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Moving? Notify QHN for Smooth Results Delivery Transition
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Physicians are back on the move. In the latest "Physicians on the Move" report, published annually since 2008 by SK&A, the move rate for 2013 was reported at 14.5 percent, up from 12.1 percent in 2012. The move-rate is on the increase from a low 11.8 percent in 2011. Low move rates indicate stability of employment among medical workers who, like professionals in other sectors, are unwilling or unable to make changes against the backdrop of an uncertain economy.
Each year, SK&A, a Cegedim global technology and services company that specializes in healthcare marketing information, publishes the "Physicians on the Move" report based on telephone interviews with 269,772 U.S. medical offices representing approximately 758,180 physicians. The 2013 report was based on a survey conducted between September 2012 and September 2013.
Attending to the details associated with a move, whether across town, adding a new practice location, or to another state, can be daunting. One important move notification all providers (physicians, PAs, NPs, CNMs, etc.) need to complete, in order to assure the continuity of care for their patients is not negatively impacted, is alerting QHN. Accurate, timely results delivery is a primary focus for QHN and accurate provider location information in our health information exchange system, your electronic address or mnemonic, is key to this secure process.
Please take the time to notify QHN with the details of your move as early in the transition process as possible by providing the following information to your account manager; the date of the move, the new location, whether the move will include a change in/or new EHR, and information on any new/additional hospital affiliations.
QHN is working diligently with our connected data sources (hospitals and other healthcare providers) to assist connected providers with this process, to assure no disruption in service, as they relocate or add a new practice location. We appreciate your support and assistance in this process.
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Regional Health Fair Results Available via QHN
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The Grand Valley Health Fair laboratory testing began February 3, 2014 and is occurring over a five week period prior to the actual event. The event will take place on March 21 and 22, 2014 at Two Rivers Convention Center and allows participants to take advantage of the free health screenings, complete a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and consult with a physician regarding the results. The lab tests are being completed, by appointment, at St. Mary's Hospital and Regional Medical Center.
This is the third year, the Grand Valley Health Fair has partnered with QHN to provide patient testing electronic results, ensuring accurate, timely access to this information to improve care coordination and avoid duplicate diagnostic studies. Results from many other health fairs in the region, Montrose, Meeker, Rifle and other western Colorado locations will also be available electronically as these events occur over the next several months.
Connected QHN providers may access the various health fair results in the QHN repository (Virtual Health Record-VHR). If a primary care provider is indicated by the health fair participant, at the time of the registration for the lab testing, a copy of the reports will be automatically routed via the QHN health information exchange to participating providers.
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CMS Extends 2013 EHR Attestation Deadline for EPs, Offers Attestation Assistance to Hospitals
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On Friday, February 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extended through March the deadline for physicians and other eligible professionals (EPs) to attest to meaningful use of electronic health records for 2013 under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
The previous deadline was Feb. 28. To meet the new program deadline, EPs must attest by 11:59 pm ET on March 31, 2014. This extension allows providers more time to submit their meaningful use data and receive an incentive payment for the 2013 program year, as well as avoid the 2015 payment adjustment.
In addition, for eligible hospitals (EHs) that experienced attestation challenges meeting the Nov. 30, 2013 deadline they may submit their attestation retroactively. They must contact CMS by March 15, 2014, to discuss their retroactive submission at: EH2013Extension@Provider-Resources.com, to participate for the 2013 program year. For more information visit the CMS web site.
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| Spanish-language Version of Notices of Privacy Practices |  Last week, model Spanish-language versions of the Notices of Privacy Practices (NPP) were issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office for the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires healthcare providers to give individuals an NPP to explain how they use and share their health information and how they can exercise their health privacy rights. As with the English-language models, they have provided four Spanish-language NPP options: a booklet form; a layered format that presents a summary of the information on the first page, followed by the full content on the following pages; a notice with the design elements found in the booklet, but formatted for full page presentation; and a text-only version of the notice. They also provide guidance to health care providers on how to customize the NPPs for their businesses in the Questions and Instructions documents on the website. In the announcement HHS released they noted statistics indicating that "Spanish is the primary language spoken at home by 38.3 million people aged five or older," a number that is double what it was in 1990. The Affordable Care Act expands the cultural competency requirements within Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These models reflect the regulatory changes of the 2013 Omnibus Rule and can help covered entities working to come into compliance with the new requirements by serving as a blueprint. In particular, the models highlight the new patient right to access their electronic information held in an electronic health record (EHR), if their provider has an EHR in their practice. |
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Meaningful Use
Hot Topics
Conference Call
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12:15 - 1:15 pm
Topics:
-Expect a Meaningful Use Audit-How to prepare along the way
-Overview of the new CMS Resource:
eHealth University
Call Topics:
Join the monthly calls
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Hospital Electronic Lab Reporting (ELR) Requirements
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Tuesday March 11, 2014 * 8 am
Location: Quality Health Network - 744 Horizon Court, Suite #210
Target audience: Hospital IT & Lab Directors, MU Coordinators
Click here for full agenda and learning objectives.
This event is FREE, however please register as seating is limited.
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| CMS
Launches eHealth University at National HIMSS Conference this Week
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new web portal dedicated to helping stakeholders better understand how the various CMS incentive and reporting programs work together, this week at HIMSS14.
The eHealth University has resources for providers and education modules tailored to their participation level.
The content includes checklists, fact sheets, videos and Web seminars at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Click below to watch the introductory video.
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| Contact Information |
Quality Health Network
970-248-0033
QualityHealthNetwork.org
Mesa County Physicians IPA
970-248-8031
Western Colorado IPA
970-249-6368
Mesa County Medical Society
970-243-2808
Mt. Sopris Medical Society
719-884-1184
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