tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66784871757818836072012-01-13T08:26:19.151-07:00Colorado Rural Health Policy and Advocacy NewsCari Foutshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15573350890890651960noreply@blogger.comBlogger4441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-33748807094664513792012-01-10T16:02:00.000-07:002012-01-10T16:07:10.023-07:00

The first day of the 2012 legislative session is set to begin Wednesday, January 11th and continue until May 9th.  Senate President Brandon Shaffer and Speaker of the House Frank McNulty will address each chamber beginning at 10:00 AM, and Governor Hickenlooper will deliver the State of the State address at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 12th.  The speeches can be watched on the Colorado Channel.

Alicia Haywoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751015714755761443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-80073212148044627852012-01-09T07:15:00.000-07:002012-01-09T07:15:46.435-07:00

Posts in this week’s issue of The Rural Voice will be my last. With a mix of sadness and excitement, I will be leaving CRHC and joining the Colorado Health Institute later this month. It has been an honor to work with you and my CRHC colleagues, especially my co-analyst Alicia Haywood, in support of rural healthcare. The Rural Voice will continue to provide current news and policy updates and be

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-73279514499401474052012-01-05T09:49:00.000-07:002012-01-05T09:49:19.403-07:00

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health is hosting a webinar on January 11, 12:00-1:00pm MT for those attending the Rural Health Policy Institute in Washington DC later this month and for anyone interested in learning more about engaging Washington lawmakers. Click here for more information and to pre-register for the webinar. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-52901468931657804502012-01-05T08:40:00.000-07:002012-01-05T08:40:58.106-07:00

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released new information on the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Accountable Care Organization/ACO). A new webpage on Quality Measures and Performance Standards has the latest information on ACO quality measures. The 2012 ACO Narrative Quality Measures Specifications Manual provides guidance about the 33 required quality measures that are

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-2493983984576635162011-12-29T10:56:00.002-07:002011-12-29T11:09:09.300-07:00

A recent survey from the Center for Studying Health System Change and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that one in five Americans reported trouble paying medical bills in 2010. The medical debt averaged around $6,500, and more than 17 percent of people with medical debt said it would take longer than five years to pay off. Click here to read more.

Alicia Haywoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12751015714755761443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-12241601213994846022011-12-29T08:29:00.000-07:002011-12-29T08:29:13.155-07:00

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is hosting an Open Door Forum to review the Advance Payment ACO Model and application template on Thursday, January 5 from 12:30-2:00 PM MST, call information 800-837-1935 Conf ID 39623933. A slideshow presentation will be posted to the Advance Payment Model ACO Application Information webpage in advance of the call. The Advance Payment Model is

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-9790426177142530352011-12-28T09:07:00.000-07:002011-12-28T09:07:49.706-07:00

The Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute is presenting its annual Budget Works conference on January 13, 2012 at the History Colorado Center in Denver. The day-long workshop will focus on federal funding and how it affects the state budget and Colorado residents. Click here to read more and to register. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-76631150879207911362011-12-23T09:34:00.000-07:002011-12-23T09:34:53.191-07:00

An application template is now available for the Advance Payment ACO Model. Through the Advance Payment Model, selected physician-based and rural Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program will receive advance payments that will be recouped from the shared savings they earn. Applications for an April 1 2012 start date for the Advance Payment Model

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-25568992623337245592011-12-23T09:25:00.000-07:002011-12-23T09:25:11.789-07:00

Congress passed legislation today that maintains Medicare provider rates and several rural extender provisions for two months beginning in January. The compromise also extends the payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits. Click here to read more.

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-88569230210923200072011-12-22T08:20:00.000-07:002011-12-22T08:20:47.075-07:00

The December 2 webinar by the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS) on the effects of the Affordable Care Act is now available for download on the Rural Assistance Center's website. You can watch the presentation and download the slides by clicking here.

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-57496680499985826392011-12-20T14:21:00.000-07:002011-12-20T14:21:15.383-07:00

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to "disagree" with Senate-passed legislation that called for a two month extension of the payroll tax holiday as well as many other provisions including Medicare extenders for several rural programs and delay of the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate that will reduce physician fee schedule payments by up to 27%. The House called for a conference committee to

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-85551500421977009122011-12-20T10:07:00.000-07:002011-12-20T10:07:03.066-07:00

Positive state revenue forecasts were presented to the Joint Budget Committee today. Both the Office of State Planning and Budgeting and the Legislative Council announced that the state’s economy grew at a slow but steady pace over 2011 and is showing small signs of a modest recovery. Some factors generating increased revenue include improved tax revenues and consumer spending. The JBC will not

