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| NCHN e-News | Issue 9 | March 8, 2010 |  |
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| From the NCHN Board | |
NCHN Member News | | Upcoming events |
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NCHN thanks its Business Partners for their invaluable support of the Association. Please take a moment to visit the Business Partners and see what they can do for your network. |
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| From the NCHN Board |
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Terry Hill Appointed President Board Appoints Directors to fill Vacancies
Tara is the Executive Director of the East Georgia Health Cooperative (EGHCoop), a vertical network comprised of 4 rural hospitals, 3 FQHC, and an academic medical center. They provide service in an eighteen (18) county region. Tara began with EGHCoop in August 2007 and was immediately introduced to NCHN through her work with GHPC. She has attended all the NCHN conference since November 2007 and will be presenting at the 2010 Annual Conference in San Antonio. Tara served on the 2008 Regional Meeting Committee, is co-chair of the 2010 Annual Conference Committee and is an active participant on the NCHN list serve, both as a poster and responder. Beverlyann is the Executive Director of the Upper Midland Rural Health Network, a vertical network comprised of a broad spectrum of services including Department of Health and Environment Control (DHAEC), County Health Departments, Mental and Behavior Health, Economic Development, CAH, for-profit hospitals, FQHCs and Rural Health Clinics. She has been with the network since 2005 and NCHN was the first organization she joined upon becoming the Network Director. Beverlyann has been a presenter, panelist and a facilitator at the annual conferences over the years. She is a regular participant on the Special Interest and Quarterly Membership Calls and a regular responder to questions posted on the list serve. Beverlyann is a NCHN Executive Coach and is currently serving on the following committees: 2010 Conference Planning Committee, Program Development Committee, and Certification Committee.
2010 Conference Update - “Navigating the River of Change in Healthcare” When the 2010 Conference Planning Committee decided on the theme for the upcoming conference, little did they know they would be navigating some major changes as they worked to plan and deliver an outstanding educational event! The changes started with the resignation of Mary Kay Chess, NCHN Vice President and Chair of the 2010 Annual Conference Committee. Mary Kay, former Executive Director of Health Future, LLC resigned to assume a full-time teaching position with Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI). Dr. Chess is on a team to expand BGI’s role in Seattle. She is also providing Executive Coaching to leaders in healthcare, non-profits and in academic roles. The Board of Directors appointed Tara Cramer, East Georgia Health Cooperative, GA and Heather Fuller, Sunflower Health Network, KS as co-chairs of the 2010 Conference Planning Committee. Thanks to Heather and Tara for accepting this leadership role and to Mary Kay for her services over the past couple of years as a Director and Vice President. Then, last week, the Hyatt called and announced they were undertaking a major renovation and moving our conference to the Convention Center. After much discussion, it was determined that it would be in the best interest of conference participants to locate a new property so that we could keep the conference in the same facility as our sleeping rooms. If you already had reservations at the Hyatt they are planning to do a block cancellation of all NCHN reservations and you should receive a cancellation email. If you have not received such an email by March 10, please let us know by emailing rdavis@nchn.org Our new hotel is Omni La Mansion del Rio. You may make reservations by calling Omni Reservations at 1-800-THE-OMNI and referring to the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association (NCHN) --16th Annual Conference. The room rate is $159 for single or double, plus local applicable taxes and fees. Reservations should be made ASAP but no later than March 26. Additional details are located on our website. The Board of Directors and Staff apologizes for this unexpected change.
