The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would like to share this announcement from our colleagues in the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the HHS Office of Minority Health (HHS OMH) developed the Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to enhance existing resources …
New Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index Website Read More »
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) is taking action to drive value-based, person-centered care, and promote sustainability and readiness to respond to future public health emergencies in our nation’s hospitals through the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS)/ Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Prospective Payment System final rule released today. The final rule, effective …
View the latest hospital health equity news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your health system and communities. What’s inside? CDC and OMH Partner to Launch the Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index Rural Crosswalk: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 (Updated) AHIMA releases Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) White …
Health Equity Hospital Highlights: August Newsletter Read More »
This August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) is recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month and encouraging you to get vaccinated to protect yourself and your loved ones. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates for preventable diseases like pnemococcal pneumonia, flu, and hepatitis B have declined, …
Get Vaccinated During National Immunization Awareness Month Read More »
The Delta Variant It appears to be more contagious than other strains. Unvaccinated individuals are at greatest risk, some communities are encouraged to resume social distancing and masking precautions, and vaccination is still our best defense.
Thursday, August 5, 2-3PM EDT The next CMS Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum is scheduled for Thursday, August 5, 2021 from 2-3PM EDT. Please dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time. Conference Leaders: Todd Smith & Jill Darling Agenda (Subject to Change) Opening Remarks Chair – Todd Smith …
This is the first session in a two-part series on sepsis. View the materials below and register for Part 2 – Exploring Sepsis Strategies. August 24 1–2 PM ET 12–1 PM CT 10–11 AM PT Materials Recording Slides Resources, Links and Speaker Biographies IPRO HQIC Sepsis Change Pathway Part 1 Join the IPRO, Alliant Quality, …
Joint HQIC LAN on August 24: Exploring Sepsis Strategies Part I Read More »
The New England Rural Health Association developed a COVID-19 Vaccine Messaging Campaign to help improve vaccination rates in our states and communities. Materials These materials focus on the business community and parents to encourage vaccinating their eligible children.
Get back on track with routine vaccinations This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. We know the COVID-19 pandemic impacted all aspects of life, including your ability to attend important appointments and receive routine vaccinations. During August, we encourage you to talk to your doctor, nurse or healthcare professional …
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the efforts of healthcare professionals to protect patients of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccination. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all aspects of life, including patients’ ability to attend important appointments and receive routine vaccinations. Many patients had to postpone or cancel appointments and …
Get your patients back on track with routine vaccinations. Read More »
Federally-Funded COVID-19 Testing Program What is Operation Expanded Testing? Operation Expanded Testing is a program supported and funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide COVID-19 testing to qualifying group settings such as K-12 schools, congregate living facilities, prisons, and more at no cost to the organization. This program is being …
New Program Announcement: Operation Expanded Testing Read More »
View the latest hospital health equity news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your health system and communities. What’s inside? America’s Health Rankings Inaugural Health Disparities Report CMS Proposes Changes to Reduce Disparities among Patients with CKD and ESRD CMS Proposes Physician Rule to Improve Health Equity & …
July 27, 2021 | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory The CDC is issuing this Health Alert Network Health Advisory to notify public health practitioners and clinicians about the urgent need to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage (i.e., the percentage of the population fully vaccinated) across the …
July 29, 12:30 PM EDT A SAMHSA-sponsored webinar presented on behalf of Mental Health America will take place Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 12:30pm Eastern Time called Supporting Older Adults with Comorbid Health Conditions. As individuals age, they are at increased risk of experiencing multiple chronic conditions across both physical and mental health. Adults with …
Webinar on July 29: Supporting Older Adults With Comorbid Health Conditions Read More »
October 28-30, 2021 | Virtual and San Francisco, CA | CE Credits Available The Anticoagulation Forum’s forum provides the largest venue for open discussion and education on advances in anticoagulant therapy and improved patient care. The 3-day meeting offers attendees the unique opportunity to meet colleagues from around the world with wide-ranging research interests and …
Anticoagulation Forum’s 16th National Conference: October 28-30, 2021 Read More »
August 18, 2PM EDT | 1.20 RN CE Contact Hours If you can’t make the date, register anyway to receive a link to view the webinar after it airs live. Aggressive, early sepsis identification and treatment initiatives have decreased in-hospital mortality for patients with sepsis over the last two decades. However, management of sepsis survivors during the …
