ICD-10 News: Final ICD-9-CM Code Update

The final updates to ICD-9-CM codes will take effect on October 1, 2013. These updates will be in effect until the ICD-10 transition takes place on October 1, 2014. You can find the last official ICD-9-CM code titles, both full and abbreviated, posted on the CMS website. 

“For those of us who have been maintaining ICD-9-CM codes since the code set’s implementation in 1979, this final ICD-9-CM code update is a historic occasion,” said Pat Brooks of the CMS Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Group. “We look forward to the implementation and maintenance of ICD-10 in 2014.”

Keep Up to Date on ICD-10
Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare for the October 1, 2014, deadline. Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates and follow us on Twitter.

Don’t miss CORHIO’s FINAL Meaningful Use boot camp scheduled for September 27 in the Denver Tech Center

This will be the last Meaningful Use Boot Camp offered by CORHIO, so don’t miss out!
Attend and learn what’s already changed and what will change with the Meaningful Use Incentive Program. Find out what you need to know about current HIT initiatives in Colorado. Read the full description and register here.

As federally funded Health IT training draws to a close, what are other options?

The federally funded HITECH Workforce Training is drawing to a close as the project ends September 30, 2013. To continue the opportunities for education, the following are options available at no cost:

OPTION 1
The entire HITECH curriculum can be downloaded from:

Health IT Workforce Curriculum Components National Training and Dissemination Center
http://www.onc-ntdc.org/training On left, "create new account"

OPTION 2
Bellevue College has developed self paced modules based on this curriculum that are available on the National Training & Education Resource website https://www.nterlearning.org/home - do a search for Bellevue.....it will take you not only to this option but also CAHIMS Exam Preparation and all of Bellevue's courses both collectively and individually.

Final HHS Health IT Safety Plan Issued Today

The HHS Health IT Patient Safety Action and Surveillance Plan was issued today. The Safety Plan addresses the role of health IT in helping to eliminate medical errors, protect patients and improve the quality and safety of health care.

The Safety Plan is implemented by ONC. It outlines the responsibilities to be shared across HHS and details significant participation from the private sector.
ONC will make it easier for clinicians to report health IT-related incidents and hazards through the use of certified electronic health record technology.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will encourage reporting to Patient Safety Organizations and will develop ambulatory Common Formats that will enhance reporting of health IT events outside the hospital.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will encourage the use of the Common Formats in hospital incident reporting systems, and train surveyors to identify safe and unsafe practices associated with health IT.
Working through a public-private process, ONC will develop priorities for improving the safety of health IT. ONC and CMS will consider adopting safety-related objectives, measures, and capabilities for certified electronic health records (EHRs) through the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs and ONC’s standards and certification criteria. 

ONC also has posted guidance clarifying that ONC-Authorized Certification Bodies (ONC-ACBs) will be expected to verify whether safety-related capabilities work properly in live clinical settings in which they are implemented. 

Finally, under a new ONC contract, The Joint Commission will be working to better detect and proactively address potential health IT-related safety issues across a variety of health care settings. More information about the Health IT Patient Safety Action and Surveillance Plan, the ONC-ACB surveillance guide and the new project with The Joint Commission can all be found at the Health IT and Patient Safety webpage.

Colorado ICD-10 Task Force – Summer Classes Near You

http://coruralhealth.org/blog/ICD10RoadShowFlyer2013.pdf

Rural Health Open Door Forum

The Rural Health Open Door Forum (ODF) addresses Rural Health Clinic (RHC), Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) issues, as well as some inclusion of other questions and concerns that occur in clinical practice pertaining to other CMS payment systems that also extend into these settings. Topics that frequently arise on this forum often deal with payment & billing for services subject to Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and/or Physician Shortage Area (PSA) status, cost report clarifications, classifications for & qualifications of rural provider types, and the many special provisions being implemented for improving rural health in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Timely announcements and clarifications regarding important rulemaking, quality program initiatives, and other related areas are also included in the Forums.

CMS is hosting a series of EHR Incentive Program related national calls. The calls will take place on July 23, 2013, July 24, 2013 & August 15, 2013. Click here for more information.

MEDICAID AUDIT ANNOUNCEMENT

Many of our members who attested for Medicaid Meaningful Use have received a letter by email that seems like you are being audited!

This letter is not an audit!!! Colorado HCPF sent out letters to all Eligible Professionals and Eligible Hospitals that attested last year to introduce the auditing company and give everyone an idea of what will be expected if you are selected for audit. The letters also states that Eligible Professionals and Eligible Hospitals will be contacted directly by the audit company if they’ve been selected and will be given a list of audit items. To view the letter click here

If you are selected for an audit please let the team who helped you attest know.

For any questions email David Ginsberg, Senior Advisor at dg@coruralhealth.org

Practice Evolution Series HIPAA Omnibus Rule: What You Need to Know for Your Practice

June 3, 2013

6:00-7:15 pm

FREE

After years of work the final HIPAA Omnibus Rule is here. The rule makes a number of changes including modifying the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules passed under the HITECH Act. This will affect what you and your practice team need to do in order to meet the strict patient privacy and data security requirements. Don't be left in the dark on the details of this critical rule and how it will impact your practice. Plan on attending an engaging and informative webinar with David Ginsberg, a leading authority in HIPAA privacy and security compliance and meaningful use.

