Rural Health Clinic Programs
ORH provides guidance on becoming a certified Rural Health Clinic (RHC), assistance on compliance and operations and Practice Assessments that include: market share, supply & demand, productivity, coding, staffing levels, staff satisfaction, and clinic benchmarks. ORH also supports RHCs by providing regular updates on the changing regulations at the federal and state levels. ORH offers the bi-monthly RHC newsletter, which provides clinics with the latest information on topics from Medicare and Medicaid, billing and coding to education opportunities. Register for the newsletter here.
Honoring the commitment to health care quality in our rural communities.
Please visit Oregon Rural Quality Excellence Award to learn more.
Technical Assistance and Resources
These resources should be considered general and preliminary only. Final determination of rural status will be made by the State of Oregon. Please contact Janice McDowell, RN | 971-673-3269, at Health Care Regulation and Quality Improvement (HCRQI) for final determination.
Does the clinic qualify as a rural site?
- The clinic is not in a Census Urbanized Area:
- Map of Census Urbanized Areas
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Rural Health Information Hub’s Am I Rural? tool provides a custom report of rural status by address.
- The clinic is in a current Health Professions Shortage Area (HPSA) or a Medically Underserved Area (MUA) issued or renewed within the previous four years.
HPSA: The age of the designation is calculated as the last day of the year 4 years from the date of the original designation, or the date the area was last designated. For example, a clinic that is located in an area that was most recently designated or updated on June 1, 2010, would be considered as meeting this location requirement through December 31, 2014. In Oregon, HPSA scores are updated every three years by the Oregon Health Authority’s Primary Care Office. To ensure your area’s HPSA score has not expired, contact the Primary Care Office | 503-373-1779.
MUA: MUAs do not expire however if you are using an MUA for RHC purposes, and do not have a HPSA. The MUA designation must have been issued within the past four years.
Is there a financial benefit to RHC status for the clinic?
RHCs (and FQHCs) receive special Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates for the care they provide. The RHC rate benefit can vary from clinic to clinic depending on the type of services that the clinic provides and the payer mix of the patient population.
Options:
- As an introductory resource, a basic Medicare-focused financial analysis worksheet is available in Starting a Rural Health Clinic, Appendix F.
- ORH can provide a list of RHC consultants to assist you with a detailed Medicare and Medicaid financial analysis of your current Fee-for-Service rates vs. current RHC rates. Please contact: Rondyann Gerst | 503-312-3907.
Does the clinic meet RHC personnel requirements?
More than 50% of the clinic’s services must be Primary Care: Family Care, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, and Pediatrics. An RHC must:
- Employ a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA)
RHCs may contract with NPs, PAs, Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), Clinical Psychologists (CP), and Clinical Social Workers (CSW) when at least one NP or PA is employed by the RHC.
- Have an NP, PA, or CNM (employee + contract) working at the clinic at least 50 percent of the time the clinic operates.
Further Reading
Agencies
- US Department of Health and Human Services Rural Health Information Hub
- National Association of Rural Health Clinics
- National Rural Health Association
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Oregon Health Authority, Medical Assistance Program
- Oregon Health Authority, Office of Equity: Oregon Health Care Interpreter Registry
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) must complete a Medicare Cost Report annually. It is due five months from the date of the end of the RHC’s fiscal year.
The Medicare Cost Report
- Determines future reimbursement rates including reimbursement for Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccines given to Medicare patients;
- Determines allowable Medicare bad-debt write-off;
- Reconciles the RHC’s interim rate payment to the RHC’s actual cost per visit.
The Medicare Fiscal Intermediary may withhold payments for an unfiled Medicare cost report.
The Cost Report forms and process are slightly different for Independent vs. Provider-based RHCs:
- Independent RHCs: Cost Report form and instructions (CMS-222-92)
- Provider-based RHCs: Cost Report form and instructions (CMS-2552-10 – M schedules)
Wipfli LLP provides Medicare cost reporting services for both independent and provider-based RHCs.
For information on Medicaid in Oregon, refer to the Oregon Health Authority Division of Medical Assistance Programs Oregon Administrative Rules.
Provider Enrollment
- Complete the following RHC enrollment forms: OHP 3104, OHA 3972, OHA 3974, and OHA 3975. Available at: OHP Provider Enrollment.
- Include:
- The clinic’s RHC Certification Letter, received from Oregon’s CMS Medicare Administrative Contractor Noridian.
- An IRS letter confirming tax ID and status. This is a general requirement for all clinics to operate as a business, regardless of RHC status.
- Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Certificate from the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) Office of Clinical Laboratory Regulation.
- Medicare Cost Report. This is the Cost Report completed for Medicare payment and rate calculation. For important details regarding the Cost Report and Oregon Medicaid, pay close attention to OAR 410-147 [0480] Cost Statement Instructions and OAR 410-147 [0500] Total Encounters for Cost Reports.
- Submit all of the above to the OHA Medical Assistance Program (MAP): Jennifer Smith | 503-602-1128.
RHC Rate Calculation and Increases
Initial RHC Rate Determination
The Medicare Cost Report informs the RHC rate calculation, which will set the clinic’s Medicaid RHC encounter rate. This rate is adjusted annually based on the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). The RHC will be enrolled with Oregon Medicaid on the date the PPS encounter rate is determined.
Oregon Medicaid Change in Scope
A change in the scope of RHC services may occur if the RHC has added, dropped or expanded any service that meets the definition of an RHC service. Full details at OAR 410-147 [0362]. If there is a change in scope which significantly changes the cost of services, a change of scope may be requested in order to qualify for a readjusted rate.