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-19772276757942636772011-12-19T08:10:00.001-07:002011-12-19T09:54:38.809-07:00

This weekend the U.S. Senate passed legislation that, for a two-month period, would extend the payroll tax holiday along with several Medicare provisions, including an update for the sustainable growth rate within the physician fee schedule as well as rural specific provisions such as the outpatient hold harmless provision, Medicare Section 508 reclassification, reimbursement increases for

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-43976759830066688912011-12-16T12:44:00.000-07:002011-12-16T12:44:47.480-07:00

An article forthcoming in Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved examined access to care and service use among non-elderly uninsured rural and urban residents. Some of the key findings are that both rural and uninsured residents face serious barriers to care compared with those with health insurance coverage; rural uninsured are more likely to have a usual source of care and to have

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-3582751621084027662011-12-16T08:06:00.001-07:002011-12-16T09:56:08.737-07:00

Congress has reached a tentative agreement on Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations, with final votes expected in the coming days.  The large omnibus package includes funding for rural health programs such as the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program and Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program. Details on the final numbers are still uncertain and will be provided as soon as they are available;

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-17400980175722435462011-12-14T14:04:00.000-07:002011-12-14T14:04:05.722-07:00

The Colorado Health Institute released a new report that estimates the anticipated primary care workforce needs after healthcare reform is implemented. The analysis found that Colorado may need as many as 140-150 additional primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. This estimate does not account for the current provider shortages already pressing on rural and

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-34089407305441478792011-12-14T09:06:00.001-07:002011-12-14T10:33:14.399-07:00

Thank you for reaching out to your House member regarding HR 3630. On Monday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3630 and the bill now moves to the Senate where its fate is uncertain. It's possible that the Senate may take action on H.R. 3630 as soon as today or later this week. Please contact Senator Udall and Senator Bennet today and ask them to oppose HR 3630. Let our Senators know that

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-55910562459119634672011-12-13T14:29:00.000-07:002011-12-13T14:29:49.665-07:00

Contact your House representative today and tell them to vote on HR 3630. This bill threatens rural providers and a vote on it is expected as early as this week. HR 3630 is intended to update the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate and reauthorize expiring tax provisions; however, it fails to extend various rural provisions including the Outpatient Hospital Hold Harmless Provisions. More

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-5110805887199768092011-12-08T16:14:00.000-07:002011-12-08T16:14:00.140-07:00

A report released by Advancing Colorado’s Mental Health Care estimates that 1.5 million residents need mental health care. The report find that rural and frontier counties face critical mental health provider shortages with 86 percent of all the child psychiatrists, 82 percent of practicing psychiatrists and nearly all psychiatrists specializing in substance abuse working in the Denver and

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-91970677249214964152011-12-08T14:06:00.000-07:002011-12-08T14:06:37.507-07:00

On its December 8 morning program, National Public Radio featured a segment on Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) that discussed the differing viewpoints on the need for CAHs and the financial and political pressures facing these important facilities. Click here to read the article and listen to the story. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-54897287942561683682011-12-07T14:44:00.000-07:002011-12-07T14:44:22.143-07:00

Early registration for the National Rural Health Association's 2012 Rural Health Policy Institute ends on December 30. Join rural healthcare providers and advocates in Washington DC January 30-February 1. Meet Colorado’s members of Congress and learn about important issues impacting rural health. Click here to learn more and to register. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-91425203497188469502011-12-06T08:20:00.000-07:002011-12-06T08:20:30.611-07:00

The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services has launched a new website—medicaid.gov—to provide information about the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHP+ in Colorado). The site includes Federal policy guidance; lists of pending and approved waivers; highlights of Affordable Care Act implementation efforts; State-specific program information and data; and improved search

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-45831461105304724852011-12-05T08:48:00.000-07:002011-12-05T08:48:31.895-07:00

Register now for a free webinar on the 2011 Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS), hosted by The Colorado Trust and the Colorado Health Institute, on Thursday, December 8, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. The CHAS is the most extensive survey in Colorado of health care coverage, access and utilization. A follow-up to the 2008-2009 Colorado Household Survey, this survey is administered every other

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-20223079299770064352011-12-02T11:11:00.000-07:002011-12-02T11:11:16.131-07:00

This fall, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its final rule for implementing the Medicare Shared Savings Program for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The Commonwealth Fund has put together an ACO Resource Page with a wide range of blog posts and publications about ACOs. The Advance Payment ACO Model is an initiative developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-7528910003172222222011-12-01T11:09:00.000-07:002011-12-01T11:09:37.426-07:00

The application and materials for the fifth cycle of the Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Program, administrated by the Colorado Rural Health Center, are now available. Read more.  

