Category: Current Affairs

Improving Access to Rural Healthcare – Vizient Shares Feedback

October 23, 2023

Improving Access to Rural Healthcare – Vizient Shares Feedback

Vizient, a National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Platinum Partner, has responded to the House and Ways Means Committee’s Request for Information (RFI) on enhancing rural healthcare. They highlighted the challenges rural health providers face and suggested policy changes to improve care delivery, financing, reimbursement, and the healthcare workforce. Vizient emphasized the importance of supporting the financial viability of rural healthcare providers, avoiding damaging payment policies, protecting key healthcare programs, and investing in the healthcare workforce. They also suggested using their Vizient Vulnerability Index™ to understand social determinants of health in rural areas.

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Prescribing Controlled Medications via Telehealth

October 17, 2023

Prescribing Controlled Medications via Telehealth

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has extended the full set of telemedicine flexibilities regarding the prescribing of controlled medications as were in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), through December 31, 2024.

Authorized providers are able to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth if they meet certain criteria.

Telemedicine flexibilities regarding prescription of controlled medications as were in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency include:

  • A practitioner can prescribe a controlled substance to a patient using telemedicine, even if the patient isn’t at a hospital or clinic registered with the DEA.
  • Qualifying practitioners can prescribe buprenorphine to new and existing patients with opioid use disorder based on a telephone evaluation.

For more information, see:

Prescribing Controlled Substances via Telehealth

Second Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications – from the Federal Register

Interstate licensure resources for health care providers, states, and health care organizations

Telehealth Policy Updates

AHRQ Free Health Literacy Toolkits and Guides

October 17, 2023

AHRQ Free Health Literacy Toolkits and Guides

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) offers Free information to promote organizational policies and procedures which can foster the inclusion of patients and family while creating collaborative partnerships with other providers.

Free Tools

Health Literacy Toolkits, GIFS and Educational Resources

October 17, 2023

Health Literacy Toolkits, GIFS and Educational Resources

October is Health Literacy Month – Join the American Institute of Healthcare Compliance (AIHC), a non-profit training organization, for this international observance when hospitals, health centers, literacy programs, libraries, social service agencies, businesses, professional associations, government agencies, consumer alliances, and many other groups work together to integrate and expand the mission of health literacy.

Often patients don’t comply because they either don’t understand what is communicated or they are subject to Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) issues.

Check out these AIHC courses to support your organization:

2023 National Telehealth Conference – Recorded Sessions Now Available

October 17, 2023

2023 National Telehealth Conference – Recorded Sessions Now Available

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released the recorded sessions from the September 2023 National Telehealth Conference.

Watch individual sessions from the 2023 National Telehealth Conference:

Rural Monitor Article – Recovering from a Cybersecurity Attack and Protecting the Future in Small, Rural Health Organizations

October 16, 2023

Rural Monitor Article – Recovering from a Cybersecurity Attack and Protecting the Future in Small, Rural Health Organizations

A new feature article in The Rural Monitor examines the increasing incidence of cyber-attacks on healthcare organizations and the particular vulnerability of rural providers. According to the Cybersecurity Program at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 60 percent of ransomware attacks – whereby bad actors gain entry to an organization’s online system and lock critical files until a ransom is paid – were aimed at healthcare systems in 2020. FORHP-supported research out last year found that rural hospitals are less likely to be attacked, but staff are less equipped to handle them when they do happen, and rural residents who need these services have fewer alternatives for care.

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Washington County’s Integrated Health Model Receives Top National Award

September 15, 2023

Missouri’s Own Washington County’s Integrated Health Model Receives Top National Award

The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) announced that the Washington County Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Network in Potosi, Mo., was awarded the top prize of $150,000 in the nationwide program, “Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge.” This is not only a win for the Washington County MIH Network and other networks in Missouri, but for all Missourians challenged with accessing traditional “brick and mortar” healthcare.

This challenge began in 2022, and activated and accelerated the development and testing of low-cost, scalable technical assistance solutions. Participating organizations’ solutions yielded resources that HRSA-supported health centers across the country can use or scale to improve health outcomes for their patients. A focus of the Challenge was to address key drivers of poor health and social determinants of health (SDOH) that contribute to poor health outcomes. Solutions resulting from the Challenge will support health centers to enhance access to primary care and to improve care coordination with other local providers and social service organizations to address SDOH.

Challenge winner, Washington County Mobile Integrated Healthcare Network, is the first mobile integrated care model in the country that is a primary partnership with an Emergency Medical Services agency (Washington County Ambulance District) and a federally qualified health center (Great Mines Health Center). The third partner is Community Asset Builders, a resource development and support company who strives to support systems of care. The “MIHN” model is now being replicated in several counties across Missouri and the mid-west region.

