Rural hospital resources related to rural health and human services, with information provided by the Rural Assistance Center Copyright 2008 Rural Assistance Center http://www.raconline.org/info_guides/hospitals/ A new study by The Joint Commission, which is being funded in part by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, aims to find new ways to help consumers better understand health care quality data and use the information to make informed health care decisions. http://www.jointcommission.org/NewsRoom/NewsReleases/nr_05_14_08.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 08:44:24 CST http://www.jointcommission.org/NewsRoom/NewsReleases/nr_05_14_08.htm -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services http://medicareupdate.typepad.com/medicare_update/2008/05/cms-to-host-spe.html Tue, 13 May 2008 09:48:05 CST http://medicareupdate.typepad.com/medicare_update/2008/05/cms-to-host-spe.html The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that it will hold a Special Open Door Forum on wage index reform from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (ET) on May 20, 2008. http://medicareupdate.typepad.com/medicare_update/2008/05/cms-to-host-spe.html Tue, 13 May 2008 09:47:22 CST http://medicareupdate.typepad.com/medicare_update/2008/05/cms-to-host-spe.html Grants to develop and implement patient navigator programs. -- Health Resources and Services Administration http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1904 Fri, 09 May 2008 08:44:51 CST http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_details.php?funding_id=1904 Describes the prevalence of evidence-based safe medication practices, including the use of voluntary medication error reporting, in small rural hospitals. -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis http://www.unmc.edu/ruprihealth/Pubs/IssueBrief2008-1.pdf Thu, 01 May 2008 09:35:51 CST http://www.unmc.edu/ruprihealth/Pubs/IssueBrief2008-1.pdf The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are requesting comments on Proposed Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems and Fiscal Year 2009 Rates; Proposed Changes to Disclosure of Physician Ownership in Hospitals and Physician Self-Referral Rules; Proposed Collection of Information Regarding Financial Relationships Between Hospitals and Physicians. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1135.htm Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:25:38 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1135.htm The American Hospital Association (AHA), with the strong support of its Section for Small or Rural Hospitals governing council, has crafted an advocacy agenda to advance several bills that support small and rural PPS and critical access hospitals (CAH). http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews_app/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsArticle/data/AHA_News_080428_Issues_affecting&domain=AHANEWS Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:40:28 CST http://www.ahanews.com/ahanews_app/jsp/display.jsp?dcrpath=AHANEWS/AHANewsArticle/data/AHA_News_080428_Issues_affecting&domain=AHANEWS AHA News reports that The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has issued guidelines to help health professionals safely use automated dispensing cabinets to store and dispense drugs near the point of care. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8556 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:06:59 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8556 USA Today article reports that high-tech emergency departments, staffed with doctors and nurses, but often miles from a hospital are increasing rapidly nationwide. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2008-04-24-emergency-rooms-stand-alone_N.htm?csp=34 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:40:14 CST http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2008-04-24-emergency-rooms-stand-alone_N.htm?csp=34 Comments are being requested on this proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that would update the prospective payment rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2009 (for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2008 and on or before September 30, 2009). http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1174.htm Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:10:53 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1174.htm AHA News reports that Senate conferees negotiating a farm policy reauthorization bill (H.R. 2419) have withdrawn a proposal that the conference report include a provision banning self-referral to new physician-owned hospitals. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8540 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:22:24 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8540 Discusses economic impact of hospitals to communities, including rural communities. -- American Hospital Association http://www.aha.org/aha/trendwatch/2008/twapr2008econcontrib.pdf Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:35:26 CST http://www.aha.org/aha/trendwatch/2008/twapr2008econcontrib.pdf As the face of America continues to change, a research report released today by The Joint Commission, entitled "One Size Does Not Fit All: Meeting the Health Care Needs of Diverse Populations," urges health care organizations to assess their capacity to meet patients unique cultural and language needs. http://www.jointcommission.org/NewsRoom/NewsReleases/nr_04_21_08.htm Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:23:18 CST http://www.jointcommission.org/NewsRoom/NewsReleases/nr_04_21_08.htm The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today proposed a rule that will improve the accuracy of payment for services furnished to people with Medicare who need the intensive rehabilitation services provided by Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs). http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8521 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:15:29 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8521 The AHA, Federation of American Hospitals, and Coalition of Full Service Community Hospitals today urged Congress to ban self-referral to new physician-owned hospitals. “Including a provision in the farm bill [H.R. 2419] – or any bill – to ban self-referral would protect patient access to vital health care services, as well as ensure fair competition in health care,” the groups said in a statement. