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/ Grant program designed to help hospitals and physician offices accelerate Electronic Medical Records (EMR) adoption. -- GE Healthcare http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2275 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:12:27 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=2275 This final rule with comment period from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services revises the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system to implement applicable statutory requirements and changes arising from their continuing experience with this system. In addition, it updates the revised Medicare ambulatory surgical center payment system to implement applicable statutory requirements and changes arising from their continuing experience with this system. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-26499.htm Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:07:35 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-26499.htm Kaiser Health News reports that as the United States launches "an ambitious program, backed by $19 billion in government incentives, to accelerate the adoption of computerized patient records in doctors' offices and hospitals," a new study of 3,000 hospitals "has found little difference in the cost and quality of care," The New York Times reports. http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2009/November/16/electronic-medical-records.aspx Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:19:49 CST http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2009/November/16/electronic-medical-records.aspx Comments are being sought by the FCC on the health care delivery elements of the national broadband plan, as well as seeking input relating to the universal service rural health care support mechanism and the rural health care Pilot Program, specifically as such programs may assist in the deployment and adoption of broadband services. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12548 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:11:46 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12548 Describes this type of rural hospital in terms of bed size and the percentage of its patients that are beneficiaries of Medicare Part A. -- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MedDependHospfctsht508.pdf Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:25:31 CST http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MedDependHospfctsht508.pdf To reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in stand-alone or same-day surgical centers, the HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the availability of up to $9 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to state survey agencies in 43 states. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12528 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:34:30 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12528 Daily Yonder article tells of the city owned Summersville Regional Medical Center in West Virginia that provides great care and it is among the lowest cost hospitals in the U.S. http://www.dailyyonder.com/speak-your-piece-rural-medical-miracle/2009/11/11/2444 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:20:36 CST http://www.dailyyonder.com/speak-your-piece-rural-medical-miracle/2009/11/11/2444 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 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 Serves as an online resource center designed to help hospitals and health care facilities improve preparedness for disasters and large-scale emergencies. -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://emergency.cdc.gov/healthcare/ Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:25:12 CST http://emergency.cdc.gov/healthcare/