Women’s Health Leadership Institute, Denver Training Program

Community Health Workers

June 12, 13, and 14
Downtown Denver

We are excited to announce the Women’s Health Leadership Institute’s Community Health Worker (CHW) training program is coming to Denver! They are looking for experienced Community Health Workers to be involved in this wonderful institute and movement to improve health in our communities. Entrance is limited and the application deadline is upcoming. Below are some details and attached is the application and official announcement.

The application must be submitted no later than Friday, May 24, 2013. Please email the application to Carmen Ferlan, Master Trainer Supervisor at cferlan@mariposachc.net

For more information, click here.

Important Announcement on Post-Payment Audits

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has hired the firm Myers and Stauffer, LLC to perform all post-payment audits for the Colorado Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. This includes all Eligible Professionals and Medicaid-only Eligible Hospitals.

Myers and Stauffer, LLC will contact you directly if you have been chosen for a post-payment audit and will be the only entity working with you to complete the audit process.

Reminder: You should keep all related documents to your attestation for a minimum of six years.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact Tracy McDonald, Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Coordinator, by email at MedicaidEHR@corhio.org or by phone at 720.285.3232.

EHR AND MEANINGFULUSE BOOT CAMP

June 27, 2013
11:30am-5:00pm Mountain Time
Double Tree Hotel, Westminster, CO

Attend the free EHR & Meaningful Use Boot Camp and learn how to incorporate Meaningful Use objectives into your practice to increase efficiency, improve patient outcomes and make the most of the expense and time you put into your EHR adoption. Presented by CORHIO, with David Ginsberg as the featured speaker. Click here for further information or to register.

ICD-10 Webinar Series Ready, Set, Organize

May 28, 2013

Noon-1pm MDT

Someone once said you will never get going until you start. So start by registering for the May 28 ICD-10 webinar while there is still time left. Space is limited - register now. 

Program highlights Continuing the discussion from last month's webinar the program will dig into the impact the ICD-10 transition is going to have on her practice and look at it in terms of the tasks that need to be completed. By organizing this information we are entering Project Planning Phase 1 and putting more specificity around the areas of impact in order to develop a timeline and start your project plan. 

CMS Announces Method II "Fix"

As many of you know, physicians employed or contracted with Critical Access Hospitals who billed those services using Method II have been unable to earn CMS EHR Incentive payments (this does not apply to Medicaid incentives if they qualify).

The problem has been that while Method II claims are adjudicated and paid by CMS as Part B claims, they are submitted using a UB02 or institutional claim form. While most every CAH ensures that these claims for Method II services included the rendering physician's NPI number, the CMS claims system was unable to capture that at the line level. CMS physician incentives are paid by calculating 75% of the Part B allowable submitted to CMS in the calendar year up to the current incentive program maximum. For this year the maximum incentive is $15,000.

Since CMS could not pull the Method II claim line items and associate those to a physician NPI, there has been no way to calculate the incentive payment. This unfortunate oversight when creating the incentive program and in CMS's systems has delayed the ability to capture incentives for Method II physicians.

CMS announced the "fix" late last  year; in a recently released FAQ this has been confirmed. Physicians cannot attest before January 1 for this calendar year and must be sure they have properly registered on the CMS Incentive site as well as have their payment assignments with their CAH in proper order.Attestation will be for 90 days of Stage 1 Meaningful Use.

 CMS states:

Reassigning Payments to CAHs
If a provider would like to qualify for an EHR incentive payment and is reassigned to a CAH, this information may be verified through PECOS once an 855R form is submitted for an enrolled provider/supplier. If the provider is not currently enrolled, 855I and 855R forms must be submitted and processed. CMS is now accepting these forms for reassignment of payments to CAHs. Medicare may pay: (1) a physician or other supplier’s employer if the supplier is required, as a condition of employment, to turn over to the employer the fees for his or her services; or (2) an entity (i.e., a person, group, or facility) that is enrolled in the Medicare program for services furnished by a physician or other supplier under a contractual arrangement with that entity. This means that Part A and Part B entities other than physician/practitioner group practices can receive reassigned benefits, assuming the requirements for a reassignment exception are met and that the reassignee meets all enrollment requirements. 

If you have any questions please contact our Senior Advisor, David Ginsberg. We urge all of our CAHs with Method II billing for physicians in place, and who have otherwise reached meaningful use for their clinic systems to follow through for their CMS EHR Incentive.

ICD-10 News: CMS Releases ICD-10-PCS Files

ICD-10-PCS Code Updates

The 2014 ICD-10-PCS (procedure) files are now available and posted on the CMS website. ICD-10-PCS will be used for coding inpatient procedures when the U.S. transitions to ICD-10 on October 1, 2014. ICD-10-PCS will replace ICD-9-CM, Volume 3. CPT codes will continue to be used for outpatient procedures and services. 

