NARHC Newsletter | Winter 2023
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NARHC DC Office Updates
- 2023 Regulatory Updates for RHCs
- Congress Passes FY2023 Omnibus
- NARHC Policy Survey Launched
- RHC COVID-19 Testing & Mitigation Closeout Reporting is Live!
- NARHC Virtual Office Hours 2023
- CMS Delays Enforcement on Phase II of Good Faith Estimate Policy
- 2020 Census Changes Leave Rural Health Clinics in Legal Grey Area
Noteworthy News
- NARHC 2023 Spring Institute
- NARHC Store Opening: Save the Date
- NEW! Job Board with 3RNet
- CRHCP Spring 2023 Registration
- Welcome: NARHC BOD Officers
- Upcoming Webinar: Maintaining Compliance in Your RHC
Member Spotlight
- Ron Nelson Award Winner: Kate Hill
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Consultant's Corner
- 9 Reasons Why Mental Health Care in Rural America is Vital & How You Can Do It!
- Mental Health in Rural America and How to Utilize Patient Engagement Technology
- Can the Endemic Turn Pandemic with the Return of Vaccine Resistant Sub-Variants?
- Medicare Cost Report Year End Rate Reviews
- Loan Repayment Options for Healthcare Professionals
- Annual Wellness Visits, Preventative Services and RHCs
- What is Keeping You from a Perfect Survey
- Improving Chronic Opioid Management in Primary Care
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2023 Regulatory Updates for RHCs |
In November 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule. This year’s rule finalizes several Rural Health Clinic (RHC) policies originally proposed in July 2022, which NARHC summarized READ MORE.
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Congress Passes FY2023 Omnibus |
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, also known as the yearly “Omnibus” package which will fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2023 passed in late December, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown.
Several provisions impacting Rural Health Clinics appeared in the final legislative text. READ MORE
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NARHC Policy Survey Launched
Help to Guide 2023 Policy Objectives
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NARHC is seeking important metrics from the RHC community to guide our advocacy work entering 2023, specifically on Medicare Advantage and telehealth impacts on the rural communities RHCs serve. We ask that one representative from your organization complete this brief survey with calendar year 2022 data.
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RHC COVID-19 Testing & Mitigation Closeout Reporting is Live! |
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NARHC Virtual Office Hours 2023 Dates Released! |
NARHC staff will continue biweekly office hour sessions throughout 2023! Please join us every other Wednesday at 1 pm EST via Zoom to ask NARHC DC Staff any RHC questions you may have. We welcome any RHC-related questions, such as policy questions, billing questions, RHC COVID-19 program questions, and much more!
For an updated list of all 2023 dates and the Zoom link, CLICK HERE.
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CMS Delays Enforcement on Phase II of Good Faith Estimate Policy
4th Set of FAQs Released
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In early December, CMS released guidance stating that the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) requirement to include cost estimates for co-providers/co-facilities set to go into effect January 1, 2023 has been delayed. While we acknowledge that the GFE requirements in place since January 1, 2022, continue to present an administrative burden to many RHCs, we are pleased that CMS has not added further complexity to the process at this point. READ MORE
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2020 Census Changes Leave Rural Health Clinics in Legal Grey Area |
Since the inception of the RHC program in 1977, the Rural Health Clinic program has used the Census Bureau’s definition of “urbanized area” to determine if a site met the rurality requirements to establish an RHC. Specifically, the RHC statute says:
For the purposes of this title, such term includes only a facility which (i) is located in an area that is not an urbanized area (as defined by the Bureau of the Census)…READ MORE
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“We believe that hosting 3RNET’s nationwide rural health-specific job board on our website will help both employers and employees find career opportunities in rural health and we are excited to begin this partnership,” said Nathan Baugh, Executive Director of NARHC. |
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3RNET and the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC) are pleased to announce their successful website integration launch. Jobs posted to 3RNET.org from rural health clinics (RHCs) and critical access hospitals (CAHs) nationwide are now automatically added to the NARHC website through technology powered by 3RNET.
“This technology allows jobs to immediately be live on both websites and furthers the reach of job openings at RHCs and CAHs without adding any extra steps. We’re excited to work with our partner, NARHC, to enhance our aligned missions of serving rural communities,” said Mike Shimmens, 3RNET Executive Director.
View and post available RHC positions HERE.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS |
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9 Reasons Why Mental Health Care in Rural America is Vital & How You Can Do It! |
Look around any corner, and you will see suffering souls. There has been a decline in the mental health of our daughters and sons, friends and families. Whether it is an increase in suicide rates, substance abuse, acts of violence, or depression, our cores continue to be shaken. READ MORE
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Mental Health in Rural America and How to Utilize Patient Engagement Technology |
With recent cultural shifts there has thankfully been a gradual increase in mental health awareness across the United States. The awareness sheds light on the need for better mental health care and access to behavioral health services like counseling, therapy, psychiatry, social services etc. READ MORE
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Can the Endemic Turn Pandemic with the Return of Vaccine Resistant Sub-Variants? |
We are now in what some have considered the endemic – a time following the pandemic where the virus is still around consistently, but it is not affecting our daily lives. However, others are warning that we shouldn’t get too comfortable. Sub variants are threatening a comeback, and unfortunately studies show that the current vaccinations are no match for them. READ MORE
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Medicare Cost Report Year End Rate Reviews
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
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This Christmas many rural health clinics (RHC) awoke to find the equivalent of a lump of coal in their stocking in the form of a letter from Medicare asking for relatively large amounts of Medicare monies to be paid back within 15 days or the clinics Medicare money would be withheld. Various Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) handled this process differently... READ MORE
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Loan Repayment Options for Healthcare Professionals
Are you utilizing these free loan repayment programs for your healthcare staff?
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As we enter the first quarter of 2023, two federal loan repayment programs are opening in the first quarter: Nurse Corps (opened 1/10/2023) and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). The NHSC Loan Repayment Program is continuing their funding level at $800 million for the next application cycle in 2023, equal to that of 2021 and 2022. READ MORE
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Annual Wellness Visits, Preventative Services and RHCs |
As Accountable Care Organizations become more prevalent in Rural Health Clinics across the country, many are considering how they can fit Annual Wellness Visits into already full schedules. Many feel it is impossible to add MORE services while short-staffed. Providers and administrators do not see the value of these since, as RHCs, we only are paid ONE encounter with “dual” visits. READ MORE
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What is Keeping You from a Perfect Survey |
In the busy day to day activities of running your RHC, quite often staying in compliance is not at the top of the priority list. If you are State surveyed, you never know when you are in the window and due for survey. Thus, taking time to review a few key elements prior to survey can mean the difference between having to deal with a Plan of Corrective or attaining a perfect score. READ MORE
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Improving Chronic Opioid Management in Primary Care |
Has your clinic experienced the loss of a patient due to an opioid overdose? Have staff members voiced confusion about how patients on long-term opioid therapy are managed or expressed feelings of frustration and stress related to caring for this patient population? These challenges are real and unfortunately, can be devastating. However, there are proven actions clinics can take to address these concerns while improving the quality and safety of patient care delivery for their chronic pain patients on long-term opioid therapy. READ MORE
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NARHC Members may contribute articles to the quarterly newsletter.
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