DRCHSD Monthly Newsletter - February 2023
DRCHSD Monthly Newsletter - February 2023
The DRCHSD Team has many educational events in store for program participants in the upcoming months. Be on the lookout for the following events.
Behavioral Health Toolkit Webinar
Description: This webinar will share materials that focus on stopping the stigma associated with mental health and starting the conversation about behavioral health.
Date & Time: Thursday, March 2 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST
Telehealth Webinar Part 1: Remote Patient Monitoring
Description: Hear from two DRCHSD peers on how they implemented and used remote patient monitoring (RPM) in their rural hospitals.
Date & Time: Thursday, March 16 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST
Telehealth Webinar Part 2: Telehealth for Older Adults
Date & Time: Thursday, March 23 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST
National Health Services Corps Webinar
Description: Learn how to apply to become a National Health Service Corps (NRHC) site. NHSC-approved sites provide outpatient, primary health care services to people in health professional shortages areas.
Date & Time: Thursday, March 30 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Webinar Part 1: Welcome to FORHP!
Description: Hear more about the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) priorities and programs, including community-based programs that could serve your rural residents.
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 5 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Webinar Part 2: Federal Grants 101
Description: How do I search for a federal grant? What’s a NOFO and how do I use it? What makes for a successful federal grant application? These questions and more will be answered on this webinar.
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 12 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CST
Delta Region Community Health Systems Development (DRCHSD) Program 2023 Annual Summit Event
Each September the DRCHSD Program holds its annual Summit Event.
For the last three years, due to the pandemic, we have held this event virtually. This year, for the first time since 2018, we will host the summit in person on Wednesday, September 13, and Thursday, September 14 at the Hilton Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee.
As a reminder, it is a program requirement that each actively participating cohort member CEO and Community Champion attend this event.
Please expect to see a save-the-date and more information in your inbox in the coming weeks. Should you have any questions about the 2023 Summit, please email Caleb Lozinski.
Telehealth Policy Update
The Health Resources and Services Administration's Office for the Advancement of Telehealth has released guidance in relation to policy changes after the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency. Several of the highlights are shown below however refer to the article for a more detailed description and additional guidance.
Permanent Medicare changes
- Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs) can serve as distant site providers for behavioral/mental telehealth services.
- Rural hospital emergency departments are accepted as originating sites.
Temporary Medicare changes through December 31, 202
- Federally qualified health center (FQHC)/rural health clinic (RHC) can serve as a distant site provider for non-behavioral/mental telehealth services.
- An in-person visit within six months of an initial behavioral/mental telehealth service, and annually thereafter, is not required.
- Telehealth services can be provided by a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, or audiologist.
Temporary changes through the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Medicare-covered providers may use any non-public-facing application to communicate with patients without risking any federal penalties — even if the application isn’t in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Monthly Delta Spotlight
Stepping Up - Health Equity in Rural Hospitals Podcast Series
Description: This four-part podcast series brings together a variety of voices to discuss the steps rural hospitals can take to implement sustainable health equity programs and efforts.
Series Objectives:
- Understand the importance of and learn tips for establishing an internal culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Identify and cultivate diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders within the organization and community.
- Understand the importance of data for identifying and addressing disparities and learn best practices for collecting and using information.
- Recall and utilize examples of successful efforts and appropriate data in rural community health equity programs and initiatives.
Recently Held Webinars
DRCHSD Revenue Cycle Improvements Part I: Front and Back-End Cycle Management Best Practices
Description: This session reviewed the top revenue cycle challenges hospitals are facing in today’s environment and provided best practices in the areas of the front and back end of the revenue cycle.
Description: This session provided attendees with best practices managers should attempt to implement for middle revenue cycle functions and social determinants of health in order to succeed in today’s healthcare environment.
DRCHSD Revenue Cycle Improvements Part III: Physician Practice Management Best Practices
Description: Physician practices and rural health clinics (RHCs) face operational and reimbursement changes constantly. This session provided attendees with best practices managers should attempt to implement for operational success and maximization of reimbursement.