NCHN 2nd Annual Awards Luncheon The 2nd Annual NCHN Awards Luncheon will be held on Monday, April 19 in San Antonio, TX in conjunction with the 16th Annual Conference. The NCHN Awards Program is designed to honor outstanding individuals and organizaitons in the field of health networks. NCHN members are invited to submit nominations for the 2010 Awards. Nomination information will be coming to your email boxes this week! Award categories include: The Outstanding Network Leader of the Year Award The Outstanding Health Network of the Year Award Outstanding New & Emerging Network Leader Award
2010 Exhibitor --- Sponsor --- Advertising Opportunities! There is still time and space to be an exhibitor or sponsor for the 2010 NCHN Annual Conference. Exhibit space starts at $500 and includes registration fee for one representative. Some functions are still available as sponsorship opportunities. Advertising opportunities are available in the official 16th Annual Conference Program. The ad must be sent copy ready in “high resolution PDF” file. Ads and payment must be received by March 26, 2010. Official Conference Program one-color advertisement starts as low as $250 for a quarter page ad! If you are interested in exhibiting or sponsoring a function at the NCHN Conference or placing an add in the official Conference Program, please contact Debbie Comeau today at dcomeau@synernet.net
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Paradigm Learning Workshop at the NCHN 16th Annual Conference When: April 18, 2010 @ 2:30 pm About the Workshop An increasing number of healthcare providers are using a sophisticated business simulation called Zodiak®: The Game of Business Finance and Strategy to improve the business acumen and financial literacy of their people. Zodiak is an engaging, fast-paced simulation that helps clinical and nonclinical employees understand how their actions and decisions affect key hospital metrics. Paradigm Learning will offer an abbreviated version of this award-winning simulation at a preconference workshop on Sunday, April 18. This two-and-a-half-hour experience is limited to 32 participants. So register now to reserve your seat and get into the game! |
| NCHN Member News |
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CROPS (Center for Rural Outreach & Public Services, Inc.) Health Network Center (Knox, Indiana): network organized in 2004. The mission of the lead organization (CROPS - Center for Rural Outreach & Public Services, Inc.) is “to revitalize rural communities by empowering inter-generational individuals and organizations to work together to solve rural problems.” The CROPS Rural Health Network Center is comprised of 18 individuals who represent local nonprofits, health care providers, higher education, and local residents to identify needs and plan activities. The group meets monthly to identify health care of the target population and plan activities that address unmet needs. The CROPS Health Center Network is unique in its use of a neutral third party intermediary to facilitate collaboration and cooperation among existing health care providers in the area. The network serves Northwest Indiana. Southern Atlantic Healthcare Alliance (Cary, North Carolina): network organized in 2004 The mission of SAHA is to support the quality and delivery of healthcare to those we serve by supporting and strengthening our membership through collaborative efforts, networking and educational opportunities. The network provides opportunities for improving the economic and clinical outcomes of their members. SAHA currently has the following programs: membership, quality, safety, education, information sharing and cost. The network is comprised of 16 organizations and serves Western, Central and Eastern North Carolina NCHN’s Board of Directors and staff welcome the two new members and looks forward to working with them in 2010!
Key Health Alliance Selected as Regional Extension Center for HIT for MN and ND [from Terry Hill, NCHN President] Key Health Alliance is proud and excited to announce that they are one of 32 Health Information Technology (HIT) Regional Extension Centers selected by the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT (ONC). HHS Secretary Sebelius announced the first round awardees on Friday, February 12, 2010. The formal announcement of Key Health Alliance’s Regional Extension Assistance Center for HIT (REACH) program for Minnesota and North Dakota is attached. Questions about the Regional Extension Center can be directed to: About Key Health Alliance
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| Upcoming Events |
CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum [From Steve Hirsch, HRSA] Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010; Conference Leaders: Terry Kay, John Hammarlund, Natalie Highsmith. 1. To participate by phone: Encore: 1-800-642-1687 Conference ID# 49631365 For ODF schedule updates, E-Mailing List registration and Frequently Asked Questions, visit our website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/.
Telehealth Summit in Virginia on March 18, 2010 The Virginia Telehealth Summit will be Day 3 of the Virginia Rural Health Summit and is jointly sponsored by the Virginia Telehealth Network and the VDH Office of Minority Health and Public Policy. A majority of Virginia's telehealth players will convene to form a truly comprehensive state initiative. Plenary sessions will provide an overview of telehealth, demonstrations of model telehealth programs and a review of telehealth in Virginia and nationally – current and future. Breakout sessions will include sessions on the role of telehealth in chronic disease, specialty care and reimbursement issues. Vendor exhibits will Confirmed presenters include:
Policymakers, persons in the health information technology field, representatives from hospitals, health systems, health clinics, community health centers, home health agencies, and health-related associations are invited to attend. For more information, including the agenda, registration and sponsorship opportunities, go the Virginia Telehealth Network Web site: http://ehealthvirginia.org/. Registration is only $25.00. Space is limited. Online registration closes March 7th.
NCHN Quarterly Membership Call: “Waste Management and Networks” The Program Development Committee has an exciting program planned for the Quarterly Membership Call on Monday, March 8 from 12:30 - 2:00 PM ET. The topic of the call is “Waste Management and Networks.” The following speakers will discuss the various waste management programs they have in place and/or resources to help networks develop and mange such programs for their members.
There is no cost to participate; however, we ask that you pre-register with Debbie Comeau so we can reserve enough phone lines. If you would like to participate, please email Debbie at dcomeau@synernet.net Debbie will send you the call in information, along with the presenters’ handouts and/or power point presentations by Monday morning.