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-41450160227666398882011-11-30T12:14:00.000-07:002011-11-30T12:14:42.146-07:00

The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) will be broadcasting a multi-agency rural health research conference intended to identify gaps in research that address emerging differences between health outcomes for children and families living in rural communities compared to those in urban areas. This conference will be broadcast live via webcast both days, beginning at 6:30

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-53523969445236569512011-11-29T09:45:00.001-07:002011-11-30T10:43:30.086-07:00

With the failure of the Super Committee to reach agreement, mandatory budget cuts via sequestration are scheduled to begin January 2013. Under sequestration, Medicare provider reimbursement is subject to up to a 2% reduction from 2013-2021 while Medicaid and Social Security will not be reduced by sequester. Many issues will impact the overall sequestration before it takes effect, including any

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-56225353526442191622011-11-23T09:07:00.000-07:002011-11-23T09:07:00.075-07:00

In 2010, Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius created a 28-member negotiated rulemaking committee to review criteria for the designation of Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). The Director of Colorado’s Primary Care Office Steve Holloway served on this committee. HPSA and MUA designations allow clinics, hospitals, and healthcare

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-25763507391333505612011-11-22T10:25:00.000-07:002011-11-22T10:25:00.762-07:00

In its recently released report titled Colorado’s Nurse and Nurse Aide Workforce: A Portrait, the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) brings together findings from three surveys that it conducted between 2006 and 2008 on certified nurse aides, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses. Click here to download the report. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-43504940148495596572011-11-21T10:00:00.000-07:002011-11-21T10:00:50.400-07:00

Prospects look dim that the Super Committee will reach an agreement to reduce the nation’s deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next ten years. Lawmakers are already looking ahead to required sequestration, to begin in January 2013, that would cut $1.2 trillion from the federal budget over ten years through reductions in defense, discretionary spending, and Medicare provider rates (up to 2%). NRHA

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-43005388172702669192011-11-18T08:32:00.000-07:002011-11-18T08:32:49.299-07:00

Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new Advance Payment Model for physician-based and rural Accountable Care Organizations selected to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The selected ACOs will receive advance payments that will be recouped from the shared savings they earn. Organizations interested in applying for the Advance Payment Model must

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-28312503599095755192011-11-18T08:03:00.000-07:002011-11-18T08:03:52.757-07:00

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Center for Primary Care, Prevention and Clinical Partnership will be issuing a “Facts and Stats Series” on primary-care topics on primary care's workforce, capacity and growth needs. While a foundational element of the country’s healthcare system, primary care is struggling under increasing demands and expectations, diminishing economic margins,

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-48323435281296726302011-11-17T08:08:00.000-07:002011-11-17T08:08:49.392-07:00

The Rural Assistance Center is hosting a free webinar on December 2, 2011 at 1:00pm MT with The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services. The Committee has devoted its work this year to the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on rural areas. The Committee's 2011 Report to the Secretary, released in March, included a section on Rural Implications of Accountable Care

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-75523174029736830742011-11-15T12:58:00.000-07:002011-11-15T12:58:04.640-07:00

The Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS), a program of The Colorado Trust and administered by the Colorado Health Institute, is the only statewide survey that focuses on Coloradans’ health insurance status, access to care, usage of health care services, and affordability. The CHAS data are categorized into 21 Colorado Health Statistics Regions. The 2011 CHAS found that an increasing number of

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-25850877412900639622011-11-14T11:49:00.001-07:002011-11-14T12:33:32.603-07:00

The Health Care Innovation Challenge will award up to $1 billion in grants to applicants who will implement the most compelling new ideas to deliver better health, improved care and lower costs to people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, particularly those with the highest health care needs. The Health Care Innovation Challenge will encourage applicants to include new models of workforce

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-80300190740980402632011-11-14T09:36:00.000-07:002011-11-14T09:36:46.959-07:00

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Oral arguments are likely to be held in late February or March, with a ruling by June 2012. Read more.

