President’s Report Physician Recruitment HRET Hospital Engagement Network CMS Issues Guide to Medicare/ Medicaid ICD-10 Contacts NDHA’s 81st Annual Convenon Awards AHA “Very Disappointed” with Court’s Ruling in 340B Orphan Drug Case AHA Town Hall Webcast: Provider Sponsored Health Plans Who’s Who and Who’s New Ground-breaking in Hazen EHR Incenve Programs Final Rule Presentaon on CMS Website RFP: 2015-16 ND Medicare Rural Hospital Flex CAH Subcontracts Clink on link to view aachments: hp://www.ndha.org/resources/ informer/ No aachments this week. Phone: 701-224-9732 Fax: 701-224-9529 Web Site: www.ndha.org Jerry Jurena, President Tim Blasl, Vice President Callen Cermak, Finance Manager Lori Schmautz, Execuve Assistant Pam Cook, Educaon Director A poron of this publicaon is supported by The Center for Rural Health’s Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program. Visit their site at hp://rural- health.und.edu/projects/flex/. The Informer President’s Report ~ Jerry Jurena In This Edion: Aachments: NDHA Contacts October 16, 2015 Telemedicine rules: The North Dakota Board of Medicine (BOM) met this week and is considering changing the administrave rules regarding telemedicine, special licenses and administrave licenses. They will accept comments unl October 23. hps://www.ndbom.org/news/current_topics.asp?id=126 CMS 2015 Edion Final Rule Presentaon: Earlier this week The Centers for Medi- care & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Office of the Naonal Coordinator for Health Informaon Technology (ONC) released final rules that simplify requirements and add new flexibilies for providers to make electronic health informaon available when and where it maers most and for health care providers and consumers to be able to readily, safely, and securely exchange that informaon. The press release is live here: hp://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2015pres/10/20151006a.html The CMS rule is live here: hps://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspecon.federalregister.gov/2015-25595.pdf The ONC rule is live here: hps://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspecon.federalregister.gov/2015-25597.pdf For more informaon about today’s announcement visit: hp://cms.gov/Newsroom/ MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2015-Fact-sheets-items/2015-10-06.html For more informaon on the CMS final rule with comment period, click here: hp://cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2015-Fact-sheets- items/2015-10-06-2.html For more informaon on ONC’s edions of cerficaon criteria visit: hps://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/factsheet_draſt_2015-10-06.pdf The presentaon is now available online: hps://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/onc_2015_edion_final_rule_presenta- on_10-9-15.pptx.* The presentaon covers: · Goals of the Final Rule · Highlights of the ONC Health IT Cerficaon Program · 2015 Edion – Changes Compared to the Proposed Rule and the 2014 Edion · Cerficaon to the 2015 Edion Use Cases (Meaningful Use and Beyond) Addional informaon, including a press release and fact sheet, is available at: HealthIT.gov. The Secon 508 compliant version will be posted early next week. If you need help accessing this file, please email [email protected]. MedPAC and rural models: The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met this week to discuss models for rural areas to keep/maintain emergency care in rural communies where low inpaent volumes are threatening the survival of some hospitals.
Transcript
President’s ReportPhysician RecruitmentHRET Hospital Engagement NetworkCMS Issues Guide to Medicare/ Medicaid ICD-10 ContactsNDHA’s 81st Annual Convention AwardsAHA “Very Disappointed” with Court’s Ruling in 340B Orphan Drug CaseAHA Town Hall Webcast: Provider Sponsored Health PlansWho’s Who and Who’s NewGround-breaking in HazenEHR Incentive Programs Final Rule Presentation on CMS WebsiteRFP: 2015-16 ND Medicare Rural Hospital Flex CAH Subcontracts
Clink on link to view attachments:http://www.ndha.org/resources/informer/No attachments this week.
Jerry Jurena, PresidentTim Blasl, Vice PresidentCallen Cermak, Finance ManagerLori Schmautz, Executive AssistantPam Cook, Education Director
A portion of this publication is supported by The Center for Rural Health’s Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program. Visit their site at http://rural-health.und.edu/projects/flex/.
The InformerPresident’s Report ~ Jerry JurenaIn This Edition:
Attachments:
NDHA Contacts
October 16, 2015
Telemedicine rules: The North Dakota Board of Medicine (BOM) met this week and is considering changing the administrative rules regarding telemedicine, special licenses and administrative licenses. They will accept comments until October 23.
