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Use of E-prescriptions is Growing
Apr 8, 2008 -- San Antonio Express-News/KENS 5, (TX) article reports that although doctors have been slow to embrace electronic prescribing of medications, some members of Congress think they have a solution that will speed the move into the digital age.
Hospital Capacity Drives Costs
Apr 8, 2008 -- Associated Press article via Seattle Times reports that for chronically ill patients in their last two years of life, Medicare spends an average of $59,379 in New Jersey but only $32,523 in North Dakota, a difference that is primarily a result of patients getting more hospital care, but not necessarily better care.
E-Prescribing Tools to Help Prevent Adverse Drug Interactions
Apr 3, 2008 -- People who are eligible to enroll in Medicare’s prescription drug program are expected to experience greater safety, increased use of lower-cost generic equivalents, and more efficient communication between their doctor and pharmacy as a result of a new regulation issued today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
AMA Physicians Make a House Call on Congress
Apr 2, 2008 -- In Washington, D.C. for the American Medical Association (AMA) National Advocacy Conference, physicians from across the nation are urging Congress to take immediate action to stop steep Medicare physician payment cuts that will force them to make tough practice decisions.
Thousands More Medicaid Enrollees Could Get Home and Community-Based Care Under New Rule
Apr 1, 2008 -- Thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries who were previously limited to receiving care in an institutional setting may now be given the option to receive that care in their homes and communities, under a proposed rule published today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Locum Tenens Practice Option May Extend Careers in Medicine, Help Physicians Avoid Burn-Out
Apr 1, 2008 -- Red Orbit article discusses how Locum tenens may extend the medical careers of physicians and help them avoid burn-out, according to a survey commissioned in January 2008 by VISTA Staffing Solutions.
Medicare Acts to Reduce the Number of Yearly Drug Plan Reassignments Among Low-Income Beneficiaries
Apr 1, 2008 -- Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final regulation that could allow nearly one million Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources to remain in the Medicare prescription drug plan in which they are enrolled without having to pay a premium.
New Web Site Helps Patients Shop for Hospital Care Based On Quality and Price: CMS Web Site Features Updated and More Robust Information to Help Consumers with Their Health Care Choices
Mar 31, 2008 -- For the first time, consumers have the three critical elements -- quality information, patient satisfaction survey information, and pricing information for specific procedures -- they need to make effective decisions about the quality and value of the health care available to them through local hospitals.
Nurse Practitioners Fill Key Role
Mar 28, 2008 -- Tennessean.com article discusses how as the number and roles of nurse practitioners expand to include more who work in retail clinics or for care-support firms that offer guidance to the chronically ill over the telephone, doctors' groups are calling for updated rules that would give them more supervision over the nurse practitioners.
New Benefits Handbook Updates for Veterans and Dependents
Mar 28, 2008 -- A new edition of the popular handbook Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) updates the rates for certain federal payments and outlines a variety of programs and benefits for American veterans.
Council Calls on White House to Convene Conference on Physician and Nurse Supply
Mar 27, 2008 -- PR Newswire article reports that the Council on Physician and Nurse Supply has called on the White House to convene a conference to address the national shortage of nurses and physicians.
The Backroad Librarian: Fifteen Miles to Derby
Mar 26, 2008 -- Daily Yonder article reports that without public transportation, rural Americans with disabilities face a difficult choice: move to the city to get the services they need, or stay in their hometowns and try to get by.
AHRQ'S 2007 State Snapshots Provide Broader Portraits of State-by-State Health Care Performance
Mar 26, 2008 -- The 2007 State Snapshots released today by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) now includes important information such as each State's rate of obesity, health insurance coverage, mental illness and the number of specialist doctors.
The NPI will be Required for all HIPAA Standard Transactions on May 23rd
Mar 26, 2008 -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reports that as of May 23, 2008, the NPI will be required for all HIPAA standard transactions.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Loan repayment program for health professions educational loans (undergraduate and graduate) in return for full-time clinical service in Indian health programs.
Research on Emergency Medical Services for Children
Application deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Grants to improve the quality and quantity of research related to emergency medical services for children (EMSC).
Tribal Self-Governance Program; Negotiation Cooperative Agreement
Application deadline: Apr 28, 2008
Cooperative agreements that provide negotiation resources to Tribes interested in participating in the Tribal Self-Governance Program (TSGP).
Tribal Self-Governance Program; Planning Cooperative Agreement
Application deadline: Apr 28, 2008
The purpose of the program is to award cooperative agreements that provide planning resources to Tribes interested in participating in the Tribal Self-Governance Program (TSGP).
Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP)
Application deadline: Apr 30, 2008
Registered nurses are offered the opportunity to enter into a contractual agreement to receive loan repayment for up to 85 percent of their qualifying loan balance.