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-54713502564088279812011-11-10T14:50:00.000-07:002011-11-10T14:50:57.774-07:00

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Shared Savings Program (ACO) application and will begin accepting applications on December 1, 2011. CMS also posted fact sheets for rural providers and on the ACO AdvancePayment model. Providers and facilities interested in learning more about ACOs have two opportunities this week, a National Provider Call on November 15

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-600976468404463132011-11-10T10:58:00.000-07:002011-11-10T10:58:00.921-07:00

A study commissioned by the Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) found that hospitals in Colorado’s rural regions directly contribute $2.9 billion in economic activity and add  21,400 jobs, creating $4.1 billion in total output and 30,800 jobs due to a multiplier effect. Statewide, Colorado hospitals were responsible for about $18.8 billion in economic output last year and added more than 4900

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-41397970042468593882011-11-09T15:09:00.000-07:002011-11-09T15:09:42.451-07:00

November 17 is the first annual National Rural Health Day, a day to “Celebrate the Power of Rural”. Nearly 62 million Americans, and 20% of Coloradans, live in rural and frontier communities. Rural communities possess a selfless, community-minded, "can do" spirit that has helped our country thrive; they also have unique healthcare needs that should not be overlooked and need to be addressed. How

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-79462223476696888962011-11-08T09:16:00.001-07:002011-11-08T09:19:49.658-07:00

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is hosting a call on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 11:30-1 pm MT to discuss the application process for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (to create Accountable Care Organizations) and the Advance Payment Model. The Advance Payment Model is intended to provide additional support through upfront resources to physician-owned and rural providers. In

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-12390511446818123842011-11-08T08:55:00.000-07:002011-11-08T08:55:32.238-07:00

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing 2010 Annual Report is available online. The report highlights the Department’s programmatic priorities and outlines progress made toward its 2010 initiatives. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-76499179048696883822011-11-07T08:49:00.002-07:002011-11-15T11:05:28.219-07:00

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) submitted a legislative report to the Joint Budget Committee regarding the possible relocation of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, the State Unit on Aging, and the Children's Residential Habilitation Program from DHS to HCPF. This move is being considered to leverage federal health care

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-5528036690406161382011-11-04T08:17:00.000-06:002011-11-04T08:17:00.250-06:00

On January 1, 2012, a 27.4% cut in Medicare payment rates to physicians will take effect due to the Sustainable Growth Rate formula. Congress has intervened to prevent these projected cuts annually since 2002. As the deadline approaches, Congress, the administration, and other government agencies are deciding whether to pass another short-term "doc fix," or find a longer-term solution. A new

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-51089169688195699562011-11-03T13:47:00.000-06:002011-11-03T13:47:26.054-06:00

CoverColorado, the insurance plan for individuals with pre-existing conditions, is soliciting feedback from all health care providers caring for CoverColorado members on its provider fee schedule that was implemented April 1, 2011. CoverColorado seeks provider input to evaluate the effectiveness of the present schedule and inform any potential changes to the 2012 fee schedule. Written comments

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-69343882856294504162011-11-01T14:01:00.000-06:002011-11-01T14:01:16.654-06:00

Today Governor Hickenlooper delivered his proposed FY 2012-2013 budget to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). The budget request totals $20.09 billion. His proposal contains few cuts to healthcare programs. No Medicaid provider rate cuts were proposed and Amendment 35 funding will not be transferred to the General Fund but will be granted out through CDPHE to local organizations for prevention and

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-45597737440691775102011-11-01T08:51:00.001-06:002011-11-01T08:55:27.212-06:00

As posted previously in The Rural Voice, new cost-sharing changes are being proposed for the Child Heatlh Plan Plus (CHP+). Upon final approval on November 18, there will be changes in both the annual enrollment fee and copayment structure. This factsheet from Health Care Policy & Financing describes the changes. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-2615500334484276322011-10-31T15:18:00.000-06:002011-10-31T15:18:59.809-06:00

The Obama Administration today issued an executive order to address the increasing rate of drug shortages across the country. The order instructs the F.D.A. to broaden reporting of potential shortages of certain prescription drugs; accelerate reviews of applications to initiate or change production of these drugs; and provide more information to the Justice Department about possible instances of

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-53734798641475957882011-10-28T09:32:00.000-06:002011-10-28T09:32:00.150-06:00

A recent publication from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services summarizes the challenges of the direct service workforce in rural areas and outlines strategies that communities can use to provide high-quality long term care services and supports. Read more.  

