National Case Management Week 2012 is October 14-20!  Submit your promotional items order by September 1 to guarantee delivery by October 14.

For your CM Week activities, consider banquets and recognition dinners, state and city proclamations, and continuing education seminars.  And, honor the other case managers in your life with gifts, dinners, or flowers to show your appreciation!

 

CMSA is committed to creating the best conference with an assemblage of the highest quality speakers and experts in the health care arena.  If you are interested in submitting a proposal for CMSA's 2013 conference in New Orleans, La., June 25-28, 2013, visit www.cmsa.org/CFP to enter your submission.

All proposals must be completed by September 11, 2012 - so don't delay!  Interested in a Symposium?  Please contact Shelly Greenwood at sgreenwood@cm-innovators.com to discuss details regarding the various symposia times available.

 

The National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC), an organization dedicated to addressing and improving patient care transitions, hosts the 2012 Transitions of Care Summits in Seattle, Wash., Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., this fall.  These events bring together health care professionals, patient and caregiver advocates, and NTOCC thought leaders to raise awareness about the challenges of poor transitions, discuss effective solutions, and highlight emerging resources.

CMSA Members: Register by Friday, August 17 to take $20 off each Summit registration! No discount code necessary.

 

Enthusiastic, energetic, passionate, and dedicated – does this describe you?  Are you committed to the advancement of the case management profession?  Are you one who is not afraid to "step up to the plate" and make things happen?  If so, then you may want to seriously consider running for a position on CMSA’s National Board of Directors!

The nominations period is open now through October 31, 2012.  Learn more at the link below.

 

Pat Stricker, RN, MEd
Senior Vice President
TCS Healthcare Technologies

The advent of text messaging has changed the way we communicate both personally and professionally. No longer is communication restricted to face-to-face conversations, a phone call, a letter, or even an email. Over the past 20 years, the ability to communicate in 140 characters or less (160 characters for smartphones) has revolutionized the way people interact.  You can debate whether this change has been "for the better or worse," but it definitely is a significant change in the way we communicate with one another.

 

Coverage improves and out-of-pocket savings grow as a result of the health care law
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Average basic premiums for Medicare prescription drug plans are projected to remain constant in 2013, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius announced on August 7.  The average 2013 monthly premium for basic prescription drug coverage is expected to be $30. Average premiums for 2012 were projected to be $30 and ultimately averaged $29.67.  At the same time, since the law was enacted, seniors and people with disabilities have saved $3.9 billion on prescription drugs as the Affordable Care Act began closing the "donut hole" coverage gap.

 

Final rule increases payments to hospitals; strengthens link to quality care
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on August 1 issued a final rule that updates fiscal year (FY) 2013 Medicare payment policies and rates for inpatient stays at general acute care and long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), and builds on the Obama Administration’s work to slow growth in future health care costs by improving patient care.

 

Saving Up to $9 Billion
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on August 7 the release of a new rule that will cut red tape for doctors, hospitals, and health plans. In combination with a previously issued regulation, the rule will save up to $9 billion over the next 10 years. The regulation adopts operating rules for making health care claim payments electronically and describing adjustments to claim payments.

 

Caregiver resources are available on Medicare.gov/caregivers. These resources provide insights about choosing a drug plan, selecting a hospital, finding local support and care options, and much more. And be sure to remind caregivers that many Medicare preventive services are available to their loved one with no co-pay, like an annual wellness visit, immunizations, and some cancer screenings. It’s just another way you can help caregivers.

 

On October 2-5, 2012 in Orlando, Fla., the HealthSciences Institute and PartnersinImprovement Alliance is hosting the first national training conference on motivational interviewing (MI) in health care.

The conference is designed for members of the interdisciplinary care team, including case managers in a variety of practice settings.  The CCP program and MI workshop fulfill two core training requirements for the Registered Health Coach® credential and National Health Coach Registry® Listing.

CMSA Members: Use code 'CMSA' during registration checkout to redeem 45% off through August 31!

 

Meeting Patient Demand While Reducing Costs and Reducing Readmissions
October 10-12, 2012, Buffalo, N.Y.

Join Current Advantage for a three-day conference and workshop on collaborative diabetes care. Key sessions include:

-Meeting The "New" Endocrine Society Guidelines For The Management Of Inpatient Hyperglycemia
-Guidelines To Effectively Manage Peri Operative Glycemic Management
-Accountable Care: Preparing For Population Health Management And Value Based Reimbursement

CMSA Members: Receive $200 off registration when you register by August 31!  For more information and to register, contact Gia Bosch at 414-255-9525 or gbosch@currentadvantage.com.

 

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

The 2nd Annual Leadership Summit on Shared Decision Making
September 20-21, 2012 | Newton, Mass. | More info

The Leadership Summit on Emergency Department Observation Revenue
October 25-26, 2012 | Las Vegas, Nev. | More info

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

 

Through a joint collaboration, CMSA and ABQAURP have created a sub-specialty certification for Transitions of Care (TOC) as part of the specialized credentials available through ABQAURP’s Health Care Quality Management Board Certification (HCQM). Created to recognize the importance of TOC, this credential is the first one to support professionals – as a team and individually – who demonstrate competence and skills in providing the key elements of TOC.

For additional details about the certification and the available sub-specialties, visit www.abqaurp.org/certification.asp

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