlight is Now Available Online

December 11, 2023

Rural Horizons Spotlight is Now Available Online

The latest issue of NRHA’s Rural Horizons, the association’s quarterly magazine, is now available online featuring three new articles on topics including how students choose rural health.

For three rural medical and public health students who recently spoke with NRHA about their career choice, finding their “reason to care” was a huge deciding factor in pursuing small town practice – but they also believe exposure can help more students become interested in rural medicine, and rural living has a lot to offer the younger generation.

Rural Horizons features articles carefully selected to engage and inform everyone working to improve rural health care. You can subscribe by becoming an NRHA member.

Become an NRHA Member

Read NRHA’s Rural Horizons

Press Release – Governor Parson Announces New Investment, Partnerships to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Missouri

December 11, 2023

Governor Parson Announces New Investment, Partnerships to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Missouri

On Wednesday, December 6, Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) will release new funding o help improve the health of pregnant women and support their care after childbirth to reduce maternal mortality and poor health outcomes. The investment includes $4.3 million in new funds proposed by Governor Parson and authorized by the Missouri General Assembly to transform the quality and increase the access of health services provided to women during pregnancy and postpartum.

In 2023, Missouri’s latest Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review (PAMR) report found that annually an average of 61 Missouri women die while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy – ranking Missouri 44th among states in maternal mortality. These deaths occurred along the continuum of pregnancy and early motherhood. Contributing factors include access to care challenges, missed clinical interventions to manage conditions like heart disease, and unaddressed or unresolved mental health conditions – including substance use disorders, which are the leading cause of death and long-term harm.

Missouri’s maternal mortality prevention plan includes the following five domains:

  • Missouri Maternal Quality Care Protocols
  • Maternal Care Workforce
  • Optimize Postpartum Care
  • Maternal Health Access Project
  • Improved Maternal Health Data

Read Entire Press Release

Technical Assistance Webinar – Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) – HRSA-24-018, Monday, December 11 from 2:30 – 4:00

December 11, 2023

Technical Assistance Webinar – Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) – HRSA-24-018, Monday, December 11 from 2:30 – 4:00

Don’t miss today’s Technical Assistance (TA) webinar for the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program.

When: Today, Monday, December 11, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.

The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) aims to have applicants maximize patient and family engagement to address care gaps and improve health outcomes for older adults by integrating geriatrics with primary care and other appropriate specialties using the Age-Friendly Health Systems Framework.

Eligible Applicants include:

  • Schools of Allopathic Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Nursing, Allied Health, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Public Health, Optometry, Chiropractic, Veterinary Medicine or Podiatric Medicine
  • Physician Assistant Education Programs
  • Graduate programs for Health Administration or Behavioral Health and Mental Health Practice, including:
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Clinical Social Work
  • Professional Counseling
  • Marriage and family therapy
  • Health care facilities
  • Programs leading to certification as a certified nurse assistant
  • Partnership of a school of nursing and health care facility
  • Partnership of a program leading to certification as a certified nurse assistant, and a health care facility
  • Community-based organization, if otherwise eligible
  • Tribes, and Tribal organizations, if otherwise eligible

HRSA anticipates awarding $43 million to approximately 43 recipients through this funding opportunity.

Applications accepted until 11:59 p.m. ET on February 26, 2024

Read More about HRSA-24-018

Register Here for TA Webinar

Get Ready for 2024 Documentation Guidelines – Training to Improve Reimbursement and Mitigate Audit Risk

December 6, 2023

Get Ready for 2024 Documentation Guidelines – Training to Improve Reimbursement and Mitigate Audit Risk

Are your providers & electronic record templates up to date and compliant to the New Evaluation & Management (E/M) Documentation Requirements?

If you are conducting audits and/or filing appeals, consider registering for the comprehensive Certified Medical Documentation Improvement (CMDP) program with emphasis on 2024 guidelines for progress notes and E/M documentation.

This program is designed for:

  • Outpatient documentation professionals
  • Nurses
  • Coders
  • Internal chart reviewers
  • Health Plans and Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Auditors

Cost: 

  • $625 Non-members
  • $375 Members

Download Information Packet

Register online for Immediate Access

Survey Results: Rural Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Compensation

December 6, 2023

Survey Results: Rural Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Compensation

The first-of-its-kind survey provides a path forward for rural healthcare organizations by outlining provider compensation trends, best practices and potential challenges leaders might face when recruiting and retaining top talent in rural healthcare.

Key Takeaways from Survey

  • The majority of provider compensation is not tied to incentives
  • Salary variability continues to increase
  • Salary increase are not necessarily tied to position shortages
  • Independent and affiliated rural hospitals may not know what they are paying providers covered under Professional Service Agreements (PSAs)

See Survey Results

Using Telehealth for HIV Care

December 5, 2023

Using Telehealth for HIV Care

It’s critical for providers to understand the complexity of a patient’s daily life and support them with quality care.

Regular appointment attendance can help patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) slow the progression of the disease, reduce risk of transmission, and improve health outcomes.

Factors like time and transportation challenges, the stigma surrounding HIV, and a shortage of HIV care providers can make following a care plan difficult.

Incorporating telehealth into a primary care practice can overcome these barriers by giving patients a sage, convenient way to access HIV prevention and care services.

In recognition of the recent World AIDS Day, HRSA’s best practice guide has resources to use telehealth for HIV.

Included in the guide:

Access Best Practice Guide

Calendar Year 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule Summary

December 5, 2023

Calendar Year 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule Summary

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Learning Network released a summary of the CY24 PFS final rule with information on key changes.

The Medicare Telehealth Services section includes information on:

  • New codes
  • Continuing flexibilities
  • Payment rate and more

Read More

Center for Rural Health Releases Communication Toolkit

December 5, 2023

Center for Rural Health Releases Communication Toolkit

The Center for Rural Health (CRH), housed within the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, recently updated its Communication Toolkit. The toolkit is designed to help Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics, public health departments and other healthcare organizations in navigating the realm of communications. It has sections on communicating with a target audience, working with the media, and how to successfully use tools, such as social media and website analytics, to share information with the public.

Helpful items in the toolkit:

The toolkit is free and open to the public and may be helpful for:

  • Marketing coordinators
  • Public relations directors
  • Social media marketers
  • Communication managers
  • Foundation directors
  • Website specialists
  • And other similar positions

Access Communication Toolkit Here

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

December 5, 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 that 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. That 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 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 PAN’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

Register Here

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

December 5, 2023

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:

  • The 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
  • Megan Vaeth

When: Tuesday, January 23, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CST

Register Here