This challenge aligns with HRSA’s Advancing Health Center Excellence Framework, which aims to help advance health center performance and innovation, and specifically connects to the key domain of Population Health and Social Determinants of Health.

Key Impacts & Results of the Washington County Mobile Integrated Healthcare Network

  • Achieved a 50% reduction in costs, demonstrated through captured Medicaid and Medicare savings data by the Washington County MIH Network.
  • Improved clinical measures, including higher rates of preventive screenings and better managed blood pressure, compared to health center patients who did not participate in the MIH Network.
  • In Washington County, MO, a food distribution service provided food to 1,794 households (4,729 individuals).
  • In Washington County, Community Health Workers and Community Paramedics are now co-located at the health center and have daily huddles to improve care coordination and service delivery.
  • 100% patient satisfaction in Washington County.

For more information about the Building Bridges to Better Health: A Primary Health Care Challenge, visit Challenge.gov.

Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the board of Scientific Counselors, Center for Preparedness and Response

August 30, 2023

Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the board of Scientific Counselors, Center for Preparedness and Response

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations for membership on the Board of Scientific Counselors, Center for Preparedness and Response (BSC, CPR).

Nominations are sought for individuals with the expertise and qualifications necessary to contribute to accomplishing the BSC, CPR objectives. Nominees will be selected based on expertise in the fields of business, crisis leadership, emergency response and management, informatics, laboratory science, medicine, mental and behavioral health, public health law, public health practice, risk communication, and social science. Selection of members is based on candidates’ qualifications to contribute to the accomplishment of the BSC, CPR objectives. Members may be invited to serve for up to four-year terms.

Nominations are due by October 31, 2023. Nominations received after this date will not be considered for the current membership cycle.

Candidates should submit the following items:

  • Cover letter stating:
    • Area of expertise
    • Background and experience
    • Skills/perspective you would bring to the Board
  • Current curriculum vitae
    • Including complete contact information
    • Telephone numbers
    • Mailing address
    • Email address
  • At least one letter of recommendation from person(s) not employed by HHS

Nominations may be submitted by the candidate or by the person/organization recommending the candidate.

All nominations should be emailed to BSC-ORR@cdc.gov.

HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications

August 25, 2023

HRSA Needs Rural Reviewers for Grant Applications

The Health Resources and Services Administration needs rural reviewers for grant applications. If you have expertise in certain subjects, you may be able to evaluate grant applications.

Grant reviewers are chosen based on their knowledge, education, and experience. They are also selected based on specific criteria in the HRSA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

You can become a reviewer if you work or have experience in health care. If interested, register via the Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM).

HRSA is looking for people with expertise in one of the following areas:

  • Behavioral health
  • Health workforce training
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Maternal and child health
  • Primary care delivery
  • Rural health
  • Working with or a member of underserved communities

Additional experience:

  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
  • Lived experience
  • Health equity
  • Social determinants of health

Note: HRSA is interested in reviewers who have expertise in social, cultural, or health care issues of people in rural areas, migrants, or Native Americans

What to Expect as a Reviewer:

  • Review eligible applications against published evaluation criteria
  • Input your scores and comments into an online portal, the Application Review Module (ARM)
  • Discuss your scores and evaluation with other reviewers on your panel

Compensation:

Non-federal participants are compensated

Questions:

Email RRMTechAssistance@hrsa.gov for assistance

Learn More

340B Program Recertification Period

August 25, 2023

340B Program Recertification Period

The 2023 HRSA, OPA 340B Program Recertification period for Hospitals opened August 14 and will run until September 11, 2023.

Covered entities must annually recertify their eligibility to remain in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and continue to purchase covered outpatient drugs at discounted 340B prices. Advanced email notification with preliminary information about the recertification process are sent to the Authorizing Official (AO) and Primary Contact (PC).

If the PC submits the recertification, the AO must review and attest to the recertification before the submission is sent to the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) for review.

Authorizing Officials (AOs) and Primary Contacts (PCs) must set up a user account in the 340B Office of Pharmacy Affairs Information System (340B OPAIS). Failure to set up accounts will result in not being able to view accounts or conduct recertification, thus removal from the 340B Program.

AOs and PCs must create individual user accounts, they will not be able to share access. All active 340B ID’s associated with an AOs user account must be updated in order for recertification to be completed by the established deadline.

Recertifying a Covered Entity

Changing AO during Recertification

Terminating a Covered Entity during Recertification

Recertification Activity Summary Email

Reports and Files

Read Full Details Here

Questions & Answers

Phone: 1-888-340-2787 (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST)

Email: apesusanswers@340bpvp.com