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-35871190225794998882011-10-27T14:30:00.000-06:002011-10-27T14:30:01.681-06:00

With a deadline of November 23, the Super Committee continues its work to find at least $1.2 trillion in budget savings over ten years. Proposals have been offered but the group has yet to issue official recommendations. Some issues under consideration that impact rural communities include eliminating the Critical Access Hospital designation, reducing reimbursement to CAHs, and scaling back the

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-6925127482436487712011-10-27T10:42:00.000-06:002011-10-27T10:42:00.868-06:00

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking applicants for the Innovations Advisor Program. The Program will help individuals refine, apply, and sustain managerial and technical skills necessary to drive delivery system reform. Innovation advisors will work with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test new models of care delivery in their own organizations and create

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-5588658859554131542011-10-26T15:35:00.000-06:002011-10-26T15:35:39.267-06:00

Children in rural areas are more likely to face different challenges to their health and have less access to care when compared with children in urban areas, according to a new report from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The National Survey of Children’s Health:  The Health and Well-Being of Children in Rural Areas: A Portrait of the Nation in 2007, which is published every four

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-836084915836041292011-10-24T09:00:00.003-06:002011-10-24T09:00:05.885-06:00

Over the past 20 years, CRHC has become our state’s most trusted resource for rural healthcare. In the current economic landscape, it is more important than ever that we continue to support and advocate on behalf of rural healthcare and the safety net community. We remain loyally committed to ensuring our members have the resources and support they need to keep their communities healthy and

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-55552941580761072612011-10-21T07:22:00.000-06:002011-10-21T07:22:16.425-06:00

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has released a comprehensive collection of information on the pilot projects, grants, and workforce development initiatives available to Coloradans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Check out the Guide to Grants resource.

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-31482215572916485362011-10-20T11:16:00.000-06:002011-10-20T11:16:32.499-06:00

The Department of Health and Human Services released final rules for the voluntary Medicare Shared Savings Program aka Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and also announced an Advance Payment model available to physician-owned and rural ACOs. The final rule has several changes from the original proposed rule, including that Rural Health Clinics are now eligible entities to form and participate

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-61942467559644316562011-10-19T13:50:00.000-06:002011-10-19T13:50:48.287-06:00

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released proposed revisions to the Medicare Conditions of Participation for hospitals including Critical Access Hospitals (CAH). Some of the proposed revisions include privileging for non-physician staff, incorporating a nursing care plan into an interdisciplinary care plan, and changes to nursing services to allow for the preparation and

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-50438607213311204792011-10-19T08:10:00.000-06:002011-10-19T08:10:44.727-06:00

Child poverty is disproportionately more likely to occur in rural areas of the U.S. according to researchers at the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. In their study, researchers found that 81 percent of counties experiencing persistent child poverty are non-metropolitan. The researchers point to high unemployment, low educational attainment, and physical and social isolation as

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-67063357498434242162011-10-18T10:28:00.000-06:002011-10-18T10:28:18.679-06:00

This article from Politico outlines some of the proposed changes in how Medicare pays for hospice services and the potential impacts of these changes, including in rural communities. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-36886860898225786892011-10-14T14:46:00.000-06:002011-10-14T14:46:00.574-06:00

Make your voice heard in Washington DC! Join rural healthcare providers and advocates at NRHA’s 2012 Rural Health Policy Institute, January 30-February 1. Meet Colorado’s members of Congress and learn about important issues impacting rural health. Early registration ends on December 30. Click here for more information.  

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-51419381899260131702011-10-13T09:37:00.000-06:002011-10-13T09:37:52.273-06:00

If you want to learn more about Medicare payment, check out MedPACs 2011Medicare Payment Basics series. The series includes 18 brief summary documents that provide an overview of how different entities are paid under Medicare (including Critical Access Hospitals). Click here for more information. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-38580108054134764382011-10-12T10:33:00.000-06:002011-10-12T10:33:00.172-06:00

Curious about insurance CO-OPs aka consumer-operated and oriented plans? Join a webinar on October 19 at 10:00am MT, hosted by the Rural Assistance Center and the State Health Access Reform Evaluation on "CO-OP Health Plans: Can They Help Fix Rural America’s Health Insurance Markets?". Click here for more information and to register. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-57189500134439324602011-10-07T09:03:00.000-06:002011-10-07T09:03:00.700-06:00

A recent report by the USDA’s Economic Research Service highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas. The 2011 edition focuses on the U.S. rural economy, including employment trends, poverty, education, and population trends. Read the report. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-78887181246243514582011-10-06T08:11:00.000-06:002011-10-06T08:11:21.276-06:00

Critical Access Hospitals--please consider participating in MBQIP! The Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) is a three-year, voluntary initiative for Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) intended to create a national database of rural appropriate and relevant quality data to demonstrate to policymakers the work CAHs are doing. CAHs that participate in MBQIP will be able to share

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-73057391150474030302011-10-05T07:54:00.000-06:002011-10-05T07:54:14.902-06:00

