Rural Spotlight

New Rural Health Safety Net Survey – 340B Program

August 4, 2023

New Rural Health Safety Net Survey – 340B Program

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and The Chartis Center for Rural Health are partnering on a new rural health safety net survey on the 340B drug program. Your input will help NRHA and Chartis better understand utilization and impact of the program as well as inform future research. If you would like to take the survey and share your perspective, please click the link below. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be open until August 18.

Take the Survey

 

Upcoming Webinar – NHSN Antibiotic Utilization Option: Using Data for Action in Critical Access Hospitals

August 4, 2023

Upcoming Webinar – NHSN Antibiotic Utilization Option: Using Data for Action in Critical Access Hospitals

This webinar is co-hosted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Speakers will describe requirements for meeting the Antimicrobial Use and Resistance (AUR) Measure within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Promoting Interoperability Program and using the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Antimicrobial Use (AU) data for action in critical access hospitals.

Objectives

  • Describe requirements for meeting the NHSN AUR Measure within the CMS Promoting Interoperability Program
  • Illustrate using NHSN AU Option data to inform and implement antibiotic stewardship activities
  • Identify tracking and reporting resources to enhance your antibiotic stewardship program

Continuation education for pharmacists, nurses and physicians is pending.

When: Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 3:00 p.m. ET

Register Here

Reminder! MBQIP Data Reporting Reminders – August 2023

August 4, 2023

Reminder! MBQIP Data Reporting Reminders – August 2023

Important Notice

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

August 15, 2023

CMS Inpatient Measures**:

  • Patients seen Q1 2023 (January, February, March)
  • CMS Hospital Inpatient Reporting Specifications Manual version 13
  • Submitted to HQR via CART or by vendor
  • CART version – 30.1

October 31 2023

Emergency Department Transfer Communication (EDTC)

  • Patients seen Q3 2023 (July, August, September)
  • Submission process directed by state Flex Program

November 1, 2023

CMS Population and Sampling (optional)*

  • Patients seen Q2 2023 (April, May, June)
  • Inpatient** and outpatient
  • Entered via the Hospital Quality Reporting (HQR) HARP account

November 1, 2023

CMS Outpatient Measures:

  • Patients seen Q2 2023 (April, May, June)
  • CMS Hospital Outpatient Reporting Specifications Manual version 0a
  • Submitted to HQR via CART or by vendor.
  • CART version – 22.0

*Population and sampling refers to the recording of the number of cases meeting the measure requirements and the number of cases the hospital is submitting to the CMS warehouse.

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

 

Now Available! MBQIP Monthly – August 2023

August 4, 2023

Now Available! MBQIP Monthly – August 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.

August 2023 content:

  • CAHs Can! QI Mentor Stories – Reducing Avoidable Readmissions
  • Data: CAHs Measure Up – Influenza Vaccination Coverage
  • Tips: Robyn Quips – CMS Reporting Structures
  • Tools and Resources – Helping CAHs succeed in Quality Reporting & Improvement

MBQIP Monthly – August 2023

NRHA Webinars on Patient Surges, Utilizing Swing Beds

August 3, 2023

NRHA Webinars on Patient Surges, Utilizing Swing Beds

NRHA partner Relias, will host a webinar Thursday, August 10 at 2 p.m. CDT, on strategies and solutions for a sustainable health care workforce. Discover actionable strategies that have proven successful in combating the nursing shortage, improving nurse retention, and enhancing workforce engagement.

Speaker: Felicia Sadler, MJ, BSN, RN, CPHQ, LSSBB, VP of Quality at Relias

When: August 10, 2:00 – 3:00 PM CDT

Register Now

NRHA partner, Allevant, will host a webinar at 1 p.m. CDT, September 20 on swing bed culture and attention to wellness vital to rural health care. Transitional care makes available the full resources of the CAH and focuses on measured outcomes and evidence based processes to ensure patients get the best care possible.

When: Thursday, September 20, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. CDT

Register Now

Click Here to View NRHA Today Newsletter

Rural Telementoring UnConference Returns in October

August 2, 2023

Rural Telementoring UnConference Returns in October

The Rural Telementoring Training Center (RTTC) invites you to their 2nd Rural Telementoring UnConference on October, 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CT. An UnConference is a participant-driven event that nurtures collaboration, participant interactivity, and idea incubation. You drive the agenda. You shape the conversation. This free virtual event will feature an array of brief presentations on topics relevant to technology as a driving force for innovation in rural health care and practice.

Learn more and register here

Rural Health Clinical Congress – Free Virtual CME/CE Event for Clinicians

August 9, 2023

Rural Health Clinical Congress – Free Virtual CME/CE Event for Clinicians

Do you serve patients in rural or underserved communities? Join the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and RME Collaborative for the Rural Health Clinical Congress, a FREE virtual CME/CE conference held in conjunction with national Rural Health Day! This multi-topic event will be broadcast live on Saturday, November 18, 2023, starting at 8:00 a.m. CT.

Who Should Attend?

This event is designed specifically for:

  • Primary care clinicians
  • Registered nurses
  • Advanced practice registered nurses

Why Attend:

  • Learn evidence-based recommendations on topics relevant to primary care
  • Gain practical insights to meet the needs of patients in rural and underserved areas
  • Participate in live polls and ask questions to experts in real time
  • Earn free live CME/CE credit for each session you attend

Learn More and Register Here

HRSA Virtual Job Fair – August 9, 2023

August 9, 2023

HRSA Virtual Job Fair – August 9, 2023

HRSA Virtual Job Fairs are free online recruitment events that connect career seeking health care professionals with representatives across the country.

Learn more about job opportunities, hear details about benefit packages, and find out how you can help underserved communities.

Connect with representatives from 40 health care facilities recruiting for the following vacancies.

  • Primary Care Physician (MD or DO)
  • Dentist (DDS or DMD)
  • Nurse Practitioner (NP)
  • Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
  • Physician Assistant (PA)

When: august 9 from 6 – 9 p.m. ET

Register Now

Join Clinic and CAH Experts in Kansas City to Improve Community Care

August 1, 2023

Join Clinic and CAH Experts in Kansas City to Improve Community Care

Rural facilities face ever-evolving challenges and opportunities. The good news is you don’t have to go it alone. Your chance to discover RHC and CAH-specific strategies and solutions with the experts is at NRHA’s Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital Conferences September 26 – 29, in Kansas City.

NRHA’s hometown is the perfect place to rediscover the roots of rural health care with a mix of modern amenities and Midwest charm. From barbecue to ballet there’s something for everyone in the Paris of the Plains and NRHA can’t wait to show you what’s new since last year.

Those who register early, are members, and attend both events are eligible for hundreds in combined discounts so mark your calendar and act soon to save. NRHA has blocked discounted hotel rooms, but a third of them are already reserved so be sure to book a great rate through NRHA before you register.

Learn More

Register Today

Webinar – Rural Emergency Hospital Designation

August 1, 2023

Webinar – Rural Emergency Hospital Designation

Effective January 1, 2023, Medicare designated the Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) as a new provider type through the consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. This new provider type is designed to address concerns that some rural hospitals would not be able to sustain operations and could be at risk of closure. CAHs and certain rural hospitals can convert to a REH allowing continued access to certain health services in the communities they serve.

You are invited to join an informative webinar hosted by the Rural Health Redesign Center (RHRC) and Mathematica. This session will provide an overview of the REH provider type, considerations for converting, and conditions of participation requirements.

Attendees will also learn about no-cost technical assistance for hospitals considering a conversion available through the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Center (REH-TAC).

When: August 9, 2023, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET

Register Today