Rural Spotlight

NRHA Webinar: Addressing Health Disparities Across Rural Communities, October 10

September 18, 2024

NRHA Webinar: Addressing Health Disparities Across Rural Communities, October 10

Join this session, “Addressing Health Disparities Across Rural Communities”, featuring Hancock Health and Ohio County Family Care as they share practical experiences and applications for overcoming challenges and addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).

  • Melissa Rumple, RN< CMCN, Clinical Coordinator for Chronic Care Management at Hancock Health brings over 14 years of nursing experience, including securing grants to improve cardiovascular health.
  • Connie Embrey, RN, BSN, Population Health Nurse at Ohio County Family Care, has 24 years of experience in Remote Patient Monitoring and Chronic Care Management and Chronic Care Management, ensuring her patients receive comprehensive and effective care.

Together, the presenters will unpack best practices for advancing community health and addressing inequities in access to care, economic opportunity and education.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, October 10, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Webinar: Advancing Value-Based Care Reimbursements with Population Health Technology, October 9

September 18, 2024

Webinar: Advancing Value-Based Care Reimbursements with Population Health Technology, October 9

In this session, Matt West, Vice President of Population Health Solutions at i2i Population Health, will explore how a population health platform can address some of the most significant challenges facing rural healthcare providers today.

Matt brings over 15 years of experience in healthcare technology and will demonstrate how innovative solutions can:

  • streamline manual reporting
  • increase reimbursement revenues and
  • effectively manage ACO/HIE data

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand key challenges
  • Explore innovative solutions
  • Enhance organizational participation

This webinar is an opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical strategies that can help your organization thrive in the Value-Based Care landscape.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, October 9, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Webinar: Improving Safety and Cutting Costs in Rural Hospitals with Automated Dispensing Systems, October 1

September 18, 2024

Webinar: Improving Safety and Cutting Costs in Rural Hospitals with Automated Dispensing Systems, October 1

In this two-part webinar series, discover how Automated Dispensing Systems (ADS) can significantly:

  • Enhance patient safety
  • Prevent drug diversion
  • Improve financial outcomes in rural hospitals

Jeremy Garrett, DPh, director of Pharmacy Services at Weatherford Regional Hospital, and Susan Ritter, DPh, Owner/Manager of Quality Rx Consulting, bring their extensive expertise to demonstrate the real-world impact of ADS on rural healthcare.

Part 1:

  • Enhance Patient Safety
  • See how ADS technology reduces medication errors, safeguarding patients with real-time monitoring.
  • Prevent Drug Diversion
  • Learn effective strategies to combat drug diversion, a critical issue in hospital pharmacies.

Part 2:

  • Optimize Operations
  • Discover how integrating ADS with EHRs improves inventory control and billing accuracy, crucial for rural hospitals.
  • Achieve Cost Savings
  • Understand how streamlining your pharmacy operations with ADS can lead to substantial financial improvements, helping you do more with limited resources.

Consider joining this webinar to gain practical insights from experts who have successfully implemented ADS in rural settings, ensuring your hospital stays ahead in safety, efficiency, and cost management.

Cost: Free

When:

Part 1 – Tuesday, October 1, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CT

Part 2 – Tuesday, October 8, 1:00 -2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment

September 18, 2024

Critical Access Hospital Quality Inventory and Assessment

The 2024 Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Quality Inventory and Assessment is now open! As a reminder, there is a new core MBQIP measure, “CAH Quality Infrastructure” and completing the assessment is the only way to report this data.

Please let your state Flex Coordinator know if you have any questions.

Submissions are due by November 22, 2024.

State Flex Coordinator: Diana Winder, diana.winder@health.mo.gov, 573 526-2486

Click Here to view assessment questions and instructions

Click Here to view CAH Fact Sheet

Click Here to access the portal and submit responses

It’s Telehealth Awareness Week – Telehealth Resources

September 18, 2024

It’s Telehealth Awareness Week – Telehealth Resources

The Health Resource and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Office for the Advancement of Telehealth works to improve access to quality health care through integrated telehealth services. Programs support direct services, research and technical assistance.

Click Here to find the latest information on telehealth

Additional Resources:

Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools Available to You

September 17, 2024

Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools Available to You

The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has curated a database of free cybersecurity services and tools as part of their continuing mission to reduce cybersecurity risk across U.S. critical infrastructure partners and state, local, tribal and territorial governments.

