Home Health – IPRO QIN-QIO

Earn Free CE: CDC’s Online Antibiotic Stewardship Training

Materials & News / Antibiotics, CDC, Coalitions, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

This U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, register for CDC’s FREE online antibiotic stewardship training course, which offers 10 hours of continuing education (CE) to help you improve antibiotic use and protect patients. The first module is now updated with the latest national antibiotic resistance data from CDC’s recently released report, Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United …

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CMS to Celebrate the Power of Rural

Materials & News / CMS, Coalitions, Health Equity, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Rural Health

Rural communities face their own unique challenges when it comes to accessing and receiving quality health care. Approximately 60 million Americans live in rural areas, with nearly every state having at least one rural county. Research has shown that rural Americans are disproportionately affected by certain health conditions compared to their urban counterparts due to factors …

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New infection control and PPE resources for home and congregate care workers

Materials & News / Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Nursing Centers, PPE, Resources

Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety released a new video and suite of resources about infection control and PPE for home care and congregate care workers on the front lines of COVID-19. Stay Safe! Your Guide to Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and Brazilian Portuguese. We know that …

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Rapid eMOLST Implementation to Facilitate Advance Care Planning During COVID-19 Pandemic

Materials & News / Advance Care Planning, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Resources, Telehealth

The article Rapid Implementation of eMOLST Order Completion and Electronic Registry to Facilitate Advance Care Planning: MOLST Documentation Using Telehealth in the Covid-19 Pandemic was posted on the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst on Tuesday November 3. The article discusses seven lessons learned during the rapid implementation of eMOLST at Mount Sinai Health System …

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CMS Will Retire the Original Compare Tools on December 1

CMS / CMS, Coalitions, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Patients | Families | Caregivers, Physician Office, Resources

CMS will retire the original Compare Tools on December 1. Use Medicare.gov’s Care Compare to find and compare health care providers. In early September, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Care Compare on Medicare.gov, which streamlines our eight original health care compare tools. Since then, you’ve had the opportunity to use and …

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U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week: November 18-24, 2020

Materials & News / Antibiotics, Coalitions, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Patient Safety, Patients | Families | Caregivers, Physician Office

This annual observance highlights necessary steps everyone should take to improve antibiotic prescribing and use. Antibiotics save lives, but any time antibiotics are used, they can cause side effects and lead to antibiotic resistance. In U.S. doctors’ offices and emergency departments, at least 47 million antibiotic prescriptions each year are unnecessary, which makes improving antibiotic …

U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week: November 18-24, 2020 Read More »

Know the connection between Diabetes and Kidney Disease

Materials & News / Chronic Disease, Coalitions, Diabetes, Home Health, Hospitals, Kidney Disease, Patients | Families | Caregivers, Physician Office

34 million Americans have diabetes, and 1 in 3 of them also has chronic kidney disease. Once your kidneys have been damaged by diabetes, they cannot be cured. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and today is World Diabetes Day, making now the perfect time to learn how you can prevent diabetic kidney disease or …

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Understanding the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program

Materials & News / CDC, CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Immunizations, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

The Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care (LTC) Program provides end-to-end management of the COVID-19 vaccination process, including cold chain management, on-site vaccinations, and fulfillment of reporting requirements. The program facilitates safe vaccination of this patient population, while reducing burden on long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and jurisdictional health departments. LTCF staff who have not received COVID-19 …

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COVID-19 Vaccine Codes and PC-ACE Software Update

Materials & News / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Immunizations, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

In anticipation of the availability of a vaccine(s), for the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the American Medical Association (AMA), working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), created new codes for the vaccine and the administration of the vaccine. To prepare for the vaccine administration claims, …

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CMS Takes Steps to Ensure Medicare Beneficiaries Have Wide Access to COVID-19 Antibody Treatment

COVID-19 / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

Coverage Available at No Cost to Beneficiaries Across Variety of Settings in Health Care System The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that starting November 13, Medicare beneficiaries can receive coverage of monoclonal antibodies to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with no cost-sharing during the public health emergency (PHE). CMS’ coverage of monoclonal antibody …

CMS Takes Steps to Ensure Medicare Beneficiaries Have Wide Access to COVID-19 Antibody Treatment Read More »

Take Action Against Diabetes

Materials & News / Chronic Disease, Coalitions, Diabetes, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) is recognizing National Diabetes Month in November. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 34 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 1 in 5 of them don’t know they have it. Diabetes occurs because …

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American Diabetes Month

Materials & News / Chronic Disease, Coalitions, Diabetes, Home Health, Hospitals, Main-Coronavirus, Nursing Centers, Patients | Families | Caregivers, Physician Office