The new ICD-10-PCS files include:

• Updated “Official ICD-10-PCS Coding Guidelines” with guidance from the ICD Cooperating Parties: CMS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Hospital Association, and the American Health Information Management Association 
• The 2014 ICD-10-PCS code tables and index, which add four procedure codes created to capture new technologies

Click here to read more.

THE Consortium Webinar - May 2013

HIPAA Omnibus Follow-Up -- Deeper Dive

Please join us for THE Consortium webinar on Thursday, May 16, 2013 from 12:00pm - 1:15pm where we will discuss the HIPAA Omnibus Rule in greater depth than at our recent presentations. The deeper dive will focus on:

• Handling patient requests for restrictions on disclosures to health plans
• Providing immunization records to schools
• New Breach notification procedures
• What you should be doing NOW to be ready for the September 23rd deadline for compliance

Click here to register

CHA/HIM Advisory Group Friday May 17,2013

The next meeting of the

HIM/CHA Advisory Group will be on
Friday, May 17th from 2:30 - 4:00 PM at CHA. 

1. Please join the meeting.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/705872970 

2. Join the conference call: 

Dial +1 (805) 309-0033 

Access Code: 705-872-970 

Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting 

Meeting ID: 705-872-970 

3. Meeting agenda

Using an Electronic Health Record to Create Patient Problem Lists

Health Resources and Services Administration
Health Information Technology and Quality Improvement Webinar
Friday, May 17, 2:00 PM ET 

This webinar will focus on how safety net primary care providers can meaningfully use electronic health records (EHR) to create and maintain patient problem lists. Created by EHRs, patient problem lists are a core requirement of Meaningful Use. This function serves as a powerful tool for maintaining a patient’s medical history while also helping to engage patients to better track and manage their health care. 

Presenters will demonstrate how patient problem lists are created and maintained by EHRs, and share their strategies on how providers can use them for quality improvement and patient engagement. Lastly, staff from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will discuss the importance of patient problem lists in achieving Stage 1 and 2 of Meaningful Use. To register click here.

ICD-10 News: Upcoming NGS Webinar Sessions

Sessions on End-to-End Testing for May

National Government Services (NGS), under contract to CMS, is hosting a series of webinars to gather insights and feedback from the health care industry on end-to-end testing of ICD-10 and other HIPAA administrative simplification requirements.

Webinar Schedule

May 1, 2013
2-3 p.m.
Payer

May 7, 2013 

2-3 p.m.
Small Provider 

May 8, 2013 

2-3 p.m.
Large Provider 

May 9, 2013 

2-3 p.m.
Vendor

Click here to read more.

Join the CMS and ONC Meeting on Coding and Billing

Meeting about EHRs, Coding, and Billing:

May 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET

Please join CMS and ONC for a meeting to discuss EHRs, the increase in code levels billed for some Medicare services, and appropriate coding in an increasingly electronic environment. 

Speakers will discuss the effect of EHRs on quality clinical care, provider efficiency, and coding, as well as coding challenges and opportunities facing hospitals and clinicians. Click here to read more.

EHR Audits Q&A

With the news that CMS has started conducting pre-payment audits to monitor meaningful use payments, some providers have been worried about what it means if they get a letter in the mail. Rob Anthony, Deputy Director of the HIT Initiatives Group, Office of E-Health Standards and Services at CMS, sat down with EHRIntelligence to discuss how CMS is handling its audits of potential meaningful users, and to give some tips to providers about what to have on hand if an auditor comes knocking on the door.

Click here to read more about:

• What’s the purpose of meaningful use audits, and how do they help CMS and providers?
• The OIG made some strong recommendations last year about how CMS should improve their oversight of EHR Incentive Payments. How are you addressing these concerns?
• What are somethings to look for, and how can providers satisfy the audit requirements? 
• What advise do you have for providers who might be nervous about the audit process?  

Register Now for HRSA Webinar - Using EHRs for HIE and Interoperability for Safety Net Providers

Health Resources and Services Administration
Friday, April 26, 2013, 2 PM ET

This webinar will focus on how safety net providers can electronically exchange health information and achieve interoperability using electronic health records (EHRs). Exchanging electronic health information with other providers is a requirement under Stage 2 of Meaningful Use and has been shown to reduce costs and duplication of services, increase patient engagement, enhance patient safety, and improve healthcare quality. Follow this link to find out what presenters for this webinar will focus on.

Participants can register here.
Questions for presenters are welcome ahead of the event and may be emailed to healthit@hrsa.gov

Webinar: THE Consortium

Please join us for THE Consortium webinar on Thursday, April 25, 2013 from 12:00pm - 1:15pm where we will discuss what you should ask your vendors regarding Stage 2 and ICD10 - using our evaluation form. Please click here to register for the webinar.

Webinar: Using an Electronic Health Record for Health Information Exchange and Interoperability for Safety Net Providers

Health Resources and Services Administration
Health Information Technology and Quality Webinar and Technical Assistance Resources
Friday, April 26, 2013, 2 PM EDT 


This webinar will focus on how safety net providers can electronically exchange health information and achieve interoperability using electronic health records (EHRs). Exchanging electronic health information with other providers is a requirement under Stage 2 of Meaningful Use and has been shown to reduce costs and duplication of services, increase patient engagement, enhance patient safety, and improve healthcare quality. Presenters for this webinar will focus on the following topics:
How providers can meet the health information exchange (HIE) objectives of Meaningful Use;
How providers can access and utilize State and local HIE networks; and How providers can overcome barriers to achieve HIE and interoperability


Participants can register here.

