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- November 29, 2011
Updated Information on CQM: NQF # 0084: Heart Failure: Warfarin Therapy Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
By Michelle Mills on November 29, 2011Read moreCMS suggests eligible professionals participating in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs not select NQF 0084: Heart Failure: Warfarin Therapy Patients with Atrial Fibrillation as one of their additional clinical quality measures (CQMs) for meaningful use. As there are other FDA-approved medications available for use as an anticoagulant,...
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- November 29, 2011
Next Steps for Federal Deficit Reduction
By Alicia Haywood on November 29, 2011Read moreWith the failure of the Super Committee to reach agreement, mandatory budget cuts via sequestration are scheduled to begin January 2013. Under sequestration, Medicare provider reimbursement is subject to up to a 2% reduction from 2013-2021 while Medicaid and Social Security will not be reduced by sequester. Many issues...
- November 23, 2011
Report from the HPSA/MUA Negotiated Rulemaking Committee
By Alicia Haywood on November 23, 2011Read moreIn 2010, Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius created a 28-member negotiated rulemaking committee to review criteria for the designation of Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). The Director of Colorado’s Primary Care Office Steve Holloway served on this committee. HPSA and MUA designations...
- November 22, 2011
CHI Releases Portrait of Colorado’s Nursing Workforce
By Alicia Haywood on November 22, 2011Read moreIn its recently released report titled Colorado’s Nurse and Nurse Aide Workforce: A Portrait, the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) brings together findings from three surveys that it conducted between 2006 and 2008 on certified nurse aides, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses. Click here to download the report.
- November 22, 2011
5010 HIPAA: 90 day Enforcement Discretion Period
By Michelle Mills on November 22, 2011Read moreLast week, CMS announced a “90 day Enforcement Discretion Period” related to the 5010 HIPAA standard transactions. It is important to note that this is not delaying the federally mandated start date of January 1, 2012! However, it does give CMS the ability to enforce compliance in the first...
- November 21, 2011
Update on Super Committee
By Alicia Haywood on November 21, 2011Read moreProspects look dim that the Super Committee will reach an agreement to reduce the nation’s deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next ten years. Lawmakers are already looking ahead to required sequestration, to begin in January 2013, that would cut $1.2 trillion from the federal budget over ten years...
- November 18, 2011
New Deadlines Announced for Advance Payment Model
By Alicia Haywood on November 18, 2011Read moreLast month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new Advance Payment Model for physician-based and rural Accountable Care Organizations selected to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The selected ACOs will receive advance payments that will be recouped from the shared savings they earn. Organizations...
- November 18, 2011
New Series on Primary Care Workforce Stats
By Alicia Haywood on November 18, 2011Read moreThe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Center for Primary Care, Prevention and Clinical Partnership will be issuing a “Facts and Stats Series” on primary-care topics on primary care’s workforce, capacity and growth needs. While a foundational element of the country’s healthcare system, primary care is struggling under increasing...
- November 18, 2011
Training Opportunity: ICD-10: The Key to a Successful Transition
By Michelle Mills on November 18, 2011Read morePresented by: The Association of Rural Health Professional Coders One-day training workshops for Colorado CAHs & Rural Hospitals– FY2011 SHIP grant participants: FREE (unlimited number of attendees)– Non-SHIP hospitals/CRHC Members: $49 per attendee– Non-SHIP hospitals/Non- CRHC Members: $99 per attendee February 21 – location tbdFebruary 22 – CRHC Office...
- November 17, 2011
HRSA Webinar: Tips for Using Your Health IT System for Population Health Management
By Michelle Mills on November 17, 2011Read moreFriday, November 18, 12pm MSTHealth IT systems are proving to be a valuable tool in managing population health. This webinar provides tips and examples from experts on how to use your health information technology (IT) system to achieve this. By focusing on the health of a community or population,...