- Submit a narrative outlining the proposed qualifying events for a change in scope to the OHA-MAP: Jennifer Smith | 503-602-1128.
- OHA-MAP will review for qualifying events, and request information on the events and associated costs.
- OHA-MAP will work with the clinic to agree upon qualifying events, cost changes and a new rate.
Oregon Medicaid and Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs)
All clinics, including RHCs, will need to contract with their CCO in order to receive Medicaid reimbursement and wrap-around payments for patients enrolled in CCO insurance plans. Contact the appropriate CCO about providing services for CCO patients.
CCO reimbursement rates cannot be less than your calculated RHC encounter rate; however, full reimbursement may require participating in the “Wrap-around” payments through OHA. Please see the RHC Coding and Billing Resources section of the ORH website for further details. Please contact OHA MAP to assure you are receiving your full reimbursement for OHP encounters: Jennifer Smith | 503-602-1128.
Medicare Billing and Reimbursement
- Noridian Healthcare Solutions
Noridian acts as the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for Oregon and other Western states. They publish an RHC Medicare billing guide for Medicare related billing questions. - CMS Rural Health Clinic Center
- Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 18 – Preventive and Screening Services
- Medicare RHC Benefit Policy Manual
- Medicare RHC Claims Processing Manual
- Medicare Billing guidance for Preventative Services
- Provider Wraparound Data Template | Note: Both the “Cover Page” and “Raw Data” tabs must be completed for submissions.
- Helpful Presentations
- Basic RHC Billing v. 2020: Charles James, Jr. North American HMS
- Advanced RHC Billing and Coding v.2020 Charles James, Jr North American HMS
Medicaid/Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Billing and Reimbursement
- Billing Basics: Oregon Health Authority (OHA) presentation on billing information for all providers who serve Medicaid clients.
- FQHC-RHC Provider Guide 8/31/2015: Two page document with links to resources at the Oregon Health Authority’s Medical Assistance Programs (OHA MAP).
- Oregon Medicaid Professional Billing Instructions: includes RHC billing submission process to OHA MAP.
- For current Oregon Administrative RHC Rules refer to: OHA Health System Division: Medical Assistance Programs- Chapter 410
- If in doubt of which claim format to use, contact OHA MAP Provider Services | 800-336-6016 | for assistance.
- Oregon Medicaid Prepaid Health Plan Supplemental Payments (“Wraparound”)
Federal rule requires OHA MAP to make supplemental payments (“wraparound payments”) to RHCs that contract with Prepaid Health Plans (PHP). The wraparound payment represents the difference, if any, between the payment received by the RHC from the PHP for treating the enrolled patient and the payment to which the RHC would be entitled if they had billed MAP directly for these encounters according to the RHC’s Prospective Payment System (PPS) encounter rate (OAR 410-147 [0460]). The OHA MAP Policy Analyst will coordinate this process with each RHC upon enrollment with Oregon Medicaid. Contact: Eric Larson, Fiscal Auditor | 503-945-5991. - Oregon Medicaid and Change-in-Scope: A change in the scope of RHC services may occur if the RHC has added, dropped or expanded any service since initial certification. Please see 410-147 [0362] Change in Scope of Services for further details on Oregon Medicaid Change in Scope.
The Health Care Regulation and Quality Improvement (HCRQI) Section of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has an agreement with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to assist in determining whether health care facilities meet, and continue to meet, required conditions of participation. Questions about the application and survey may be directed to Janice McDowell, RN | HCRQI | 971-673-3269.
Complete and return the following forms to:
HCRQI Program | FAX: 971-673-0556
- Health Insurance Benefit Agreement: HCFA 1561 A (two signed originals required)
- Request to Establish Eligibility: HCFA 29
- The following is also required for Provider-based RHCs:
New applicants for Medicare funding and current providers undergoing a change of ownership are responsible for submitting an Assurance of Compliance (HHS-690) attesting that they will comply with all applicable civil rights laws enforceable by OCR (Title VI, Section 504, Title IX, the Age Discrimination Act, and Section 1557).
As of September 1, 2016, OCR is accepting the HHS-690 only via the online Assurance of Compliance portal. Upon submission of the HHS-690, the providers will receive a notification that the document has been successfully submitted. Clinics should print out and include the confirmation as part of their application packet. The providers are responsible for notifying CMS and/or the state survey agency.
Complete the Medicare Enrollment Application
This must be completed and approved prior to scheduling a survey. The initial enrollment fee is currently $631– see PECOS online payment.
Two options:
- Medicare’s Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) may be used for faster processing time and online payment.
Or
- Forms CMS-588 and CMS-855A may be downloaded and submitted to Noridian, the Oregon regional Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC).
Once the HCRQI program office has received approval of the application CMS-855A from Noridian, a written request should be submitted to the HCRQI Program for a survey of the clinic. All forms must be complete, signed and submitted prior to scheduling the survey. Please note: this will be an unannounced onsite survey. It is very important to carefully and adequately prepare for the RHC accreditation inspection. Failure of this inspection can substantially delay certification of the clinic for RHC status. In addition, if the clinic should fail the initial HCRQI inspection, it will be required to hire a private contractor for a follow-up certification inspection. To assure that a clinic meets certification inspection criteria, they will need to:
- Develop an RHC Policy and Procedure Manual (a sample manual is available in Appendix D of the Starting a Rural Health Clinic – A How-To Manual, or Provider- based clinics may use this template.
