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2011 GRHA Board of Directors
President
Nannette Turner
Immediate Past President
Greg Dent
President Elect
Sallie Barker
Vice President
Denise Kornegay
Treasurer
Sheila Freeman
Secretary
Deidre Howell
Board Members
Ann Addison
Carla Belcher
Laura Bland Gillman
Johnny Grant
Sue Nieman
Charles Owens
Chris Parker
Rhett Partin
Caroline Holley Womack
Matt Caseman |
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NOTICE
To make hotel reservations at Callaway Gardens Lodge & Spa you will need to call this number: 706-489-3300 and ask for reservations. You will need to tell the reservation agent you are booking a room with the Georgia Rural Health Association Annual Conference and want the group rate. |
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GRHA Welcomes New Members
Platinum Corporate Sponsor
Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals
Student
Kathryn Smith
Individual
Dr. Anil T. Mangla |
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Certified EHR Technology and the EHR Incentive Programs
Eligible professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals participating in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs are required to use certified EHR technology in order to receive incentive payments. To get an incentive payment, you must use an EHR that is certified specifically for the EHR Incentive Programs. EHRs certified or qualified for other Medicare or Medicaid incentive programs may not be certified for this program.
To qualify as certified EHR technology for the EHR Incentive Programs, an EHR needs to be tested by one of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies, otherwise known as the ONC-ATCBs. If an EHR technology has been certified by an ONC-ATCB, it indicates to EPs and eligible hospitals that an EHR technology has the capacities necessary to support their efforts to meet meaningful use goals and objectives.
Note: You do not need to already have certified EHR technology in place when you register for the EHR Incentive Programs. However, you will need to have meaningfully used your certified EHR technology to receive your first year Medicare incentive payment. Under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, you will need to have at least adopted (i.e., purchased or acquired) certified EHR technology in order to receive your first year incentive payment.
To see more details on certified EHR technology, visit the CMS website. If you would like to find a list of certified EHR technologies, see ONC's Certified Health IT Product List.
Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?
Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.
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For those of you who want to stay up to date through social networks, please join the Georgia Rural Health Association Facebook page and follow us on Twitter!   By joining our social media sites, you have the ability to stay updated on the latest rural health information in Georgia. Please help us spread the word! Thank you for your support and feel free to contact us with any questions. |
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MAG/GMGMA WORKSHOPS
The Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) in partnership with the Georgia Medical Group Management Association (GMGMA) will condut innovative CME-accredited workshops across the state in 2011.
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GRHA circulates state and national news as an information service only. Inclusion of information is not intended as an endorsement.
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GEORGIA RURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING & CONFERENCE
GRHA- KEEPIN' IT RURAL: 30 YEARS & COUNTING
Call for Abstracts -
Students Poster Session
Deadline Extended
Georgia Rural Health Association 2011 Awards of Excellence
Please visit our website for award descriptions and a Nomination Form. Completed nominations must be received by August 15, 2011.
Links are on our Homepage under GRHA Annual Meeting or
Call the GRHA home office- 478-552-3620 and request a form |
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Hometown Appreciation Reception
Kaolin Field, Sandersville, Georgia
July 28, 2011
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Representative Mack Jackson stops by to say hello |
 | | Senator Jesse Stone with GRHA members and friends |
 | | Guests enjoying conversation |
The Georgia Rural Health Association, headquartered in Sandersville, held a reception Thursday, July 28 from 5:30-6:30 pm at Kaolin Field to honor and thank the city of Sandersville for being a terrific host city. Guests included Washington County local officials, physicians, commissioners, members of the Georgia Rural Health Association, and friends. We were honored to have Representative Mack Jackson and Senator Jesse Stone visit the reception.
