Month: May 2025

Webinar: How Lee Health Solved Cancer Center Staffing Imbalances, May 13

May 1, 2025

Webinar: How Lee Health Solved Cancer Center Staffing Imbalances, May 13

Cancer centers nationwide are struggling with staffing shortages and workload imbalances that threaten both nurse retention and patient care. At Lee Health, leaders recognized that manual patient assignment methods were falling short and recently adopted a smarter approach that ensures fairer assignments and eases administrative strain.

As a result, workload imbalances dropped by 10%, staff productivity improved 11% and 90% of nurses report they can now effectively manage their patient loads.

Join this session to learn how Lee Health reworked patient assignments to improve efficiency and nurse satisfaction.

Key Learning Points:

  • Implement data-driven patient assignments to improve workload balance,
  • Reduce administrative burden in infusion centers with streamlined processes, and
  • Novel strategies to boost staff productivity while maintaining high-quality care.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, May 13, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

CMS Proposes Revision to FY 2026 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System – Comment by June 10

May 1, 2025

CMS Proposes Revision to FY 2026 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System – Comment by June 10

This proposed rule would revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for

  • operating and capital-related costs of acute care hospitals;
  • make changes relating to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals;
  • update the payment policies and the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs);
  • update and make changes to requirements for certain quality programs; and
  • make other policy-related changes.

To be assured consideration, comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. EDT on June 10, 2025.

In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-1833-P. Because of staff and resource limitations, comments cannot be accepted by facsimile transmission.

Comments, including mass comment submissions, must be submitted in one of the following ways:

  • Electronically – You may submit electronic comments on this regulation to: https://www.regulations.gov.
  • Regular Mail – You may mail written comments to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1833-P, PO Box 8013, Baltimore, MD 21244-8013.
  • Be sure to allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.
  • Express or Overnight Mail – You may send written comments vi express or overnight mail to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1833-P, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850

Click Here to View CMS Fact Sheet on Proposed Rule

Click Here to Learn More

Rural Health Research: Federal and State Reimbursement for Youth Behavioral Health Services

May 1, 2025

Rural Health Research: Federal and State Reimbursement for Youth Behavioral Health Services

The prevalence of behavioral health conditions, including depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use continue to increase among young people in the United States (U.S.). Medicaid is an important source of health coverage for youth in the rural U.S., covering 47% of youth. Because Medicaid is jointly funded by states and the federal government and is administered by each state within federal guidelines, reimbursement policies for behavioral health care vary across states.

This brief provides a structured review of the state-level policies and federal and state funding mechanisms that may affect the supply of behavioral health services for children and youth through 24 years of age.

Among the findings:

  • Medicaid reimbursement and coverage policies for behavioral health professionals vary across and within states.
  • A review of individual state Medicaid manuals indicates that social workers and psychologists are eligible for Medicaid manuals indicates that social workers and psychologists are eligible for Medicaid reimbursement for behavioral health services in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are eligible for reimbursement by all but two state Medicaid programs.
  • All 50 states and the District of Columbia allow reimbursement of social workers and psychologists for behavioral health services provided through school-based Medicaid programs, while approximately one-third of states omit MFTs from the list of providers eligible for reimbursement within school-based Medicaid programs.

Click Here to Read Full Brief

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is May 5 – 11

May 1, 2025

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is May 5 – 11

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is May 5 – 11, help spread the word about the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLS-MAMA).

  • This free and confidential service offers 24/7 support via call or text to new and expecting moms and their loved ones.
  • The Hotline’s trained counselors help thousands of women and their families needing emotional support during or after pregnancy.
  • The Hotline is available in English and Spanish and offers interpreters in more than 60 languages.

Take advantage of HRSA’s promotional toolkit or order a limited number of printed products for free to share the Hotline with someone who is currently pregnant or postpartum, their loved ones, or caregivers – the Hotline is here for them.

Click Here to go to HRSA’s National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

Click Here to access HRSA’s Free Promotional Toolkit/Order printed products

NRHA Webinar: How Rural Hospitals are Strengthening Swing Bed Compliance to Secure Reimbursement and Prevent Denials, May 14

May 1, 2025

NRHA Webinar: How Rural Hospitals are Strengthening Swing Bed Compliance to Secure Reimbursement and Prevent Denials, May 14

Strong documentation and compliance are the foundation of a successful swing bed program. Rural hospitals that get it right secure sustainable reimbursement, avoid costly denials, and maximize the value of their swing bed services. But with shifting Medicare regulations and complex eligibility requirements, how do you ensure your hospital is set up for success?

Join Valorie Clouse, RN, AGNP, FNP, CCM, who has worked extensively with rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) to strengthen swing bed compliance, improve case management, and prevent denials. She has helped rural facilities develop documentation processes that support medical necessity, meet Medicare requirements, and protect financial sustainability.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Documentation practices that ensure compliance and prevent denials with their swing beds,
  • Medicare’s latest regulations on swing bed eligibility and reimbursement,
  • How rural hospitals are securing sustainable revenue and strengthening financial stability with their swing beds,
  • Best practices for optimizing swing bed utilization without financial risk

This session will provide rural hospital leaders with clear, practical guidance to navigate swing bed compliance, avoid common pitfalls, and strengthen financial sustainability.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, May 14, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to register