Every November, American Diabetes Month is observed to sound the alarm about the diabetes epidemic. The IPRO QIN-QIO works to raise awareness about diabetes, honor those that are affected, and correct myths and misunderstandings surrounding the disease. Check out these resources:

National Family Caregivers Month

Materials & News / Coalitions, Home Health, Hospitals, Main-Coronavirus, Nursing Centers, Patients | Families | Caregivers, Physician Office

National Family Caregivers Month, celebrated each November, is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. In November, the IPRO QIN-QIO is celebrating the efforts of family caregivers, supporting stronger relationships with loved ones, and raising awareness of the role that family caregivers play in the care of aging relatives and those …

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Article: Receipt of Home-Based Care Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries

Home Health / Health Equity, Home Health

A research article in HealthAffairs (August 2020) states that there is untapped potential to expand home-based medical care to homebound and non-homebound seniors, which can lower cost of care and improve clinical outcomes. Estimates suggest there are about two million homebound seniors in the U.S. and about five million seniors who can only leave home …

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COVID-19 and Influenza Season 2020-2021

Materials & News / CDC, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Immunizations, Influenza, Nursing Centers, Patient Safety, Physician Office

The COVID-19 pandemic caused healthcare providers to change how they operate to continue providing essential services to patients. It is essential to ensure immunization services are maintained or re-initiated. Immunizations help protect individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks while reducing the burden of respiratory illness during the upcoming influenza season. Centers for Disease …

COVID-19 and Influenza Season 2020-2021 Read More »

National Recovery Month

Materials & News / Behavioral Health & Opioids, Coalitions, Home Health, Hospitals, Patient Safety, Patients | Families | Caregivers, Physician Office

September is National Recovery Month. This national observance is dedicated to helping those with a mental or substance use disorder to live a healthy life through education. Supports like substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental or substance use disorder to live a rewarding life. The IPRO QIN-QIO is …

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CMS Webinar on August 24: Medicare Care Compare

Upcoming & Past Events / CMS, Coalition Events, Coalitions, Home Health, Home Health Events, Hospital Events, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

August 24, 2-2:45PM EDT Requires Login. You’ll get an email and appointment after registration. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making improvements to help people with Medicare find information about health care providers and services, as part of the eMedicare initiative to modernize and personalize your experiences with Medicare information. Care Compare …

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CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Calls: August 21-27

Upcoming & Past Events / Coalition Events, Coalitions, Home Health, Home Health Events, Hospital Events, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS and other subject matter experts. Lessons from …

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Calls: August 21-27 Read More »

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

Materials & News / CMS, Health Equity, Home Health, Hospitals, Immunizations, Influenza, Nursing Centers, Patient Safety, Physician Office, Resources

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health is honoring National Immunization Awareness Month. Although vaccination rates are low among all adults in the U.S., research shows that racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected when it comes to receiving recommended vaccines. Many factors can contribute to lower vaccination rates, including …

August is National Immunization Awareness Month Read More »

CMS Proposes Policies to Provide Seniors with More Choices and Lower Costs for Surgeries

COVID-19 / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing several policies that would give Medicare beneficiaries more choices in where they seek care and lower their out-of-pocket costs for surgeries. The proposed rule takes steps that would allow hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to operate with better flexibility and patients to have what they …

CMS Proposes Policies to Provide Seniors with More Choices and Lower Costs for Surgeries Read More »

Telehealth Webinar on August 25: Telehealth Then & Now – A Provider’s Perspective

Upcoming & Past Events / Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, IPRO QIN-QIO, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events, Telehealth

Tuesday, August 25, 1-2PM EDT Part of the Telehealth Practice Innovations During the COVID-19 Pandemic Webinar Series Join us to learn the evolution of telehealth technology and how providers are using it during the pandemic. Our speaker will share provider challenges, barriers, lessons learned, and his experience consulting with nursing homes as they navigate telehealth. …

Telehealth Webinar on August 25: Telehealth Then & Now – A Provider’s Perspective Read More »

CMS Proposes to Expand Telehealth Benefits Permanently for Medicare Beneficiaries Beyond the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Advances Access to Care in Rural Areas

COVID-19 / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Telehealth

Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule would make permanent certain telehealth and workforce flexibilities provided during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and improve healthcare for Americans in Rural Areas The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing changes to expand telehealth permanently, consistent with the Executive Order on Improving Rural and Telehealth Access that …

