News from GRHA

GRHA Newsletter
Week of June 15, 2012

www.grhainfo.org

Georgia Rural Health Association (GRHA) is the oldest state rural health association in the country. Founded in 1981, this nonprofit network of healthcare providers, educators, and individuals is united in its commitment to improve the health and healthcare services of rural Georgians. Join now!

FY 2012 GRHA Board of Directors

President

Sallie Barker

Immediate Past President

Nannette Turner

President Elect

Denise Kornegay

Vice President

Ann Addison

Treasurer

Sheila Freeman

Secretary

Deidre Howell

Board Members

Carla Belcher

Laura Bland Gillman

Sue Nieman

Charles Owens

Chris Parker

Carie Summers

Paula Guy

Monty M. Veazey

Shelley Spires

Joseph Barrow

Robert J. Briscione

Matt Caseman

Meet our Board of Directors

GRHA Welcomes

New Member

Individual Member

Alma Jones

Steve Wall

GRHA Corporate Members

The Physician Advisor Academy Regional Education Series

The Physician Advisor Academy offers specialized Continuing Medical Education for Physician Advisors. The live, regional education series will provide Physician Advisors helpful insights into building a Physician Advisor program, maintaining medical necessity compliance, ensuring strong physician documentation, achieving length of stay and standard of care excellence, and effectively managing denials.

FULL DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

New Funding Opportunity

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced available funding of $70 million to improve the health of small communities across the nation. Grants will be awarded to governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations across a variety of sectors, including transportation, housing, education, and public health, in an effort to save lives and control the nation's growing health care costs associated with preventable chronic diseases.

The official funding opportunity announcement for the Community Transformation Grant program Small Communities component can be found by clicking here.

Application closing date: July 31, 2012

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

Register for Version 5010 Webinar occurring on June 20, 2012

Please join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Regional Offices for an informative webinar on Version 5010 for health care providers, clearinghouses, vendors and others.

Version 5010 refers to the standards that HIPAA-covered entities must use when electronically conducting certain health care administrative transactions, such as claims, remittance, eligibility, and claims status requests and responses.

Health care organizations that submit transactions electronically are required to upgrade from Version 4010/4010A to Version 5010 transaction standards.

To be compliant, organizations must use Version 5010 to send and receive claims and all other HIPAA-adopted electronic transactions starting January 1, 2012; however, CMS has implemented an enforcement discretionary period, which is in effect through June 30, 2012.

WHAT: CMS Webinar

DATE: June 20, 2012

TIME: 10:00 am - 11:00 am EST

This event will allow you to learn more about:

Current Conversion Statistics
Final Preparations for 5010/D.0 Cutover
Operational Concerns
Future of EDI Communications
Resources and Contact Information

To register go to: http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms2

Community Facilities Funds Available from USDA

USDA, Rural Development Community Facilities Program

June Health Observances

Fireworks Safety Month

Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month

National Aphasia Awareness Month

National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month

National Safety Month

National Scleroderma Awareness Month

For those who want to stay up to date through social networks, please like 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.

Notice

GRHA circulates state and national news as an information service only. Inclusion of information is not intended as an endorsement.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

2012 Georgia Rural Health Association

Annual Conference

September 17 -19, 2012

Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA

2012 Annual conference logo

CALL FOR SPEAKER SESSIONS

Deadline extended to July 1, 2012

CALL FOR STUDENT POSTER SESSION

Deadline extended to September 7, 2012

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE NOMINATION APPLICATION

Deadline is August 1, 2012

Reservations: 1-888-312-8002

Ask for GRHA Rate

REGISTER FOR CONFERENCE NOW AND SAVE 50% ON FIRST YEAR GRHA MEMBERSHIP

OFFER AVAILABLE

MAY 21, 2012 TO AUG. 23, 2012

ATTENDEE

SPONSOR

NEW THIS YEAR!

3 New Sponsorship Opportunities

Presenting

Diamond

Platinum

Apply now to become a Rural Health Fellow

The goal of NRHA's Rural Health Fellows program is to educate, develop and inspire a networked community of rural health leaders who will step forward to serve key positions in the association, affiliated rural health advocacy groups and local and state legislative bodies.

The fellows meet in person three times throughout the year to take part in intensive leadership and advocacy training. Fellows also participate in monthly conference calls to supplement their training, receive updates on legislative and regulatory concerns that impact rural health, and take part in a mentorship program with current members of the NRHA Board of Trustees. Fellows should be committed to advocating on behalf of rural health and should be dedicated to NRHA's mission.

Applications are available here and the deadline for submission is Aug. 31. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. For more information, contact NRHA's manager of program services Gaby Boscan.

Interview: Improving Health Care in Rural Communities

13WMAZ News reports that Community Healthworks CEO Fred Ammons sat down with 13WMAZ to address some issues that Central Georgians face in rural communities, like Macon County.

Interview

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"Free Heart Disease and Prostate Cancer Resources for Men"

June is Men's Health Month, so GRHA is offering free information about treating heart disease and prostate cancer, which are two leading causes of death among men. Because deciding on treatments can be difficult, easy-to-read brochures are available to help you learn the benefits and risks of different treatment options and understand how each treatment option could affect your lifestyle. Ultimately, they will help you to work with your health care provider to make an informed decision based on your needs and preferences.

These resources, based on unbiased information from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), are available online and in print. Additional resources are also available on other health problems, such as diabetes, mental health, and other conditions that may affect you, your loved ones, or someone you know. Visit www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/options/info/ to download the brochures. The Web site also features patient stories and other tools you can use to make treatment choices. For free print copies of the brochures, call the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at 800-358-9295 and use code C-02 when ordering.

KHN Medicare Drug Discounts At Risk If Court Strikes Health Law

According to a drug industry spokeman, billions of dollars in drug savings for Medicare beneficiaries may come to an end if the Supreme Court overturns the 2010 federal health law.

The law provides "the necessary legal framework" for drug companies to slash brand-name drug prices by half for seniors and people with disabilities when they enter a coverage gap in their Medicare drug plans, said Matthew Bennett, a spokesman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Eventually the discounts grow so that the gap, known as the doughnut hole, is closed by 2020. But if the law goes, the discounts may go, too.

"Without that legal framework, there are many questions that arise about whether the discount program could continue," he said.

Full Story