Category: Resources

Mental Health Awareness Month Promotional Toolkit

May 4, 2023

Mental Health Awareness Month Promotional Toolkit

MU Extension, the Farm and Ranch Stress Alliance Network (FRSAN) and their statewide partners join the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Together, they work to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, make referrals to teletherapy counseling, and advocate for polices that support the millions of Missourians affected by stress, anxiety, and mental illness.

MU Extension and the FRSAN compiled a list of helpful resources to provide all Missourians in a free online publication called the “Mental Health Awareness Month Promotional Toolkit.” The toolkit provides credible resources and reliable tools to promote and support the mental health and well-being of rural individuals, farmers, ranchers, and their families in agricultural communities.

The mental health awareness toolkit includes:

  • Outreach ideas
  • News Release
  • Interview Talking Points
  • Social Media Posts
  • Referral Resources
  • Signs and Symptoms List
  • Tips for managing stress
  • Hashtags
  • Infographics
  • Videos
  • Articles
  • Print Resources
  • Webinars
  • Suicide and Crisis Lifelines

Access Mental Health Awareness Toolkit

New Journal of Rural Health (JRH) Articles on OUD Treatment, supporting CAHs, More

May 1, 2023

New Journal of Rural Health (JRH) Articles on OUD Treatment, supporting CAHs, More

The Journal of Rural Health, a quarterly journal published by the National Rural Health Association, serves as a medium for communication among health scientists and professionals in practice, educational, research, and policy settings.

JRH is a peer-reviewed international journal devoted to advancing professional practice, research, theory development, and public policy related to rural health.

Several new articles on the following topics were recently published online:

Access to full-text online articles is reserved for members. To access the journal, contact NRHA’s membership team with any questions about logging in.

CMS Releases Intermediate Policy on Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Rurality Determinations

April 28, 2023

CMS Releases Intermediate Policy on Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Rurality Determinations

In late March, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the interim process that will be used in determining Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) rural location determination following the Census Bureau’s definition changes.

The interim process is as follows:

  • RHC applicants or relocating RHCs will meet the rural location requirement if the physical address is “non-urbanized” or in an “urban cluster” per 2010 Census Bureau Data, OR if the physical address is not an urban area per the 2020 Census Bureau Data
  • Both 2010 and 2020 Census Bureau Data can be found here

For questions, please contract Nathan Baugh, NARHC Executive Director at Nathan.Baugh@narhc.org or Sarah Hohman, NARHC Director of Government Affairs at Sarah.Hohman@narch.org 

Click Here for Full Details

MBQIP Data Reporting Reminders – April 2023

April 13, 2023

MBQIP Data Reporting Reminders – April 2023

Important Notice

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

April 30, 2023

Emergency Department Transfer Communication (EDTC)

  • Patients seen Q1 2023 (January, February, March)

May 1, 2023

CMS Population and Sampling (optional)*

  • Patients seen Q4 2022 (October, November, December)
  • Inpatient** and outpatient
  • Entered via the Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR) HARP account

May 1, 2023

CMS Outpatient Measures:

  • Patients seen Q4 2022 (October, November, December)
  • CMS Hospital Outpatient Reporting Specifications Manual version 15.0b 
  • Submitted to HQR via CART or by vendor
  • CART version – 1.21.0

May 15, 2023

Healthcare Personnel Influenza Vaccination – HCP/IMM-3

  • For data October 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023
  • Submitted through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)

May 15, 2023

CMS Outpatient Web-based Measure:

  • Measure OP-22: Patient Left Without Being Seen – full calendar year 2022
  • CMS Hospital Outpatient Reporting Specifications Manual version 15.0b
  • Entered via HQR HARP account

May 15, 2023

CMS Inpatient Measures**:

  • Patients seen Q4 2022 (October, November, December)
  • CMS Hospital Inpatient Reporting Specifications Manual version  5.12
  • Submitted to HQR via CART or by vendor
  • CART version –  4.30.0

*Population and sampling refers to the recording of the number of cases the hospital is submitting to Hospital Quality Reporting thru a HARP account.

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

For questions:  Stroudwater Associates, Carla Wilber, cwilber@stroudwater.com

MBQIP Monthly – April 2023 Now Available

April 13, 2023

MBQIP Monthly – April 2023 Now Available

MBQIP Monthly is an e-newsletter that highlights current information about the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) and provides critical access hospitals (CAHs) information and support for quality reporting and improvement. MBQIP Monthly is produced through the Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance program by Stratis Health.

