TASC Events

This list includes upcoming and past Technical Assistance and Services Center (TASC) events. Generally, the intended audience for live TASC events is State Office of Rural Health Directors and Flex Program Coordinators. Recordings posted in the past events list are available for anyone's use.

Virtual Knowledge Group recordings are available in the Flex Program Forum instead of the past events list below.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Workshop

FORHP Flex Program Workshop

April 23, 2019 to April 25, 2019

Fitger's Duluth Lakefront Hotel

The goal of the FORHP Flex Program Workshop is to provide new or existing Flex Program staff an orientation to the Flex Program. Attendance at this event is open only to state Flex grantees.

Upcoming TASC 90 Webinar

EMS Flex Supplemental Funding Projects

May 15, 2019

The tentative topic of the May TASC 90 is an update on the Flex supplemental funding EMS projects. This quarterly webinar will include updates from TASC, RQITA, FMT and FORHP, to include both the Flex Program and policies impacting critical access hospitals (CAHs).

Upcoming Flex Virtual Knowledge Group

Health Equity

June 3, 2019

The tentative topic for the June Flex VKG is Health Equity. Flex VKG webinars provide a forum for state Flex Programs to share successes, discuss challenges and brainstorm strategies for improvement and Flex Program excellence.

Upcoming Reverse Site Visit

2019 Flex Program Reverse Site Visit (RSV)

July 10, 2019 to July 11, 2019

Washington Marriot Wardman Park

Save the date for the 2019 Flex Program Reverse Site Visit (RSV), scheduled for July 10-11, 2019 in Washington, DC with a pre-event workshop on July 9 on the topic of EMS.

Upcoming Flex Virtual Knowledge Group

Grant Logistics: Closing out the Flex Grant Year

August 5, 2019

The tentative topic for the August Flex VKG is Grant Logistics: Closing out the Flex Grant Year. Flex VKG webinars provide a forum for state Flex Programs to share successes, discuss challenges and brainstorm strategies for improvement and Flex Program excellence.

Upcoming TASC 90 Webinar

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

August 14, 2019

The tentative topic of the August TASC 90 webinar is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This quarterly webinar will include updates from TASC, RQITA, FMT and FORHP, to include both the Flex Program and policies impacting CAHs.

Past Events

Past TASC 90 Webinar

Fighting the Opioid Crisis

May 16, 2018

Learn about the development and outcomes of a hospital initiative to manage overuse of pain management in the ED. Understand the role that Flex has played in supporting their community engagement initiatives, including resources and opportunities for Flex to address substance abuse challenges.

Past Flex Virtual Knowledge Group

Community Health Workers and Their Role in the Transition to Value

May 2, 2018

Learn about what Community Health Workers (CHWs) are and their role in the transition to value. Hear how Flex Programs can support CHW initiatives. Hear how and why CAHs are using CHWs.

Past Webinar

Fiscal Year 2018 Flex Program Appropriations

April 24, 2018

Hear from FORHP about the implications of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 for the Flex Program.

Past MBQIP Virtual Knowledge Group

Supporting CAHs with Additional MBQIP Measures

April 19, 2018

Learn how Flex Programs are supporting CAHs with quality improvement on additional MBQIP measures.

Past Webinar

FY2018 Flex Grant Extension Technical Assistance Webinar

March 19, 2018

Learn about the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Flex grant funding process and progress report instructions from FORHP in this recorded webinar.

Past MBQIP Virtual Knowledge Group

Patient and Family Engagement: HCAHPS and the Role of Flex

February 15, 2018

Learn how Flex Programs are setting goals with HCAHPS data. Hear about the Kansas Flex Program Patient Satisfaction Learning Community project and related resources. Hear a discussion about promising practices for HCAHPS improvement and updates related to an electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) pilot and the Abstracting for Accuracy project.

Past TASC 90 Webinar

Outputs and Outcomes for Flex Program Success

February 14, 2018

Understand the history, theory and integration of process improvement in health care. Learn the difference between outputs and outcomes for Flex activities and discover where outputs and outcomes fit within Flex Program work and activities.

Past Webinar

National Healthcare Safety Network Annual Facility Survey for CAHs

February 7, 2018

View a webinar recording from FORHP and CDC to provide additional information about completion of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Annual Facility Survey and its use in monitoring implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs.

Past Rural HIT Coalition

Cybersecurity, Broadband and HIT in Substance Use Prevention and Treatment

February 6, 2018

View a summary from a National Rural HIT Coalition in-person meeting with state and federal updates. Discussion topics included education outreach for cybersecurity, broadband and HIT in substance use prevention and treatment.

Past Flex Virtual Knowledge Group

Leveraging CAHMPAS for CAH Success: State Use Cases

February 1, 2018

Understand the value of CAHMPAS and discuss different ways states are utilizing CAHMPAS. Learn best practices and tips for getting the most out of your CAHMPAS experience and hear about upcoming CAHMPAS developments.