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8515 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:04:54 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8515 On February 29, 2008, HHS published a notice of proposed rulemaking, "Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas" (73 FR 11232), to revise and consolidate the criteria and processes for designating medically underserved populations (MUPs) and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). HHS provided a 60-day public comment period, with written comments to be received on or before April 29, 2008. HHS and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have received requests for an extension of the comment period. In consideration of these requests, HHS is extending the comment period an additional 30 days, with a new closing date of May 29, 2008. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1167.htm Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:44:49 CST http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1167.htm The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced that they are extending the comment period for the Proposed Rule: Designation of Medically Underserved Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas, with a new closing date of May 29, 2008. http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/shortage/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:41:36 CST http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/shortage/ AHA News reports that U.S. hospitals continue to implement palliative care programs at a rapid pace, according to a new analysis by the Center to Advance Palliative Care. http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8501 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:29:10 CST http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=8501 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. http://www.stroudwater.biz/pages/cubes/2007CAHstudy_final_RC_1-28-08.pdf Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:54:32 CST http://www.stroudwater.biz/pages/cubes/2007CAHstudy_final_RC_1-28-08.pdf Lists recommendations for implementing a new USDARural Development program, included in the Senate Farm Bill proposal, should it be enacted into law. The goal of this program is to strengthen rural health care delivery systems, to provide necessary health care services to rural residents in a cost-effective manner. -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis http://www.rupri.org/Forms/Implementing_USDAProgram_030308.pdf Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:16:50 CST http://www.rupri.org/Forms/Implementing_USDAProgram_030308.pdf Lists distance and web-based educational resources for rural hospitals. -- Rural Health Resource Center http://ruralcenter.org/?id=rhe Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:45:08 CST http://ruralcenter.org/?id=rhe Estimates and documents the regional magnitude of charges associated with hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions in rural hospitals. -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis http://www.unmc.edu/ruprihealth/Pubs/PB2007-5_Regional_ACSC.pdf Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:31:55 CST http://www.unmc.edu/ruprihealth/Pubs/PB2007-5_Regional_ACSC.pdf Documents the national magnitude of charges associated with hospitalizationsdue to ambulatory care sensitive conditions in rural hospitals. -- RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis http://www.unmc.edu/ruprihealth/Pubs/PB2007-4_National_ACSC.pdf Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:25:55 CST http://www.unmc.edu/ruprihealth/Pubs/PB2007-4_National_ACSC.pdf Reviews the case for evidence-based hospital design and how it increases patient and staff satisfaction and safety, quality of care, and employee retention, and results in a positive return on investment. -- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/transform.pdf Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:03:55 CST http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/transform.pdf Outlines strategies and frameworks for overcoming obstacles in order to maintain financial stability for small rural hospitals and to establish sustainable health systems for the future. -- Center for Rural Policy and Development http://www.mnsu.edu/ruralmn/pages/Publications/rmj/RMJ2-07/Hill.pdf Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:03:46 CST http://www.mnsu.edu/ruralmn/pages/Publications/rmj/RMJ2-07/Hill.pdf Policy brief examining the financial effect that changes in current Medicare bad debt payment policy, as proposed in the FY2007 budget, might haveon rural hospitals. -- NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis http://www.norc.org/NR/rdonlyres/29FA4ADA-20EA-4D80-BEA8-875FE4A62AE3/0/HowWillEliminationofHospitalBadDebtReimbursementAffectRuralPPSHospitals_200707.pdf Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:05:02 CST http://www.norc.org/NR/rdonlyres/29FA4ADA-20EA-4D80-BEA8-875FE4A62AE3/0/HowWillEliminationofHospitalBadDebtReimbursementAffectRuralPPSHospitals_200707.pdf Revises the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs. Implementscertain provisions made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109171), the Medicare Improvements and Extension Act under Division B, Title I of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of2006 (Pub. L. 109432), and the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (Pub. L. 109417). In the Addendum to this final rule with comment period, describes changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs. -- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-3820.pdf Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:08:05 CST http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/07-3820.pdf Resource guide designed to help health care organization boards ask appropriate questions related to health care quality requirements, measurement tools, and reporting requirements. -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/docs/complianceguidance/Corporate%20Responsibility%20and%20Health%20Care%20Quality%206-29-07.pdf Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:07:28 CST http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/docs/complianceguidance/Corporate%20Responsibility%20and%20Health%20Care%20Quality%206-29-07.pdf Provides survey, presentation and report templates that hospitals can use to conduct employee feedback surveys. -- Mountain States Group http://www.mtnstatesgroup.org/resources/ahec/employeefeedback.htm Fri, 11 May 2007 10:57:43 CST http://www.mtnstatesgroup.org/resources/ahec/employeefeedback.htm Provides templates and examples of surveys, assessments and other tools that can be used by hospitals for strategic planning. -- Mountain States Group http://www.mtnstatesgroup.org/resources/ahec/strategicplanning.htm Fri, 11 May 2007 10:55:37 CST http://www.mtnstatesgroup.org/resources/ahec/strategicplanning.htm