CMS 2015 Edition Final Rule Presentation: Earlier this week The Centers for Medi-care & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released final rules that simplify requirements and add new flexibilities for providers to make electronic health information available when and where it matters most and for health care providers and consumers to be able to readily, safely, and securely exchange that information.
The press release is live here: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2015pres/10/20151006a.html
The CMS rule is live here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-25595.pdf
The ONC rule is live here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-25597.pdf
For more information about today’s announcement visit: http://cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2015-Fact-sheets-items/2015-10-06.html
For more information on the CMS final rule with comment period, click here: http://cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2015-Fact-sheets-items/2015-10-06-2.html
For more information on ONC’s editions of certification criteria visit: https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/factsheet_draft_2015-10-06.pdf
The presentation is now available online:https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/onc_2015_edition_final_rule_presenta-tion_10-9-15.pptx.*
The presentation covers:· Goals of the Final Rule· Highlights of the ONC Health IT Certification Program· 2015 Edition – Changes Compared to the Proposed Rule and the 2014 Edition· Certification to the 2015 Edition Use Cases (Meaningful Use and Beyond)
Additional information, including a press release and fact sheet, is available at: HealthIT.gov.
The Section 508 compliant version will be posted early next week. If you need help accessing this file, please email [email protected].
MedPAC and rural models: The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met this week to discuss models for rural areas to keep/maintain emergency care in rural communities where low inpatient volumes are threatening the survival of some hospitals.
North Dakota Hospital Association held its 81st Annual Convention and Trade Show this past week in Fargo, ND and several healthcare leaders (Administrators and CEOs) from around the State and region attended the event.
Nate Kaufman was the opening keynote speaker discussing “Data Knows Best”. Ron Galloway presented on Wednesday: Future Money: “Virtual Currencies & Payments Systems”. There were ample opportunities to network and share stories with speakers and attendees and I always enjoy hearing what’s going on in everyone’s shop. This meeting is invaluable in gathering some of the latest healthcare news and networking with your colleagues from the region.
One of the highlights for me was the Strolling Lunch with the Exhibitors, where conference participants have an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful lunch while networking with friends and co-workers from around the state.
A special thanks to Jerry Jurena and his team at NDHA in providing a wonderful educational event and an opportunity to meet and visit with several Administrators from the area.
Physician Recruitment ~ Kevin Malee, NDHA Recruitment Consultant
President’s Report continued....
Models discussed: • One would allow hospitals to receive Medicare payments for providing only emergency department services or • Provide primary care with ambulance service to other facilities • Other suggestions included greater use of telemedicine and partnerships with larger hospitals or systems
The Commissioners raised a number of questions, one being that they do not know enough about declining inpatient admissions and what the causes of uncompensated care are.
CMS Issues Guide to Medicare/Medicaid ICD-10 Contacts A new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guide provides specific Medicare and Medicaid contacts for health care providers with questions following the Oct. 1 transition to ICD-10. Claims-related questions should be directed to the provider’s Medicare Administrative Contractor or state Medicaid agency before the CMS ombudsman, who will typically respond within three business days, the guide notes. Effective Oct. 1, health care claims must include ICD-10 codes for medical diagnoses and inpatient hospital procedures. For more on the transition to ICD-10, visit www.aha.org and www.cms.gov.
HRET Hospital Engagement Network This week hospital CEOs will be receiving an invitation to participate in the HRET Hospital Engagement Network. Over the past three years NDHA, in partnership with QHA, has worked with 34 North Dakota hospitals to improve safety and reduce preventable readmissions.
HRET’s HEN 2.0 initiative gives us the chance to continue those efforts to make even greater improvement for our patients. By participating in the HEN, hospitals will have the opportunity to learn and work together, and to receive free training, tools and resources provided by national experts such as HRET, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and Cynosure Health.
We encourage you to participate in this important program, and return your participation agreement by mail, fax, or e-mail to Lori Schmautz at NDHA by Friday, October 16th.
McKenzie County Healthcare Systems, Watford City, ND
50 Year AHA MemberSanford Health, Bismarck, ND
75 Year AHA Member
St. Aloisius Medical Center, Harvey, ND
75 Year AHA Member
Essentia Health, Fargo, NDLifeSource 2014 Organ & Tissue
Partner of the Year
CHI St. Joseph Health, Dickinson, ND
LifeSource 2014 Tissue Partner of the Year
NDHA’s 81st Annual Convention & Trade Show was held in Fargo October 6-8, 2015. In addition to some great speakers and networking sessions, a few NDHA members received various awards.