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| Monthly News Recap |
Meaningful HIT Adoption for CAHs [Excerpted from CMS Proposed Rule: How to Stretch Without Breaking] Let's Get Meaningful The main area where people disagree is whether or not the meaningful use bar has been set too high to facilitate the accomplishment of these common goals. Those who argue for a high bar believe that lower standards will lead to watered down benefits. Those who argue for a lower bar believe that unachievable standards will lead to dramatically fewer providers making EHR adoption (and accompanying quality and efficiency) gains. Mixed into all this are accusations from high-bar proponents that people who disagree with them are lazy whiners who should be focusing on meeting the standards rather than arguing against them, as well as suspicions from lower-bar proponents that advanced-EHR hospitals, systems, and provider groups have found a way to skim billions from the tax-payer trough for work that they have already done. Let’s leave behind the name-calling and get meaningful! Continue reading...
Resource: Health Workforce Information Center February marks the one year anniversary of the launch of the Health Workforce Information Center, a free online library of health workforce resources funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). If you haven't already made use of our website or reference services to find statistics, funding, program ideas, or other information, check out our website now at http://www.healthworkforceinfo.org/. If you already use HWIC and have found it to be a great resource, please let others know about us and link to our website. New Topics and Professions
New Features
Resource: RAC's Networking and Collaboration Information Guide Looking for network models, funds, or information? The Rural Assistance Center (RAC) Networking and Collaboration Information Guide provides information for organizations at all stages of the networking development process - from conceptualization to establishment. The following is a list of some of the topics covered in this online tool:
Visit RAC's Networking and Collaboration Information Guide...
[From the NRHA] NRHA would like to thank everyone who attended last week’s Policy Institute. We hope you enjoyed your time in DC and found the Policy Institute educational and empowering – it is your voice that makes a difference on Capitol Hill. Stay involved in rural health advocacy by joining the NRHA Grassroots Health Reform Workgroup. Send a blank e-mail to join-grassroots@lists.wisc.edu to be added to the e-mail listserv and participate in weekly conference calls, receive health reform updates and take action as opportunities arise. Speaker-provided Policy Institute presentations are available by clicking here. Finally, we’d like to again extend our thanks to our 2010 Policy Partners: Agrisafe, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, the National Rural Mental Health Association, and the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network. We hope to see you back in DC Jan. 24-26, 2011.
Just Released: 2010 edition of State of the States Issued by the State Coverage Initiatives program at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the 2010 edition of State of the States (48 pages, PDF) analyzes recent trends in healthcare costs and coverage; tells the story of how states were able to increase coverage rates for children after the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program; and looks at examples of states that stayed the course with their health policy reform efforts despite the failure of Congress to agree on comprehensive reform at the national level.
Sebelius, Solis Announce Nearly $1 Billion Recovery Act Investment in Advancing Use of Health IT, Training Workers for Health Jobs of the Future Grant Awards to Help Make Health IT Available to Over 100,000 Health Providers by 2014, Support Tens of Thousands of Jobs Nationwide WASHINGTON, DC - Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis today announced a total of nearly $1 billion in Recovery Act awards to help health care providers advance the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (IT) and train workers for the health care jobs of the future. The awards will help make health IT available to over 100,000 hospitals and primary care physicians by 2014 and train thousands of people for careers in health care and information technology. This Recovery Act investment will help grow the emerging health IT industry which is expected to support tens of thousands of jobs ranging from nurses and pharmacy techs to IT technicians and trainers. The over $750 million in HHS grant awards Secretary Sebelius announced today are part of a federal initiative to build capacity to enable widespread meaningful use of health IT. This assistance at the state and regional level will facilitate health care providers' efforts to adopt and use electronic health records (EHRs) in a meaningful manner that has the potential to improve the quality and efficiency of health care for all Americans. Of the over $750 million investment, $386 million will go to 40 states and qualified State Designated Entities (SDEs) to facilitate health information exchange (HIE) at the state level, while $375 million will go to an initial 32 non-profit organizations to support the development of regional extension centers (RECs) that will aid health professionals as they work to implement and use health information technology - with additional HIE and REC awards to be announced in the near future. RECs are expected to provide outreach and support services to at least 100,000 primary care providers and hospitals within two years. "Health information technology can make our health care system more efficient and improve the quality of care we all receive," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. "These grant awards, the first of their kind, will help develop our electronic infrastructure and give doctors and other health care providers the support they need as they adopt this powerful technology." Continue reading the release...