Webinar on August 18 with CE Hours: Transitions of Care After Sepsis Hospitalization Read More »
August 12, 1PM EDT Join Sophia L. Pink, MS, from Stanford University, Polarization and Social Change Lab, as we discuss “Strategies for COVID-19 Vaccine Messaging in a Polarized Country.” Participation in this event is free. CME and NYS Social Work CE credits are available for purchase after the event ($20.00 fee)*. After registering, you will …
September 14, 2021 @ 10-11AM EDT | VIDEOCAST In this The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) Director’s Lecture, Dr. Mi-Kyung Song will present her intervention research to develop and test an end-of-life communication intervention targeting patients with chronic illness and their family caregivers, spanning all stages of the NIH Stage Model of behavioral intervention …
August 24, 2021 @ 11-11:30AM EDT Joins the IPRO QIN-QIO for the next session in our bi-weekly Vaccine Open Office Hours for Nursing Homes as we discuss best practices to achieving a 75% COVID vaccine rate. Join our experts as we assist nursing homes with questions related to employee vaccine campaigns and resident vaccine program. …
Vaccine Open Office Hours on August 24: How to get to a 75% COVID Vaccine Rate Read More »
August 10, 2021 @ 11-11:30AM EDT Are you ready for Influenza and COVID? Join the IPRO QIN-QIO for the next session in our bi-weekly Vaccine Open Office Hours for Nursing Homes. Join our experts as we assist nursing homes with questions related to employee vaccine campaigns and resident vaccine program. Our Experts Melanie Williams, host …
Vaccine Open Office Hours on August 10: Are you ready for Influenza and COVID? Read More »
July 27, 2021 @ 11:00-11:30AM EDT Join us on July 27 for “Building your Vaccine Campaign.” This is part of the IPRO QIN-QIO bi-weekly Vaccine Open Office Hours for Nursing Homes. Join our experts as we assist nursing homes with questions related to employee vaccine campaigns and resident vaccine program. Materials CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Communication …
Vaccine Open Office Hours on July 27: Building your Vaccine Campaign Read More »
On July 13, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule, which proposed changes to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) expanded model intended to boost supplier enrollment, with a goal of increasing beneficiary participation and access to services that can help …
Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) Changes Proposed Read More »
Continue to build COVID-19 vaccine confidence in hesitant patients by sharing this one-minute video featuring Dr. Gina Gregory-Burns explaining that the vaccines are effective and protective against variants. This video is a part of We Can Do This, a public education campaign by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), seeking to spread …
Ask a Doctor: What About the New COVID-19 Variants? Read More »
This interactive training promotes the appropriate, safe, and effective use of opioids to manage chronic pain. This training is based on the opioid-related recommendations in the National Action Plan for Adverse Drug Event Prevention (ADE Action Plan) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP).
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the first Surgeon General’s Advisory of this Administration to warn the public about the urgent threat of health misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This advisory outlines how the public can confront health misinformation by helping individuals, families and communities better identify and limit its spread. The advisory also …
Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Confronting Health Misinformation on COVID-19 Vaccine Read More »
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) created this toolkit to assist hospital staff in implementing effective pressure ulcer prevention practices through an interdisciplinary approach to care. Each year, more than 2.5 million people in the United States develop pressure ulcers. These skin lesions bring pain, associated risk for serious infection and increased health …
AHRQ Toolkit for Preventing Pressure Ulcers in Hospitals Read More »
During July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) observes the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). First enacted on July 26, 1990, the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. In the …
Celebrating 31 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act Read More »
As a valued partner in IPRO QIN-QIO’s quality improvement activities, we are pleased to share with you the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Network of Quality Improvement and Innovation Contractors (NQIIC) 2020 Annual Report: Confronting the Pandemic Together. The Annual Report highlights the COVID-19 response in nursing homes by Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement …
CMS NQIIC 2020 Annual Report: Confronting the Pandemic Together Read More »
July 15, 1 PM EDT Individuals may be reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine for many reasons. One way hospitals and health systems can increase vaccination rates for their patients, employees and communities is to focus on why people are hesitant. Kaiser Permanente and the California Testing Task Force did just that and produced an …
Webinar on July 15: Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Your Community Read More »
Rule Would Expand Access to Telehealth Services, Enhance Diabetes Prevention Programs The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing changes to address the widening gap in health equity highlighted by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) and to expand patient access to comprehensive care, especially in underserved populations. In CMS’s annual Physician Fee …
CMS Proposes Physician Payment Rule to Improve Health Equity, Patient Access Read More »
