Behavioral HealthResearch has shown that the majority of people seeking relief of mild to complex mental and behavioral health distress show up in primary care. The prevalence of atypical antipsychotic and antidepressant medication prescriptions written in primary care far exceeds those written in specialty care. In fact, recent data indicates that fewer than a quarter of patients who come to their primary care provider are found to have a biological basis for their complaint; stress, anxiety, substance use, depression and other disorders are known to have a profound impact on a person’s biopsychosocial and overall physical status. Additionally, chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and respiratory diseases often have a prominent anchor in behavioral health. At Cherokee Health Systems believes that every health encounter has a behavioral component. Attend the Behavioral Health session at the VRHA Annual Conference to learn more about the Cherokee Health Systems model and discuss how elements of the program can be incorporated in your community. Click the logo below to learn more about this and other sessions.
Members in the NewsTwo VRHA board members were featured in the fall edition of The Virginia Psychologist, a newsletter of the Virginia Psychological Association. James Werth co-authored The Ethics of Rural Practice: Focus on Confidentiality which is based on a presentation by the authors at the Spring 2011 VPA Convention. Jennifer Stroup submitted Ethics in the Use of Telepsychology. Click here to access the newsletter. And the Winners Are???Don't forget - nominations for the 2011 VRHA awards are due November 11. All Virginia Rural Health Association members and member organizations are invited to submit nominations for the 2011 Virginia Rural Health Association Awards. Nominees are not required to be members of the association. Commitment and service to the advancement of rural health in Virginia may be in the form of direct provision of health care services, governmental or educational advocacy, activities or research that improves the health of communities or populations. Click here to download the nomination form and instructions or click here to read about previous winners.
Summit Registration is OPEN!Virginia Rural Health Plan
Access Council Summit Keynote: Overview of Health Care Reform and Impact on Rural Areas Don't miss this along with cutting-edge reports on Oral Health, Behavioral Health, Obstetrical Care and discussion on how the information in those reports informs access to care in rural Virginia. Visit the Summit website for information and registration. The Summit is being held in conjunction with the VRHA Annual Conference, so plan on attending both events! Community Health TrainingBy the Coalfield Progress The LENOWISCO Health District is pleased to announce an exciting, new, free health promotion training program funded by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity. The District will partner with local faithbased organizations to offer the Community Health Ambassadors Program (CHAP), an eight-week free health promotion training series which focuses on health issues, educational and healthcare resources in the community, and how individuals can share what they learn with others in their families and communities. Read the full article. Rural Counties More Dependent on Social SecurityBy Bill Bishop and Roberto Gallardo - Daily Yonder with Virginia information by Beth O'Connor As the country searches for ways to cut federal spending, Congress is considering cuts to Social Security payments. Any cuts to the program, however, will disproportionately affect rural America, and rural Virginia. Rural America is more dependent on income from Social Security than are the nation’s cities. In rural counties, 9.3 percent of total personal income came from Social Security payments in 2009, according to an analysis of government data. That is almost twice the rate found in urban counties, where 5 percent of total income came from monthly Social Security payments. Virginia lags behind the national average with an urban rate of 6.81 percent and a rural rate of 10.44% percent of total personal income from Social Security. Social security payments come in three forms: an old-age pension, a survivor benefit or a disability check. Nationally, 16.7 percent of the population in 2009 received some form of monthly Social Security payments. In rural counties, however, 23.6 percent of residents receive at least one of these three Social Security benefits. Throughout the Commonwealth, 22.12 percent of the total population received Social Security with large differences between urban (18.97%) and rural (25.9%). Read the full article, or to see data for all states and all counties, go here.
High Risk of Late DiagnosisBy Ozarks First Age and family history have long been factors in determining which women will be diagnosed with severe breast cancer. Now there may be a new factor to add to the list - where one lives. A new study from the University of Missouri found that women who live in rural areas are more likely than women living in cities to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, due to inequalities in access to preventatives screenings and treatment. "The stage at which the cancer is diagnosed has a tremendous impact on the type of treatment, recovery and survivability," said Faustine Williams, the lead researcher on the study. Williams found that women who travel 50 to 75 miles to a healthcare facility are 10 percent more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, the hardest form of the disease to treat. Read the full article. Between A Hygienist And A DentistBy Bryan Thompson - Kansas Public Radio It’s a nagging problem for rural areas: not enough dentists to provide adequate care for the population. In Kansas and a few other states, advocates and some lawmakers want to solve this problem by creating a new level of dental care. A registered dental practitioner, or RDP, would have more training than a dental hygienist, but less than a dentist. Mid-level dental providers have been practicing in Alaska since 2005, and legislation has recently passed in Minnesota to establish the new level of care. Bills have been introduced in Ohio, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington. The new providers would operate much the way nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants do in medical clinics. RDPs would be required to work under the supervision of a licensed dentist. Harding says she’s thrilled that Fort Hays State has agreed to offer a four-year bachelor’s degree program for Registered Dental Practitioners, pending approval by the legislature and the Board of Regents. Read the full article. Telehealth Expansion Will Save MillionsBy Sabrina Rodak - Becker's Hospital Review A report by the Blue Sky Consulting Group for the Center for Connected Health Policy estimated that California's telehealth expansion bill, which is now approved, would generate a total general fund savings of up to $408 million annually.
For more information about these and other events, visit the VRHA Calendar. November 9: Best Business Practices for the Dental Safety Net, Henrico November 17 is National Rural Health Day! Don't forget that your submission for the Virginia video contest is due November 11th.
From the Medicare Learning Network: “Reminder – Beneficiary Cost-Sharing for Medicare-Covered Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act” MLN Matters® Special Edition Article designed to provide education on the changes to deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for several Medicare-covered preventive services. It includes a comprehensive list of preventive services and their respective copayment/coinsurances, and deductibles. “Predictive Modeling Analysis of Medicare Claims” MLN Matters® Special Edition Article designed to provide education on the predictive modeling system that CMS uses to analyze Medicare FFS claims for potentially fraudulent activity. It includes an overview of the predictive analytics system that CMS implemented on Thu Jun 30. This system uses algorithms and models to examine Medicare claims in real time to flag suspicious billing. “Medicare Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation” designed to provide education on Medicare’s Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation pilot project. It includes information about the project, which is designed to reduce provider costs and cycle time to minimize and eventually eliminate paper processing and mailing medical documentation to review contractors. “Items and Services That Are Not Covered Under the Medicare Program” booklet (ICN 906765) includes information about the four categories of items and services that are not covered under the Medicare Program and applicable exceptions to exclusions and the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage. “Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage Part A and Part B” booklet (ICN 006266) is designed to provide education on the Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN). It includes information on when an ABN should be used and how it should be completed. Medicare Podiatry Services: Information for Medicare Fee-For-Service Healthcare Professionals,” Fact Sheet (ICN 6948) has been revised. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on Medicare-covered podiatry services. It includes a list of services that are not covered by Medicare, billing guidelines, and a list of resources. “Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter [Volume 2, Issue 1],” (ICN 907163) has been released. This educational tool is designed to provide education on how to avoid common billing errors and other erroneous activities when dealing with the Medicare program. It highlights the top issues of the particular Quarter. New ICD-10 and Version 5010 resources available from CMS
Susan G. Komen for the Cure College Scholarship Program Technology Developers to Help Consumers Find Information on Quality of Care Allen Foundation Whole Kids Foundation: School Garden Grants Department of Agriculture |