Free Program Helps Eligible Uninsured Americans Save on Prescription Medicines As the economy struggles, those without insurance are finding it increasingly difficult to stay healthy. In fact, recent studies have found that consumers are cutting back on medical care to pay for more immediate needs. Fortunately, resources are available that can help uninsured individuals save on their prescriptions – without sacrificing their family’s well being. Rx Help for Uninsured Individuals Individuals may be eligible for the Together Rx Access® Card if they do not qualify for Medicare, do not have public or private prescription drug coverage, and have a household income of up to $45,000 for a single person to $90,000 for a family of four (income eligibility is adjusted for family size). Most Together Rx Access cardholders save 25 to 40 percent* on hundreds of brand-name prescription products. Savings are also available on thousands of generics. The Together Rx Access Card is free to get and free to use. Cardholders simply bring the Card to their neighborhood pharmacist along with their prescription, and the savings are calculated right at the pharmacy counter. The Together Rx Access Card is accepted at the majority of pharmacies nationwide and in Puerto Rico. Cardholders simply bring the Card to their neighborhood pharmacist along with their prescription, and the savings are calculated right at the pharmacy counter. There are no enrollment costs, monthly dues or hidden fees. Quick and Easy Enrollment
All enrollment materials and the Together Rx Access website are available in English and Spanish. A Together Rx Access quick start savings card is also available. Potential enrollees simply call a toll-free number to find out if they are eligible, enroll, and instantly activate their Card. Help Spread the Word For more information, visit TogetherRxAccess.com or call 1-800-250-2839. *Each cardholder's savings depend on such factors as the particular drug purchased, amount purchased, and the pharmacy where purchased. Participating companies independently set the level of savings offered and the products included in the program. Those decisions are subject to change.
ORHP Announces Funding Opportunity The Health Resources and Services Administration/Office of Rural Health Policy announces the following funding opportunity: Delta States Rural Development Network Program HRSA-10-040 - The purpose of the Delta States Rural Development Network Grant Program (Delta) is to fund organizations located in the Delta States which address unmet local health care needs and prevalent health disparities through the development of new and innovative projects. Eligible organizations must be rural public or private entities located within an eligible rural Delta county/parish with one of the following Delta States: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. To download the application package, please visit: www.grants.gov, Find Grant Opportunities, Basic Search and type in HRSA-10-040 as the Funding Opportunity Number. A pre-application technical assistance call will be held on March 11 at 3 p.m. EST. Contact: Valerie Darden, Delta Program Coordinator
Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program: Due March 15, 2010 A call for applicants interested in applying for the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant was held on February 11, 2010. The toll-free number for the replay this call is will be available until March 11,2010. Interested parties may call 1-800-938-1164. The purpose of the Grant Program is to improve patient care and chronic disease outcomes by assisting rural primary care providers (e.g., critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, FQHCs, tribal organizations etc.) with the implementation of quality improvement (QI) initiatives using the Chronic Care Model and electronic patient registries (EPR). To access the grant guidance for this program visit: http://www.grants.gov/. Find Grant Opportunities and do a Basic Search by typing in the CFDA number: 93.912 or the Announcement Number: HRSA-10-045. The deadline to submit an application is March 15th, 2010. Visit HRSA/ORHP for more information.
HRSA: Equipment to Enhance Training for Health Professionals (EETHP) Initiative The Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions is pleased to announce American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding opportunities for the Equipment to Enhance Training for Health Professionals (EETHP) Initiative. This initiative, which includes multiple programs, provides grant funds for the purchase of health professions training equipment. This is a great opportunity for rural communities, AHECs and other rural programs to purchase health professions training equipment to both increase the number of skilled health workforce professionals in rural practice and strengthen the capacity for health professions education in rural communities. You may access the HRSA Funding Opportunities Web site at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/default.htm and www.grants.gov for additional information and application instructions. For your convenience, the HRSA website http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/recovery/ contains a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions and answers and website links. If further technical assistance is needed, contact information is located in the “Agency Contacts” section of each program’s guidance. The application process is divided into two phases for EETHP grants with two deadlines:
Applicants must complete Phase I of the application process in order to move on to Phase II. Applicants are encouraged to ensure that they register for both sites (if not already registered) and submit applications early. Questions for registering and submitting to Grants.gov should be directed to the grants.gov contact center: 1-800-518-4726. Questions for registering and submitting to HRSA EHB’s should be directed to the HRSA Call Center: 877-464-4772. Prospective applicants may register at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/email_subscription.jsp to receive email notifications for other HRSA funding opportunities. Technical Assistance Calls will take place:
The telephone number is the same for each call.
Quick Links: Grants and Funding Opportunities
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