April content:

  • CAHs Can! Engaging Hospital Boards in Quality
  • Data: CAHs Measure Up – New Birthing-Friendly Hospital Designation
  • Tips: Robyn Quips – Annual Measures OP-22 and HCP
  • Tools and Resources – Helping CAHs succeed in Quality Reporting & Improvement

MBQIP Monthly – April 2023

USDA Unveils Resource Guide to Help Rural Colleges and Universities Identify Resources to Improve Facilities and Educational Opportunities for Students

April 11, 2023

USDA Unveils Resource Guide to Help Rural Colleges and Universities Identify Resources to Improve Facilities and Educational Opportunities for Students

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a resource guide to help colleges and universities in rural areas find low-interest loans and grants to build or improve their facilities, infrastructure, equipment and educational programs.

The resource guide outlines loan and grant programs that are available to eligible colleges and universities. These programs can be used to advance community and economic development through three USDA Rural Development program areas:

  • Community Programs
  • Rural business-Cooperative Service Programs
  • Rural Utilities Service Programs

These programs can be used to:

  • Help finance distance learning technologies to assist student’s access to remote learning opportunities
  • Help students and teachers access high-speed internet
  • Help universities and colleges make improvements to their campus and facilities
  • Click here for additional resources, forms and program information

Click here for resource guide

FDA Communication Materials for Consumers, Patients, and Healthcare Professionals to Help Increase Hand Sanitizer Safety

April 7, 2023

FDA Communication Materials for Consumers, Patients, and Healthcare Professionals to Help Increase Hand Sanitizer Safety

Due to recent hand sanitizer being recalled for the presence of Methanol, the FDA recommends using the Hand Sanitizer Safety and Use Communication Toolkit to educate consumers, patients, and health care professionals to increase hand sanitizer safety.

This toolkit includes:

  • One page infographic about hand sanitizer use and safety
  • Social Media Messages and links to graphics for:

Handwashing

Health care professional messages

General hand sanitizer messages

  • Clinician Drop-In Newsletter Article
  • Frequently Asked Questions for Health Care Professionals on Hand Sanitizer Safety
  • Hand Sanitizer Fact Sheets
  • Consumer Articles and Video

Click Here for Full Details

 

New Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Fact Sheet

March 31, 2023

New Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Fact Sheet

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published a new fact sheet summarizing the Medicare rules and regulations for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). This latest version includes the revised CAH location requirement relative to other facilities to include areas with only secondary roads available as well as the requirement to inform the patient or their representative of their rights before starting or ending care and establish a grievance process.

Click here to view and download the CAH Fact Sheet

EMS Community Benefit Pilot Project for Rural Ambulance Services- Apply By April 7, 2023

March 24,2023

EMS Community Benefit Pilot Project for Rural Ambulance Services

The Department of Health and Senior Services’ Office of Rural Health and Primary Care and the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, in coordination with Health Resources and Services Administration and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, requests your participation in the federal EMS Community Benefit and Financial Distress Pilot Project for Rural Ambulance Services.

The Rural Ambulance Community Benefit and Financial Distress tool, provided by the National Rural Health Resource Center, is designed to quantify and standardize the value rural EMS services provide to the community for free or at a reduced rate, by calculating the benefits the community receives from the ambulance service.

Click Here to Learn more about the EMS Community Benefit & Financial Distress Pilot Project for Rural

Ambulance Services

 Contact Nicole Clement at nclement@ruralcenter.org

By April 7, 2023 to participate
 Click Here to Learn more About the Project and Financial Distress Tool

https://youtu.be/tRMkzbZkTOE

 Click Here to Learn more about the National Rural Health Resource Center
Please see attachment for more information: EMS Community Benefit Pilot Project for Rural Ambulance Services

 

March MBQIP Monthly

March 3, 2023

March MBQIP Monthly

Now Available! MBQIP Monthly – March 2023

MBQIP Monthly is an e-newsletter that highlights current information about the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) and provides critical access hospitals (CAHs) information and support for quality reporting and improvement. MBQIP Monthly is produced through the Rural Quality Improvement Technical Assistance program by Stratis Health.

February 2023 content:

  • CAHs Can! How Critical Access Hospitals Improved Patient Experience During the Pandemic
  • Data: CAHs Measure Up – HCAHPS Performance in 2021
  • Tips: Robyn Quips – CART
  • Tools and Resources – Helping CAHs succeed in Quality Reporting & Improvement