An interactive map from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will give policy-makers and advocates a nationwide picture of continuing state efforts on key tobacco control. The “map” is actually three distinct maps, each focusing on a different aspect of tobacco policy: state-by-state breakdowns on smoke-free laws, cigarette tax rates and total tobacco control spending. [Read article]
Federal News
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New Interactive Tobacco Map Launched
(03/11/2010)
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Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Pay System Fact Sheet Series
(03/11/2010)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a revised Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Fact Sheet (March 2010), which includes information about the 0 percent update to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule effective for dates of service January 1, 2010 - March 31, 2010. [Read article]
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AHA: Offer Incremental Meaningful Use Objectives Model, Add 12 Objectives
(03/11/2010)
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has offered an alternative approach for the definition of meaningful use, including the addition of 12 objectives to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). [Read article]
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Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care
(03/11/2010)
Racial and ethnic disparities in health care are known to reflect access to care and other issues that arise from differing socioeconomic conditions. There is, however, increasing evidence that even after such differences are accounted for, race and ethnicity remain significant predictors of the quality of health care received (full printed & CD versions). [Read article]
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Changing the Discussion From Physician Burnout to Physician Wellness
(03/11/2010)
A new case study by family medicine educators indicates that to create a more positive educational environment for residents and faculty, academic medicine has to change from a focus on the causes of physician burnout to a focus on physician wellness. [Read article]
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NACo Meeting Hears About More Dollars & More Attention For Rural America
(03/11/2010)
In an Agri-Pulse publication, Mary Wakefield explained that the National Health Service Corps offers $50,000 in debt relief to doctors who commit to working in rural communities for two years and $150,000 for a five-year commitment. “With an average med school graduate carrying $150,000 of debt, this puts rural communities on even ground with larger urban areas.” [Read article]
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AHA Chart Compares Senate Health Reform Bill, President's Plan
(03/11/2010)
The AHA has compiled a document, Summary of Health Reform Legislation, summarizing the Senate's health reform bill and noting elements that Obama has suggested changing as part of a final reform package. [Read article]
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EMR Use Still Low At Solo And Small Practices
(03/11/2010)
Adoption rates at practices with more than 10 physicians have grown significantly since 2009. Many small practices have been reluctant to invest before knowing what those requirements would be. [Read article]
State News
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New Interactive Tobacco Map Launched
(03/11/2010)
An interactive map from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will give policy-makers and advocates a nationwide picture of continuing state efforts on key tobacco control. The “map” is actually three distinct maps, each focusing on a different aspect of tobacco policy: state-by-state breakdowns on smoke-free laws, cigarette tax rates and total tobacco control spending. [Read article]
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Wisconsin’s Air Dirtiest in Nation
(03/11/2010)
It's not something to be proud of: Wisconsin had the most unsafe air in the country yesterday. [Read article]
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CPR Class Could Be Required At High Schools
(03/11/2010)
New legislation (AB 725) being considered at the capitol would require schools to offer high school students instruction in performing cardiopulmonary and cardio-cerebral resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator. [Read article]
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Medical Care Vanishing In Rural Wisconsin
(03/10/2010)
Many hospitals in the state are forced to cut services. [Read article]
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I'm Just an Ambulance Driver Podcast Series
(03/09/2010)
Tune in monthly for relevant topics to EMS and the input of EMS providers and administrators alike. Hosted by EMSARN (Emergency Medical Service Agency Research Network for Quality & Safety Improvement). [Listen]
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Marketing Your Volunteer Fire or Ambulance Department
(03/09/2010)
Rural America relies heavily on volunteer fire and ambulance departments. With little to no tax base in these areas, it is difficult or impossible to generate the necessary funds to properly finance an emergency services organization. Rural communities have little choice but to form their own organizations, financed by local donations, spaghetti dinners, rib feeds, pancake breakfasts, and whatever other creative effort to raise a dollar comes to mind. [Read article]
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Wisconsin Relay of Electronic Data (WIRED) for Health
(03/09/2010)
