MHA's Center for Rural Health

Critical Access Hospital Case Management Webinar

On July 8, the Mississippi Hospital Association will host a Webinar on critical access hospital case managent from 1 to 3 p.m. Linda Easterly is the instructor.

The webinar will cover a case management program model specifically designed for critical access hospitals, case management staff roles, critical access hospital federal regulations for utilization management and discharge planning, case management involvement from point of access to discharge, and monthly critical access hospital case management outcome indicators

The Webinar is designed for case managers, utilization managers, social workers, discharge planners, performance improvement professionals, chief nursing officers, nursing managers, and front-line nursing staff responsible for incorporating case management activities into patient care processes.

Register online here. For more information, contact Judith Forshee at (800) 289-8884, (601) 368-3216 or jforshee@mhanet.org.

CMS implements new CAH requirements

On June 12, CMS implemented new critical access hospital (CAH) requirements Under 42 CFR 485.610(e) related to CAH co-location and CAH provider-based locations.

Effective date: June 12, 2009
Implementation date: June 12, 2009

View the transmittal.

Rural Ethics in Healthcare: Are They Different? Should They Be?

Are doctors and hospitals in rural settings expected to uphold the same strict code of ethics as their urban counterparts? Are the situations always comparable? Or are rural issues and circumstances so variable and vulnerable that a different, perhaps more lenient, standard is okay? A recently published book attempts to explore those and many other questions in 12 compelling essays.

Learn more here.

Bill would improve rural hospital Medicare payments

Sens. Kent Conrad (D-ND), Pat Roberts (R-KA), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and John Barasso (R-WY) have introduced American Hospital Association-supported legislation that would improve Medicare reimbursements to rural hospitals. The Craig Thomas Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act (S.1157) would provide a temporary payment increase for hospitals with low-volume inpatient discharges. The bill also would continue allowing direct payments to independent laboratories for the technical component of pathology services, and the 5% rural add-on payment for home health services. In addition, the bill would extend the outpatient hold-harmless provision for sole community hospitals and rural hospitals with fewer than 100 beds, remove the cap on disproportionate share adjustment percentages for all hospitals and improve payments for ambulance services in rural areas.

To Survive, Small Hospitals Give Up Independence

 

"Tweener" hospitals are too big to qualify for CAH status, but often too small to survive the economic crisis unless they find a larger partner.

Learn more here.

Letter: AHA urges “appropriate priority” for allocating broadband funding

The American Hospital Association on May 26 urged the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service to give “appropriate priority” to applicants for the nearly $2.5 billion in grants and loans under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, which will provide broadband education, awareness, training, access, equipment and support to hospitals and other health care providers. The BTOP is a joint program of the departments of Agriculture and Commerce created under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate the adoption of broadband technology in rural and underserved areas.

“We urge you to grant priority in BTOP funding to proposals that will deliver the high capacity bandwidth necessary to support telemedicine in rural and other underserved communities,” the AHA said in a letter to the departments.

Commentary: Can Telepharmacy Reduce Rural Critical Access Drug Mistakes? Yes.

A shortage of pharmacists at critical access hospitals across the nation has spawned creative solutions using remote "telepharmacy" technology. But a deficit of regulations and guidance from state pharmacy boards means only a few facilities have taken the leap. And many of those that did were forced to because of the growing shortage of pharmacists and the fear of making mistakes.

Learn more here.

Report shows continued physician shortage in rural areas

Hard Times in the Heartland a government report released earlier this month, continues to document the physician shortage in rural America, according to a May 6 Health Leaders Media article. The report noted that while urban areas across the country have, on average, 72 physicians per 100,000 populationpeople, rural areas have 55, and small rural areas have only 36.

Although the report can help rural medical staffs develop a big picture view of problems that they may be facingface, it offers little advice for specific problems, such as difficulty finding proctors for OPPE ongoing professional practice evaluation and challenges recruiting new applicants.

[ via Credentialing Resource Center Connection ]

Obama Looks to Improve Rural Health

The Obama administration's proposed 2010 budget has many improvements for rural health, although two key programs—The Delta Health Initiative in Mississippi and the Denali Project in Alaska—would be eliminated.

Learn more from HealthLeaders Media.

HHS report highlights health challenges of rural Americans

Nearly one-fifth of Americans without health insurance live in rural areas, according to a report released May 4 by the Department of Health and Human Services. The report outlines health care challenges of rural Americans, from the cost of health coverage to a shortage of health care providers. For example, the average rural resident pays 40% of their health care costs out of pocket, compared with 30% for urban residents.

“Americans in rural communities have seen their premiums skyrocket and are finding it difficult, if not impossible to get the care they need,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Today’s report confirms that we cannot wait to enact comprehensive health reform.”

The report was released as Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform, and HHS officials convened a health reform discussion with rural Americans.

[ via AHA News Now ]