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- November 7, 2011
Webinar: Business of Telemedicine & Sustainability
By Michelle Mills on November 7, 2011Read moreThe practice and deliver of healthcare is changing, with an emphasis on improving quality, safety, efficiency, and access to care. Telemedicine can help you achieve these goals. The University of Arizone Rural Health Office and the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center invite you to a free webinar on the implementation...
00 - November 7, 2011
Community Forum to Discuss Relocating DHS Services to HCPF, November 16
By Alicia Haywood on November 7, 2011Read moreThe Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) submitted a legislative report to the Joint Budget Committee regarding the possible relocation of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, the State Unit on Aging, and the Children’s Residential Habilitation Program from DHS to...
- November 4, 2011
Update to Medicare’s 2012 Physician Payment Rates
By Alicia Haywood on November 4, 2011Read moreOn January 1, 2012, a 27.4% cut in Medicare payment rates to physicians will take effect due to the Sustainable Growth Rate formula. Congress has intervened to prevent these projected cuts annually since 2002. As the deadline approaches, Congress, the administration, and other government agencies are deciding whether to...
- November 3, 2011
CoverColorado Soliciting Feedback from Providers
By Alicia Haywood on November 3, 2011Read moreCoverColorado, the insurance plan for individuals with pre-existing conditions, is soliciting feedback from all health care providers caring for CoverColorado members on its provider fee schedule that was implemented April 1, 2011. CoverColorado seeks provider input to evaluate the effectiveness of the present schedule and inform any potential changes...
- November 3, 2011
UPDATE: CMS Webinar Series on the EHR Incentive Program
By Michelle Mills on November 3, 2011Read moreThe date of the November webinar has been moved to November 29th. The CMS Kansas City Regional Office, in collaboration with the CMS Denver Regional office, is pleased to announce a series of three Webinars / Teleconferences pertaining to the Electronic Health Records Incentive Program: • 10/25/2011: Overview of...
- November 1, 2011
Governor Hickenlooper Releases FY 2012-2013 Budget
By Alicia Haywood on November 1, 2011Read moreToday Governor Hickenlooper delivered his proposed FY 2012-2013 budget to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). The budget request totals $20.09 billion. His proposal contains few cuts to healthcare programs. No Medicaid provider rate cuts were proposed and Amendment 35 funding will not be transferred to the General Fund but...
- November 1, 2011
CHP+ Cost Sharing Proposed Changes
By Alicia Haywood on November 1, 2011Read moreAs posted previously in The Rural Voice, new cost-sharing changes are being proposed for the Child Heatlh Plan Plus (CHP+). Upon final approval on November 18, there will be changes in both the annual enrollment fee and copayment structure. This factsheet from Health Care Policy & Financing describes the...
- October 31, 2011
Executive Order Issued to Address Medication Shortages
By Alicia Haywood on October 31, 2011Read moreThe Obama Administration today issued an executive order to address the increasing rate of drug shortages across the country. The order instructs the F.D.A. to broaden reporting of potential shortages of certain prescription drugs; accelerate reviews of applications to initiate or change production of these drugs; and provide more...
- October 31, 2011
HIT in the Patient-Centered Medical Home
By Michelle Mills on October 31, 2011Read moreAn E-Quality Update from Kaiser Permanenteby Ted Epperly, MD, and Dana Hamilton, RHIT All of us in the medical community face challenges as we implement more integrated and coordinated patient-centered care for our patients, but perhaps none more than primary care physicians. The Patient-Centered Medical Home — coupled with...
- October 28, 2011
Strengthening the Direct Service Workforce in Rural Areas
By Alicia Haywood on October 28, 2011Read moreA recent publication from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services summarizes the challenges of the direct service workforce in rural areas and outlines strategies that communities can use to provide high-quality long term care services and supports. Read more.