If you missed the advocacy webinar earlier this week, a recording is now available on CRHC’s website along with the slides from the presentation and several tools you can use for your personal outreach to members of Congress. Click here for more information and useful resources to get involved in these efforts. Please contact Sara if you have any questions. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-65869770183194246572011-10-04T10:38:00.000-06:002011-10-04T10:38:31.186-06:00

A new report by the Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center assesses the financial and quality challenges – and potential unintended consequences for rural providers and patients – of implementing bundled payments for acute and post-acute care episodes; explores the possible impact on quality of care delivered under a facility-provider bundled payment system, and suggests measurement

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-10751618602099667972011-10-04T10:18:00.000-06:002011-10-04T10:18:01.255-06:00

Colorado Commissioner of Insurance, Jim Riesberg, and other Division of Insurance staff will hold forums in Greeley and Grand Junction in October to help people learn about changes to their health insurance. The meetings are designed to address the causes of premium increases, benefits guaranteed in federal health reform, what Medicare participants can do when a claim is denied, and similar

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-70899785039140618242011-10-03T08:25:00.001-06:002011-10-03T11:00:51.256-06:00

Decisions are being made in Washington DC that will impact rural health care. If you would you like to learn more about the ongoing negotiations to reduce our nation’s deficit and understand how various proposals could impact rural providers and communities, please attend a Federal Advocacy webinar on Tuesday, October 4, from 2:00-3:00pm. The Colorado Rural Health Center, in partnership with the

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-65723986501769515372011-09-30T15:23:00.000-06:002011-09-30T15:23:10.673-06:00

A survey released earlier this week found that employer-based health insurance premiums increased by 8 and 9 percent for single and family coverage respectively from 2010 to 2011. A new analysis by the Commonwealth Fund looked at the potential causes of the increase, including the 2010 insurance reforms included in the Affordable Care Act. The analysis finds 1.8 percent increase could be

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-22359405056044790692011-09-28T15:13:00.000-06:002011-09-28T15:13:25.917-06:00

If you would like to vote in this November’s elections, you have until October 3 to register or make changes to your existing registration. Click here for more information and resources from the Secretary of State’s office. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-25493280986648030172011-09-27T12:05:00.002-06:002011-09-27T12:05:00.085-06:00

Although much attention is being directed to the deficit reduction proposals and work of the President and Super Committee, the federal fiscal year 2011 ends on September 30 and none of the FY 2012 appropriation bills have been enacted by Congress. To avoid a government shutdown on October 1, Congress has been working on a Continuing Resolution that would keep programs funded. After some concerns

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-85971583891459497012011-09-27T08:33:00.000-06:002011-09-27T08:33:02.917-06:00

The Obama Administration did not request a review by a federal appeals court on a recent ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), making it more likely that the Supreme Court would hear the case later this fall and issue its decision in 2012. With split decisions coming from the appeals courts, the Supreme Court is widely expected to render the final word on the constitutionality of provisions

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-54996051540646780792011-09-22T12:21:00.000-06:002011-09-22T12:21:29.197-06:00

Thank you to everyone who has already completed CRHC's annual survey! The survey will close on Friday, September 30 so please take a few minutes today to share your thoughts and feedback on our policy and advocacy work.  

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-40268553635773728912011-09-22T08:49:00.000-06:002011-09-22T08:49:00.533-06:00

Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. MT to discuss the Adults without Dependent Children expansion and the proposed 1115 Demonstration Waiver which will be submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the fall of 2011. Click for more information or to register.

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-67544916184070363322011-09-21T09:41:00.000-06:002011-09-21T09:41:50.509-06:00

The Medical Services Board is proposing new cost sharing requirements for the Children’s Basic Health Plan (CHP+). As outlined in the proposed rules released on Monday, the annual enrollment fee for families with incomes between 200 and 250% of the federal poverty level would be $75/ year for one child and $105/ year for two or more children. The proposed rules would also increase co-payments

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-32006670093296917222011-09-21T09:26:00.000-06:002011-09-21T09:26:26.877-06:00

An article in today’s New York Times highlights the impacts that cuts to healthcare providers can have on patients. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-64742535700615271982011-09-20T10:11:00.001-06:002011-09-21T08:08:26.677-06:00

Colorado’s economic growth has slowed over the summer, according to today’s revenue forecasts released by the Office of State Planning and Budgeting and the Colorado Legislative Council. The state economy faces many national and global threats; however, agriculture and oil prices are strong. The state’s current FY 11-12 budget is in balance, with a $64 million projected surplus. For FY 12-13,

