Author: dianawinder

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

 

NRHA Webinar – Developing a Strong Threat Management and Governance Program in Rural Healthcare and Beyond

December 28, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Developing a Strong Threat Management and Governance Program in Rural Healthcare and Beyond

In today’s complex healthcare landscape, effective threat management stands as a vital element in delivering quality care. Join our tailored webinar crafted for rural healthcare executives to explore essential practices in threat management and governance controls.

Gain insights and practical strategies to fortify security measures, protect patient data, and ensure the resilience of healthcare systems in rural settings.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify and assess the distinct threat landscape in rural healthcare settings, understanding the specific challenges and vulnerabilities faced.
  • Explore practical best practices in proactive threat management, focusing on identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks in rural healthcare systems.
  • Implement effective governance control measures tailored for rural healthcare organizations to ensure compliance and robust security protocols.
  • Acquire actionable strategies and tools to strengthen cybersecurity resilience, addressing prevalent challenges of data breaches and cyber threats in rural healthcare contexts.
  • Integrate a comprehensive understanding of threat management into rural healthcare operations, empowering executives to fortify security measures and maintain quality care standards in their unique settings.

When: Tuesday, January 30, 2:00 – 3:00 pm CST

Click here to register

Resources for Billing for Telehealth

December 28, 2023

Resources for Billing for Telehealth

Reimbursements for telehealth continue to evolve. Find resources on billing and reimbursement for:

Additional Resources

Washington University Currently Recruiting Study Participants

December 28, 2023

Washington University Currently Recruiting Study Participants

Washington University, in St. Louis, is currently recruiting study participants to take part in a 60 – 90-minute interview. Participants will be compensated with a $200 e-gift card upon completing the interview.

Purpose:

  • To examine the implementation of evidence-based interventions for increasing engagement in substance use treatment and HIV care for patients in the state of Missouri.
    • This study will provide critical insights into understanding the delivery of medication treatments for opioid use disorders, HIV prevention, and other resources.

Recruiting for the following groups:

  • Health Center Staff and Providers (MD, DO, PA, APRN)
    • Must be working at an FQHC, RHC, or facility eligible for HRSA funding
    • Must be working in a rural county of Missouri
  • People with lived experience with Opioid Use Disorder
    • Either actively using or not
    • Must be currently living or working in a rural county of Missouri
  • Community Advocates
    • Must have work or volunteer experiences as an advocate for those receiving support or treatment for substance use disorder
      • Examples include but are not limited to:
        • Mobile outreach,
        • Harm Reduction,
        • Leading a peer support group,
        • Community organizing
        • Public speaking
  • Regional Leaders
    • Must have work or volunteer experience in a leadership capacity seeking to address issues related to substance use disorder within your community
      • Examples include but are not limited to serving in public office, as a faith leader, or as program director/executive director

If interested, please complete the eligibility screener here

*The Institute of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis and the National Institutes of Health are funding this research study, grant #R21DA057136. If you have any questions about this study, you may contact Phillip Marotta directly at phillip.marottaWwustl.edu or you may contact the Human Research Protection Office at 1 800 438-0445 or hrpo@wustl.edu.

Now Available – IRF and LTCH Provider Preview Reports

December 15, 2023

Now Available – IRF and LTCH Provider Preview Reports

The Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare and Provider Data Catalog (PDC) during the March 2024 refresh.

The data contained within the Preview Reports are based on quality assessment data submitted by LTCHs from:

  • Quarter 3, 2022 through Quarter 2, 2023, and
  • LTCH Change in Mobility measure, Quarter 3, 2021 through Quarter 2, 2023.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) measures reflect data from:

  • Quarter 2, 2022 through Quarter 1, 2023 for the Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI),
  • Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI), and Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) measures, Quarter 4, 2022 through Quarter 1, 2023 for the Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Influenza measure, and
  • Quarter 2, 2023 for the COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (HCP) measure.

The data for the claims-based measures will display data from Quarter 4, 2020 through Quarter 3, 2022 for this refresh.

Providers have until January 16, 2024, to review their performance data. Only updates/corrections to the underlying assessment data before the final data submission deadline will be reflected in the publicly reported data on Care Compare.

If a provider updates assessment data after the final data submission deadline, the updated data will only be reflected in the Facility-Level Quality Measure (QM) report and Patient-Level QM report. Updates submitted after the final data submission deadline will not be reflected in the Provider Preview Reports or on the Care Compare website. However, providers can request Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) review of their data during the preview period if they believe the quality measure scores that are displayed within their Preview Reports are inaccurate.

For more information, please visit the CMS LTCH QRP Public Reporting website.

For more information, please visit the CMS IRF QRP Public Reporting website.

Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program – Apply by January 31

December 14, 2023

Applications are being accepted to receive two years of technical assistance through the  Targeted Technical Assistance Program. This is a Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) supported program for rural hospitals struggling to maintain health care services.

Over a two-year period, selected hospitals are supported through a systematic and evidence-based process for identifying, prioritizing and implementing short-term, mid-range and long-term strategies for positioning their organizations for financial sustainability. During their tenure in the program, hospitals receive comprehensive technical assistance in financial and operational assessment, financial sustainability planning, strategy implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Technical assistance for this project is provided by the Center for Public Health Practice and Research at the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, and will begin March 2024. Applications must be received by January 31, 2023.

Learn More

Apply Now