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- December 15, 2011
Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Program Application Available!
Read moreThe application and materials for the fifth cycle of the Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Program, administrated by the Colorado Rural Health Center, are now available. DEADLINE: Online Intent to Apply Forms — January 13, 2012 ; Applications — Noon (12:00 pm) February 15, 2012 ELIGIBILITY: Organizations that are...
00 - December 15, 2011
NPR on CAHs: An Overlooked Perspective
Read moreby Brock Slabach, National Rural Health Association The December 8 NPR piece produced by Kaiser Health News (KHN) didn’t report that Medicare costs are lower for rural patients than their urban counterparts. Medicare spends 4.5% less per beneficiary for rural residents compared to those living in urban areas, according...
- December 14, 2011
Colorado’s Projected Primary Care Needs After Reform
Read moreThe Colorado Health Institute released a new report that estimates the anticipated primary care workforce needs after healthcare reform is implemented. The analysis found that Colorado may need as many as 140-150 additional primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. This estimate does not account for the current...
- December 14, 2011
Next Steps for HR 3630
Read moreThank you for reaching out to your House member regarding HR 3630. On Monday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3630 and the bill now moves to the Senate where its fate is uncertain. It’s possible that the Senate may take action on H.R. 3630 as soon as today or...
- December 13, 2011
Oppose HR 3630—Contact Your House Member Today!
Read moreContact your House representative today and tell them to vote on HR 3630. This bill threatens rural providers and a vote on it is expected as early as this week. HR 3630 is intended to update the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate and reauthorize expiring tax provisions; however, it fails...
- December 12, 2011
December 2011 Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Update
Read moreThe Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing continues to work on implementing the Colorado Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, through which eligible health care professionals and hospitals can receive incentive payments for adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR technology. To read more about the...
- December 12, 2011
CMS Launching Medicaid.gov Website
Read moreThe Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) announced the initial launch of http://medicaid.gov, the first Federal government website devoted to the policies — and the people — of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This website is the culmination of efforts at the Center for Medicaid...
- December 8, 2011
Demand Outstripping Supply for Mental Health Services in Rural Colorado
Read moreA report released by Advancing Colorado’s Mental Health Care estimates that 1.5 million residents need mental health care. The report find that rural and frontier counties face critical mental health provider shortages with 86 percent of all the child psychiatrists, 82 percent of practicing psychiatrists and nearly all psychiatrists...
- December 8, 2011
Proposed Meaningful Use Timeline Changes Encourage Adoption of EHRs
Read moreIn response to significant input from multiple stakeholders, expert testimony, and countless hours of review, analysis and deliberation, HHS announced its intention to delay the start of Stage 2 meaningful use for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs for a period of one year for those first attesting...
- December 8, 2011
Public Radio Segment on Critical Access Hospitals
Read moreOn its December 8 morning program, National Public Radio featured a segment on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) that discussed the differing viewpoints on the need for CAHs and the financial and political pressures facing these important facilities. Click here to read the article and listen to the story.
