Materials & News
Boosters and Beyond: Reducing Readmission Rates
A Six-Week Series for Nursing Homes Care coordination often presents challenges for nursing home providers. For six weeks, on Tuesdays at 12 pm ET, the IPRO QIN-QIO team will share …
HHS Takes the Most Significant Action in a Decade to Make Care for Older Adults & People with Disabilities More Affordable and Accessible
New Rule Reduces Red Tape and Simplifies Medicare Savings Program Enrollment, Helping Millions of Older Adults and People with Disabilities Afford Coverage In their continued efforts to improve access to …
Hospital Health Equity Highlights: September 2023
In this issue:
Upcoming CMS Open Door Forum
The next CMS Hospital/Quality Initiative Open Door Forum scheduled for:Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2023Start Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time (ET) Please log on at least 15 minutes before call start time. …
HHS Proposes Minimum Staffing Standards to Enhance Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes
Builds on President Biden’s Historic Commitment to Create a Long-Term Care System Where People Can Live with Dignity Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the …
HHS Proposes Minimum Staffing Standards to Enhance Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes Read More »
Hospital Health Equity Highlights: August 2023
View the latest hospital equity news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating healthcare disparities within your health system and communities. In this issue:
Health Equity Updates: July 2023 Issue
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts to eliminate healthcare disparities within your community. This month, read about National …
You are Invited to a National Stakeholder Call with the CMS Administrator on July 18, 2023
Please join the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, and her leadership team, who will provide an update on CMS’ recent accomplishments and how our cross-cutting initiatives …
CMS OMH Celebrates Disability Pride Month and the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Throughout July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) celebrates Disability Pride Month and the anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). Enacted …
Tools to Support Safe Care Transition Communications
As part of discharge planning, hospitals are expected to provide post-acute providers and caregivers information, including current course of illness and treatment, post-discharge goals of care, and treatment preferences, to …
Tools to Support Safe Care Transition Communications Read More »
Health Equity Updates: June 2023 Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating healthcare disparities within your communities. This month, read about Men’s …
CPSTF Releases 2022 Annual Report to Congress
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) is pleased to release the 2022 Annual Report to Congress. This report summarizes the Task Force’s work from fiscal year 2022 (October 1, …
Health Equity Updates: May 2023 Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating healthcare disparities within your communities. This month, read about Asian …
You are Invited to a National Office Hours Call on the Ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Please join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for an informational event to help providers, facilities and people with Medicare prepare for the end of the COVID-19 Public …
Health Equity Updates: April 2023 Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating healthcare disparities within your communities. This month, read about National …
IRF Provider Preview Reports- Now Available
The Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Provider Preview Reports have been updated and are now available. These reports contain provider performance scores for quality measures, which will be published on Care Compare …
Health Equity Updates: March 2023 Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating healthcare disparities within your communities. This month, read about National …
NEW! CMS Training Program Update
February is American Heart Month Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers cardiovascular screening blood tests once every 5 years. To learn more, visit Medicare.gov/coverage/cardiovascular-disease-screenings. This year, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood …
National Poverty in America Awareness Month
During January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) recognizes National Poverty in America Awareness Month. The United States measures poverty based on how …
Walk Alongside the Community to Combat Vaccine Hesitancy
By Sandra N. Colpitts MSN, RN, CIC, Manager, Infection Prevention and Control, South County Health, Wakefield, RI When I first became a nurse, I never imagined the adventures I would …
Walk Alongside the Community to Combat Vaccine Hesitancy Read More »
Health Equity Updates: December 2022 Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities. This month, read about …
HQIC Health Equity Updates: December 2022
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating healthcare disparities within your communities. This month read about national …
CMS OMH Recognizes National Influenza Vaccination Week
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) recognizes National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 5-9). In recognition of this observance, CMS OMH is …
CMS OMH Recognizes National Influenza Vaccination Week Read More »
Joint HQIC Antibiotic Stewardship: Quick Wins for Improving Duration Therapy LAN Event
Antibiotic Stewardship (AS) remains a national priority aimed at optimizing antibiotic use to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harms caused by unnecessary use and combat antibiotic resistance. This event …
Joint HQIC Antibiotic Stewardship: Quick Wins for Improving Duration Therapy LAN Event Read More »
CMS: Covering Indian Country- November 2022
Having affordable healthcare coverage makes it easier for people to keep up with screenings, check-ups, immunizations, and other preventive services. It also enhances the capacity of the Indian Health Service, …
2022 AHRQ National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
AHRQ released its annual disparities report: 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. The report, which is mandated by Congress, provides a comprehensive overview of healthcare quality and healthcare disparities …
2022 AHRQ National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report Read More »
Meet the Team: Josh Clodius
Meet Josh Clodius, a Quality Improvement Specialist at Healthcentric Advisors and a member of the IPRO QIN-QIO Nursing Home Team. Josh is a former nursing home administrator and an expert …
HQIC Health Equity Updates: November 2022
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating healthcare disparities within your communities. This month read about breaking …
HQIC Health Equity Updates: October 2022
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating healthcare disparities within your communities.
