Rural hospital resources related to rural health and human services, with information provided by the Rural Assistance Center Copyright 2009 Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/hospitals/ -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/Downloads/H1N1Part3111009.pdf Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:51:54 CST http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/Downloads/H1N1Part3111009.pdf AHA News reports that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a Nov. 10 conference call on Section 1135 waivers, which hospitals can request to help meet patient needs during the H1N1 flu pandemic. http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews_app/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_100509_waiver&domain=AHANEWS Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:47:38 CST http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews_app/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_100509_waiver&domain=AHANEWS The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an interim final rule with request for comments last week to strengthen its enforcement of the rules promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12468 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:23:09 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12468 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Friday announced that most hospitals will receive an inflation update of 2.1 percent in their payment rates for services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries in outpatient departments. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12466 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:08:39 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12466 National Rural Health Association article reports that in response to the recent H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak, President Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius have officially declared a national state of emergency, which, among other things, will allow critical access hospitals (CAHs) to file a request to CMS that would temporarily waive the daily limit of twenty-five occupied beds for CAHs. http://www.ruralhealthweb.org/go/rural-health-news/president-and-hhs-secretary-declare-national-emergency-for-h1n1-outbreak Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:35:07 CST http://www.ruralhealthweb.org/go/rural-health-news/president-and-hhs-secretary-declare-national-emergency-for-h1n1-outbreak Iowa Independent article tells how the steady decline in rural health care access can take a toll on patients health, but it can also impact the economic well-being of rural communities. http://iowaindependent.com/21196/rural-health-providers-improve-health-of-economy-not-just-patients Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:27:50 CST http://iowaindependent.com/21196/rural-health-providers-improve-health-of-economy-not-just-patients Robert Wood Johnson Foundation article reports that hospitals that serve a disproportionately large share of poor patients are lagging behind other hospitals in adopting electronic health records (EHR), leading to a digital divide that could exacerbate health care disparities. http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=50329 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:03:15 CST http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=50329 This notice rescinds HCFA Ruling 85-2, "Medicare Criteria for Coverage of Inpatient Hospital Rehabilitation Services," 50 FR 31040 (July 31, 1985), as corrected at 50 FR 32643 (Aug. 13, 1985) which established the criteria for Medicare coverage of inpatient hospital rehabilitation services. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25544.htm Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:58:00 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25544.htm This annual notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servicesannounces Medicare's Hospital Insurance (Part A) premium for uninsured enrollees in calendar year (CY) 2010. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25371.htm Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:44:31 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25371.htm This notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces the inpatient hospital deductible and the hospital and extended care services coinsurance amounts for services furnished in calendar year (CY) 2010 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance Program (Medicare Part A). http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25372.htm Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:36:38 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-25372.htm Daily Yonder article reports that the nation is spending vastly more on health care in some rural areas than in others without any indication that the increased spending results in better health. http://www.dailyyonder.com/uneven-cost-rural-health-care/2009/10/21/2405 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:11:59 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/uneven-cost-rural-health-care/2009/10/21/2405 AHA News reports that health care providers should initiate antiviral treatment as soon as possible for all patients hospitalized with suspected flu, even if flu has not been confirmed by laboratory testing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an advisory today to clinicians. http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews_app/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_101909_antiviral&domain=AHANEWS Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:09:33 CST http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews_app/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsNowArticle/data/ann_101909_antiviral&domain=AHANEWS Washington DC November 19, 2009 -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/Downloads/Hospital111909.pdf Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:40:57 CST http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/Downloads/Hospital111909.pdf On October 16, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released display copies of Notices announcing Medicare Part A and Part B premiums and deductibles for calendar year 2010. http://medicareupdate.typepad.com/medicare_update/2009/10/2010medicarepremiumsadeductibles.html Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:29:17 CST http://medicareupdate.typepad.com/medicare_update/2009/10/2010medicarepremiumsadeductibles.html The cost and quality of health care, as well as access to care and health outcomes, continue to vary widely among states, according to the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System's second state scorecard report released today. