Make plans now to take advantage of all of the inspiring educational, networking, and resource-discovery opportunities at the leading case management conference event in the nation — in SAN FRANCISCO 2012.

Registration is now OPEN at www.cmsa.org/conference

This year's Annual Conference & Expo is June 19-22, 2012 at the Moscone Center West in the beautiful "City by the Bay." Our theme – "Spanning the Waves of Change in an Ocean of Opportunities" – underscores what an exciting time it is to be in health care, especially as a case management professional. Transformational changes are happening at an unprecedented rate in terms of new ways of delivering health care, including significant shifts in practice towards truly collaborative, patient-centered, quality-driven models of care.

So, come join us in beautiful San Francisco, and be a part of CMSA’s 22nd Annual Conference & Expo to learn more about these waves of change and the opportunities for your professional practice.

 

In solidarity with over 95 nurse-affiliated entities across the nation, the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) strongly supports H.R. 3679, or the National Nurse Act of 2011.

The National Nurse Act of 2011 proposes an amendment to the Public Health Service Act for the purpose of establishing a National Nurse for Public Health. If the act is passed, the current Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) of the Public Health Service will become the National Nurse for Public Health, promoting the former CNO position to a rank and grade equivalent to that of the Deputy Surgeon General.

Under this bill, the National Nurse for Public Health will be responsible for identifying and coordinating public health priorities within the Office of the Surgeon General. The National Nurse will be responsible for bringing initiatives such as Healthy People 2020 to the attention of communities, organizations, and the public as a whole. As a leader in the Public Health Service division, the National Nurse will serve as a guiding force to advance the nursing profession in areas including research, recruitment and career development.

One of the ways you can help to make the National Nurse become a reality is to contact your legislators and ask for their support to help pass HR3679. Please remember, the National Nurse Act is non-partisan. Supporting this bill will raise the visibility of the critical role nursing plays in promoting the health and wellness of our nation.

 

Join us in Washington, D.C. on April 23-24, 2012

What is the latest information and activity on and around the Hill? CMSA members and case management professionals will find the answer to that question when they converge on the District of Columbia from all parts of the country on April 23-24, 2012.

Register today at www.cmsa.org/PolicySummit

Attendees will receive important updates on legislative and policy related to case management and concerning national issues in health care reform. They will learn how to interact at the national level and how to apply this knowledge at the local level for greater impact. Attendees will visit "The Hill," where they will spend time with members of Congress, representatives from federal agencies, CMSA leaders, and other experts who will address attendees with the latest information.

This public policy summit was created to give CM professionals much needed tools and resources to advocate effectively for policies that impact case management, the effective delivery of health care, and – ultimately – that improve patients’ health and well being.

 

Date: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012
Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. CST

Would you like to learn more about the 2012 Public Policy Summit? Register for this free webinar and discover the benefits and value of attending this year's Summit as well as how you can affect health policy at both the local and national levels.

 

Date: Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012
Time: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. CST

Join CMSA President Mary Beth Newman to discuss current activities with CMSA and member benefit updates. Use this time to ask questions and interact with your Association President on CMSA hot topics. This is a great way to stay connected to your Association and understand how your Association is supporting you.

 

Wyndham Tampa Westshore
March 3, 2012 – 7:45 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

CMSA Members: Use promo code CMSAMBR to save $100 off registration.

Prepare to become a quality leader by taking part in ABQAURP’s live conference, "A Review of the Core Body of Knowledge", a primer for the Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) Board Certification Exam.

This live event will offer dynamic interaction with the content and exam writers themselves; guiding you through the exam topics and pinpointing key elements bringing health care quality and patient safety into razor-sharp focus!

HCQM certification demonstrates to internal and external entities that you, your group practice, or hospital is accountable. The result is a safer, more efficient, and cost-effective system that better satisfies the needs of patients, providers, purchasers, and payers.

Join over 10,000 Diplomats who are recognized and respected for their commitment and knowledge of health care quality.

 

Who do you know that is an outstanding case manager, or who is an outstanding leader in advancing case management?

Here is your opportunity to nominate them for the recognition they deserve. The CMSA awards program was established to pay special tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated distinguished service to the case management profession.

Visit www.cmsa.org/awards to begin creating your nomination today. All nominations are due by midnight on Feb. 14, 2012.

 

The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) welcomes the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) as the most recent national professional society to link to a continuing education (CE) website supported by AHRQ providing CE in patient-centered outcomes research, also known as comparative effectiveness research.

AHRQ is providing multimedia online CE modules for a wide audience of health care professionals across the health care continuum, including nurses in all practice settings and roles. The program is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

 

By Pat Stricker, RN, MEd
Senior Vice President, Clinical Services
TCS Healthcare Technologies

At this time of year, we see numerous articles and blogs discussing health care trends and predictions for the coming year. The year 2012 is no exception. These trends include a range of topics, but a big issue on most case managers’ minds is how "medical management" and "technology" will work together to improve care management processes. Leveraging technology to support and enhance medical management solutions is essential to optimize clinical and financial outcomes for patients, providers and payers.