- Ensure clinic lab services are in place and licensed – CLIA Application
Contact: The Oregon Laboratory Compliance Section | 503-693-4126.
The clinic must have the ability to perform the following lab procedures onsite:
- Chemical examination of urine by stick or tablet method or both
- Hemoglobin or hematocrit
- Blood sugar
- Examination of stool specimens for occult blood
- Pregnancy tests
- Primary culturing for transmittal to a certified laboratory
Ensure that the clinic meets all conditions of certification that the HCRQI survey staff are directed to assess:
- Review CMS rules to surveyors
- Review the survey preparation checklist . The ORH RHC Program Manager will assist you in preparing for the survey.
- Conduct practice inspections:
- ORH can arrange to perform a technical assistance site inspection of a clinic to identify areas of improvement necessary prior to the official HCRQI Program survey. Please contact Rondyann Gerst | 503-312-3907.
- If a clinic plans to conduct practice inspections independently, a detailed survey preparation checklist, created by ORH and Wipfli, is available. The checklist details the specific items of focus needed to meet Federal RHC certification.
Alternative Vendor Certification options: potentially faster alternative accreditation options are available for clinics that are willing/able to pay. Two companies, American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAASF) and The Compliance Team, are authorized by the CMS to offer certification services.
For the RHC Patient Engagement Series with Angie Charlet visit this link.
Webinars
Understanding RHC Advocacy and Policy Efforts
Jan. 24, 2024
What You Will Learn:
This session provides participants with information about current legislative and regulatory policy issues at the national level, and how RHCs can be informed and effective advocates.
Media
Presenter
Sarah Hohman - Director of government affairs for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC).
The Office of Rural Health will host a quarterly RHC networking webinar calls. These calls will offer clinic leaders the opportunity to network with colleagues around the state on RHC topics. Leaders can dialogue on successes, barriers, and solutions to clinic issues. Email topics or questions prior to the calls and come ready to engage, offer input or ask questions. Patty Harper of inQuiseek will be the RHC content expert and moderate.
Moderator:
Patty Harper is CEO of InQuiseek, a business and health care consulting company based in Louisiana. She has over 21 years of health care experience in the areas of health care finance & reimbursement, health information management, compliance, and practice management. Patty is a frequent speaker and contributor for national, state, and regional rural health care associations. Patty currently serves on the Board of NARHC.
Oregon RHC Networking Call - April 2, 2024
Oregon RHC Networking Call - Feb. 6, 2024
Oregon RHC Networking Call - Dec 5, 2023
Oregon RHC Networking Call - Aug 7, 2023
Oregon RHC Networking Call - June 7, 2023
Oregon RHC Networking Call - June 7, 2023
Behavioral Health: Leveraging RHCs to Expand an Essential Service
May 23, 2023
What You Will Learn:
Rural communities continue to experience deficits with access to behavioral and mental health services. With changes brought forth in the CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule, Rural Health Clinics can now provide and receive reimbursement for distant site tele-behavioral health services. This presentation focuses on how to leverage RHCs and their new reimbursement methodology to expand behavioral health services.
Media
Presenter
Jonathan Pantenburg is an accomplished, results-driven senior executive with nearly 20 years of progressively responsible experience advising profit, non-profit, and governmental entities through complex issues including cost reduction, acquisitions, contracts, financial analysis, and operations. Over the past six years, Jonathan has worked with entities ranging from independent practices to multi-state health care systems on how to leverage rural opportunities to improve financial and operational performance. Prior to that, Jonathan served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer for a 21-bed non-profit critical access hospital.
Preventive Services Billing in an RHC
May 4, 2023
What You Will Learn:
This webinar will provide an overview of Medicare Preventive Services and how to report them on RHC claims properly. We will look at the scope of preventive services and the difference between Stand-Alone Encounters and Same-Day Eligible Encounters. Billing RHC preventive services at the same time as a clinical visit is rendered will be reviewed. Claim examples for Annual Wellness Visits, IPPE, Well-Woman Examinations, Tobacco Cessation, and Alcohol Screening will be discussed.
Media
Presenter
Charles James Jr. is President and CEO of North American Healthcare Management Services, which has provided RHC, RCM, and EHR services for RHC and FQHCs since 1992. He is the Executive Director of The Rural Advantage ACO, approved for Medicare Shared Savings Track A. The Rural Advantage is designed specifically for RHCs and FQHCs. Charles is the past president of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, as well as the current President of the Illinois Rural Health Association. He also provides educational sessions and webinars on billing and compliance to state and private organizations across the United States.
North American currently provides comprehensive RCM, EHR Hosting, RHC/FQHC compliance, RHC/FQHC Billing, 340B Management/Audit, Provider Enrollment, and many other services to physicians, hospitals, RHCs, and FQHCs across the country.
Time is Money: Building RHC Value-Based Purchasing Models
May 1, 2023
What You Will Learn:
Effective primary care practices and networks have the unique ability to reduce the overall cost of care in rural communities through better patient engagement, education, prevention, clinic operations and a culture of improvement. The economic value of these cost savings should accrue at least in part to the providers and not exclusively to public and private payers. This presentation offers examples and action steps to design, implement and market rural primary care oriented VBP programs.
Media
Presenter
Jonathan Pantenburg is an accomplished, results-driven senior executive with nearly 20 years of progressively responsible experience advising profit, non-profit, and governmental entities through complex issues including cost reduction, acquisitions, contracts, financial analysis, and operations. Over the past six years, Jonathan has worked with entities ranging from independent practices to multi-state health care systems on how to leverage rural opportunities to improve financial and operational performance. Prior to that, Jonathan served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer for a 21-bed non-profit critical access hospital.