What’s included:

  • CISA’s no-cost, in-house cybersecurity services designed to help individuals and organizations build and maintain a robust and resilient cyber framework
  • An extensive selection of free cybersecurity services and tools provided by the private and public sector to help organizations further advance their security capabilities
  • CISA has also initiated a process for organizations to submit additional free tools and services for inclusion on this list

All organizations should take certain foundational measures to implement a strong cybersecurity program before requesting a service or further exploring resources.

Start with these Top 3 Services:

  • Connect with your Regional Cybersecurity Advisor (CSA)
    • CISA’s program of work is carried out across the nation by personnel assigned to its 10 regional offices.
    • Region 7 CSA contact: CISARegion7@cisa.dhs.gov
  • Sign up for Cyber Hygiene Services
    • CISA’s Cyber Hygiene services help secure internet-facing systems from weak configurations and known vulnerabilities
    • Email vulnerability@cisa.dhs.gov to enroll in Cyber Hygiene
  • Cybersecurity Performance Goal (CPG) Assessment
    • CISA’s CPGs are a common set of practices all organizations should implement to kickstart their cybersecurity efforts
    • Small and medium-sized organizations can use the CPGs to prioritize investment in a limited number of essential actions with high-impact security outcomes.
    • CISA has mapped the free services in the Free Cybersecurity Tool & Services database
    • Click Here to learn more about CPGS

Click Here to Access CISA’s Free Cybersecurity Services and Tools

CMS Releases Revised Guidance for Rural Emergency Hospital Provisions, Conversion Process and Conditions of Participation

September 17, 2024

CMS Releases Revised Guidance for Rural Emergency Hospital Provisions, Conversion Process and Conditions of Participation

The Centers for Medicaid Services & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released guidance regarding the enrollment and conversion process for eligible facilities interested in participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs as a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH).

Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) are a new provider type established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to address concerns over rural hospital closures. REHs provide emergency and outpatient medical and health services to patients that generally stay less than 24 hours.

As of January 1, 2023, Medicare pays REHs an additional 5% over the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) rate to deliver emergency hospital, observation, and other outpatient services to Medicare patients. Medicare-covered REH services include all covered out-patient services, including radiology, laboratory, outpatient rehabilitation, surgical, maternal health, and behavioral health. Copayments for REH services are based on the standard OPPS rate (excluding the 5% increase).

For more information and links to the final rule, visit the CMS webpage for Rural Emergency Hospitals.

Click Here to view the Rural Emergency Hospital factsheet

Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment Update

September 17, 2024

Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment Update

Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) payment system updates related to CR R12824CP affects the following provider types:

  • ASCs
  • Physicians
  • Suppliers
  • Other providers billing Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services provided to Medicare patients

Download the fact sheet and share with your billing staff regarding these system payment updates for October:

  • New CPT and HCPCS codes
  • Drugs and biologicals
  • Skin substitutes

Click Here to download the fact sheet

Hospital OPPS Update

September 17, 2024

Hospital OPPS Update

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published an OPPS update summarized in a recent MLN Matter fact sheet MM13784.

Affected providers are:

  • Physicians
  • Hospitals
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Other providers billing Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services provided to Medicare patients

Download the fact sheet and make sure your billing staff knows about updates for:

  • Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) codes
  • Device pass-through
  • Drugs, biologicals, and radiopharmaceuticals
  • Skin substitutes
  • Blood products
  • Other coding changes

Click Here to Download fact sheet

Updated Fact Sheet: Collaborative Patient Care is a Provider Partnership

September 17, 2024

Updated Fact Sheet: Collaborative Patient Care is a Provider Partnership

HIPAA, the Health Insurance portability and Accountability act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule allows you to disclose protected health information (PHI) without patient authorization to other health care providers also covered under the HIPAA rule.

  • You cannot charge for providing requested documentation to another health care provider
  • It is not a HIPAA violation, provided you need to provide the information for patient treatment, payment, or health care operations

Reminders:

  • Be sure to document, share, and maintain all necessary documentation related to an order, referral, supply or service
  • You need to provide thorough and accurate documentation to support medical necessity for services or items you provide or order
  • The documentation should provide a thorough picture of what happened during the patient’s visit and tell why services or items you ordered or provided are medially necessary
  • Make sure you meet all policy and coverage specific requirements

Click Here to View Updated Fact Sheet