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- January 9, 2012
Update from CRHC and The Rural Voice
By Alicia Haywood on January 9, 2012Read morePosts in this week’s issue of The Rural Voice will be my last. With a mix of sadness and excitement, I will be leaving CRHC and joining the Colorado Health Institute later this month. It has been an honor to work with you and my CRHC colleagues, especially my...
00 - January 5, 2012
January 11 Webinar: Prepare to Engage with Policymakers and Legislators
By Alicia Haywood on January 5, 2012Read moreThe National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health is hosting a webinar on January 11, 12:00-1:00pm MT for those attending the Rural Health Policy Institute in Washington DC later this month and for anyone interested in learning more about engaging Washington lawmakers. Click here for more information and...
- January 5, 2012
New Information on Medicare Shared Savings Program Available
By Alicia Haywood on January 5, 2012Read moreThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released new information on the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Accountable Care Organization/ACO). A new webpage on Quality Measures and Performance Standards has the latest information on ACO quality measures. The 2012 ACO Narrative Quality Measures Specifications Manual provides guidance about...
- December 29, 2011
Survey Finds One in Five Juggling Medical Bills
By Alicia Haywood on December 29, 2011Read moreA recent survey from the Center for Studying Health System Change and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that one in five Americans reported trouble paying medical bills in 2010. The medical debt averaged around $6,500, and more than 17 percent of people with medical debt said it would...
- December 29, 2011
Advance Payment ACO Model Open Door Forum Call Information Available
By Alicia Haywood on December 29, 2011Read moreThe Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is hosting an Open Door Forum to review the Advance Payment ACO Model and application template on Thursday, January 5 from 12:30-2:00 PM MST, call information 800-837-1935 Conf ID 39623933. A slideshow presentation will be posted to the Advance Payment Model ACO...
- December 28, 2011
Budget Works 2012—January 13
By Alicia Haywood on December 28, 2011Read moreThe Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute is presenting its annual Budget Works conference on January 13, 2012 at the History Colorado Center in Denver. The day-long workshop will focus on federal funding and how it affects the state budget and Colorado residents. Click here to read more and to register.
- December 27, 2011
New interactive portal to help with EHR “meaningful use”
By Michelle Mills on December 27, 2011Read moreThe Colorado Medical Society and CO-REC (Colorado Regional Extension Center) have developed a free, self-guided educational tool to help practices with many of the resources needed to achieve “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs). The online portal takes physicians and their staff through step-by-step training and educational modules...
- December 23, 2011
Application Template for Advance Payment ACO Model Available
By Alicia Haywood on December 23, 2011Read moreAn application template is now available for the Advance Payment ACO Model. Through the Advance Payment Model, selected physician-based and rural Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program will receive advance payments that will be recouped from the shared savings they earn. Applications for an April 1...
- December 23, 2011
Congress Approves Two Month “Doc Fix” for Medicare, Rural Extenders
By Alicia Haywood on December 23, 2011Read moreCongress passed legislation today that maintains Medicare provider rates and several rural extender provisions for two months beginning in January. The compromise also extends the payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits. Click here to read more.
- December 22, 2011
ACA Update from NACRHHS: Webinar Available
By Alicia Haywood on December 22, 2011Read moreThe December 2 webinar by the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS) on the effects of the Affordable Care Act is now available for download on the Rural Assistance Center’s website. You can watch the presentation and download the slides by clicking here.