SEED and MJJ Grant Deadlines

Reminder – SEED grant applications are due April 30th. The SEED/MJJ Review Committee will be meeting the first week in May to review all the SEED and MJJ applications that CRHC has received by April 30, 2013. The review and awarding process should be complete by Mid May and all applications will be notified via email.

If you have any questions please contact kb@coruralhealth.org.

CMS Clarifies Sequestration Reduction for Medicare EHR Incentive Payments

Office of Management and Budget on Sequestration:

CMS has clarified that incentive payments for reporting periods prior to April 1 2013 will not be subject to the sequestration reduction! This is welcome news to our many hospitals who attested for a reporting period in 2012 an have yet to be paid due to the delays with Novitas assuming the Medicare contractor role.

Click here for exact language. If you have any questions, please email our Senior Adviser David Ginsberg at dg@coruralheatlh.org.

Free Boot Camp in Durango: EHR & Meaningful Use

Interested in learning how you can optimize the use of your EHR?
Want to avoid incurring Medicare penalties?

Attend the free EHR & Meaningful Use Boot Camp and learn how to incorporate Meaningful Use objectives into your practice to increase efficiency, improve patient outcomes and make the most of the expense and time you put into your EHR adoption. Click HERE for more information.

ICD-10 News: Medicare Fee-For-Service National Provider Call – Registration Now Open

Registration Open for the Medicare National Provider Call on Transitioning to ICD-10 in 2013

Will you be ready for ICD-10 on October 1, 2014? Join CMS experts on April 18 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. ET as they discuss ICD-10 planning and preparation strategies. Following the presentation, CMS representatives will be available for a question and answer session.

Agenda:
Planning for transition to ICD-10
Claims processing
National implementation issues
National Coverage Decisions
Outreach

The target audience for this call includes medical coders, physicians, physician office staff, nurses and other non-physician practitioners, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, educators, system maintainers, laboratories, and all Medicare FFS providers

For more information on Registration and Information click HERE.

HIT Meaningful Use Services

The journey to meeting meaningful use and receiving Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Payments can be complicated. CRHC offers assistance to help hospitals and their provider-based clinics throughout this process. For more information about services and pricing contact CRHC’s Senior Advisor, David Ginsberg at dg@coruralhealth.org.

FY2013 Window Now Open

Eligible health care providers (HCPs) can begin the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program application process for Funding Year (FY) 2013 by filing FCC Form 465, Description of Services Requested and Certification Form, for the Telecommunications and Internet Access programs started April 8.

FY2013 starts July 1, 2013, and ends June 30, 2014. FCC Forms 466 and 466-A will be available at 9:00 AM July 1.
Apply now using My Portal.
Click here for help with My Portal.
New to the RHC Program? Visit the Getting Started page on our website.
For information about the FCC Form 465, visit the Online Learning Library.

Need Help or More Information, Click HERE

Important for Physicians / Clinics / and Staff!

Now is the time to get your ICD-10 transition started – with the Colorado ICD-10 Training Coalition. Click HERE for more information.

SHIP Hospital Webinars

Friendly reminder that SHIP eligible hospitals should register for the upcoming SHIP hospital webinars: http://www.ruralcenter.org/ship/webinar/registration

OVERVIEW OF LEAN
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm Central Time

ICD-10 CODING AND COST REPORTING
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm Central Time

SHIFTING TO A VALUE-BASED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Tuesday, August 6, 2013 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm Central Time

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Rifle, CO

May 21, 22 & 23, 2013

Grand River Hospital Conference Center

501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO

Click here to register

Questions?

Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org

Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

Is your Community Working to Improve Health?

Is your community taking bold steps to create a culture of health? Tell us how by applying for the annual RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize.

Prize-winning communities each receive $25,000 to honor their outstanding community efforts to help people live healthier lives. Interested communities are invited to join an informational webinar on April 2 at 1 p.m. EST to learn about the prize, including how to apply and how winners will be chosen.

• Register for the webinar.
• View the call for applications. Phase I applications are due on May 23, 2013.

The RWJF Roadmaps to Health Prize is part of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

FREE HIPAA Boot Camp, Durango

WHEN: 

May 1, 2013 

11:30am-5:00pm EHR & Meaningful Use Boot Camp

5:00pm-6:30pm Health Information Exchange Community Celebration & Reception

WHERE: 

Durango DoubleTree Hotel

501 Camino Del Rio

Durango, CO 81301

Interested in learning how you can optimize the use of your EHR?

Want to avoid incurring Medicare penalties?

Attend the free EHR & Meaningful Use Boot Camp and learn how to incorporate Meaningful Use objectives into your practice to increase efficiency, improve patient outcomes and make the most of the expense and time you put into your EHR adoption.