CMS Proposes to Expand Telehealth Benefits Permanently for Medicare Beneficiaries Beyond the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Advances Access to Care in Rural Areas Read More »

CMS and CDC announce provider reimbursement available for counseling patients to self-isolate at time of COVID-19 testing

COVID-19 / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are announcing that payment is available to physicians and health care providers to counsel patients, at the time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing, about the importance of self-isolation after they are tested and prior to the onset …

CMS and CDC announce provider reimbursement available for counseling patients to self-isolate at time of COVID-19 testing Read More »

Resources: Bringing Attention to Health Equity for People with Disabilities

Materials & News / CMS, Coalitions, Health Equity, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office (MMCO) is sharing messages and materials on supporting equal opportunities and inclusion for people with disabilities, many of whom are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. On July 26, 1990 the ADA was enacted to prohibit discrimination against …

Resources: Bringing Attention to Health Equity for People with Disabilities Read More »

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls: August 11-14

Upcoming & Past Events / Chronic Disease, CMS, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Dialysis, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls: August 11-14 Read More »

CMS Updates Data on COVID-19 Impacts on Medicare Beneficiaries

COVID-19 / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

On July 28, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its first monthly update of data that provides a snapshot of the impact of COVID-19 on the Medicare population. For the first time, the snapshot includes data for American Indian/Alaskan Native Medicare beneficiaries. The new data indicate that American Indian/Alaskan Native beneficiaries …

CMS Updates Data on COVID-19 Impacts on Medicare Beneficiaries Read More »

COVID-19 Workshop on August 6: COVID-19 & Telehealth Advance Care Conversations

Upcoming & Past Events / Advance Care Planning, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, IPRO QIN-QIO, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events, Telehealth

Thursday, August 6, 2020, 10:30-11:00 AM EDT Our COVID-19 Workshop Series continues on Thursdays, 10:30 – 11:00 am. Join us as Michele Carignan, RN and Courtney Lamothe, MSW, LCSW from Continuum Care of Rhode Island, discuss the importance of advance care conversations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning Objectives: Recognize the importance and challenges of having …

COVID-19 Workshop on August 6: COVID-19 & Telehealth Advance Care Conversations Read More »

Home Health QRP COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet is Available

Home Health / CMS, Home Health

The Home Health COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet is now available. This tip sheet is designed to assist Home Health providers in understanding the status of the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (QRP) during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Also provided is practical guidance to address Home Health quality data submission requirements starting July 1, …

Home Health QRP COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet is Available Read More »

OCR Issues Guidance on Civil Rights Protections Prohibiting Race, Color, and National Origin Discrimination During COVID-19

CMS / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

Today, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is issuing guidance to ensure that recipients of federal financial assistance understand that they must comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in HHS-funded …

OCR Issues Guidance on Civil Rights Protections Prohibiting Race, Color, and National Origin Discrimination During COVID-19 Read More »

Telehealth Webinar on August 11: Medicare Billing and Coding for Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Upcoming & Past Events / Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, IPRO QIN-QIO, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events, Telehealth

August 11, 1-2pm EDT Part of the Telehealth Practice Innovations During the COVID-19 Pandemic Webinar Series Learn how to bill Medicare for expanded telehealth services under the CMS 1135 Waiver. The presentation, by Susan Whittaker, CPC, CPMA, Senior Program Coordinator, Healthcentric Advisors will include information on: Medicare telehealth coding and billing based on care setting …

Telehealth Webinar on August 11: Medicare Billing and Coding for Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic Read More »

Telehealth Webinar on July 28: Telehealth 101 & Lay of the Land

Upcoming & Past Events / Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, IPRO QIN-QIO, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events, Telehealth

Tuesday, July 28, 1-2pm EDT Part of the Telehealth Practice Innovations During the COVID-19 Pandemic Webinar Series An overview of telehealth, presented by Reid Plimpton, MPH, Program Manager of the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center. Learn about: The Telehealth Resource Center’s mission Strategies for implementation Telehealth modalities, uses, value and costs Associated laws Real-life examples Materials …

Telehealth Webinar on July 28: Telehealth 101 & Lay of the Land Read More »

Webinar Series: Telehealth Practice Innovations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Upcoming & Past Events / Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, IPRO QIN-QIO, Main-Coronavirus, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events, Telehealth

Join us for a telehealth webinar series on alternating Tuesdays, 1-2pm EDT through November 3, 2020.

