August 12, 2024
RHIhub This Week
RHIhub This Week keeps you informed of the latest rural news, funding opportunities, publicans and events.
Click Here to Access the Most Recent RHIhub This Week
Author: dianawinder
New Changes to Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program Coverage in Medicare
August 9, 2024
New Changes to Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program Coverage in Medicare
The Center for Health Care Strategies published a policy cheat sheet highlighting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ coverage of intensive outpatient program (IOP) services.
As of January 1, 2024, Medicare now covers IOP services. IOPs are structured treatment programs that take place on an outpatient basis. IOPs are designed for individuals with mental health or substance use disorder (SUD) conditions, who have treatment plans demonstrating a need for 9-19 hours a week of therapeutic services.
The cheat sheet highlights:
- The latest policy changes in IOP covered services
- How changes impact dually eligible individuals
- Medicaid-only enrollees
- New billing requirements and guidance for crossover claims
Click Here to learn more
NARHC Webinar: 2025 Proposed CMS Rules – What’s in the Rules for RHCs, August 15
August 9, 2024
NARHC Webinar: 2025 Proposed CMS Rules – What’s in the Rules for RHCs, August 15
The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) will host this free webinar with details on the recently released Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule.
This annual regulatory update contains Rural Health Clinic (RHC) specific proposals to eliminate productivity standards, remove hemoglobin/hematocrit from the six required lab services, reform care management billing, and allow RHCs to bill for administration of part B preventive vaccines at time of service, among others.
Additional time for Q&A will be provided.
Advance registration is required.
Cost: Free
When: Thursday, August 15, 2:00 p.m. ET
Click Here to Register
Rural Health Research Gateway – The Low-Volume Hospital Adjustment Before and During COVID-19
August 9, 2024
Rural Health Research Gateway – The Low-Volume Hospital Adjustment Before and During COVID-19
This brief from the North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center provides an update to a 2016 analysis of the profitability of low-volume rural Prospective Payment System hospitals under the Affordable Care Act’s qualifying criteria.
The Low-Volume Hospital (LVH) adjustment is for hospitals with fewer than 3,800 patient discharges in the previous year that are more than 15 miles from the nearest Inpatient Prospective Payment System acute care hospital.
Qualifying hospitals receive a payment adjustment up to an additional 25% for every Medicare patient discharge.
Click Here to Read the Brief
Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 7
August 9, 2024
Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 7
The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal opened July 1 and will remain open until September 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Providers who received one or more PRF (General or Targeted) and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, from January 1 to June 30, 2023 must report on their use of funds during Reporting Period 7 to comply with PRF Reporting Requirements.
More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting webpage.
Upcoming Maternal Health and Health Workforce Meetings – September 10
August 8, 2024
Upcoming Maternal Health and Health Workforce Meetings – September 10
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Region 6 and 7 invite you to join the Maternal Health and Health Workforce meetings in September.
These meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, September 10 at the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation Training Room, in Sikeston, MO.
Maternal Health Meeting:
- Tuesday, September 10, 9:30 a.m. – Noon
- DAEOC Training Room
- 203 N. New Madrid St
- Rm Social 1919
- Sikeston, MO
Click Here to Register for Maternal Health Meeting
Delta Health Workforce Meeting
- Tuesday, September 10, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
- DAEOC Training Room
- 203 N. New Madrid St
- Rm Social 1919
- Sikeston, MO
Click Here to Register for Delta Health Workforce Meeting
Delta Grants 101 Workshop – September 11
August 8, 2024
Delta Grants 101 Workshop – September 11
The Delta Regional Authority and the Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs – Regions 6 and 7, invite you to a Grants 101 Workshop in Sikeston, Missouri.
Topics at a Glance
- Federal grant application process
- Federal and regional funding opportunities
- Common Mistakes and Tips for Writing a Strong Application
- Technical assistance and resources
Who Should Attend
- Community and faith-based organizations
- Hospitals
- Health centers
- Health and social services providers
- Universities
- Community colleges
- Public health departments
Cost: Free
When: Wednesday, September 11, 9:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Where: Three Rivers Community College, 1400 South Main Street, Sikeston, MO
Click Here to Register and Save Your Spot
Utilization Data – CMS Adds 6 New Procedures to Comparison Tool
July 25, 2024
Utilization Data – CMS Adds 6 New Procedures to Comparison Tool
Medicare patients are more computer savvy and informed. Medicare continues to provide ways for patients to gain information to make informed decisions about where to obtain their care.
This month the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the Medicare.gov compare tool pages for physicians and clinicians.
The following new procedures were added to the 12 new procedures released back in January 2024:
- Upper endoscopy
- Arthroscopy – upper extremity
- Arthroscopy – lower extremity
- Varicose vein ablation
- Laminectomy/laminotomy
- Lower limb revascularization
Click Here for the CMS Care Compare – Doctors and Clinicans Initiative page.
Click Here to view the “Find & Compare Providers Near You” page for patients which provides comparisons of physicians, hospitals, nursing home, etc.
Free Recorded Webinar Series – Conducting Investigations
July 25, 2024
Free Recorded Webinar Series – Conducting Investigations
All healthcare organizations should have the ability to look into all complaints.
Not all complaints warrant a full investigation, but when an investigation is needed, even the most experienced run into roadblocks.
The American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC) has been sponsoring free webinars featuring Meric Craig Bloch, J.D., attorney, author and investigator.
A recording of recent webinars can be found in the new AIHC YouTube playlist entitled “Conducting Internal Investigations as a Forensic Auditor!”
Click Here to View the Recording
Hospital Services Research Brief
July 25, 2024
Hospital Services Research Brief
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and screening patients for Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) is conducted by most hospitals and medical centers in the United States.
The article published by Health Services Research states that many hospitals do have programs or strategies to address HRSN and/or SDOH, but it remains unclear how these relate to use of data captured through the screening process.
Collection of social needs data may help inform the development of programs to strategies to address HRSN and SDOH. This, in turn, can enable providers to screen for these needs and use the data in the near term for care delivery and in the long term to address community and population needs.