FREE EVENT! REGISTER ONLINE AT:

http://bit.ly/XRkMl4

Or call CORHIO at 720-285-3200

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Quarterly System Release – Claim Hold

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified technical issues with certain parts of the April 2013 quarterly systems release. For claims with dates of service or “Through Dates” on or after April 1, 2013, the issues affect (1) all Home Health final claims, (2) outpatient Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and Rural Health Clinic (RHC) claims where dollars have been applied to the beneficiary deductible, and (3) the remittance advice summary payment amount forMedicare Advantage inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) claims with indirect medical education (IME). Actual payments and the claim-level payment amounts on the remittance advice are correct for these Medicare Advantage IPPS IME claims. Final home health, outpatient CAH and RHC, and Medicare Advantage IPPS IME claims with dates of service or “Through Dates” prior to April 1, 2013, are unaffected. To read more click here.

Disaster Recovery and EHR Systems-A special Workshop you should not miss!!!

Are you attending The Forum this April?  
Get the most out of your travel to Denver and consider arriving a day early for this special workshop on Disaster Recovery and EHR Systems!

Presented by The Colorado Rural Health Center and Data Services for Healthcare (DASH)  
 

S A V E  T H E   D A T E
Tuesday April 2, 2013
10:30 am - 3 pm
Colorado Rural Health Center
3033 S. Parker Road, Suite 606
Aurora, CO 80014

Why your IT staff or leadership MUST attend this workshop:

• We will present the latest innovations and concepts in developing and deploying an affordable and appropriate disaster recovery plan for your facility
• Disaster recovery and contingency plan policies and procedures will be reviewed. Every participant will leave with an up to date HIPAA DR and Contingency plan policy and procedure template you can quickly adopt at your facility!
• Take a virtual tour of a Data Center that would provide the highest level of data security
• We will facilitate several roundtable discussions with industry experts on solutions for each participant's DR planning issues and concerns

Additionally we will have the following presentations:

1.    Update on what IT staff should do relevant to the recent HIPAA Omnibus Rule

2.    Presentation on an innovative solution to internal audit of your EHR, PACS and other systems that create, maintain or store PHI

3.    Presentation on Mobile Device Security trends and new solutions 

Who should attend:

• Critical Access Hospital IT leadership and staff
• Rural PPS hospital IT leadership and staff
• ClinicNet Safety net clinics who have IT staff
• Federally Qualified Health Centers

Fee: There is a nominal $25 fee to cover lunch and refreshments. Recognizing the burden attending may pose to our rural facilities DASH is offering a limited number of $200 scholarships to defray travel costs. These will be issued on a first come/first serve basis.  Details on signing up for these scholarship will be included on registration forms.

For more information email David Ginsberg, Senior Advisor at dg@coruralhealth.org

Registration Coming Soon!

Sequestration: Medicaid EHR Incentive Payments Will NOT be Reduced

Many of our members have been asking if Sequestration will affect the Medicare EHR incentive payments. In a March 13, 2013 announcement on the CMS EHR Registration and Attestation site CMS states the following:

Medicare payments will be reduced by 2% - Medicare payments will be reduced by 2% as a result of sequestration. This reduction will affect any Medicare EHR Incentive payment made by CMS on or after April 1, 2013. Medicaid payments are exempt from sequestration and as a result Medicaid EHR Incentive Payments will not be reduced. 

Regardless of when you submitted your attestation information, if the payment is occurring on or after April 1, 2013 this reduction is in effect.

HRSA Offers Free Vouchers for Health IT Professional Examinations

Validating Core Health IT Knowledge and Skills

Voucher Requests End April 1

• Are you interested in validating your core Health Information Technology (IT) and skills?
• Are you a graduate of a community college Health IT program?
• Are you seeking opportunities to advance your career?
• Are you a healthcare provider who would like to expand your knowledge of Health IT?
• Do you have employees who support your Health IT needs and would like to receive certification in this skill set?

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), in collaboration with The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is offering free vouchers to take the Health IT Professional Exams (HIT Pro Exams). These exams assess competency in one of six Health IT workforce roles:

Clinician/Practitioner Consultant

Implementation Manager

Implementation Support Specialist

Practice Workflow & Information Management Redesign Specialist

Technical/Software Support Staff

Trainer

Why Should You Take the Exam?
Validate Competencies: Competency examinations enable Health IT professionals, employers and other stakeholders to assess their own knowledge and experience.
Staff Development: The examinations can be used by employers to enhance the Health IT skills and capabilities of personnel. Staff who become certified can be instrumental in helping your organization qualify for incentive payments for the meaningful use of electronic health records.
Organizational Credibility: These exams help organizations demonstrate to customers that their staff possess the key skills needed to meet the challenges of effectively implementing and utilizing Health IT.

To request a voucher or additional information, email healthit@hrsa.gov
For more information, please visit ONC’s Health IT Professional Exam website

Disaster Recovery and EHR Systems-A special Workshop you should not miss!!!

Are you attending The Forum this April? 
Get the most out of your travel to Denver and consider arriving a day early for this special workshop on Disaster Recovery and EHR Systems!

