Worldwide, 47 million people are living with Alzheimer's and other dementias. Throughout the month of June, the Alzheimer's Association helps spread global awareness of its vision of a world without Alzheimer's. The highlight of this month is the celebration of The Longest Day on June 21 when the Alzheimer's Association encourages everyone to "Go Purple" to show their support to end Alzheimer's -- one of the most common diseases impacting the brain.

Show your support by using #GoPurple and #ENDALZ on social media. Click here for more information and resources related to this and other health observances in June.

The session includes reading the Medication Management Focused BPIP, online activities, and an evaluation and post-test. There are 2.0 nursing Continuing Education credits (CEs) approved by the Alabama State Nurses Association. Certificate of attendance is available for all other disciplines.

On May 26, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed to modernize Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) managed care regulations to update the programs' rules and strengthen the delivery of quality care for beneficiaries.  This proposed rule is the first major update to Medicaid and CHIP managed care regulations in more than a decade.  It would improve beneficiary communications and access, provide new program integrity tools, support state efforts to deliver higher quality care in a cost-effective way, and better align Medicaid and CHIP managed care rules and practices with other sources of health insurance coverage.

To learn more, visit www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2015-Fact-sheets-items/2015-26-05.html.

On May 26, 2015, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced awards of $112 million to regional cooperatives to work with about 5,000 primary care professionals in 12 states to improve the heart health of their nearly 8 million patients. AHRQ's EvidenceNOW initiative will help primary care practices in both urban and rural communities use the latest evidence to encourage Better Care, Smarter Spending, and Healthier People.

For more information about AHRQ's EvidenceNOW initiative, including details on each of the grantees and cooperatives, visit www.ahrq.gov/evidencenow.html.

On May 28, 2015, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced a unique opportunity for physician practices to decrease cardiovascular disease risk for tens of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries by assessing an individual patient's risks for heart attack or stroke and working with them to reduce those risks.

Currently, providers are paid to meet specific blood pressure, cholesterol or other targets for their patients as a group. In a new approach, the Million HeartsŪ model will use a data-driven, widely accepted predictive modelling approach to generate personalized risk scores and modification plans for patients, and providers will be paid for reducing the absolute risk for heart disease or stroke among their high-risk patients.

For eligibility and application details, visit http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Million-Hearts-CVDRRM.
 

Click here to view and listen to previously presented webinars by the Joint Commission Home Care team and guest panelists on a variety of topics, including:

• I'm Accredited; Now What? A Guide to The Supportive Resources Available for Newly Accredited Home Care Providers
• Strategies to Address the 10 Most Commonly Cited Home Care Standards
• Leading Practices to Improve Staff Compliance in Home Care
• Preparing for Your First Home Care Resurvey; What to Expect and Lessons Learned from Other Providers

The IHI Open School offers a collection of free resources including improvement stories, videos, publications, tools, audio clips, activities, and links to recommended websites. Resources are designed for individual and group use.

Check out IHI Open School's newly updated activities, which now include learning objectives, discussion questions, and facilitator guides.

The Collaboration for Homecare Advances in Management and Practice (CHAMP) Program was the first national initiative to advance geriatric home care excellence. CHAMP's valuable resources and e-presentations are still available online.