RHC Billing Overview 2023
May 1, 2023
What You Will Learn:
This webinar will provide an RHC billing overview of the essential components of claim requirements and service reporting. We will look at providers, locations, bundling incident-to-services, Non-RHC Services, patient co-insurance/deductible, and claim examples. And specialists, multiple encounters, procedures in the clinic, and global billing periods in the RHC will also be discussed.
Media
Presenter
Charles James Jr. is President and CEO of North American Healthcare Management Services, which has provided RHC, RCM, and EHR services for RHC and FQHCs since 1992. He is the Executive Director of The Rural Advantage ACO, approved for Medicare Shared Savings Track A. The Rural Advantage is designed specifically for RHCs and FQHCs. Charles is the past president of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, as well as the current President of the Illinois Rural Health Association. He also provides educational sessions and webinars on billing and compliance to state and private organizations across the United States.
North American currently provides comprehensive RCM, EHR Hosting, RHC/FQHC compliance, RHC/FQHC Billing, 340B Management/Audit, Provider Enrollment, and many other services to physicians, hospitals, RHCs, and FQHCs across the country.
Best Practice Checklist: RHC Financial & Operational Performance
Apr. 19, 2023
What You Will Learn:
Rural Health Clinics are emerging as one of the most strategically important departments for rural hospitals because they often represent a material revenue center, serve as the foundation for medical staff alignment and offer a bulwark against emerging competitors. This presentation identifies several tactics RHCs can implement to improve their financial and operational position given the new provider-based and independent RHC reimbursement methodologies.
Media
Presenter
Jonathan Pantenburg is an accomplished, results-driven senior executive with nearly 20 years of progressively responsible experience advising profit, non-profit, and governmental entities through complex issues including cost reduction, acquisitions, contracts, financial analysis, and operations. Over the past six years, Jonathan has worked with entities ranging from independent practices to multi-state healthcare systems on how to leverage rural opportunities to improve financial and operational performance. Prior to that, Jonathan served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer for a 21-bed non-profit critical access hospital.
RHC Certification A-Z
Apr. 5, 2023
What You Will Learn:
- Learn the steps for RHC enrollment
- Discover how to prepare for the certification survey
- Understand the steps the clinic will take following survey to finalize certification as an RHC
Media
Presenters
Tressa R. Sacrey joined Health Services Associates in May 2015 and is the Director of Education and Compliance. Mrs. Sacrey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and has completed courses in Business Applied Technology. Key areas of responsibility at HSA include creating policies, developing emergency plans, facilitating hazard training, researching CMS regulations, conducting on-site compliance mock surveys, and creating forms and tools to assist RHCs across the nation.
Michelle R. Kruzel holds a degree in Business Administration and holds the position with HSA as, Director - Enrollment and Certification. She enjoys learning and assisting providers to reach their goals of becoming a certified rural health clinic. Her areas of focus include Medicare and Medicaid credentialing, project lead and coordinator, initial and recertification mock surveys, and initial Rural Health Clinic certifications
Quality Care Through Follow-up
March 14, 2023
What You Will Learn:
Follow-up for patients can make or break a clinic. This session will discuss tracking outside labs, consultative services, no-show appointments, and capturing return visits per provider recommendation.
- Review the four key areas of follow-up within the clinic
- Discover tools the clinic can use to measure success
- Discuss the documentation expectations at the time of the survey
Media
Presenter
Tressa R. Sacrey joined Health Services Associates in May 2015 and is the Director of Education and Compliance. Mrs. Sacrey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and has completed courses in Business Applied Technology. Key areas of responsibility at HSA include creating policies, developing emergency plans, facilitating hazard training, researching CMS regulations, conducting on-site compliance mock surveys, and creating forms and tools to assist RHCs across the nation.
Understanding Your Options: Primary Care Designation Strategies
March 7, 2023
What You Will Learn:
In an increasingly complex and competitive environment, the optimal alignment and designation of rural primary care practices remain essential. This presentation evaluates the different primary care practice designation types available to rural providers while explaining, with specific examples, how each designation can influence the financial performance of a clinic and its parent organization.
Media
Presenter
Jonathan Pantenburg is an accomplished, results-driven senior executive with nearly 20 years of progressively responsible experience advising profit, non-profit, and governmental entities through complex issues including cost reduction, acquisitions, contracts, financial analysis, and operations. Over the past six years, Jonathan has worked with entities ranging from independent practices to multi-state healthcare systems on how to leverage rural opportunities to improve financial and operational performance. Prior to that, Jonathan served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer for a 21-bed non-profit critical access hospital.
RHC Cost Reporting 101
Feb. 21, 2023
What You Will Learn:
- How to gather the correct data: FTE, Visits, Expenses, Offsets
- How the rate for the clinic is calculated
- How to review the report
Media
Presenter
Julie Quinn is Vice President of Compliance and Cost Reporting at Health Services Associates. Julie is a CPA with over 25 years of experience in governmental compliance and cost reporting, 15 of which she spent in the Medicare Contractor arena. She holds an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. She assists RHCs with cost reporting, audit resolution, rate setting, and other cost and compliance issues.
Emergency Preparedness Webinar Series
A three-part webinar series featuring Patty Harper, CEO of inQuiseek who takes a deep dive into the Emergency Preparedness Program (EPP) for RHCs.