Development of Comprehensive Drug/Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment Systems for Persons Who Are Homeless
Application deadline: May 29, 2008
Grants to enable communities to expand and strengthen their treatment services for homeless individuals with substance abuse disorders, mental illness, or with co-occurring substance abuse disorders and mental illness.
Preventing Unplanned Pregnancy in Community Colleges
Application deadline: Jun 16, 2008
Funding to develop and assess various ways to reduce unplanned pregnancy among community college students.
Elder Care Initiative Long Term Care Grant Program
Letter of Intent (Required): May 2, 2008
Application deadline: Jun 20, 2008
Grant program to support planning and implementation of sustainable long term care (LTC) services for American Indians and Alaska Native (AI/AN) elders.
Tribal Management Grant Program
Application deadline: Aug 1, 2008
Grants to assist federally-recognized tribes and tribally-sanctioned tribal organizations in assuming all or part of existing Indian Health Service programs, services, functions, and activities.
American Legacy Foundation, Small Innovative Grants Program
Letter of Intent (Required): May 23, 2008
Application deadline: Sep 12, 2008
Grant program provides funding for specific initiatives and research that advance efforts to reduce and prevent tobacco use, especially among youth.
Family and Informal Caregiver Support Program
Letter of Intent (Required): Jun 12, 2008
Application deadline: Oct 7, 2008
Funding to increase support for family and informal caregivers who assist older adults living in the community.
2005 Physician Supply and Distribution in Rural Areas of the United States
Describes the 2005 supply and distribution of physicians with particular emphasis on generalists in rural areas.
Organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11 / 2007
2007 Rural Hospital Replacement Facility Study
Reports on rural communities that replace aging hospital facilities with new Critical Access Hospitals. Covers impact of new facilities on local use of services, quality and performance improvement, and financial performance.
Date: 2007
Creating EHR Networks in the Safety Net
Discusses how a network approach to implementing EHR systems can ensure clinics and health centers to remain in the forefront of delivering quality care to the safety net.
Organization: California HealthCare Foundation
Date: 03 / 2008
Geographic Differences in Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions for Methamphetamine/Amphetamine and Marijuana: 2005
Findings from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which discusses admissions to substance abuse treatment and geographic differences.
Organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Date: 01 / 2008
Geographic Variation in Health Care Spending
Examines the amount of and trends in geographic variation in health care spending, mostly in the Medicare program, and the causes of that variation. Also examines the relationship between spending and quality of care.
Organization: Congressional Budget Office
Date: 02 / 2008
Healthcare Needs of North Dakota American Indian Veterans
Highlights from three tribes in North Dakota regarding healthcare needs of North Dakota American Indian Veterans.
Organization: University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health
Date: 03 / 2008
Medical Home: An Idea Whose Time Has Come ... Again
Discusses why physicians, employers, legislators and payers think medical homes may be the key to health system reform.
Organization: American Academy of Family Physicians
Date: 09 / 2007
Journal: Family Practice Management
Patient Centered Medical Home History, Seven Core Features, Evidence and Transformational Change
Identifies key elements of a medical home for delivering a patient-centered experience.
Organization: American Academy of Family Physicians
Date: 11 / 2007
Who Pays for Medical Errors?: An Analysis of Adverse Even Costs, the Medical Liability System, and Incentives for Patient Safety Improvement
Study shows that hospitals may lack the financial incentives needed to improve safety.
Organization: Commonwealth Fund
Date: 12 / 2007
2007 State Snapshots
Provides State-specific health care quality information, including strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
Organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Caregiving
Provides information on resources, caregiving costs, and finding support.
Organization: AARP
National Indian Country Methamphetamine Initiative
A national advertisement campaign against methamphetamine in Indian Country.
Organization: National Congress of American Indians
Rural Mental and Behavioral Health: A Web Portal for Rural Communities
Works to help communities to enhance social and emotional outcomes for children and families in rural and frontier areas.
Organization: National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention
Board and Executive Team Facilitation: Medford, Oregon
Describes a Board and Executive Team facilitation of strategic planning for hospitals.
Source: National Cooperative of Health Networks (NCHN)
Community Access Program (CAP)- West Virginia
Partners in Health Network improved access to health care services, provided discounts and free services to patients who met the financial eligibility screening, and provided care management services to adults ages 19-64 with asthma, depression, diabetes and hypertension.
Source: National Cooperative of Health Networks (NCHN)
Credentialing Verification Service- West Virginia
Partners in Health Network, Inc. (PIHN) Credentialing Verification Service’s (CVS) purpose is to assist associate entities (both members and non-members of the Network) in credentialing practitioners in accordance with accreditation standards and guidelines.
Source: National Cooperative of Health Networks (NCHN)
External Peer Review Program- Illinois
Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) members (CEOs) recognized a need to have an outside/external mechanism for physician peer review for their hospitals.
