Category: Current Affairs

Join NRHA’s 2023 CFO Certification Program Cohort

March 6, 2023

Join NRHA’s 2023 CFO Certification Program Cohort

Join the exclusive group of rural hospital certified CFOs in leading their rural hospitals to success. This program was created by top performing, tenured rural executives with a passion to help current and aspiring rural hospital CFOs learn what they need to excel, thrive and LEAD!

Invest in your career this year by becoming a Certified Rural Hospital CFO!

Become the best CFO you can be by growing your confidence as a leader with rural specific leadership skills taught by rural healthcare experts. Remain current in your knowledge base, network with other rural hospital CFOs, learn best practices, and more!

This program only launches once a year and there’s still time to enroll in the March 2023 Cohort! Don’t wait until next year to start growing your knowledge, network, and confidence!

With a maximum of 24 CFOs in each cohort, benefit from:

  • Small classes
  • Individual attention
  • Exclusive networking
  • Learning from the best

What graduates have to say about the program:

  • “An excellent program, well-structured and designed. I am an experienced CFO and I learned some very valuable stuff.”
  • “I thought in general this was great. For me, someone who just got started in the medical field, this was very helpful in getting me started. It also helped with networking. These are people that I am not sure I ever would have been able to talk with if it weren’t for this program.”
  • “Great program. Great opportunity.”

Program details, payment terms, and other specifics made available upon application.

Apply Today

 

Resources Available as Public Health Emergency Declaration Ends

March 3, 2023

 

Resources Available as Public Health Emergency Declaration Ends

The Biden Administration announced the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Declaration is anticipated to end on May 11, 2023. This will significantly impact CMS Certified Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Please see this linked CMS publication to learn more. Click here to learn more about how the end of the PHE Declaration will affect other provider types.

The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) is the nation’s top resource for all things related to RHCs. NOSORH recommends reviewing their article The Approaching End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Its Implications for RHCs and keeping an eye on the Resources tab for any upcoming TA webinars.

New Wipfli Report: State of Rural Healthcare

March 3, 2023

New Wipfli Report: State of Rural Healthcare Report

Wipfli, LLP, recently published a report based on a survey of more than 100 rural healthcare organizations across 25 states to learn how they’re coping with economic and regulatory challenges. Despite a record number of rural hospitals closing during the past two years and several other rural hospitals at risk of closure, the State of Rural Healthcare report reveals that organizations surveyed are cautiously optimistic for the future. Two-thirds of respondents said their financial situation today is the same or better than it was five years ago. Looking ahead, over 75% of rural providers expect their revenue to grow or remain flat over the next three years

Download the full report to learn how rural healthcare organizations plan to maintain their financial health.

Webinar – Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) General Education

March 3, 2023

Webinar – Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) General Education

Stroudwater Associates, in partnership with the Missouri Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, will provide general education on topics including REH Conditions of participation, clinical services, staffing, general operations, potential community concerns, and finance/reimbursement.

Presenters:

Eric Shell, CPA, MBA, Chairman, Stroudwater Associates

With a dedication to improving rural communities, Eric Shell is an industry leader in supporting rural healthcare in its transition to population health. For his nearly 30 years in healthcare financial management and consulting, Eric’s passion for sustainable and accessible rural healthcare has driven him to help hundreds of rural health systems achieve improved financial and operational performance.

Carla Brock Wilber, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Senior Consultant, Stroudwater Associates

Carla Wilber, an accomplished nurse administrator with a strong background in critical care, education, Lean process improvement, and emergency services, joined Stroudwater in 2014. She has completed numerous facility assessments and process improvements in quality, care management, emergency department, and care transitions for critical access hospitals, rural and urban health systems, and provider groups.

Stroudwater will be hosting the general education webinar on three separate dates. Individuals interested in attending only need to register for one meeting. The schedule below includes the meeting date and time and the link to register for the meetings.

Friday, April 14: 1:30 – 2:30 PM CST

Monday, May 8: 1:00 – 2:00 PM CST

Thursday, June 22: 12:00 – 1:00 PM CST

Contact the Stroudwater Team:

Eric Shell, Principal: eshell@stroudwater.com

Carla Wilber, Senior Consultant: cwilber@stroudwater.com

Lindsay Corcoran, Senior Consultant: lcorcoran@stroudwater.com

Megan Zook, Project Coordinator: mzook@stroudwater.com

Who Do You See When You Think of Rural?

March 3, 2023

Who Do You See When You Think of Rural?

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is proud to help better showcase the diversity and power of rural communities.

Older. Sicker. Poorer. White. Less educated. This has long been how rural communities are viewed and stereotyped. Reality is much different — and NRHA hopes to change this narrative.