Now is the Time: A Compendium of Tools to Use for Great American Smokeout and Beyond
It is a well-established fact: smoking leads to disease, disability, and harm in nearly every organ system. It has long been shown to cause cancer, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, lung …
Now is the Time: A Compendium of Tools to Use for Great American Smokeout and Beyond Read More »
Health Equity Updates: November 2022 Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities. This month, read about …
Health Equity Updates: October 2022 Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities. This month, a focus …
Meet the Team: Laura Benzel
Meet Laura Benzel from Qlarant, the Health Equity Lead for the IPRO QIN-QIO and an IPRO Health Equity Task Force member. Laura has ten years of experience working on equity-related …
Meet the Team: Maureen Marsella
Meet Maureen Marsella, RN, BS, CCM. Maureen works for Healthcentric Advisors, a member of the IPRO QIN-QIO. A former hospital Joint Commission and Regulatory Compliance Manager, Certified Case Manager and …
Health Equity Updates: September Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities.
August Infection Prevention Question of the Month
Melanie Ronda, RN, MSN, host of our weekly IP3 Office Hours, gets many questions each week. Here’s one that may resonate with you: Q: What are the changes with enhanced barrier precautions …
August Infection Prevention Question of the Month Read More »
IP3 Resources: Vaccination Updates
As part of the IPRO QIN-QIO’s efforts to increase knowledge on infection prevention, every Thursday we offer IP3 – Infection Prevention by an Infection Preventionist for Infection Preventionists. The intent …
CMS Discontinuing the Use of Certificates of Medical Necessity and Durable Medical Equipment Information Forms to Increase Efficiency and Reduce Burden for Clinicians, DME Suppliers, and Beneficiaries
As part of its ongoing efforts to increase access to care and to reduce unnecessary administrative burden for stakeholders, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be discontinuing …
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and it is a great time to encourage all healthcare providers to be vaccinated and promote vaccination. Recommendation from a healthcare professional is the …
Health Equity Updates: August 2022 Health Equity Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities.
Hospital Health Equity Updates: August 2022 Newsletter
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.
Integrating Patients and Families on Quality Improvement (QI) Teams
This resource will help hospital leaders and staff understand: (1) how patient and family members can contribute to a QI team as an advisor; (2) how to recruit patient and …
Integrating Patients and Families on Quality Improvement (QI) Teams Read More »
Hospital Health Equity Updates: July Updates
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.
CMS: Updated Guidance for Nursing Home Resident Health & Safety, June 29, 2022
Overview of New and Updated Guidance To further support the implementation of the Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities Requirements for Participation, which were published in 2016, CMS is issuing surveyor guidance …
CMS: Updated Guidance for Nursing Home Resident Health & Safety, June 29, 2022 Read More »
Health Equity Updates: July Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities.
Joy in Work: Five Languages of Appreciation
Have you ever been excited to provide a recognition gift or reward to staff only to have it scorned or met with a “chilly” or “less than thrilled” reception? You …
Health Equity Updates: June Newsletter
View the new edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities.
Hospital Health Equity Updates: June Updates
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.
Medication Safety Assessment
Did you know that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicare beneficiaries experienced a higher rate of adverse drug events due to anticoagulants than for prescribed opioids? And that more antipsychotic drugs …
Hospital Health Equity Updates: May Newsletter
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.
Health Equity Updates: May Newsletter
View the May edition of our health equity newsletter featuring news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities.
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: ‘From Booster Shots to Bouncing Back,’ a Webinar Series
A possible solution to the challenge of workforce retention is to make sure that staff enjoy their work. But it goes further than just staff satisfaction levels. There is a …
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: ‘From Booster Shots to Bouncing Back,’ a Webinar Series Read More »
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: Opioid & Pain Management Best Practices, Strategies for Success
Our team of experts dedicated to Improving Behavioral Health and Appropriate Opioid Use meet regularly with health providers in our 11 states and the District of Columbia, to share and …
IPRO QIN-QIO Presents: Opioid & Pain Management Best Practices, Strategies for Success Read More »
April Is National Minority Health Month
Each April, the HHS Office of Minority Health highlights the importance of identifying and addressing health disparities to improve the health of racial and ethnic minorities by observing National Minority …
Health Equity Updates: April Newsletter
View the latest health equity news, events, and tools to support your efforts in eliminating health care disparities within your communities.
Hospital Health Equity Updates: April Newsletter
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.
Reimbursement & Resources for Screening & Supporting Patients with Substance Use Disorder
Thank you to those who completed the physicians needs assessment. Your responses helped us identify a need for tools and resources to support management of your patients with substance use disorder …
Hospital Health Equity Updates: March Newsletter
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.