Category: Current Affairs

Inflation Reduction Act Continues to Lower Out-of-Pocket Prescription Costs for Drugs with Price Increases Above Inflation

June 12, 2023

Inflation Reduction Act Continues to Lower Out-of-Pocket Prescription Costs for Drugs with Price Increases Above Inflation

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced the list of 43 prescription drugs for which Part B beneficiary coinsurances may be lower between July 1 – September 30, 2023. Some people with Medicare who take these drugs may save between $1 and $449 per average dose starting July 1, depending on their individual coverage.

The Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program is one of the many important tools Medicare has to address rising drug costs. By reducing coinsurance for some people with Part B coverage and discouraging drug companies from increasing prices faster than inflation, this policy may lower out-of-pocket costs for some people with Medicare and reduce Medicare program spending for costly drugs.

CMS has released information about these 43 Part B drugs and biological products in the quarterly Average Sales Price (ASP) public files, available here. A fact sheet is available here

See the initial guidance detailing the requirements and procedures for the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program here

MBQIP Data Reporting Reminders – June 2023

June 12, 2023

MBQIP Data Reporting Reminders – June 2023

Important Notice

Dates for measure submission and manual/CART versions are based on currently available information and may be subject to change.

July 31, 2023

Emergency Department Transfer Communication (EDTC)

  • Patients seen Q2 2023 (April, May, June)
  • Submission process directed by state Flex Program

August 1, 2023

CMS Population and Sampling (optional)*

  • Patients seen Q1 2023 (January, February, March)
  • Inpatient** and outpatient
  • Entered via the Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR) HARP account

 August 1, 2023

CMS Outpatient Measures:

  • Patients seen Q1 2023 (January, February, March)
  • CMS Hospital Outpatient Reporting Specifications Manual version 0a 
  • Submitted to HQR via CART or by vendor.
  • CART version – 22.0

August 15, 2023

CMS Inpatient Measures**:

  • Patients seen Q1 2023 (January, February, March)
  • CMS Hospital Inpatient Reporting Specifications Manual version 13
  • Submitted to HQR via CART or by vendor
  • CART version – 30.1

*Population and sampling refers to the recording of the number of cases that meet the initial measure set population requirement and the number of cases the hospital is submitting to Hospital Quality Reporting thru a HARP account for the quarter.

** Currently there are no inpatient chart abstracted core MBQIP measures required.

 

 

 

State Health Assessment Listening Sessions

June 8, 2023

State Health Assessment Listening Sessions

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) will hold State Health Assessment listening sessions scheduled in Cape Girardeau, Kennett and Poplar Bluff next week. These are crucial to the Public Health Accreditation in which DHSS is currently engaging collaborations.

The sessions are open to the general public and participants will receive a free meal and a $25 Walmart gift card.

When and Where:

  • Poplar Bluff, Chamber of Commerce, 1111 West Pine St., 10 – 11:30 a.m. – Meal served at 11:30 a.m.
  • Cape Girardeau, GPC Library – Geraldine Fitzgerald Room, 11 N. Clark St.,6:00 – 7:30 p.m., Meal served at 5:30 p.m.
  • Kennett, First Presbyterian Church, 222 N. Main St., 6 – 7:30 p.m., Meal served at 5:30 p.m.

Click Here to Register or

Scan QR Code below to Register:

 

For problems registering please contact Brian Houston, houstonjb@missouri.edu

Facebook event links:

We appreciate your participation!

Providing Care for LGBTQ+ Patients Using Telehealth

June 7, 2023

Providing Care for LGBTQ+ Patients Using Telehealth

Telehealth can help improve access to quality care. Using telehealth appointments allows for a safe, convenient way for LGBTQ+ patients to access health care. Visit this page to learn best practices and access resources for providing quality LGBTQ+ telehealth care.

Learn More

Supporting Patients with Remote Patient Monitoring

June 7, 2023

Supporting Patients with Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a growing telehealth practice that allows health care providers to monitor a patient’s health from their own home. Providers can support patients in managing acute and chronic conditions and it can cut down on patients’ travel costs.  Learn more about how to use remote patient monitoring and about billing and reimbursement.

Learn More

There’s Still Time to Become an NHSC Site

June 6, 2023

There’s Still Time to Become an NHSC Site

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) New Site Application is currently open for eligible health care sites. As an NHSC site, your health care facility can attract more providers, and ensure an adequate and qualified workforce to provide affordable health care services for your community.

NHSC Leads and State/Territorial Primary Care Office (PCO) staff are available to answer questions about eligibility and the application process.