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/News/News-Releases/2009/Oct/New-State-Health-Care-Scorecard-Finds-Wide-Differences.aspx Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:47:19 CST http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/News/News-Releases/2009/Oct/New-State-Health-Care-Scorecard-Finds-Wide-Differences.aspx Supports the capacity of state and regional primary care associations to provide technical assistance to health centers. -- Bureau of Primary Health Care http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2257 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:51:30 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2257 Kansas City Star, (MO) article reports that electronic medical records will transform the practice of medicine, but so far not many doctors or hospitals have gone digital, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday. http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1494360.html Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:34:13 CST http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/1494360.html Robert Wood Johnson Foundation article reports that the Trust for Americas Health released a new report today that finds 15 states could run out of available hospital beds during the peak of the outbreak if 35 percent of Americans were to get sick from the H1N1 flu virus. http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=49230 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:57:01 CST http://www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=49230 Provides details about the role America's teaching hospitals play in the nation's health care system, arguing that in addition to training future physicians and health professionals, teaching hospitals conduct lifesaving research and provide specialized services not offered at other facilities. Also argues that teaching hospitals are major economic engines in their communities, directly employing 2.7 million people and contributing more than $1 trillion to the economy in 2007. -- American Hospital Association http://www.aha.org/aha/trendwatch/2009/twsept2009teaching.pdf Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:40:16 CST http://www.aha.org/aha/trendwatch/2009/twsept2009teaching.pdf Examines potentially preventable readmission rates for rural and urban hospitals, and discusses the rural implications of policy initiatives to reduce readmission rates. -- Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center http://www.uppermidwestrhrc.org/pdf/policybrief_newreadmissions.pdf Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:09:11 CST http://www.uppermidwestrhrc.org/pdf/policybrief_newreadmissions.pdf Grants to respond to unmet, local palliative care needs through new or expanded community partnerships. -- Regence Foundation http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2229 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:41:54 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2229 Funding for nonprofit or public hospitals with 100 or more beds that do not offer a formal palliative care program. -- Regence Foundation http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1897 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:33:42 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1897 Funding for nonprofit or public hospitals with 100 or more beds that do not offer a formal palliative care program. -- Regence Foundation http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1897 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:33:18 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1897 Provides funding to improve access to quality health care for underserved populations in rural and urban areas. http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=863 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:20:46 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=863 Report focuses on Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals, lays out a framework for value-based purchasing programs and discusses rural challenges. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services http://www.cms.hhs.gov/AcuteInpatientPPS/downloads/HospitalVBPPlanRTCFINALSUBMITTED2007.pdf Tue, 12 May 2009 09:22:14 CST http://www.cms.hhs.gov/AcuteInpatientPPS/downloads/HospitalVBPPlanRTCFINALSUBMITTED2007.pdf Reviews a study exploring the relationship between cost and quality of care in more than 3,700 U.S. hospitals, including rural hospitals, treating Medicare patients. -- Commonwealth Fund http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/28/3/897?ijkey=TNmS/.JXdeRXk&keytype=ref&siteid=healthaff Mon, 11 May 2009 11:24:06 CST http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/28/3/897?ijkey=TNmS/.JXdeRXk&keytype=ref&siteid=healthaff Interprets the results of an AHA survey of 1,078 U.S. community hospitals conducted in March 2009 about the effects of the economic downturn on patients and providers. -- American Hospital Association http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2009/pdf/090427econcrisisreport.pdf Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:59:42 CST http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2009/pdf/090427econcrisisreport.pdf Provides information on the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) project, implementation strategies, who the RACs are, RAC jurisdictions, RAC expansion and provider outreach schedules, and FAQs. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services http://www.cms.hhs.gov/RAC/ Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:15:24 CST http://www.cms.hhs.gov/RAC/ Provides customized reports (for a fee) about U.S. hospitals, health care systems, and networks. -- American Hospital Association http://www.thirdwaveresearch.com/aha_wizard/default.aspx Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:57:34 CST http://www.thirdwaveresearch.com/aha_wizard/default.aspx Provides general information about the Acute Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) including IPPS payment rates and how IPPS payment rates are set. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/AcutePaymtSysfctsht.pdf Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:54:02 CST http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/AcutePaymtSysfctsht.pdf