Session One - Jan. 17, 2023
Emergency Preparedness (EP) Requirements for RHCs
The first of the three sessions will review the 42 CFR 491.12 Emergency Preparedness Program regulations for RHCs including how to prepare the All Hazard Risk Assessment. RHC participants will gain an understanding of the conditions for certification that relate to the EPP and how to meet the basic compliance requirements.
Media
Tools
Session Two - Jan. 18, 2023
Emergency Preparedness Tabletop Exercise
The second session will be an actual tabletop exercise related to a severe weather event. The event will be customizable to the weather-related events on each RHC's risk assessment (thunderstorm, winter weather, flooding, high tides, wind, and related loss of utilities). Each participating clinic will learn how to conduct a tabletop exercise and how to use the tabletop to train RHC staff.
Media
Tools
- Severe Winter Weather Tabletop or Workshop Exercise Tool
- COVID-19 Emergency Activation Plan and Record of Documented Response
Session Three - Jan. 19, 2023
Emergency Preparedness After Action Reports
The last session of this series will focus on documenting an EP testing exercise or an EP activation. Participants will learn how to document the event properly and make any necessary revisions to their EP plan. This session will also recap the EPP requirements for RHCs and tie back to the previous sessions so that RHCs can come full circle on their knowledge and understanding of Emergency Preparedness.
Media
Presenter
Patty Harper is CEO of InQuiseek, a business and healthcare consulting company based in Louisiana. She has over 21 years of health care experience in the areas of healthcare finance & reimbursement, health information management, compliance and practice management. Patty is a frequent speaker and contributor for national, state and regional rural health care associations. Patty currently serves on the Board of NARHC.
Managing an RHC – Soft Skills
Managing an RHC – Soft Skills, presented by Tressa Sacrey.
During this webinar, Tressa Sacrey will focus on managing soft skills in an RHC.
- Review how to build teamwork with the clinic;
- Discuss how each position within the clinic helps accomplish the overall goal, and;
- Understand the keys to the success of delegation, accountability, and education.
Presenter
Tressa R. Sacrey joined Health Services Associates (HSA) in May 2015 as a Compliance Analyst. Mrs. Sacrey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and has completed courses in Business Applied Technology. Her key areas of responsibility at HSA include creating policies, developing emergency plans, facilitating hazard training, researching CMS regulations, conducting on-site compliance mock surveys, and creating forms and tools to assist RHCs across the nation.
Media
How To Make A Change In Scope Of Services With Oregon Health Authority
How To Make A Change In Scope Of Services With Oregon Health Authority, presented by Jennifer Smith.
This presentation focuses on the change-in-scope process for Rural Health Clinics and includes a discussion of applicable rules, examples of changes eligible for change-in-scope, and the change-in-scope process, including cost reporting.
Presenter
Jennifer Smith has over 10 years of experience in Oregon Medicaid. Her expertise includes Medicaid billing and reimbursement and state and federal policy implementation. She began her current role as the Safety Net Clinics Program Manager in October 2019, and she manages Medicaid operations and policy for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinics (RHC) as well as reimbursement mechanisms for several other programs. Jennifer has her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from California State University, Northridge, and her Masters of Public Administration from Portland State University.
Media
Improving the Patient Experience in the Clinic
Improving the Patient Experience in the Clinic, presented by Susan Runyan of Runyan Health Care Quality Consulting.
Presenter
Susan Runyan started her consulting firm in 2016. She primarily assists Critical Access Hospitals with quality improvement activities and programs along with quality data reporting. Runyan’s background includes more than 14 years in hospital risk and quality management with 30 years overall in a variety of health care roles.
Runyan has expertise in evaluating facility quality programs, leading patient and family engagement projects for both hospitals and clinics, teaching Lean and Plan-Do-Study-Act methodologies, and other performance/quality improvement training. Her clinical background includes being a paramedic both in the field and in a rural hospital emergency department.
She holds a Master of Health Care Leadership from Friends University and a Bachelor of Science degree in health care administration from Southwestern College.
Media
RHC Coding and Billing Updates 2022
In this webinar Charles James, Jr., North American Healthcare Management Services, covered targeted RHC coding and billing specific to participating RHCs. Topics included: RHC changes for 2022 made effective this year as part of the CMS Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. These included clarifications to the RHC Modernization Act, Updates to Telehealth Services for RHCs and Behavioral Health billing via Telehealth, and other important policy changes that were implemented on Jan. 1, 2022.
Additional covered topics:
- Discuss the status of Mental Health Services via Telehealth
- Review change to RHC Encounter Definition
- Review change to RHC Locations (Hospice)
- Discuss Grandfathered PBRHC rate issues
- Review status of RHC Telehealth Services, Wellness visits, and Telehealth
- Patient Monitoring, can RHCs perform remote patient monitoring?
- Physician Assistants and Medicare
This webinar is for RHC leaders, coders, or anyone who has an interest in 2022 coding and billing updates.
Presenter
Charles James, Jr., is President and CEO of North American Healthcare Management Services, founded in 1992. Charles, David James, and Charles James, Sr. started North American in 1992. Charles and David have overseen development of all RHC, RCM, and EHR processes for North American. Charles has a Bachelor of Science and an MBA from Saint Louis University.
Charles is the current President of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, as well as President of the Illinois Rural Health Association. Charles provides educational sessions and webinars on billing and compliance to state and private organizations across the United States.
North American currently provides comprehensive RCM, EHR Hosting, RHC/FQHC compliance, RHC/FQHC Billing, 340B Management/Audit, Provider Enrollment and many other services to physicians, hospitals, RHCs, and FQHCs across the country.