July 26, 2021 is the 31st anniversary of the day the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. We’re raising awareness about …
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 31st Anniversary Read More »
For historically marginalized communities, traditional systems of care may overlook cultural and historical factors that impede BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color) mental health. Community care, self-directed care, and culturally-based practices are all valid and valuable choices people can make for their mental health – but they may not be aware of these …
Announcement is the first in a series of regulations aimed at shielding patients from increased financial hardships stemming from surprise medical bills CMS – July 2, 2021 | Today, the Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Treasury, and the Office of Personnel Management, issued “Requirements Related to …
HHS Announces Rule to Protect Consumers from Surprise Medical Bills Read More »
Vaccines save lives, but we all have our own reasons for getting vaccinated. The IPRO QIN-QIO introduces a Value in Vaccination Video Series, designed for interactive conversations about getting vaccinated. The IPRO QIN-QIO also created companion conversation guides to help encourage discussion about the theme of each video. Part 1 Theme: Getting Information The theme …
View the latest hospital health equity news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your health system and communities. What’s inside? National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month! Building an Organizational Response to Health Disparities: Resources for Standardized Demographic and Language Data Collection Community of Practice: Preventing and Reducing the …
Health Equity Hospital Highlights: July Newsletter Read More »
View the latest hospital health equity news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your health system and communities. What’s inside? HHS Awards $250M to Fight COVID-19 and Improve Health Literacy A New Guide on Universal Screening for Health-Related Social Needs VacciNATION: Inspiring Stories on the National COVID-19 Vaccine …
June 28, 11AM–12PM EDT Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in hospital safety and quality outcomes demonstrate that care is not equitable across all populations. Person and Family Engagement (PFE) is central to the HQIC and is recognized as a promising mechanism to aid in achieving equity in both quality and safety. However, some populations may …
Thursday, July 1, 3-4:30PM ET Please join the Administration on Community Living (ACL) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a webinar on Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy Among Direct Service Workers. Vaccine uptake among direct service workers (DSWs) is particularly important for personal health and safety and to the many individuals that DSWs …
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy Among Direct Service Workers Read More »
Monday, July 12, 2PM EDT The Primary Care Collaborative will host a conversation with special guests from the White House and state government, who will talk about the role of primary care in the administration of and education on the COVID vaccines. The speakers will also discuss the strategies the Biden administration and state public …
July 12 Webinar: Government and Primary Care: In Service to the VacciNATION Read More »
An important focus of our work is spreading strategies for implementing opioid and pain management best practices. Both naloxone and medications for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine, are proven to save the lives of opioid users. View the webinar recording, and view the slides if you missed the “Opioid and Pain Management Best Practices: …
June 29, 2-3PM EDT Please call at least 15 minutes prior to the forum start time. Announcements & Updates Home Health Quality Reporting Program updates Home Health PC Pricer release and upcoming Grouper beta testing period Modernizing CMS Payment Software Reminder – Take advantage of the option to submit hospice notices of election via …
CMS Open Door Forum for Home Health, Hospice, and DME Read More »
June 17, 2021 | On May 11, 2021, CMS published an interim final rule with comment period that added new COVID-19 vaccination reporting requirements for nursing home staff and residents. CMS has provided a four-week grace period for facilities to educate themselves on the new requirements and to operationalize reporting. On June 10, 2021, CMS …
CMS encourages nursing homes to continue COVID-19 vaccination rates Read More »
Tuesday, June 22, 2-2:30PM EDT Audience: Quality, Infection Preventionists, Pharmacy, Antimicrobial Stewardship Leaders, Laboratory and Physicians Since their initial emergency authorization in November, monoclonal antibodies have been an important weapon in the fight against COVID-19. These products have proven to be effective at preventing hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 in some of the highest …
Webinar on June 22: Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for High Risk COVID Patients Read More »
Wednesday, June 23, 3-4PM EDT Registration is required to attend this event. Audience: Healthcare providers, stakeholders, and community partners Join Telligen for a webinar titled, “COVID-19 Update: Vaccines, Variants, Hesitancy, and Masks” on Wednesday, June 23, from 3-4PM EDT. Telligen is offering this webinar to support the Biden Administration’s goal to have 70% of U.S. …
Webinar on June 23: COVID-19 Update: Vaccines, Variants, Hesitancy, and Masks Read More »
Join CMS for our We Can Do This COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Toolkit Webinars The HHS We Can Do This campaign is a national initiative working hand in hand with trusted leaders and community organizations to continue to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and get more people vaccinated. This campaign offers tailored resources and toolkits for …
