Monday, June 18, 1-5 pm in San Francisco

Start your week early in San Francisco with this half-day workshop, where case managers will gain real-world experience and acquire essential insights and tools from a panel of health care industry experts who'll help transform your appearance, behavior, and communication and become a valuable leader. Breakout sessions will provide more in-depth discussion on leadership, marketing, professional image, networking, and assessment (including return on investment analysis) that you can start applying as soon as you return to your office.

 

Webinars begin April 25
Face-to-Face Training occurs June 17-18, in San Francisco

CMSA is pleased to offer the Integrated Case Management Training curriculum (ICM).  This program is an intensive, advanced program incorporating home study, virtual participation via webinars and face-to-face competency testing.

The ICM assessment process fosters the development of an alliance between the case manager and patient/client using motivational interviewing skills while disentangling physical, psychological, social, and health system barriers to improvement.  During training, managers learn to how to alter barriers in each of these domains without the need to transfer patients/clients to other managers.

 

April 23-24

Register today at www.cmsa.org/PolicySummit

Join us in Washington, D.C. and make a difference!  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.

 

June 19-22

CMSA's Annual Conference & Expo is just three months away. Plan now to secure your spot for this week of education and networking in beautiful San Francisco.

Register at www.cmsa.org/conference

This year's event is at the Moscone Center West in the "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.  Register for the conference and reserve your accommodations today – CMSA and San Francisco await you!

 

Thank you to all members who voted in CMSA's recent Board of Directors election and took part in the related webinar! The election period is now closed.

Join the CMSA National Board of Directors in welcoming new Board Director, Tina M. Kowlsen, RN, BS, CCM. Tina is a founding member of CMSA, with more than 33 years experience in the business of health care. Her nursing experience includes medical, surgical, psychiatry, OB/GYN, home health care, and the last 25 years in case management. Currently, Tina serves as Compliance Manager for Third Party Audits in the Corporate Care Management Department at UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

Congratulations to CMSA Member and CEO of Snell Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratory, Rick Fleetwood!  At the recent 2012 Arkansas Business of the Year Awards, he received the Business Executive of the Year Award for his work at Snell, which specializes in custom-made and fitted prosthetic and orthotic devices from artificial limbs to braces.

 

Members: Receive a 10 percent discount on the HCQM board exam with promo code CMSAEXAM

The Transitions of Care sub-specialty certification was developed with input and support from the Case Management Society of America, as part of the specialized credentials available through ABQAURP’s Health Care Quality Management Board Certification (HCQM).  This sub-specialty certification, which is over and above the HCQM Board Certification, was created to recognize the importance of TOC and is the first one to support professionals – as a team and individually – who demonstrate competence and skills in providing the key elements of TOC.

 

By Pat Stricker, RN, M Ed
SVP of Clinical Services
TCS Healthcare Technologies

The recent launch of CMSA’s Knowledge Center and Educational Resource Library made me think about how changes in technology have made our lives so much easier when it comes to finding and earning continuing education hours (CEs).  (I know I will date myself with these comments, but that’s OK.)

In the old days, nurses seeking CEs would put considerable effort into finding an available course.  The Internet did not exist to provide a list of appropriate courses in just minutes. And there was no email to get information from a variety of sources.

 

Empowers seniors with clear information on health care services used
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

As part of National Consumer Protection Week, the Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Marilyn Tavenner, announced the redesign of the statement that informs Medicare beneficiaries about their claims for services and benefits.  The redesigned statement, known as the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), will be available online and, starting in 2013, mailed out quarterly to beneficiaries.

 

Builds on new health care law’s efforts to expand coverage
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that it will partner with Text4Baby, a free national health texting service, to promote enrollment in both Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and provide pregnant women and new mothers free text messages on important health care issues.

 

New Partners Named in Efforts to Improve Transitions between the Hospital and Other Care Settings
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

As part of the new health care law’s policies to improve the quality of care available to people with Medicare and all Americans, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced 23 additional participants in the Community-based Care Transitions Program (CCTP).  These participants will join seven other community-based organizations already working with local hospitals and other health care and social service providers to support Medicare patients who are at high risk of being readmitted to the hospital while transitioning from hospital stays to their homes, a nursing home, or other care setting.

 

Administration actions saved consumers up to $323 million
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that consumers will soon begin receiving unprecedented information on the value of their health insurance coverage, and some will receive rebates from insurance companies that spend less than 80 percent of their premium dollars on health care.

 

World Congress has several live health care events coming up during the month of April.  Members, save $200 on current rates for each event by entering the code CMSA200 during the registration process!

The 9th Annual World Health Care Congress, April 16-18 |  Washington, DC More Info

The 9th Annual Leadership Summit on Optimizing Observation Patient Management, April 23-24 | Chicago, IL More Info

The World Congress 3rd Annual Leadership Summit on The Business of Women’s Health, April 25-27 | Boston, MA  More Info

Not valid on gov’t registrations, cannot be combined with any other offers, cannot be used toward a previous registration.

 

A Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Video Streaming Event
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

On March 29, CMS will launch an initiative aimed at improving behavioral health and safeguarding nursing home residents from unnecessary antipsychotic drug use.  As part of the initiative, CMS is developing a national action plan that will use a multidimensional approach including public reporting, raising public awareness, regulatory oversight, technical assistance/training, and research. The action plan will be targeted at enhancing person-centered care for nursing home residents, particularly those with dementia-related behaviors.

Register Here: http://surveyortraining.cms.hhs.gov/