Media
Understanding OHA Medicaid Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Payment Methodologies
RHC payment methodologies can be confusing. During this webinar, OHA Safety Net Program Manager Jennifer Smith reviewed the basics of the two payment methodologies Oregon can use to reimburse RHCs. The first is the Prospective Payment System (PPS), and familiar to most Oregon RHCs. The second is an Alternative Payment Methodology (APM), called the Alternative Payment and Advanced Care Model (APCM) in Oregon. Ms. Smith reviewed each RHC payment methodology including the basics of each program; the difference between PPS and APCM; discussed the next steps to request additional information on a program.
This webinar is for RHC leaders or anyone who has an interest in the two RHC payment methodologies in Oregon.
Learning Objectives
- Review the Prospective Payment System (PPS) most RHCs are currently using;
- Learn a basic understanding of Oregon’s Alternative Payment and Advanced Care Model (APCM) for RHCs and FQHCs;
- Understand the two different RHC payment methodologies; and
- Identify areas for improvement with either payment methodology for your RHC.
Presenter
Jennifer Smith has over 10 years of experience in Oregon Medicaid. Her expertise includes Medicaid billing and reimbursement and state and federal policy implementation. She began her current role as the Safety Net Clinics Program Manager in October 2019, and she manages Medicaid operations and policy for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and Rural Health Clinics (RHC) as well as reimbursement mechanisms for several other programs. Jennifer has her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from California State University, Northridge, and her Masters of Public Administration from Portland State University.
Media
Race, Ethnicity, Language and Disability (REALD) Data Collection in Oregon
During this webinar the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will provide REALD Program education to health care providers who are required to begin Race, Ethnicity, Language and Disability (REALD) data collection and reporting as of October 1, 2021. Learn about the OHA REALD Program, understand the reporting requirements and get your questions answered during this webinar.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the history of REALD data collection in Oregon, including future data collection efforts for REALD and SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity)
- Understand why REALD data collection is important
- Understand how to access resources for REALD data collection
Presenters
- Belle Shepherd, MPH, Lead for HB4212 REALD data collection for COVID-19 encounters, and government relations lead on REALD/SOGI legislation.
- Marjorie McGee, PhD, OHA’s subject matter expert on all things REALD with Equity and Inclusion Division
- Renee Harger, MPH, Lead for data collection on REALD for COVID-19 encounters in OHA’s Acute and Communicable Disease Program
Resources
- REALD Template
- Office of Equity and Inclusion's Race, Ethnicity, Language, and Disability (REALD) Implementation
- REALD For Health Care Providers
- REALD guide with information to help providers meet the data collection and reporting requirements of HB 4212
- REALD Questions Mailbox
Media
How Can I Help You? Creating an Awesome Patient Experience Every Time
Patient Experience Webinar
Presented by Lauren K. Harris, FACMPE
Harris Healthcare Consulting, LLC
Partnering with practices to identify and achieve their goals
Join Lauren for a practical and informative webinar full of tools you can start using the same day to improve your customer service skills and create exceptional experiences for your patients every time.
- Learning points:
- What is customer service and why does it matter?
- What is your role in the patient experience?
- Specific and actionable goals for your patient interactions
- Skills and behaviors of customer service experts
- How to respond to a dissatisfied patient
- Sample scripts and more!
Lauren is passionate about medical practices and enjoys partnering with them to see them succeed. After years of honing her skills within large and small organizations of multiple specialties, including RHC and School-Based Health Centers, she started her own consulting practice in July 2020. She partners directly with practitioners and leaders to provide business and operation expertise. Lauren started her healthcare management career in 1992, and achieved her MGMA/CMPE certification in 2008 and her FACMPE certification in 2013.
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RHC Regulatory & Operational Update
Presented by Katie Jo Raebel, CPA, and Partner at Wipfli
This webinar will cover legislative changes, the issues and risks regarding the unknowns, as well as strategies that RHCs should be considering to optimize reimbursement.
Learning Objectives
- Evaluate strategies for managing under the new RHC reimbursement limitations
- Discuss HHS CARES Act provider fund reporting & documentation requirements
Katie Jo Raebel has more than 19 years of experience in audit and accounting services, focused exclusively on health care industry clients. She specializes in assisting freestanding and provider-based clinics to navigate through the rural health clinic (RHC) certification process and is a proven thought leader with vast experience in the RHC arena. Katie Jo helps to calculate RHCs’ Medicare and Medicaid rates, provides education regarding changes in billing because of certification, and consults on all areas specific to RHCs. In addition, she helps organizations determine the best certification options to experience the most beneficial gain from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
Katie Jo is a regular speaker at industry events and conferences including the Rural Health Clinic Association of Washington, the Oregon Rural Health Conference, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics Conference, and most recently the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care annual conference. She also is a featured speaker at the annual Spokane office-sponsored cost report and reimbursement seminar.
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How to Be Your Own Consultant
Leadership Development Workshop Webinar Series
Presented by Lauren K. Harris, FACMPE
Harris Healthcare Consulting, LLC
Partnering with practices to identify and achieve their goals- Lauren is passionate about medical practices and enjoys partnering with them to see them succeed. After years of honing her skills within large and small organizations of multiple specialties, including RHC and School-Based Health Centers, she started her own consulting practice in July 2020. She partners directly with practitioners and leaders to provide business and operation expertise. Lauren started her healthcare management career in 1992, and achieved her MGMA/CMPE certification in 2008 and her FACMPE certification in 2013.