The application is open now through Thursday, June 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

National Service Corps-approved sites, depending on eligibility, may be able to access several different programs, including the following:

All National Health Service Corps-approved sites receive the benefits of online, interactive access to the Health Workforce Connector, an online platform that allows you to:

  • Create, manage, and advertise new job vacancies and training positions
  • Search candidate profiles where you can learn about the qualification factors, experience, and other relevant information that highlight a candidate’s competencies
  • View a comprehensive list of job seekers and students who have expressed interest in a position you advertised on the Health Workforce Connector

Check the NHSC Site Reference Guide appendices for sample sliding fee templates, patient policies, and recruitment and retention plans.

Watch the 2023 NHSC New Site Application Webinar Recording

Create an account or log into the Customer Service Portal

Apply Now

OSHA and Reducing Workplace Stress

June 5, 2023

OSHA and Reducing Workplace Stress

While there are many things in life that induce stress, work can be one of those factors, especially for healthcare workers. OSHA’s Workplace Stress Toolkit provides resources to help employers reduce workplace stress and improve the mental health and well-being of workers.

The World Health Organization estimates that for every dollar U.S. employers spend treating common mental health issues, they receive a return of $4 in improved health and productivity. Employers can make a difference when it comes to helping their staff manage stress.

Your organization can be a key place for your workforce to find resources, solutions and to offer activities designed to improve mental health and well-being.

Click Here for statistics; how to better understand this problem; and gain access to guidance & tips for employers.

For Healthcare Executives – OSHA on Workplace Violence/Reducing Workplace Stress

June 5, 2023

For Healthcare Executives – OSHA on Workplace Violence/Reducing Workplace Stress

Did you know, nonfatal workplace violence is more widespread in the Healthcare and Social Assistance sectors than in any other industry?

  • In 2019, the rate of nonfatal workplace violence incidents that required the worker to take time off was nearly five times greater in privately operated healthcare and social assistance establishments than in private industry overall.
  • For certain segments within these industries, the rate is much higher.

While workplace violence also occurs in other industries, healthcare and social assistance services have a common set of risk factors related to the unique relationship between the care provider and the patient, client, or their visitors.

An OSHA panel met with small businesses to discuss a possible workplace violence standard for the healthcare and social assistance industries and OSHA convened a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel in March 2023.

Public comments on the panel’s final report and other materials are being accepted until July 3.

Learn more about this topic.

Click Here to download the SBREFA Report.

Highlighting Disparities During National Men’s Health Month

June 5, 2023

Highlighting Disparities During National Men’s Health Month

During June, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) is recognizing National Men’s Health Month by encouraging men from populations that are underserved to prioritize their health and well-being.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for men of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, accounting for 1 in every 4 male deaths. Among Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries, men had a higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease (32.3%) than women (22.2%) in 2018. Men from minority populations are often disproportionately affected by heart disease and many of its risk factors, including high blood pressure. According to the CDC, hypertension was more common in Black (58.4%), Asian (51.9%), Hispanic and Latino (50.4%) men from 2015-2018 compared to White men (49.8%). Racial disparities are prevalent not only in heart disease, but also in prostate cancer, which is the second-leading cause of cancer death among males. In 2019, Black men had the highest rate of new cancer diagnoses, followed by White, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Asian and Pacific Islander men.

In addition to promoting men’s physical health this month, CMS OMH is highlighting the importance of men’s mental health. Since men are far less likely to seek mental health treatment than women due to stigma, their mental health concerns often go untreated. In 2021, the suicide rate among males was approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Though men make up 50% of the U.S. population, they represent nearly 80% of suicides.

National Men’s Health Month allows CMS OMH an opportunity to highlight racial and ethnic disparities in men’s health as well as the importance of physical and mental well-being for men of all backgrounds. We encourage you to share the below resources with the men in your community to help them take control of their health this month and all year.

Resources:

Social Determinants of Health Screening Moves Beyond Pilot Program for VCU Health System

June 1, 2023

Social Determinants of Health Screening Moves Beyond Pilot Program for VCU Health System

VCU Health System (VCUHS) systematically screened patients for health-related social needs to identify and address factors outside of the clinical setting that impact patients’ health. Screening for social determinants of health (SDOH) is still relatively new for many health care providers but VCUHS committed to this practice at the beginning of a pilot model and continued the work beyond the trial end date.

VCUHS used the Accountable Health Communities Health-Related Social Needs Screening Tool as part of its program that focused on Richmond-area (Virginia) Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries for five core needs: food, housing, utilities, transportation and safety. It became one part of several programs VCUHS is currently implementing to address their patients’ needs to address inequities in health outcomes.

Click HERE to read more.