Presented by The Colorado Rural Health Center and Data Services for Healthcare (DASH) 
 

S A V E  T H E   D A T E
Tuesday April 2, 2013
10:30 am - 3 pm
Colorado Rural Health Center
3033 S. Parker Road, Suite 606
Aurora, CO 80014

Why your IT staff or leadership MUST attend this workshop:

• We will present the latest innovations and concepts in developing and deploying an affordable and appropriate disaster recovery plan for your facility
• Disaster recovery and contingency plan policies and procedures will be reviewed. Every participant will leave with an up to date HIPAA DR and Contingency plan policy and procedure template you can quickly adopt at your facility!
• Take a virtual tour of a Data Center that would provide the highest level of data security
• We will facilitate several roundtable discussions with industry experts on solutions for each participant's DR planning issues and concerns

Additionally we will have the following presentations:

1.    Update on what IT staff should do relevant to the recent HIPAA Omnibus Rule

2.    Presentation on an innovative solution to internal audit of your EHR, PACS and other systems that create, maintain or store PHI

3.    Presentation on Mobile Device Security trends and new solutions 

Who should attend:

• Critical Access Hospital IT leadership and staff
• Rural PPS hospital IT leadership and staff
• ClinicNet Safety net clinics who have IT staff
• Federally Qualified Health Centers

Fee: There is a nominal $25 fee to cover lunch and refreshments. Recognizing the burden attending may pose to our rural facilities DASH is offering a limited number of $200 scholarships to defray travel costs. These will be issued on a first come/first serve basis.  Details on signing up for these scholarship will be included on registration forms.

For more information email David Ginsberg, Senior Advisor at dg@coruralhealth.org

Registration Coming Soon!

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Rifle, CO

May 21, 22 & 23, 2013

Grand River Hospital Conference Center

501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO

Click here to register

Questions?

Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org

Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

Free ICD-10 Webinar

2.0 CEU’s from the AAPC

Webinar Cost: FREE

Webinar Date: Thursday April 25th from 11am – 1pm Mountain time

• An informative webinar to give a coder’s viewpoint of the ICD-10 transition and to alleviate fears of what the new code set will mean to coders and billers.
• We will review guideline changes, new concepts and problematic code sets, along with in-depth discussions of the impact to outpatient coders, tips on how to begin the education and training process, and tips on how to avoid potential pitfalls during the implementation process. 

Registration is temporarly unavailable.
Stay posted for further details.

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Rifle, CO

May 21, 22 & 23, 2013

Grand River Hospital Conference Center

501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO

Click here to register

Questions?

Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org

Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Alamosa, CO

March 19, 20 & 21, 2013

Ramada Inn & Conference Center

333 Sante Fe Ave, Alamosa, CO

Click here to register

Questions?

Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org

Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

Rural Health Virtual Training Gateway offer 3 HIT Webinars

Rural Health Virtual Training Gateway

Establishing A Remote Telehealth Site with the VA: A "How To" Event
This is part of the Telehealth Resource Centers' national webinar series held the 3rd Thursday of each month.
1:00 p.m. Central Time
Cost: FREE
Date: Thursday, March 21, 2013
Format: Webinar

Things to Consider Before Signing a Health IT Agreement
The operational and financial role of health information technology ("HIT") is rapidly increasing. The provision of HIT services and products is generally governed by lengthy and complex agreements. Unless you are directly and actively involved in the negotiation process for each product or service, reviewing, understanding and evaluating these agreements can be a daunting task.
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Central Time
Cost: FREE
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Format: Webinar

ACA's Opportunities for Improving Care Quality & Efficiency: A Three-Part Series
HIMSS has developed a three part series exploring how the healthcare reform bill will transform mandates into real world patient care. Each session builds on the content from past sessions, which are available on demand.
Part 2Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Quality Measures Development: An Update
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Central Time
Part 3Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Administrative Simplification and Operating Rules: An Update
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Central Time
Gaining ROI By Implementing Federal Operating Rules
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Central Time
Consumer Access to Data and the State Insurance Exchanges: An Update
12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. Central Time
Cost: FREE
Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Format: Webinar

Administrative Simplification and Operating Rules: An Update
HIMSS has developed a three part series exploring how the healthcare reform bill will transform mandates into real world patient care. Each session builds on the content from past sessions. This is the third of three. Keeping it simple - that's the Affordable Care Act mandate for controlling costs. The ACA establishes a single set of operating rules to simplify the entire payment cycle - including eligibility. Don't miss this important, high level briefing that explains this key provision and health IT's critical role. Also learn about HIPAA Transaction Provisions: Enabling Operating Rules for the Electronic Exchange of Information (starting at 11:00 a.m.) and Consumer Access to Data and the State Insurance Exchanges: An Update (starting at 12:00 p.m.)
10:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Central Time
Cost: FREE Members, $79 nonmembers
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Format: Webinar

Health Information Technologies and Their Application in Healthcare
Join Christina Thielst, FACHE in this new online seminar to explore health information technology (HIT) and current concerns, including the meaningful use of electronic health records, health information exchanges, telehealth, social media and mobile health. This session runs from May 16 to June 26, 2013.
Register for times.
Cost: Members: $490; Nonmembers: $565
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Format: Webinar

Free ICD-10 Webinar – 2 CEU’s from AAPC!