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-89781822015216983222011-09-19T13:08:00.001-06:002011-09-20T09:39:20.156-06:00

The White House proposal that was released today calls for reducing the nation’s debt by $3 trillion over the next ten years. The deficit reduction plan puts forth significant reductions in Medicare and Medicaid spending that will drastically impact rural healthcare providers and communities, including lowering Critical Access Hospital (CAH) reimbursement, eliminating CAH designation for any

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-15332257854342335922011-09-19T10:07:00.000-06:002011-09-19T10:07:11.203-06:00

Earlier this month, the U.S. Census Bureau released information on Americans’ income, poverty, and health insurance coverage for 2010. Nationally, median household income declined and the poverty rate increased. While the number of Americans without health insurance increased, the overall percentage was not statistically different from the previous year. The Colorado Health Institute (CHI)

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-54550212418606266472011-09-19T07:21:00.000-06:002011-09-19T07:21:38.527-06:00

Today’s New York Times features an article on community paramedics, highlighting Eagle County’s program. Read more. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-81724380619785969482011-09-16T08:45:00.000-06:002011-09-16T08:45:36.933-06:00

The CMS Innovation Center has extended the deadlines for letters of intent and applications for its Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative (BPCI) released on August 23rd. Letters of intent for BPCI Model 1 are now due on October 6th, 2011. Applications for BPCI Model 1 are now due on November 18th, 2011. Read more. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-33756933847076837682011-09-15T11:10:00.002-06:002011-09-15T11:10:58.900-06:00

Do you have a healthcare provider at your rural facility who is interested in loan repayment? Let them know that the Colorado Rural Outreach Program Loan Repayment Program application cycle is opening in October. Read more.

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-90315850621755443562011-09-13T08:50:00.000-06:002011-09-13T08:50:29.006-06:00

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics reported in an Aug. 17 data brief that 49% of physicians working in office settings work with nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives. Primary care practices were the most likely specialty to work with these practitioners. Read more. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-65488482972475093802011-09-12T08:30:00.002-06:002011-09-12T08:30:01.565-06:00

Please inform the Colorado Rural Health Center’s (CRHC) policy & advocacy efforts for 2012 by completing our annual survey. Your feedback is invaluable and will help guide our work. The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete and can be accessed by clicking here. The survey will be open until Friday September 30, 2011. Please complete the survey only once. Your responses are

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-79276043830719022632011-09-08T16:26:00.000-06:002011-09-08T16:26:26.088-06:00

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has launched a new website www.HealthIT.gov. The website has information and resources for both healthcare consumers as well as providers. The site also addresses privacy questions regarding electronic health records. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-6865935869174721042011-09-07T08:55:00.000-06:002011-09-07T08:55:47.405-06:00

A recent study found that more U.S. adults postpone or go without medical care for nonfinancial reasons than for financial ones. Although affordability issues did limit access to care, nonfinancial barriers including availability and accessibility of care often overlapped with financial barriers. Read more.

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-47693220152876425152011-09-06T11:50:00.000-06:002011-09-06T11:50:47.703-06:00

Read more about The Community Paramedic Program, a pilot project through the Western Eagle County Ambulance District, that partners paramedics with physicians to provide in-home health monitoring and check-ups. The program is an innovative solution to some of the challenges of providing healthcare in rural communities.

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-71207788872117722042011-09-02T10:57:00.000-06:002011-09-02T10:57:14.474-06:00

A new brief by the Kaiser Family Foundation, The Budget Control Act of 2011: Implications for Medicare, provides an overview of the new law that came out of this summer’s negotiations on raising the debt ceiling and deficit reduction, including a timeline and process for raising the debt ceiling and lowering the federal deficit. The brief also describes the role of the new Joint Select Committee

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-80649947093974788532011-09-01T11:36:00.000-06:002011-09-01T11:36:12.643-06:00

The Colorado Division of Insurance has created a new website for consumers and business owners to answer questions and provide information about health insurance, including what drives the cost of insurance premiums, how to select a plan, and how to get help when an insurance claim is denied. Click here to access the website or go to www.askdora.colorado.gov and click on the “Are You Prepared

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-31951916619961150522011-09-01T09:00:00.000-06:002011-09-01T09:00:09.531-06:00

Rural healthcare providers and advocates know that rural health is not ‘a smaller version’ of urban healthcare systems and that current national measurement and benchmarking systems may not accurately capture and reflect the quality work of rural health providers. The Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) is a three-year, voluntary initiative for Critical Access Hospitals (CAH)

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-8954252967034661822011-08-31T08:28:00.000-06:002011-08-31T08:28:59.697-06:00

Today's Denver Post covers the recent announcement by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing that it will be limiting Medicaid coverage for adults without dependent children. Click here for the article.