 

Care management saved North Carolina Medicaid nearly $1 billion over four years, according to a new analysis by a national health care consulting firm.

The report by Milliman Inc., an actuarial firm based in San Diego, Calif., examined the impact of the state’s support for primary care "medical homes" – a system to coordinate health care for Medicaid recipients. Milliman’s report, which was required by the General Assembly, found that recipients with a medical home get better care and consumed fewer Medicaid resources than those who lack a medical home. From fiscal year 2007-2010, N.C. Medicaid avoided spending $984 million by having 1.1 million of its members enrolled into medical homes. In just the last two fiscal years of the study – 2009 and 2010 - $677 million was saved.

"Setting government straight is one of my top priorities," Gov. Perdue said, "and that means getting more out of every dollar the state spends and fueling innovations that save money, which is exactly what this program does."

"This is further validation that we are on the right track to ensuring high-quality medical care with the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars," said DHHS Secretary Lanier Cansler.

 

According to a new report from comScore, the number of people in the U.S. who access health information from their mobile devices is on the rise. During the months of September, October, and November last year, an average of 16.9 million people used mobile phones to access health information. That number marks a 125 percent growth rate over the same 3-month period in the previous year. The research firm found that about three in five or 60 percent of the mobile health information seekers were under the age of 35.

ComScore stated that at that growth rate, mobile health content is "quickly becoming one of the fastest growing content categories."

 

How many of us understand the differences between EBP, Research, and QI/PI? More importantly, how many of us apply these concepts into our daily practice? How are these linked to nursing professional development? This presentation will discuss them all and discuss how nurses can integrate each of them at the bedside with ease.

This is a Gannett Education CE event. Participants who attend the webinar and complete an evaluation will earn one contact hour of continuing nursing education.

 

Thirty-two leading health care organizations from across the country will participate in a new Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) initiative made possible by the Affordable Care Act, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today. The Pioneer ACO initiative will encourage primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other caregivers to provide better, more coordinated care for people with Medicare and could save up to $1.1 billion over five years.

Under this initiative, operated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center (Innovation Center), Medicare will reward groups of health care providers that have formed ACOs based on how well they are able to both improve the health of their Medicare patients and lower their health care costs.

 

A new report synthesizes findings and lessons from case studies of four diverse health care organizations participating in the Brookings–Dartmouth ACO Pilot Program, launched in 2009 to support selected provider groups that are collaborating with private payers to form accountable care organizations (ACOs). The organizations are: HealthCare Partners, a medical group/independent practice association (IPA) in Los Angeles, Calif.; Monarch HealthCare, an IPA in Orange County, Calif.; Norton Healthcare, an integrated delivery system in Louisville, Ky.; and Tucson Medical Center, a community hospital working with independent provider groups in Tucson, Ariz. Each has agreed to take responsibility for overall quality and costs of care for their patients, and each has a committed private payer partner and sufficient patient population to support comprehensive care coordination and performance measurement. The strategies they have adopted to develop internal capabilities and external partnerships can inform providers, payers, and policymakers about the process of ACO formation.

 

Up to 10,000 Medicare patients with chronic conditions will now be able to get most of the care they need at home under a new demonstration announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

"This program gives new life to the old practice of house calls, but with 21st Century technology and a team approach," said CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.

 

This paper describes ten attributes of a health literate organization, that is, an organization that makes it easier for people to navigate, understand, and use information and services to take care of their health.

The health care system is very complex. Most people in the United States have difficulty understanding and using currently available health information and health services. This means there is an imbalance between the skills of people and the demands of the health care system.

Addressing health literacy is critical to transforming health care quality. Goals for safe, patient centered,and equitable care cannot be achieved if consumers cannot access services or make informed health care decisions. These attributes are offered as guides for achieving the vision of being a health literate organization. The attributes are based on real world evidence and best practices.

 

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EST

This is a "virtual meeting." Attendees will need a computer, Internet access, and a phone line to participate. The National Medicare Education Program (NMEP) Partnership Alliance began as an educational effort because of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which expanded Medicare's health plan options by creating the Medicare+Choice program. A partnership soon developed between public and private organizations and CMS around a common goal: educating people with Medicare to make informed choices about their health care. NMEP continues its work under the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and the Affordable Care Act of 2010.

 

Jan. 26-27, 2012
Westin Tysons Corner in Falls Church, VA

The World Congress 3rd Annual Leadership Summit on Hospital Readmissions is where industry leaders convene to discuss how to bridge the gap between health plans and providers to improve the quality of care.

Through a series of dynamic panel discussions, intensive case studies and fascinating keynotes, attendees will collaboratively take an intensive look at the current rules on readmissions as well as innovative new programs around the nation that are successfully addressing current challenges.

CMSA Members save an additional $400 off of your registration by using promo code THM863. Register today by calling 800-767-9499 or visiting the website.