Past Webinar

Fiscal Year 2016 PIMS Data Report Out

January 25, 2018

This webinar recording will help the viewer understand how FOHRP is analyzing fiscal year (FY) 2015 and FY 2016 PIMS data reported by Flex Program and learn ways to use PIMS data and combine data from other sources to show Flex impact.

Past Webinar

The Flex Program: Looking Ahead

January 18, 2018

This webinar recording will help the viewer understand plans for Flex Program planning. Hear ideas for Flex Program future direction. Explore environmental scan data reflecting the current state of critical access hospitals and the national Flex Program.

Past Flex Virtual Knowledge Group

Capturing CAH Finance: Leveraging Data for CAH Financial Improvement

January 8, 2018

Know where to find resources to support CAH financial improvement. Discuss different ways states are utilizing tools and leveraging relationships to improve financial performance within their CAHs. Understand the value of the CAHMPAS data query tool, CAHFIR and the use of subcontractors for financial improvement success.

Past MBQIP Virtual Knowledge Group

ED-1 and ED-2: Incorporating Inpatient ED Measures into MBQIP

December 21, 2017

Hear a discussion about the Inpatient ED measures (ED-1 and ED-2) new to MBQIP. Understand the basics, review currently available CAH data and discuss best practices for quality improvement. Also hear updates on antibiotic stewardship measures, National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) enrollment and upcoming changes to the MBQIP Data Reports.

Past Flex Virtual Knowledge Group

How a State Flex Program Can Prepare for an Impactful CAH Site Visit

December 4, 2017

Understand best practices for conducting a CAH site visit, discuss different ways states are utilizing tools and leveraging relationships to conduct a successful site visit and foster peer-to-peer sharing of CAH site visit templates, tools and resources.

Past TASC 90 Webinar

Flex Program Work with Rural Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)

November 8, 2017

Learn the performance observations and evidence of rural accountable care organization (ACO) involvement. Discover opportunities for state Flex Program involvement in supporting value-based models of care and understand the successes and challenges of rural ACOs and how the state Flex Program can play a supportive role.

Past Flex Virtual Knowledge Group

Utilizing the Core Competencies for State Flex Program Excellence

November 6, 2017

Review the purpose of the Core Competencies for Flex Program Excellence and how they relate to Flex grant requirements. Hear about the self-assessment and learn about technical assistance available from TASC to support development of the Core Competencies. Discover how Flex Programs are using them to improve their program performance.

Past MBQIP Virtual Knowledge Group

Immunization Strategies and National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Groups

October 12, 2017

Hear Flex Programs discuss CAH improvement strategies for immunization measures and the use of groups in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) for supporting MBQIP.

Past Webinar

Flex Program Supplemental Funding: Reporting and Evaluation Process

October 10, 2017

This webinar provides an overview of the Flex Program supplement, tasks, reporting requirements and timelines. Also, learn about the technical assistance TASC will provide related to supplemental activities.

Past Rural HIT Coalition

Educational Outreach for Cybersecurity and Population Health Information Sharing and Analysis Organization

August 31, 2017

View a summary from the National Rural HIT Coalition conference call with state and federal updates. Discussion topics included educational outreach for cybersecurity and Population Health Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (ISAO).

Past Webinar

Fiscal Year 2017 Flex Grant Notices of Award and PIMS Update

August 30, 2017

Webinar playback and materials related to Flex Fiscal Year 2017 Flex grant Notices of Award and PIMS. Content includes PIMS reporting instructions, screenshots and discussion of how to use the PIMS Data Collection Tool to organize program data for reporting.

Past MBQIP Virtual Knowledge Group

Antibiotic Stewardship

August 17, 2017

Learn about antibiotic stewardship. Hear a discussion about MBQIP successes, challenges and strategies to assist hospitals toward reporting, participating, improving and excelling across the four MBQIP domains.

Past TASC 90 Webinar

Preparing for the New Flex Program Year

August 9, 2017

Discover tips and best practices from TASC and FORHP for Flex Programs to wrap up the current Flex program year and start the new program year September 1. Also hear updates from TASC, FORHP, FMT and RQITA.

Past Flex Virtual Knowledge Group

Discussion About Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

August 7, 2017

Participate in a VKG discussion about the book Crucial Conversations which provides suggestions for skills and approaches that help identify and hold crucial conversations. Hear some best practices and learn about other approaches and general facilitation tips.

Past Reverse Site Visit

2017 Flex Program Reverse Site Visit

July 19, 2017 to July 20, 2017

Hyatt Regency Bethesda

View the presentations and materials from the 2017 Flex Program Reverse Site Visit (RSV). The annual RSV consists of the latest information about the Flex Program, including discussions related to delivering value in health care, the impact on CAHs and the sharing of best practices.

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This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB1RH24206, Information Services to Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Grantees, $1,100,000 (0% financed with nongovernmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.