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Resilience, Relationships, Compassion and COVID
Leadership Development Workshop Webinar Series
Presented by Lauren K. Harris, FACMPE
Harris Healthcare Consulting, LLC
Partnering with practices to identify and achieve their goals- Lauren is passionate about medical practices and enjoys partnering with them to see them succeed. After years of honing her skills within large and small organizations of multiple specialties, including RHC and School-Based Health Centers, she started her own consulting practice in July 2020. She partners directly with practitioners and leaders to provide business and operation expertise. Lauren started her healthcare management career in 1992, and achieved her MGMA/CMPE certification in 2008 and her FACMPE certification in 2013.
- Identify what resilience is and how to practice it
- Understand the value of work relationships and how to create and build them
- Learn techniques for knowing and taking care of ourselves
- Understand what compassion is and how to practice it with ourselves and others
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Employee Engagement and Teambuilding
Leadership Development Workshop Webinar Series
Presented by Lauren K. Harris, FACMPE
Harris Healthcare Consulting, LLC
Partnering with practices to identify and achieve their goals- Lauren is passionate about medical practices and enjoys partnering with them to see them succeed. After years of honing her skills within large and small organizations of multiple specialties, including RHC and School-Based Health Centers, she started her own consulting practice in July 2020. She partners directly with practitioners and leaders to provide business and operation expertise. Lauren started her healthcare management career in 1992, and achieved her MGMA/CMPE certification in 2008 and her FACMPE certification in 2013.
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Survey Readiness During the Public Health Emergency (PHE)
Presented by Kate Hill, RN, VP of Clinical Services
The Compliance Team
Kate Hill, RN, is a graduate of Einstein Medical Center School of Nursing. As an Army Nurse, Kate served in Viet Nam where she was awarded the Bronze Star. Kate has worked with orthopedic patients in several capacities including nearly 3-decades with Biomet. Kate joined The Compliance Team in early 2012 to direct TCT’s rural health clinic accreditation program and has fallen in love with Rural. As VP of Clinical Services, she has spearheaded TCT’s Rural Health Clinic Accreditation program combining her clinical expertise, business acumen and passion for delivery of the best care possible to every patient.
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How to Develop from Manager into Leader
Leadership Development Workshop Webinar Series
Presented by Lauren K. Harris, FACMPE
Harris Healthcare Consulting, LLC
Partnering with practices to identify and achieve their goals- Lauren is passionate about medical practices and enjoys partnering with them to see them succeed. After years of honing her skills within large and small organizations of multiple specialties, including RHC and School-Based Health Centers, she started her own consulting practice in July 2020. She partners directly with practitioners and leaders to provide business and operation expertise. Lauren started her healthcare management career in 1992, and achieved her MGMA/CMPE certification in 2008 and her FACMPE certification in 2013.
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Advanced RHC Cost Reporting
Presented by Katie Jo Raebel, CPA and Partner
Wipfli, LLP
This session will build off of information gained from the Basic RHC Cost Reporting presentation. We will focus on advanced topics related to Medicare RHC cost reporting and common cost reporting inaccuracies and opportunities for improvement.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how productivity standards may affect your cost-per-visit calculation and payments from other payers
- Compare your clinic’s key cost report information to those in Oregon and throughout the nation
- Strategize reimbursement optimization while ensuring reporting accuracies
Katie Jo Raebel has more than 19 years of experience in audit and accounting services, focused exclusively on health care industry clients. She specializes in assisting freestanding and provider-based clinics to navigate through the rural health clinic (RHC) certification process and is a proven thought leader with vast experience in the RHC arena. Katie Jo helps to calculate RHCs’ Medicare and Medicaid rates, provides education regarding changes in billing because of certification, and consults on all areas specific to RHCs. In addition, she helps organizations determine the best certification options to experience the most beneficial gain from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
Katie Jo is a regular speaker at industry events and conferences including the Rural Health Clinic Association of Washington, the Oregon Rural Health Conference, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics Conference, and most recently the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care annual conference. She also is a featured speaker at the annual Spokane office-sponsored cost report and reimbursement seminar.
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Basic RHC Cost Reporting
Presented by Katie Jo Raebel, CPA and Partner
Wipfli, LLP
This session will provide an overview of the rural health clinic Medicare cost report. Join us as we analyze each worksheet within this report (CMS Form 222-17) in order to gain an overall understanding of the basic functions of the Medicare cost report.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the various worksheets of the Medicare cost report, the flow of information, and where to find valuable data.
- Review the three components of the Medicare cost report settlement, the calculation of those amounts, and how the information provided to your cost report preparer can affect the final receivable/payable.
- Learn best practices for tracking information during the year in order to ensure an accurate report.
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Planning and Goal Setting for 2021
Leadership Development Workshop Webinar Series
Presented by Lauren K. Harris, FACMPE
Harris Healthcare Consulting, LLC
Partnering with practices to identify and achieve their goals- Lauren is passionate about medical practices and enjoys partnering with them to see them succeed. After years of honing her skills within large and small organizations of multiple specialties, including RHC and School-Based Health Centers, she started her own consulting practice in July 2020. She partners directly with practitioners and leaders to provide business and operation expertise. Lauren started her healthcare management career in 1992, and achieved her MGMA/CMPE certification in 2008 and her FACMPE certification in 2013.
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RHC, What Now After COVID-19?