Webinar Cost: FREE

Webinar Date: Thursday April 25th from 11am – 1pm Mountain time

Webinar Description: An informative webinar to give a coder’s viewpoint of the ICD-10 transition and to alleviate fears of what the new code set will mean to coders and billers. We will review guideline changes, new concepts and problematic code sets, along with in-depth discussions of the impact to outpatient coders, tips on how to begin the education and training process, and tips on how to avoid potential pitfalls during the implementation process.

This program has the prior approval for 2.0 CEU’s from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

Space is limited! Go-to-Meeting details and powerpoint presentation slides will be emailed to registered participants 2 days prior to Webinar event. Please be sure to provide your email as part of your registration.

Registration is temporarly unavailable.
Stay posted for further updates.

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Rifle, CO

May 21, 22 & 23, 2013

Grand River Hospital Conference Center

501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO
Click here to register

Questions? Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org

Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Alamosa, CO

March 19, 20 & 21, 2013

Ramada Inn & Conference Center

333 Sante Fe Ave, Alamosa, CO

Click here to register

Questions? Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org

Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

A National Web Conference on Enhancing Behavioral Health Care Using Health IT

Date: February 27, 2013

Time: 2:00-3:30 p.m., EST

Overall Purpose:

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has identified a gap in health care and public health practitioners’ knowledge of health IT using multiple mechanisms, including the findings of the continuing education (CE) planning group. This series of Webinars is designed to increase practitioners’ ability to improve health care decisionmaking, support patient-centered care, and improve the quality and safety of care through the use of health IT. The purpose of this specific Webinar is to present a series of projects in which health IT applications are used to support the unique treatment and communications needs for patients with behavioral health issues. The approaches include combining data visualization, human factors, and data analysis for behavioral health decision support; examining the effect of a personal health record (PHR) for mental health applications; and adjusting basic health information exchange (HIE) protocols to fit the needs of the behavioral health community.

Confirmed Speakers:

Ketan Mane, Ph.D., M.S., Senior Research Scientist, Renaissance Computing Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Benjamin Druss, M.D., Rosalynn Carter Chair in Mental Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory University

Silke von Esenwein, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory University

Wende Baker, M.Ed., Executive Director, Electronic Behavioral Health Information Network  

Moderator:

Charlotte Mullican, B.S.W., M.P.H., Senior Advisor for Mental Health Research, AHRQ

Learning Objectives:

1)      Discuss the use of visual decision support tools at the point of care to improve selection of effective treatment choices by providers for patients with major depressive disorder.

2)      Describe the potential benefits of use of a PHR for patients with serious mental illness.

3)      Describe how a PHR can support improvements in consumer activation and provider access to information for patients with serious mental illness.

4)      Explain the issues and challenges involved in building an HIE that includes behavioral health data.

Target Audience: hospitals, physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, government agencies, health IT vendors, patients/consumers, health care policymakers, and researchers interested in behavioral health

To Register:

1. Go to: https://ahrqnrc-conferences.webex.com/ahrqnrc-conferences/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=992809495

2. Select "Register."
3. On the registration form, enter your information and then select "Submit."
Once the host approves your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the event.

For assistance:  Contact Jennifer Webb by email at jrwebb@rti.org or by phone at (919) 541-6746.

How to Obtain CME/CNE Credit

Participants must attend the entire Web conference and complete the evaluation online in order to earn 1.5 contact credit hours and obtain a CE certificate. No partial credit will be awarded. A link to the online evaluation system will be sent to participants who attend the Web Conference within 48 hours after the event.

HRSA Webinar on "Using an EHR and Quality Data to Improve Hypertension"

HIT/Quality Webinar

“Using an EHR and Quality Data to Improve Hypertension”
Friday, February 22, 2013, 2 pm EST

In recognition of “National Heart Month,” in February, this webinar will focus on how safety net providers can utilize health information technology (HIT) to improve health outcomes in patients with hypertension. Hypertension is a significant risk factor that contributes to major health complications, including cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death in the United States. Hypertension control is a core clinical quality measure in the Meaningful Use incentive program and also a priority within the National Quality Strategy, Healthy People 2020, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ “Million Hearts” campaign.  Presenters for this webinar are safety net providers from rural inpatient and community health center settings, who will share their best practices for helping patients control their hypertension.

Presenters:
· Christopher H. Tashjian, MD, Ellsworth Medical Clinic, Ellsworth, Wisconsin
· Sarah Woolsey, MD, Health Insight, Salt Lake City, Utah

Click Here to Register Register

Previous HRSA Health IT and Quality Webinars may be accessed at the HRSA Health IT and Quality Webinar website.

Meet your coding, reimbursement and compliance goals in 2013.

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Alamosa, COMarch 19, 20 & 21, 2013
Ramada Inn & Conference Center/333 Sante Fe Ave, Alamosa, CO
Click here to register

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Rifle, CO.
May 21, 22 & 23, 2013
Grand River Hospital Conference Center/501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO
Click here to register

Questions? Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org

Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

Free Meaningful Use Boot Camp

 

April 12, 2013 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM          

Hilton Garden Inn - Tech Center
7675 East Union Ave
Denver, CO , 80237

Registration is required for this event. 