Source: National Cooperative of Health Networks (NCHN)
Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative “Club Scrub”
Rural providers collaborated on an interactive, after-school program called “Club Scrub” – a community partnership involving local hospitals and their respective school systems. The primary goal of the program was to increase awareness of health-related professions.
Source: National Cooperative of Health Networks (NCHN)
Rx for the Uninsured- Georgia
Rx for the Uninsured finds physicians, procures prescription medications, and provides care management for uninsured Central Georgians ages 19-64, who have incomes within 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and who suffer from diabetes, heart disease, hypertension or depression.
Source: National Cooperative of Health Networks (NCHN)
Call for Abstracts: 20th Annual Native Health Research Conference
Deadline: May 15, 2008
Indian Health Service
Event dates: Aug 25 - 28, 2008
Portland, OR
Conference Website
Call for Presentations: 14th Annual Rural Minority & Multicultural Health Conference
Deadline: May 30, 2008
National Rural Health Association
Event dates: Dec 11 - 12, 2008
Albuquerque, NM
Conference Website
| Apr 10, 2008 | Rural Health Care Outreach Conference Call |
| Apr 14, 2008 | Developing the Framework for Healthy People 2020 Public Comment Meeting |
| Apr 14 - 16, 2008 | 6th Annual Oklahoma Rural Hospital Conference - Moving Oklahoma Forward |
| Apr 14 - 17, 2008 | NCHN 14th Annual Conference: Tools for Managing Successful Networks |
| Apr 15, 2008 | CMS Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)/Long-Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum |
| Apr 15 - 16, 2008 | 19th Annual Rural Health Conference: The Seasons of Rural Health |
| Apr 16, 2008 | Living With Grief: Children and Adolescents |
| Apr 16 - 17, 2008 | IA/NEPCA Annual Conference |
| Apr 16 - 17, 2008 | Rural Health Clinic Association of Washington Annual Conference |
| Apr 17, 2008 | 4th Annual New England Small Rural Hospital Performance Improvement Summit |
| Apr 18, 2008 | 6th Annual American Indian Health Research Conference |
| Apr 22, 2008 | Rural Health Works Training |
| Apr 22 - 23, 2008 | 2008 SC Rural Health Network Summit |
| Apr 22 - 23, 2008 | From Hurt to Hope: Discovering Universal Approaches to Strengthening Supportive Learning Environments and Resilience |
| Apr 23 - 24, 2008 | Michigan Rural Health Conference |
| Apr 23 - 25, 2008 | SCRHA Annual Conference |
| Apr 23 - 25, 2008 | Shaping a Healthy Future IV: A Rocky Mountain Conference |
| Apr 28 - 30, 2008 | 2008 National Oral Health Conference |
| Apr 30, 2008 | Developing the Framework for Healthy People 2020 Public Comment Meeting |
| Apr 30, 2008 | Piecing Together the Healthcare Access Puzzle |
| Apr 30 - May 2, 2008 | 2008 Annual Meeting - Shaping the Future through Leadership and Advocacy! |
| May 1, 2008 | HRSA Patient Safety and Pharmacy Collaborative (PSPC) Leadership and Planning Event: State and Local Organizations |
| May 2 - 3, 2008 | 25th Annual Primary Care Update Conference |
| May 5 - 6, 2008 | Rural Medical Educators Conference |
| May 7 - 9, 2008 | 2008 National Farmworker Health Conference |
| May 7 - 9, 2008 | 31st Annual Colorado Rural Hospital Conference |
| May 7 - 10, 2008 | 2008 Annual NRHA Conference |
| May 8, 2008 | Bureau of Health Professions All Advisory Committee Meeting |
| May 8, 2008 | Rural Health Care Program Outreach Conference Call |
| May 12, 2008 | Workshop #4: Toward Health Equality and Patient-Centeredness: Integrating Health Literacy |
| May 13 - 14, 2008 | 4th Annual Iowa FLEX Conference |
| May 13 - 17, 2008 | Eleventh Annual Primary Care Update |
| May 14, 2008 | Developing the Framework for Healthy People 2020 Public Comment Meeting |
| May 21 - 23, 2008 | Agricultural Occupational Health Training (Session I) |
| May 21 - 23, 2008 | Rural and Frontier EMS Summit at the Lake |
| May 27 - 28, 2008 | Grant Writing Workshop for Appalachian Ohio |
| May 28, 2008 | Developing the Framework for Healthy People 2020 Public Comment Meeting |
| May 29, 2008 | Clinical Integration in Health Care: A Check-Up |
| May 29 - 30, 2008 | White House Conference on Faith Based and Community Initiatives |
| Jun 2 - 3, 2008 | Getting on Track with Telehealth |
| Jun 4 - 6, 2008 | Sixth Annual Western Region Flex Conference |
| Jun 5 - 6, 2008 | 2008 National Conference on Medication Access, Use and Safety in Rural America |
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