InPatient Vs OutPatient Status

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/06/frustrating-medicare-catch-who-in-patient-at-hospital-and-who-under-observation/

This inpatient vs outpatient status has been a hot topic lately. We as Case Managers have the role to identify these patients and an obligation to let our patients know if they are not meeting the inpatient criteria. In relation to this issue, there is a bill out there introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, S. 569, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2013, this bill will hopefully include patients who are receiving outpatient observation services to have those days count toward the 3 day inpatient hospital requirement prior to transfer to a skilled nursing facility. So, if you agree with this Bill, call your representative and let them know you care. Track this bill by clicking here.

February Public Policy Update

http://cmi.informz.net/CMI/archives/archive_3006378.html

Here are some important bills that are out there right now. It will be interesting to see which one would move forward. For questions on these Public Policies Contact :

Scott MacConomyGovernment AffairsE: smacconomy@cm-innovators.com

Meet Our Speaker for February Meeting

                                                       

"Embracing the Changing Rhythms of HealthCare"

http://www.prweb.com/releases/CMSA/2014Conference/prweb11489792.htm

The 2014 CMSA Theme was unveiled! What a timely theme to have! We hope to see you there!

Community Outreach

We have created Community Outreach Section on our Public Policy webpage. The Chapter's goal is to increase public awareness of Case Manager's role. Go to  this page to see what we did to accomplish that goal!

Cast Your Vote Now!

Our Annual Chapter Election of Officers are currently open. Go to the home page to vote! www.cmsali.org
You can also write in your candidate!

Value-Based Care Predictions

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/leadership-management/5-predictions-for-value-based-care-in-2014.html

Let's see which prediction you will fall under! Share us what you think.

Health Care Reform Frequently Asked Questions

http://kff.org/health-reform/faq/health-reform-frequently-asked-questions/#question-i-am-covered-by-medicare-but-im-wondering-if-i-can-purchase-one-of-the-health-plans-offered-through-the-marketplace-and-drop-my-medicare-coverage-is-that-an-option-for-me-or-should-i-keep-m

You might want to check this out...

The Telecommuting Telenurse

You are invited to participate in a research project being conducted by a researcher from Western Governors University.  Olivia Johnson RN, BSN, CCM is conducting research to evaluate the perceptions of registered nurses with regard to employment conducted at home as a tele-healthcare provider, as well as circumstances or perceptions regarding social, professional, and scholarly isolation in this position. 

To qualify, the nurse must have had recent, or current, employment as a Registered Nurse, that takes place within their home > 50% of the work week, and not provide hands-on care to patients.  For example, 50% of work at home with 50% of work in an office would qualify, but 50% of work at home and 50% providing hands-on patient care as a home health care nurse, would not. 

To participate, all that is required is signing the Informed Consent form (attached), and completing the attached survey describing your opinions on the questions asked.  It may take approximately 10 minutes of your time, but the more thorough the answers, the better for the study.

The results of your completed survey will be kept confidential.  To complete this survey, simply click “enable editing” (if that phrase appears at the top of your document) type in your responses, and save it with any name you would like.  The completed surveys will be printed and the emails with which they were sent will be deleted right away.  The survey will be assigned a number and no identifiable features of the sender will be documented. 

If you would like to participate, please see the following requests:

Please submit the completed survey along with the informed consent form by Wednesday, 01/01/2014 to ojohns3@my.wgu.edu

Please complete the survey outside of your hours of employment

Please complete each question as thoroughly as you are able, as your subjective responses are valuable to the research

Finally, please contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments at any time via the email address above. 

Your responses may be very valuable to the growth and enhancement of positions in nursing that take place at home.  Your input and time is greatly appreciated!

Please click here to download the Informed Consent Form  and Click here to download the Survey

Take Action Today!

I urge you to contact your legislator to support The Opportunity Plan- Check out this link to learn more on how you can help support this important public policy- http://offthesidelines.org/action/ Visit our Public Policy Page to learn about some of the Public Policies that CMSA are involved in.