The Georgia Rural Health Association would like to thank Kaolin Aviation Services for the use of their new facility, Kaolin Field and Mr. Ray Lawrence for all his help in making the day a success. |
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Advocates: Better system for rural health transit could be funded through penny sales tax for transportation
Two of Georgia's leading advocacy groups for the disabled have come out in favor of many findings in the state's draft report on how to improve the system that transports the poor, elderly and disabled from home to health care in rural Georgia. "It is a terrific start and we look forward to working with you," concludes a letter by the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia.
The advocates contend that the state's $138 million a year rural health care transit program would be eligible to receive funding from the proposed penny sales tax for transportation - if some recommendations outlined in the report are enacted. The first step in moving Georgia in that direction could come Aug. 10.
On that date, the Governor's Development Council is slated to adopt its final report on rural health transit. The GDC is, essentially, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. And the report on rural health transit was mandated by the same state law that provides for the proposed penny sales tax for transportation that will be on ballots statewide in 2012.
Read full article by David Pendered |
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Screening for gestational diabetes covered with no cost sharing
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced historic new guidelines yesterday that will ensure women receive screening for GDM during pregnancy with no cost sharing. As part of the Affordable Care Act, the Committee on Preventive Services for Women was convened by the Institute of Medicine and tasked with identifying gaps in screenings and services for women that should be considered in the development of comprehensive guidelines for preventive services for women.
The Committee issued their final report which included eight specific recommendations on July 19th. The recommendation adopted by HHS requires screening for GDM in pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation and at the first prenatal visit for pregnant women identified to be at high risk for diabetes. Coverage for GDM screening with no cost sharing will be required for new health plans with plan years beginning on or after August 1, 2012. Today's decision ensures that millions of American women will have coverage for this important screening which will help both mother and child receive proper early treatment for gestational diabetes, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes.
Brittany Freeman
State Advocacy Director, Southeast
American Diabetes Association
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A doctor who couldn't afford to stay in Georgia
Laramie, Wyoming, is a long way from Waycross, Georgia.
Dr. Joel Higgins has mixed feelings about departing the Peach State. Born in Augusta, he practiced in Waycross as an ob/gyn from 2001 until last December. "I'm leaving with a bitter taste,'' Higgins says. "I like Georgia.''
But a deteriorating financial situation drove him to move to Wyoming, he says.
During his time in Waycross, Higgins says, "my income dropped a fair amount.''
"It was hard to see that it was going to get significantly better,'' he says now.
Roughly 70 percent of Higgins' Waycross patients were on Medicaid, the government insurance program for the poor and disabled. Medicaid, which covers most of the births in Georgia, has not raised its reimbursements rates to doctors in 10 years. And this year, that pay is being cut by 0.5 percent.
Read article from Georgia Health News |
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Free Webinar Series
'Issues in Rural Health Planning'
Details
Fifth Annual National Conference on Health Communications, Marketing, and Media
August 9 - 11, 2011
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, GA
Information
2011 GeorgiaForward Forum: Creating an Innovation Agenda for Georgia
August 17-18, 2011
The Lodge at Callaway Gardens
Registration & More Information
"Diabetes Update 2011: Current Trends, Treatments and Practices"
When: August 24, 2011
Where: Warner Robins Conference Center
Sponsored by: Houston Health Care & Magnolia Coastlands AHEC
Details
Georgia Rural Health Association Annual Conference
September 19-21,2011
Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA
2011 11th Annual Primary Care and Prevention Conference
Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health
September 22-23, 2011
Atlanta Airport Marriot Gateway Hotel
Atlanta, GA
Registration & Information
ANNA FALL MEETING 2011
For Nephrology Nurses, Managers, and Advanced Practice Nurses
September 24-26, 2011
Hilton Atlant
Atlanta, GA
Register by August 12, 2011 to take advantage of reduced rates
Rural Health Clinic and Critical Access Hospital Conferences
September 27-30, 2011
Kansas City, MO
Details and Registration Information
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of GA
Annual Meeting & Conference
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
9am - 3:30pm
Clayton State University- Student Activities Center
Morrow, GA
Flyer |
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