Rural America is incredibly diverse, innovative, and constantly evolving in culture and community. That’s why NRHA is proud to announce our Faces of Rural Campaign to better showcase the diversity and power of rural communities.

This campaign can be used as an educational tool to create a more accurate picture of rural communities and the dialogue used to discuss and celebrate them.

Watch Video

NRHA was only able to feature a few profiles in the video and invites you to feel free to post some rural faces and the stories behind them on social media with #FacesofRural.

This campaign is the result of a partnership with Legato Healthcare Marketing and showcases communities and programs that exemplify the heart of rural America.

As an organization made up of diverse and passionate membership and staff, NRHA is proud to lead the way in championing this effort.

Free Suicide Prevention Workshop for Service Providers in Rural Communities

March 1, 2023

Free Suicide Prevention Workshop for Service Providers in Rural Communities

Between 2000 and 2020, suicide rates rose 46% in non-metro areas compared to 27.3% in metro areas. Now more than ever, learning actionable skills to help individuals at risk can make a critical difference. SafeSide Prevention and UR Medicine Recovery Center of Excellence together are offering a free, half-day workshop that provides participants with a systematic framework for suicide prevention. This comprehensive training for service providers in rural communities includes special focus on youth, substance use, and Indigenous communities. The interactive workshop features video demonstrations, active discussion groups, and access to the latest research on best practices. For a year after the workshop—also at no cost—you can take advantage of ongoing support, including monthly Q&A video calls and online discussion forums.

Register now and choose from one of three workshop dates: March 21, May 23, or July 25 from 12:00-3:30 pm ET.

Public Health Emergency (PHE) 1135 Waivers: Updated Guidance for Providers

February 24, 2023

Public Health Emergency (PHE) 1135 Waivers: Updated Guidance for Providers

On February 9, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 will end on May, 11, 2023. COVID-19 remains a significant priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and over the next several months, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will work to ensure a smooth transition.  During the PHE, CMS has used a combination of emergency authority waivers, regulations, enforcement discretion, and sub-regulatory guidance to ensure easier access to care during the PHE for health care providers and their beneficiaries.

Some of the flexibilities that were created during the pandemic were recently expanded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.  Others, while critical during our initial responses to COVID-19, are no longer needed. CMS has made further updates to our CMS Emergencies Page with useful information for providers – specifically around major telehealth and individual waivers – that were initiated during the Public Health Emergency (PHE).

Please reference the following guidance in response to the PHE ending May 11, 2023:

Provider-specific fact sheets about COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) waivers and flexibilities: https://www.cms.gov/coronavirus-waivers

CMS COVID-19 Waivers and Flexibilities for Providers include:

  • Physicians and Other Clinicians
  • Hospitals and CAHs (including Swing Beds, DPUs), ASCs and CMHCs
  • Teaching Hospitals, Teaching Physicians and Medical Residents
  • Long Term Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities and/or Nursing Facilities)
  • Home Health Agencies
  • Hospice
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
  • Long Term Care Hospitals & Extended Neoplastic Disease Care Hospitals
  • Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
  • Laboratories
  • Medicare Shared Savings Program
  • Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies
  • Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans
  • Ambulances
  • End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Facilities
  • Participants in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program
  • Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Department of Health & Human Services Fact Sheet

Upcoming Webinar: RHCs & the Medicare Shared Savings Program

February 21, 2023

The National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC), Center for Medicare, and Rural Health Value are hosting a webinar on rural health clinic participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). The webinar will be held on March 7 at 3:00 pm ET on Zoom. You must register in advance.

Speakers will include Dr. Doug Jacobs, Chief Transformation Officer at the Center for Medicare and Dr. Clint MacKinney, Co-Principal Investigator at Rural Health Value. Nathan Baugh and Sarah Hohman at NARHC will moderate the session. The will share an overview of the MSSP, highlight RHC opportunities, review 2024 MSSP changes, and provide time for Q&A. All interested members are encouraged to attend.

Register Here

Chartis Study Shows More Rural Hospitals Slash Services

February 17, 2023

Chartis Study Shows More Rural Hospitals Slash Services

The Chartis Group released a study at NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute last week that found nearly 51 percent of rural hospitals have a negative operating margin and indicates the number of facilities eliminating services like obstetrics increased in 2022.

Experts say the REH designation could offer a lifeline, especially as pandemic relief dollars are tapped out and patient volumes fail to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to NRHA COO Brock Slabach. Around 500 rural health stakeholders traveled to Washington, D.C., for NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute to advocate in person for solutions to these and other pressing challenges. Check out all videos, data, advocacy materials, and other documents under the Agenda tab of the event page, as well as NRHA’s fighting for rural page and the conference app.

View Brief