Congratulations to the following individuals and facilities!
2015 eHealth/HIMSS Summit Registrations are now open for the 2015 eHealth/HIMSS Summit! The Summit will take place at the Radisson Hotel in Bismarck, ND on November 18th from 8am - 5pm central time.
At the Summit, you’ll con-nect with healthcare leaders and innovators to discuss electronic health topics.
You’ll get to hear first-hand on topics including:
How facilities are engaging with their patientsPatient SafetyTelehealthWhat other states are doing & more!
For agenda & registration ma-terials, go to eHealth Summit website.
AHA ‘Very Disappointed’ with Court’s Ruling in 340B Orphan Drug Case The AHA today expressed disappointment with a federal court decision that will exclude all drugs with an “orphan” designation from the 340B Drug Pricing Program for rural and cancer hospitals. AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels said in a statement that denying rural and cancer hospitals access to these 340B discounts will “reduce access to critical services and treatments for some of the most vulnerable patients in society.” The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia late yesterday ruled against the Department of Health and Human Services in a lawsuit brought by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of Amer-ica. The lawsuit challenged HHS’s 2014 interpretive rule that continued to allow hospitals subject to the orphan drug exclusion to purchase orphan drugs through the 340B program when the drugs are not used to treat the rare conditions for which the orphan drug designation was given. In yesterday’s decision, the court ruled HHS’s guidance “is contrary to the plain language of the stat-ute.” The AHA in February filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of HHS.
AHA Town Hall Webcast: Provider Sponsored Health Plans Join AHA on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. ET for a special Town Hall webcast on provider-sponsored health plans. Speakers will discuss the current landscape and trends, implications for hospitals and health systems considering sponsorship of a plan, and review an upcoming research report by Navigant Health on how provider-sponsored health plans can be distinguished from non-provider sponsored health plans across several areas, including access to care, quality and financial performance.
Click here to register/log-in to the webcast. (Please note that registration is required for all participants.)
Who’s Who and Who’s New NDHA would like to congratulate Greg LaFrancois on his new role as CEO at St. Aloisius Medical Center in Harvey, ND.
Greg began his role at St. Aloisius Medical Center earlier this month.
Ground-breaking at HazenJerry Jurena and Tim Blasl attended Sakakawea Medical Center’s Groundbreaking Ceremony on Wednesday, Octo-ber 14 in Hazen. The new hospital/clinic is scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2016.
EHR Incentive Programs Final Rule Presentation on CMS Website CMS has added the presentation and recording from last week’s webinar titled, ”EHR Incentive Programs Final Rule Overview and What You Need to Know for 2015,” to the 2015 Program Requirements and eHealth events webpages.
The October 8 presentation covered the following topics:
• Overview of the EHR Incentive Programs Final Rule• Requirements for the EHR Incentive Programs in 2015 through 2017 (Modified Stage 2)• Stage 3 Requirements for 2018 and Beyond• What You Need to Know to Participate in 2015• New CMS Resources
Want to Learn More? For those who were unable to attend, you can view the recorded webinar online. In addition, CMS plans to host more webinars on the recently released final rule in the future. Stay tuned for more information.
For More Information More information and resources about new requirements for participation in the EHR Incentive Programs is available on the 2015 Program Requirements webpage of the CMS EHR Website.
AHRQ Stats: Electronic Health Records
In 2012, nearly 31 percent of hospitals exchanged infor-mation electronically with other hospitals about patient medication histories—up from 13 percent in 2009. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Re-search and Quality, 2014 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Chart-book on Care Coordination.
The North Dakota Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program is pleased to announce that its annual request for proposals is now open to North Dakota critical access hospitals.
Applications are due on Monday, November 23, 2015. Electronic applications are required. The guidance and application are similar to last year. Late applications will not be considered. Award notifications will be made on December 4, 2015.
An open technical assistance call is scheduled for Monday, October 19 at 1:00 pm CST; no RSVP required. Call number: 866-809-4014; Pass code: 7776782#
Please contact Angie Lockwood with questions. Email [email protected] or call (701)777-5381.