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – July

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – July Read More »

HHS Telemedicine Hack

Upcoming & Past Events / CMS, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events, Telehealth

A 10-week learning community to accelerate telemedicine implementation for ambulatory providers Wednesdays, July 22—Sept 23, 12-1PM ET Although telemedicine use has grown exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic, many ambulatory providers still lack the knowledge and skills needed to implement video-based telemedicine into their practices. To support wide adoption of telemedicine, the U.S. Department of Health …

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CDC COVID-19 Webinar on July 29: Promising Practices in Health Equity

Materials & News, Upcoming & Past Events / CDC, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Health Equity, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

July 29, 2020 @ 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET Please join the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for another webinar focused on sharing promising public health practices to reduce COVID-19 related disparities. During this webinar, presenters will discuss actions taken to mitigate the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minorities. Additionally, …

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CMS Call on July 17: COVID-19 Lessons from the Front Lines Call

Upcoming & Past Events / CMS, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 (Twice a month on Fridays at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern) Lessons from the Front Lines calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians are invited to share their experience, ideas, …

CMS Call on July 17: COVID-19 Lessons from the Front Lines Call Read More »

New England Town Hall on July 29: Substance Use & COVID-19: A Way Forward

Upcoming & Past Events / CMS, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

July 29, 2020 @ 2-3:30PM EDT The US. Department of Health & Human Services hosted a New England Virtual Town Hall with the U.S. Surgeon General, VADM Jerome M. Adams, MD, MPH, entitled Substance Use and COVID-19: A Way Forward. This virtual, live New England Town Hall was designed to help our region chart a …

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COVID-19 Workshop on July 16: Resiliency – Coping & Recovering During a Pandemic

Upcoming & Past Events / Behavioral Health & Opioids, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, IPRO QIN-QIO, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

Thursday, July 16, 2020, 10:30-11:00 AM EDT Our COVID-19 Workshop Series continues on Thursdays, 10:30 – 11:00 am. Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties—so what does that look like across the health care spectrum during this pandemic? Join us as we discuss fostering community resilience and how it impacts those you serve. …

COVID-19 Workshop on July 16: Resiliency – Coping & Recovering During a Pandemic Read More »

CMS Proposes Medicare Payment Changes to Support Innovation and Increased Access for Dialysis in the Home Setting

Home Health / Chronic Disease, CMS, COVID-19, Dialysis, Home Health

Rule proposes improved process to pay for innovative dialysis equipment and support home dialysis for Medicare’s most vulnerable population Today, the Trump Administration took dramatic steps to support access to home dialysis through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes to the Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS). Building …

CMS Proposes Medicare Payment Changes to Support Innovation and Increased Access for Dialysis in the Home Setting Read More »

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 6/29/20 and July

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 6/29/20 and July Read More »

Webinar on June 30: Berkshire HealthCare Systems’ COVID-19 Journey – Getting to the Gold

Upcoming & Past Events / Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, IPRO QIN-QIO, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

June 30, 2020 @ 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT The COVID-19 pandemic created enormous pressure on our health care system. Nursing Homes, where over 85% of the residents are among the most vulnerable, were immediately impacted with several thousand residents confirmed positive in only a few weeks. As of June 18th, Massachusetts reported over …

Webinar on June 30: Berkshire HealthCare Systems’ COVID-19 Journey – Getting to the Gold Read More »

COVID-19 Workshop on July 2: Nourishing the Mind, Body, & Soul During COVID-19

Upcoming & Past Events / Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, IPRO QIN-QIO, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

Providing Compassionate Food & Nutrition Services Thursday, July 2, 2020, 10:30-11:00 AM EDT Our COVID-19 Workshop Series continues on Thursdays, 10:30 – 11:00 am. Join us for a COVID-19 Workshop on July 2 as we host a conversation with registered dieticians. Together, we’ll learn about: Successful practices to stabilize resident food intake Monitoring and managing …

COVID-19 Workshop on July 2: Nourishing the Mind, Body, & Soul During COVID-19 Read More »

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 6/15/20

Upcoming & Past Events / CMS, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 6/15/20 Read More »

COVID-19 Workshop on June 18: Health Equity & COVID-19 – Mitigating Impacts on Minority Populations

Materials & News, Upcoming & Past Events / Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Health Equity, Home Health, Hospitals, IPRO QIN-QIO, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

Thursday, June 18, 2020, 10:30-11:00 AM EDT Our COVID-19 Workshop Series continues on Thursdays, 10:30 – 11:00 am. Join us on June 18 at 10:30am for a COVID-19 workshop on health equity. Better understand how and why COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting minority and vulnerable populations Learn actionable strategies for mitigating the impact of the pandemic …

