Pharmacists as Community Health Workers Looking to Provide Telehealth Services to Rural Health Care Providers at NO COST

August 28, 2024

Pharmacists as Community Health Workers Looking to Provide Telehealth Services to Rural Health Care Providers at NO COST

COUNSELMEDS is looking to partner with a rural healthcare provider to execute a Rural Citizens Access to Telehealth Grant.

COUNSELMEDS is a telehealth service where licensed pharmacists act similar to community health workers but provide additional pharmacy services to Missouri Medicaid patients with chronic and complex conditions. Their team of licensed pharmacists dedicate 1 hour of support services to each eligible Medicaid patient each month (at no cost to healthcare provider of patient).

COUNSELMEDS process includes:

  1. Completing an eligibility check to identify Medicaid patients eligible for the service
  2. Matching eligible patients with a pharmacist who conducts 1 hours of support services
  3. At-risk patients are empowered to lead healthier lives and the healthcare provider receives additional capacity

Services include:

  • Counseling on the importance of medication adherence
  • Providing medication education
  • Supporting patients with challenges with Medicaid coverage
  • Coordinating refills
  • Developing medication treatment plans
  • Coordinating with staff of providers to provide exceptional care
  • Coordinating free home delivery
  • Monitoring and evaluating response to medication
  • Assess physical and mental health status

If you are interested in partnering with COUNSELMEDS, please contact Marcus Howard at:

marcus@greaterhealthpharmacy.com or call 314 497-8553

The above program information is being shared by the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) as a service of this office. ORHPC does not endorse or recommend any vendor or services. Please review for the appropriate use within your organization.

Tech Giants Help Small Hospitals Defend Against Cyberattacks

August 23, 2024

Tech Giants Help Small Hospitals Defend Against Cyberattacks

Keeping up with the latest cybersecurity tools can be expensive, but it’s crucial for hospitals big and small. They’ve recently become prime targets for malicious hackers because of valuable patient data that can be sold or held for ransom.

That’s why Google and Microsoft, in collaboration with NRHA and other stakeholders, will offer one year of free security assessments and discounts of up to 75 percent on cybersecurity tools for small and rural hospitals.

Confirm your eligibility and sign up for the cybersecurity program here.

New MBQIP Resources Available

August 20, 2024

New MBQIP Resources Available

Check out this new resource, available through The RQITA Resource Center. This resource is a list of nationwide resources to address social drivers of health. Many of the organizations listed offer nationwide services or contain databases to identify local resources.

These resources may be used by hospital staff when a patient screens positive for a social driver of health and may also be accessed by patients directly.

RQITA National Assistance to Address Social Drivers of Health (Telligen.com)

Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 7

August 19, 2024

Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period 7

The Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal opened July 1 and will remain open until September 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Providers who received one or more PRF (General or Targeted) and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, from January 1 to June 30, 2023 must report their use of funds during Reporting Period 7 to comply with PRF Reporting Requirements.

More information and resources can be found on the PRF Reporting webpage.

Click Here for Reporting Portal

Click Here for Reporting Requirements

New Changes to Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program Coverage in Medicare

August 9, 2024

New Changes to Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program Coverage in Medicare

The Center for Health Care Strategies published a policy cheat sheet highlighting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ coverage of intensive outpatient program (IOP) services.

As of January 1, 2024, Medicare now covers IOP services. IOPs are structured treatment programs that take place on an outpatient basis. IOPs are designed for individuals with mental health or substance use disorder (SUD) conditions, who have treatment plans demonstrating a need for 9-19 hours a week of therapeutic services.

The cheat sheet highlights:

  • The latest policy changes in IOP covered services
  • How changes impact dually eligible individuals
  • Medicaid-only enrollees
  • New billing requirements and guidance for crossover claims

Click Here to learn more

Utilization Data – CMS Adds 6 New Procedures to Comparison Tool

July 25, 2024

Utilization Data – CMS Adds 6 New Procedures to Comparison Tool

Medicare patients are more computer savvy and informed. Medicare continues to provide ways for patients to gain information to make informed decisions about where to obtain their care.

This month the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the Medicare.gov compare tool pages for physicians and clinicians.

The following new procedures were added to the 12 new procedures released back in January 2024:

  • Upper endoscopy
  • Arthroscopy – upper extremity
  • Arthroscopy – lower extremity
  • Varicose vein ablation
  • Laminectomy/laminotomy
  • Lower limb revascularization

Click Here for the CMS Care Compare – Doctors and Clinicans Initiative page.

Click Here to view the “Find & Compare Providers Near You” page for patients which provides comparisons of physicians, hospitals, nursing home, etc.

NRHA Launches New Go-To Resource for Rural Health Execs

July 25, 2024

NRHA Launches New Go-To Resource for Rural Health Execs

The National Rural Health Administration has announced the launch of NRHASC.com, a new platform designed to provide rural health care executives with essential, rural proven resources for specific needs.

Developed by rural health care experts, this resource hub is focused exclusively on helping busy rural health care executives find solutions to the unique challenges they face.

This platform offers comprehensive coverage from policy updates to practical tools all in one easy-to-navigate site.

Click Here to go to NRHASC.com

Upcoming MBQIP Deadlines and Reporting Reminders

July 24, 2024

Upcoming Deadlines and Reporting Reminders

  • Emergency Department Transfer Communication (EDTC) Q2 2024 encounters (4/1/24- 6/30/24) is due July 31, 2024.
  • Reporting Median time from ED arrival to ED departure (OP-18) Q4 encounters (1/1/24-3/31/24) is due August 1, 2024. Submission is through the HQR Secure Portal-Outpatient. CART users will use CART version 1.24.0. For questions on CART submission and requirement details connect with your State Flex Program.
  • Are you reporting the Hybrid Hospital-Wide Readmission measure? Reporting Hybrid HWR for Q3 2023-Q2 2024 encounters (7/1/2023-6/30/2024) is due September 30, 2024 for reporting to CMS. Note: The measure is not currently being submitted for MBQIP but is available for reporting to CMS.
  • Reporting Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Q2 2024 encounters (4/1/24-6/30/24) is due October 2, 2024. Submission is through the HQR Secure Portal-Vendor.

 

MBQIP Data Submission Deadlines can be found in the Technical Assistance & Services Center (TASC) MBQIP Toolkit at the link below:

https://www.ruralcenter.org/resources/data-reporting-and-use#data-submission-deadlines

New MBQIP Resources Available

July 24, 2024

New MBQIP Resources Available

Data submission Guides for 5 measures are now available on the RQITA website. These guides include tips for hospitals to get started with reporting new measures, measure details, linked trainings, and step-by-step data submission steps for each measure.

New Data Submission Guides:

Other New MBQIP Resources