Presented by Kate Hill, RN, VP of Clinical Services
The Compliance Team
During this webinar, Kate will discuss how to manage compliance in the clinic during the ongoing Public Health Emergency. How to complete the Emergency Preparedness After Action Report (AAR). The importance of infection prevention in the clinic now and moving forward. How things are different now in the RHC and for the foreseeable future. The issue of staying compliant when staff is lighter than usual.
Kate Hill, RN, is a graduate of Einstein Medical Center School of Nursing. As an Army Nurse, Kate served in Viet Nam where she was awarded the Bronze Star. Kate has worked with orthopedic patients in several capacities including nearly 3-decades with Biomet. Kate joined The Compliance Team in early 2012 to direct TCT’s rural health clinic accreditation program and has fallen in love with Rural. As VP of Clinical Services, she has spearheaded TCT’s Rural Health Clinic Accreditation program combining her clinical expertise, business acumen and passion for delivery of the best care possible to every patient. She presently serves on the Board of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics and on the Congress at NRHA. She feels fortunate to speak at numerous state and national meetings about RHC compliance countrywide, which gives her the opportunity to learn firsthand the diverse issues clinics are facing. Kate lives in suburban Philadelphia with her husband and near her three granddaughters.
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Critical Maintenance Emergency Plan Biennial Review, Civil Rights, Personnel File Audits
Presented by Tressa Sacrey, RHC Compliance Analyst
Health Services Associates
Tressa R. Sacrey joined Health Services Associates in May 2015 as a Compliance Analyst. Mrs. Sacrey has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and has completed courses in Business Applied Technology. Key areas of responsibility include creating policies, developing emergency plans, facilitating hazard training, researching CMS regulations, conducting on-site compliance mock surveys, and creating forms and tools to assist RHC’s across the nation.
Tressa will discuss how maintaining compliance at the RHC is an ongoing process.
Participants will:
- Gain an understanding of the required civil rights elements for the clinic
- Discover which documents will be reviewed during the personnel file audit
- Learn the operative guidelines and timeframes for the emergency plan review
You won’t want to miss this valuable training!
Stay ready for your next survey.
Be operationally sound, so you can stay focused on what matters most - The Patient!
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RHC Survey During COVID-19: Q&A with Janis McDowell, State Surveyor
Please come prepared to ask questions about RHC surveys during the COVID-19 PHE and learn how you can prepare for an unannounced survey.
Join us as we explore:
- How the survey has changed during COVID-19
- The challenges of a survey during the PHE
- What is involved in the COVID-19 Focused Infection Prevention Survey
Janis McDowell, RN, BSN, MA, is a Patient Safety Surveyor for OHA’s Health Facility Licensing and Certification Office with almost 5 years’ experience surveying hospitals, home health agencies, ambulatory surgery centers with current focus on dialysis centers and rural health clinics. Before moving into the realm of regulatory work, Janis’ nursing experience included trauma recovery and mental health.
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2021 E/M Coding and Billing Changes
Presented by Kim Huey, KGG Coding and Reimbursement Consulting, LLC
During this webinar Kim will walk you through everything you need to successfully implement the 2021 CPT code changes in your RHC.
This webinar will cover:
- 2021 overview of ICD-10 and CPT coding and billing changes;
- Documentation updates to support the new codes;
- CMS changes for E/M and coding reimbursement; and
- How fraud and abuse will affect these changes, and more.
Information was accurate as of the date of the presentation.
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Rural Telehealth: What is the impact to RHCs during the PHE and beyond?
Not only has the COVID-19 PHE changed the way the we do business in our rural healthcare facilities, it has also changed the way that we have used telehealth in providing patient care. Join us as we explore:
- How the provision of telehealth services has changed during the COVID-19 PHE
- The challenges of providing telehealth during the PHE
- How the PHE may change the telehealth landscape in the future
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Advanced RHC Billing and Coding
Advanced Rural Health Clinic Billing and Coding webinar takes a deeper look at RHC services and how to report them. It reviews in-depth claim examples based on a variety of patient visit scenarios. These include: RHC telehealth billing, mental health billing, specialists in the RHC, preventive services, care management services, and negative payments.
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Basic RHC Billing and Coding
The Basic Rural Health Clinic Billing and Coding webinar reviews RHC services and how to report them. It includes all of the basics for building and reporting RHC Medicare claims. It covers RHC locations and providers, incident to, surgeries, injections, RHC services vs. non-RHC services, specialists and global billing.
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Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Listening Session 3
RHC Emergency Preparedness, Part 2
Kate Hill from The Compliance Team discusses RHC Emergency Preparedness Training and Testing with an example of a Table Top Drill and After Action Report (AAR).
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Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Listening Session 2
RHC leaders discuss concerns and challenges internally and in their community.
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RHC Emergency Preparedness and COVID-19, Part 1
Kate Hill from The Compliance Team discusses RHC COVID-19 strategies to use in your clinic and requirements of RHC Emergency Preparedness 42 CFR 491.12.
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Telehealth for Oregon Rural Health Clinics: Resources and Reimbursement
Rose Locklear (Oregon Office of Rural Health) and Tammy Norville (National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health) walk you through a new resource created to help you navigate the policy and resources related to telehealth amid the COVID-19 crisis.
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Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Listening Session 1
RHC leaders discuss top concerns which include: supplies, testing, community, policies and procedures, amid COVID-19 pandemic.
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RHC Compliance 101, Part 2
Kate Hill from The Compliance Team, goes into more detail regarding compliance requirements in Rural Health Clinics.
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RHC Compliance 101, Part 1
Kate Hill from The Compliance Team, covers compliance requirements in Rural Health Clinics form completion through survey.
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