COVID-19 Workshop on June 18: Health Equity & COVID-19 – Mitigating Impacts on Minority Populations Read More »

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 6/1/20

Upcoming & Past Events / CMS, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 6/1/20 Read More »

Resources for Mental Health Month

Materials & News / Behavioral Health & Opioids, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Physician Office, Resources

May is Mental Health Month, and we want to recognize the unique position frontline health workers are in during this pandemic and what kind of toll that takes on their mental wellness. As it is, those in health care face high rates of burn out. But now they’re even more at risk for negative mental …

Resources for Mental Health Month Read More »

CMS Gives States Additional Flexibility to Address Coronavirus Pandemic

COVID-19 / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

CMS has approved over 200 requests for state relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including recent approvals for Alaska, Iowa, Hawaii, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and Virginia. These approvals help to ensure that states have the tools they need to combat COVID-19. This is done through a wide variety of …

CMS Gives States Additional Flexibility to Address Coronavirus Pandemic Read More »

Medicare Payment for COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests

COVID-19 / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

Earlier this year, CMS took action to ensure America’s patients, health care facilities, and clinical laboratories were prepared to respond to COVID-19. To help increase testing, CMS developed two codes that laboratories can use to bill for certain COVID-19 lab tests, including serology tests. CMS has updated its guidance to include payment details for additional …

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CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 5/18/20

CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – Week of 5/18/20 Read More »

AHRQ’s COVID-19 Resources

Materials & News / Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Resources

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) shares a new online resource that provides access to critical research and tools related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resource was developed to support healthcare professionals in their effort to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes: tools and resources for improving clinical practice in hospitals, ambulatory care …

AHRQ’s COVID-19 Resources Read More »

May 11-15: CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls

May 11-15: CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls Read More »

CMS News Summary – MAY 7, 2020

COVID-19 / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

Here is a summary of recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) actions taken in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19, click here www.coronavirus.gov. For information specific to …

CMS News Summary – MAY 7, 2020 Read More »

RIDOH Shares Personal Protective Equipment Videos

COVID-19 / Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

Personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators (like N95s), facemasks (such as surgical masks), face shields and other eye protection, gowns, and gloves, are in short supply across the United States. Until appropriate PPE is available, the Rhode Island Department of Health provide guidance on the prioritization and conservation of PPE. Watch these educational videos on …

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CMS Releases Updated Fact Sheets

COVID-19 / CMS, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

CMS has updated multiple fact sheets that summarize changes made through regulatory actions in response to COVID-19. View more resources available on CMS waivers and flexibilities here. A full list of emergency declaration blanket waivers for health care providers implemented to date is available here. Additional fact sheets include: Clinicians: Physicians and Other Practitioners (PDF) …

CMS Releases Updated Fact Sheets Read More »

May 12 Webinar: Rural Health and COVID-19

Upcoming & Past Events / CMS, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 4-5:00pm EST Delivering healthcare in rural communities presents unique challenges that have always required coordination and innovation. Now, more than ever, it is essential that rural communities and healthcare providers have access to the resources they need to combat COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) …

May 12 Webinar: Rural Health and COVID-19 Read More »

CMS COVID-19 Calls: May 5-8, 2020

CMS COVID-19 Calls: May 5-8, 2020 Read More »

Weekly COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls

CMS hosts weekly calls for certain types of organizations to provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. One to two leaders in the field also share best practices with their peers. There is an opportunity to ask questions of presenters if time allows. Home Health and Hospice (Tuesdays at 3:00 PM Eastern) Tuesday, …

Weekly COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls Read More »

Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 (Fridays at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern)

Upcoming & Past Events / CMS, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events

Lessons from the Front Lines calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians are invited to share their experience, ideas, strategies, and insights with one another related to their COVID-19 response. There is an opportunity to ask …

Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 (Fridays at 12:30 – 2:00 PM Eastern) Read More »

CDC’s LTC Mini-Webinars

Materials & News / CDC, Coalition Events, Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Center Events, Nursing Centers, Physician Office, Physician Office Events, PPE, Resources

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) long-term care (LTC) mini-webinars are now live! These mini-webinars are all published on the Key Strategies to Prepare for COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs) web page at the bottom under a “Webinar Series” section. View the handout (PDF). These new webinars will be a great training …

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How to Protect Yourself & Others

COVID-19 / Coalitions, COVID-19, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Centers, Physician Office

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared information and tips on COVID-19. This includes information on how COVID-19 spreads and safety tips everyone should practice.