The goal of the WIRED for Health project is to build substantial health information exchange capacity statewide to support providers' meaningful use of electronic health records and enable efficient, appropriate, and secure flow of information to optimize decisions for health. The approach is to plan, develop, and implement interoperable, standards-based, secure electronic exchange of patient and health data. [Website; Board members]
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Hospital CEOs Testify at CAH Assessment Legislative Hearing
(03/09/2010)
The Rural Healthcare Access Act, (AB 770 / SB 553), which would strengthen rural health through a new assessment on critical access hospitals, took a step forward when the Assembly Rural Economic Development Committee passed AB 770 on a 7-2-1 bipartisan vote. The vote came just two days after a hearing on the bill. [Read article]
Funding Opportunities
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Annual Rural Health Conference Scholarships – NRHA
03/31/2010
The National Rural Health Association has scholarship funds available for students and community members with a critical need for financial support with conference expenses. Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to people who meet the eligibility criteria specified on the application and who are unable to attend the conference without such support. [Funding]
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Mattie J. T. Stepanek Caregiving Scholarship - Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
06/01/2010
The purpose of the Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to family, professional, or paraprofessional caregivers of any age who are seeking training or education in specific skills, procedures and strategies that lead to more effective care at the same time that they serve to protect the health and well-being of the caregiver. [Funding]
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National Family Caregiving Awards - MetLife Foundation / National Alliance for Caregiving
05/07/2010
A total of nine awards will be given to organizations with established caregiving programs in the following three categories: Caregiver Education (3 awards); Caregiver Support (4 awards); and Older Caregivers Caring for Adult Children with Disabilities (2 awards). These awards will recognize the current work of community agencies and other organizations that support family caregivers as a significant part of their mission. [Funding]
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Shelter Grants – Mary Kay Foundation
06/30/2010
The Foundation observes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month by awarding grants to deserving women’s shelters across the United States. The Foundation awards a grant to at least one shelter in every state. [Funding]
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Workforce Development to Increase Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Services among Minority Populations – SAMSA
04/02/2010
The purpose of the program is to increase awareness, provide education, and promote access to MAT for the specific racial and ethnic minority populations: African American; American Indian/Alaska Native; Hispanic/Latino(a); and Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander. [Funding]
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Pesticide Safety Program for Agricultural Workers and Farmworker Children - Environmental Protection Agency
04/05/2010
EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs is soliciting proposals from eligible parties for an EPA cooperative agreement to provide financial assistance to an eligible organization for an education and training pesticide safety program aimed at reducing exposure to pesticides for agricultural workers, their families and the agricultural community. [Funding]
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Mental Health Transformation Grants - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
04/30/2010
The purpose of this program is to foster adoption and implementation of permanent transformative changes in how public mental health services are organized, managed and delivered so that they are consumer-driven, recovery-oriented and supported through evidence-based and best practices. [Funding]
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EMS Degree Completion Scholarship through The College Network - National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
03/15/2010
Scholarship available to those seeking an EMS degree completion program. Offered through The College Network. [Funding]
WORH Updates
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Since July 1 of 2009, the New Physicians for Wisconsin Program at the WORH has assisted 3 communities recruit new primary care physicians. These communities are: Waupun, West Bend, and Madison. In addition to these placements, we have had physicians interview in New Richmond, Milwaukee, Beloit, Kenosha, Green Bay, West Bend, Amery, Sauk City, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin Rapids, Racine, Oregon, West Bend, and Osceola. We are hopeful that several of these interviews will end up in the placement of a new physician in the respective community. Check out the Physician Recruitment News, and Physician Recruitment Tips & Advice which is the latest physician recruitment trends, newsworthy items, and/or offer tips & advice related directly to any/all aspects of physician recruitment. [Read article]
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The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health will be sponsoring the 2nd Annual Wisconsin Rural Health Summit on Monday, May 10th at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Don’t miss this opportunity for all rural health sectors to discover ways that we can collaborate to improve rural healthcare in Wisconsin. [Read article]