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-45242019050954150612011-08-24T15:16:00.000-06:002011-08-24T15:16:23.751-06:00

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has made decisions regarding expanding Medicaid coverage to adults without dependent children, including when and how the expansion will begin and who will be eligible in the first phase. Please click here to read the update provided by The Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved's Connect Campaign. 

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-37082911798063835852011-08-23T11:45:00.001-06:002011-08-23T12:42:28.678-06:00

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has invited interested providers to “help test and develop” four different models of bundling payments. Under this initiative, CMS would link payments for multiple services patients receive during an episode of care. Three models involve a retrospective bundled payment arrangement and one model would pay providers prospectively. Nonbinding

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-70627267890099284402011-08-19T09:09:00.000-06:002011-08-19T09:09:32.793-06:00

A new policy brief by the RUPRI Rural Health Center for Policy Analysis examines the trends and regional variations of rural hospital charges due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs), by insurance type, from 2000 to 2004. While ACSC-related charges as a percentage of all charges in rural hospitals decreased by 4.5% during this time period, for uninsured and Medicaid patients the

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-27023756872967287732011-08-17T10:07:00.000-06:002011-08-17T10:07:28.457-06:00

A recent study by the Rural Policy Research Institute, The Geography of Need: Identifying Human Service Needs in Rural America, proposes a new methodology for creating a human service profile based on characteristics of a population and also documents how human service needs differ significantly, in both the degree of need as well as the types of needs, in metropolitan and non-metropolitan

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-53099489698924985462011-08-16T09:25:00.000-06:002011-08-16T09:25:00.886-06:00

Quality care delivered in a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model involves many different tools, staff, and strategies, including health information technology, health information exchange, and patient registries, to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate care to patients and their families when and where they need it. ClinicNET and CRHC support the PCMH model and provide

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-42833045461109145572011-08-15T15:27:00.000-06:002011-08-15T15:27:51.749-06:00

The White House Rural Council released a new report entitled Jobs and Economic Security for Rural America. The report lays out the economic landscape facing rural America and highlights five key areas: creating jobs and promoting economic growth, improving access to quality healthcare and education, fostering innovation, expanding outdoor opportunities, and supporting veterans and military

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-980239437182018632011-08-15T08:00:00.000-06:002011-08-15T08:00:07.087-06:00

Safety Net Clinic Week is just around the corner, August 22-26. This week is a great opportunity to educate lawmakers and communities about the diversity of Colorado’s safety net. Many rural health clinics and community-funded safety net clinics will be participating by hosting state and federal elected officials to their clinics, holding community open houses, etc. Please click here to access a

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-35591238613191984432011-08-12T14:22:00.000-06:002011-08-12T14:22:53.275-06:00

Colorado Health Institute’s Jackie Colby presented new findings about rural nurse practitioners (APN) and physician assistants (PA) practice patterns at CRHC’s annual conference on Thursday, August 11. The new analysis, based on respondents to CHI’s previous APN and PA surveys, found that about 11 percent of both PAs and APNs work in rural areas yet there are nearly twice as many APNs as PAs

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-16791348663867733622011-08-11T12:15:00.000-06:002011-08-11T12:15:02.723-06:00

Earlier this summer, Colorado received $1 million from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to plan an integrated model of care for individuals who are dually-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. A new post from Health Reform GPS gives a detailed summary about some of the challenges in coordinating care for these individuals who are typically older and experiencing multiple chronic

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-16215263089176518202011-08-10T13:57:00.000-06:002011-08-10T13:57:44.177-06:00

The deal reached by Congress and the White House that raised the debt ceiling also called for the creation of a bipartisan Congressional “supercommittee” called the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. This committee is charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in savings. These recommendations are due by Thanksgiving, with the entire Congress to vote on them by Christmas to avoid

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678487175781883607.post-20809773949676333972011-08-09T15:55:00.000-06:002011-08-09T15:55:05.581-06:00

The next meeting of the Colorado Health Benefits Exchange (COHBE) board will be held this Thursday, August 11th from 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM in the Legislative Services Building (200 E. 14th Ave., across the street from the State Capitol). It has not been determined if the meeting will be broadcast on the web. The by-laws committee of the Exchange Board had a conference call yesterday to discuss legal

Sara Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09529001555650241978noreply@blogger.com