Register Today! 

 

Description

Interested in learning more about meaningful use? Want to find out if you’re eligible for incentive funds?
Attend the free Meaningful Use Boot Camp for health care professionals who want to incorporate Meaningful Use objectives into their practices and potentially receive incentive payments.

AGENDA:
11:30 – lunch
12:00 – 1:30
Meaningful Use Overview, Stages 1 & 2, Tracy Rue, Senior Consultant, Colorado Regional Extension Center

• Learn the basics of Meaningful Use
• Find out how to incorporate Meaningful Use Stages 1 and 2 into your practice’s workflow
• Understand how Meaningful Use and Health Information Exchange work together

1:30 – break
1:45 – 2:15
How to Attest for Meaningful Use Incentives, Tracy McDonald, Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Coordinator, CORHIO

• Understand the Medicaid requirements for attesting to the EHR Incentive Program
• Dive into the process, the system, and the documentation needed
• Learn more about the 2013 state Medicaid changes

2:15 – 2:45
Cyber Liability, Mitch Laycock, Account Executive, COPIC, FSG

• Learn about today’s increased regulatory environment
• Understand why and how physicians are being targeted
• Hear an overview of COPIC’s Cyber Liability options

2:45 – break
3:00 – 5:00
HIPAA Security Risk Analysis, David Ginsberg, President, PrivaPlan Associates and Consultant, Colorado Rural Health Center

• Learn how to conduct and complete a HIPAA Security Risk Analysis as required for Meaningful Use
• Complete key tasks of the risk analysis
• Correct security gaps found in most medical practices

Final HIPAA Rule Webinar: Register Today!

February 14, 2013 

12:00-1:00

 Click here to register!

Presented by

David Ginsberg, Senior Advisor, CRHC

 

After a 2.5 year wait the final HIPAA Omnibus Rule has been released with 563 pages of changes to HIPAA as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The final omnibus rule will be effective on March 26, but covered entities and business associates have until Sept. 23 to comply.

CRHC's Senior Advisor, David Ginsberg has reviewed the new rule.  He says, "It is actually four separate rules affecting HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification. Most of the rules must be implemented by September 23, 2013". David stressed the importance for hospital and clinic HIPAA compliance staff to attend the webinar.

 

So register today for this informative and high level review of the Final HIPAA Rule! 

Meet your coding, reimbursement and compliance goals in 2013.

These classes are normally offered at over $2,000.00 per person. Save your time and money by attending our three day workshops.

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Alamosa, CO
March 19, 20 & 21, 2013
Ramada Inn & Conference Center/333 Sante Fe Ave, Alamosa, CO
Click here to register

Coding Certification Bootcamp in Rifle, CO.
May 21, 22 & 23, 2013
Grand River Hospital Conference Center/501 Airport Rd, Rifle, CO
Click here to register

Questions? Contact Danette Swanson ds@coruralhealth.org

Registration Assistance: Samantha Hiner at 720.248.2757

EHR Incentive Programs

The EHR Incentive Programs Stage 1 Rule stated that, in order for a Medicaid encounter to count towards the patient volume of an eligible provider, Medicaid had to either pay for all or part of the service, or pay all or part of the premium, deductible or coinsurance for that encounter. 

The Stage 2 Rule now states that the Medicaid encounter can be counted towards patient volume if the patient is enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program (either through the state’s fee-for-service programs or the state’s Medicaid managed care programs) at the time of service without the requirement of Medicaid payment liability.

 

How will this change affect patient volume calculations for Medicaid eligible providers?
Importantly, this change affecting the Medicaid patient volume calculation is applicable to all eligible providers, regardless of the stage of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program they are participating in. Billable services provided by an eligible provider to a patient enrolled in Medicaid would count toward meeting the minimum Medicaid patient volume thresholds. Examples of Medicaid encounters under this expanded definition that could be newly eligible might include: behavioral health services, HIV/AIDS treatment, or other services that might not be billed to Medicaid/managed care for privacy reasons, but where the provider has a mechanism to verify eligibility. Also, services to a Medicaid-enrolled patient that might not have been reimbursed by Medicaid (or a Medicaid managed care organization) may now be included in the Medicaid patient volume calculation (e.g., oral health services, immunization, vaccination and women’s health services, telemedicine/telehealth, etc.).

Providers who are not currently enrolled with their state Medicaid agency who might be newly eligible for the incentive payments due to these changes should note that they are not necessarily required to fully enroll with Medicaid in order to receive the payment.
In some instances, it may now be appropriate to include services denied by Medicaid in calculating patient volume. It will be appropriate to review denial reasons. If Medicaid denied the service for timely filing or because another payer’s payment exceeded the potential Medicaid payment, it would be appropriate to include that encounter in the calculation. If Medicaid denied payment for the service because the beneficiary has exceeded service limits established by the Medicaid program, it would be appropriate to include that encounter in the calculation. If Medicaid denied the service because the patient was ineligible for Medicaid at the time of service, it would not be appropriate to include that encounter in the calculation.

Further guidance regarding this change will be distributed to the states as appropriate.