June 15-July 8: We Can Do This COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Toolkit Webinars Read More »
June 11, 2021 A Shared Approach to Preventing Opioid Overdoses As the opioid overdose epidemic worsens, there are specific actions that we can all take to make a difference and potentially save lives. Save a Life – #PrepYourHealth It can be difficult to tell if a person has overdosed on opioids. When in doubt, treat …
CDC’s Public Health Matters: Overdose Prevention Read More »
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently shared with immunization program mangers across the country the document “Increasing Access to Vaccination Opportunities: COVID-19 Vaccination upon Discharge from Hospitals, Emergency Departments, and Urgent Care Facilities.” CDC is asking jurisdictions to distribute a portion of their existing COVID-19 vaccine allocation to hospitals, emergency departments (EDs), …
Action Could Impact as many as 1.6 Million People with Medicare As part of President Biden’s commitment to increasing access to vaccinations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced an additional payment amount for administering in-home COVID-19 vaccinations to Medicare beneficiaries who have difficulty leaving their homes or are otherwise hard-to-reach. This …
As part of President Biden’s commitment to increasing access to vaccinations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced an additional payment amount for administering in-home COVID-19 vaccinations to Medicare beneficiaries who have difficulty leaving their homes or are otherwise hard-to-reach. There are approximately 1.6 million adults 65 or older who may have …
CMS Bolsters Payments for At-Home COVID-19 Vaccinations for Medicare Beneficiaries Read More »
In recognition of June as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) released new resources to help educate the public. NIMH will also host a livestream event on June 17 from 2-2:30 p.m., featuring NIMH-funded researcher Barbara Rothbaum, Ph.D., ABPP, professor of psychiatry and associate vice chair of clinical research at …
June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month Read More »
The next CMS Rural Health Open Door Forum is scheduled for Thursday, June 10, 2021 from 2-3PM EDT. Please dial in at least 15 minutes prior to call start time. Conference Leaders: Ing-Jye Cheng, John Hammarlund and Jill Darling. Agenda **This Agenda is Subject to Change** Opening Remarks Co-Chair- Ing-Jye Cheng, (Center for Medicare) Co-Chair …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is continuing to promote Weeks of Action! Each week will focus on engaging a targeted population to encourage action to come to HealthCare.gov during the Special Enrollment Period and enroll in coverage or potentially take advantage of more cost savings. June Health Observances June is Pride Month, …
June 9, 1-2PM EDT The COVID-19 pandemic revealed deep-seated inequities in health care and amplified social and economic factors that contribute to poor health outcomes. These factors also influenced how the COVID-19 vaccines were developed and rolled out. Join TMF for a webinar on June 22 titled, “COVID-19, Health Equity, and Vaccine Hesitancy.” During this webinar, …
TMF Webinar on June 9: COVID-19, Health Equity, and Vaccine Hesitancy Read More »
June 22, 1-2PM EDT Loneliness was a mental health issue prior to COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and contributed to increased isolation. Join TMF for a webinar on June 22 titled, “A Health Equity Perspective on Loneliness, Mental Health, and COVID-19.” During this webinar, attendees will explore and discuss this issue from a health equity …
The IPRO QIN-QIO hosted a 3-part education series on quality improvement strategies for nursing homes. View the materials and discover ways to: Develop strategies to encourage change Identify the root cause of common nursing home concerns Design an approach to test new interventions Session Materials Planning the Change: SMART Goals, Process, & Outcome Measures June …
IPRO QIN-QIO Webinar Series: Nuts & Bolts of Quality Improvement for Nursing Homes Read More »
View the latest hospital health equity news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your health system and communities. What’s inside? The American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity released toolkits to support hospitals with health equity tactics Rural/CAH Corner COVID 19 Vaccines and Racial and Ethnic …
Health Equity Hospital Highlights: June Newsletter Read More »
June is Pride Month, a time for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons and recognize their unique health needs. LGBTQ+ persons are comprised of a multitude of groups that have their own unique health needs. Transgender individuals, for …
View the latest hospital health equity news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your health system and communities. What’s inside? Importance of Infrastructure within Hospitals to Assess and Address Health Equity CMS Proposes to Enhance the Medical Workforce in Rural and Underserved Communities Asian American and Pacific Islander …
Health Equity Hospital Highlights: May Newsletter Read More »
Check out the latest health equity news, health observances, events, and resources supporting the IPRO QIN-QIO efforts to eliminate health disparities for Medicare beneficiaries. What’s inside? New Health Equity Tracker Released Featured Health Equity News The Conversation / La Conversación Become a Part of the Expanded COVID-19 Vaccine Workforce Medicaid and Rural Health Pain in …
The IPRO QIN-QIO’s team of quality improvement experts is committed to supporting nursing homes with COVID-19 vaccination rates across our region. This video features a nursing home administrator’s approach to dealing with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the nursing home. For More Information Check out the CDC tools our speakers used to inform their strategies: Building …
IPRO QIN-QIO Video: COVID-19 Vaccine Success in a Nursing Home Case Study Read More »
