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  • National Library of Medicine launches MedlinePlus Connect

    By on July 11, 2011

    The National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library and a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has formally launched MedlinePlus Connect. This free service allows health organizations and health information technology (HIT) providers to link patient portals and electronic health record (EHR) systems to MedlinePlus.gov,...

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
  • Call to Action: Contact Your Member of Congress & U.S. Senators Today

    By on July 11, 2011

    As has been mentioned in previous posts, political leaders in Washington are discussing options for raising the nation’s debt ceiling limit by August 2nd and cutting federal spending to address the deficit. Medicare and Medicaid are under consideration for substantial spending cuts, including reducing the federal Medicaid matching rate to...

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
  • Joint Commission safety goals should be part of EHR certification

    By on July 8, 2011

    The Joint Commission’s 2011 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) for hospitals should be included in electronic health record certification and criteria for meaningful use, say authors of a commentary that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “Ideally, addressing the NPSGs should be incorporated into the EHR...

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
  • Emergency Department Visits in Rural and Non-Rural Communities

    By on July 7, 2011

    A new statistical brief by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality compares emergency department (ED) visits in rural and non-rural communities. Rural ED visits were more likely to be billed to Medicare, Medicaid, or no payer than in non-rural communities. Also, fewer ED visits in rural communities resulted...

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
  • Medscape Modules Now Available on CMS EHR Incentive Programs

    By on July 6, 2011

    CMS is pleased to announce that through Medscape Education, providers now have the opportunity to earn CME credits by learning more about the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs. On Medscape’s EHR Learning Center website, leading physician experts in medical informatics provide information, resources, and tools to help providers...

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
  • States Cutting Medicaid Rates, Healthcare Programs At Risk in Budget Negotiations

    By on July 6, 2011

    Several states, including Colorado, began their fiscal years on July 1 by reducing Medicaid payment rates to providers and hospitals. A Kaiser Health News report outlines various states’ changes in Medicaid, including payment and benefit reductions, that may further compromise access to care for Medicaid recipients. In Washington, Medicaid...

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
  • Life Expectancy Declines For Some of Colorado’s Rural Communities

    By on July 1, 2011

    A new study by the University of Washington featured in the Denver Post found that from 1997-2007 life expectancy decreased for women in several rural counties on the Eastern Plains. Overall, life expectancy in many rural, non-mountain resort counties is relatively lower. Read more. 

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
  • Join the MUVment! Meaningful Use Vanguard Program

    By on July 1, 2011

    ONC has developed the Meaningful Use Vanguard EHR Champion Program and is asking for anyone interested to contact their REC partner. MUVers (members of the MUV program) are champions of EHR adoption and meaningful use that serve as local leaders, advisors and role models in the move toward an...

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
  • Governor Hickenlooper Announces Appointments to the Colorado Health Benefits Exchange Board

    By on June 29, 2011

    Governor Hickenlooper announced the appointments to the first Colorado Health Benefits Exchange Board today.  “This will be a Colorado-based health exchange that is created by Coloradans, for Coloradans,” said Hickenlooper. “The Exchange represents a broad collaborative effort between businesses, consumers, providers, the insurer community and the state legislature.  We...

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
  • HRSA Health IT & Quality Webinar July 22nd

    By on June 29, 2011

    HRSA is offering a Health IT and Quality Webinar entitled “Tips For Generating Quality Data Reports Using Your EHR”, Friday, July 22, 12pm MDT. For more information and to register, click here.

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    Colorado Rural Health Center
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