Search Results for: "Recovery"

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These medications can reduce opioid deaths. Why aren’t they being used more?

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Walter Ginter began using heroin in the early 1970s while serving in the Army. By 1977, desperate to kick the habit, he turned to daily doses of methadone, a synthetic opioid that eases withdrawal and decreases cravings. The treatment worked.

“I have a good life today,” says Ginter, 69, project director for the New York-based Medication Assisted Recovery Support Project.  “I wouldn’t have it without medication.”

Ginter was a member of a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine committee that examined the three medications — methadone, buprenorphine (typically sold under the Suboxone brand name) and extended-release naltrexone (Vivitrol) — that the government has approved to treat opioid addiction.

President Signs Opioid Legislation

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President Trump on Wednesday signed bipartisan legislation to address the opioid crisis. The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6) includes a number of provisions intended to reduce opioid use and improve treatment and recovery programs for substance use disorders (SUD). CHA has summarized the key provisions for hospitals, and has attached a detailed legislative summary prepared by Health Policy Alternatives.

Tragedy in Gilroy

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“My son had his whole life to live and he was only six. That’s all I can say.” – Alberto Romero, father of Gilroy shooting victim Stephen Romero

“I have no words to describe this pain I’m feeling…We just want Keyla to be remembered as someone that is beautiful…She really cared a lot about other people. She loved animals. She had big dreams and aspirations and her life was cut short.” – Katiuska Pimentel Vargas, aunt of 13-year-old Gilroy shooting victim Keyla Salazar

CHA Provides Additional Details on CY 2020 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week issued the first of two separate regulations finalizing provisions for the calendar year (CY) 2020 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS). Notably, a second final rule on previously proposed price transparency provisions is under review by the Office of Management & Budget. However, CMS has considerable flexibility on the timing of finalizing and implementing these policies.

Patient-Centered Care Key to Success for Patients, Health Care Staff

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At the 2019 California Hospital Volunteer Leadership Conference, inspirational speaker and business coach Allison Massari will help attendees realize the immense value they offer to patients in need and the positive impact of going the extra mile. Massari will draw upon her own experiences as a burn survivor to help attendees: 

Find hope, opportunity and resilience in professional and personal journeys. Learn how the companionship, friendship and help of volunteers and hospital staff can make a difference in patients’ recoveries.  Understand how one volunteer can change a life. 

The conference will be held Feb. 11-13 in at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. To register, visit the conference website.

Allison Massari is an inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, artist and business coach who has been featured on ABC, NBC and FOX networks. She has also been named one of the top 10 best speakers for “motivation” and “personal development” in the United States by Meetings & Conventions Magazine. 

CHA Helps Reduce Behavioral Health Stigma With Powerful New Video

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In an effort to help reduce the stigma around behavioral health issues, CHA has released a new video featuring five accomplished health care executives who have faced mental health challenges. The powerful “truth telling” video is the product of the keynote session at CHA’s recent Behavioral Health Symposium. 

CMS Issues CY 2019 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday released its final rule updating the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B payment policies for calendar year (CY) 2019. The final rule includes a number of significant proposals that will impact hospitals and clinicians. Included in the PFS final rule is an interim final rule that implements provisions of the recently signed Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act.

CMS Expands Site-Neutral Payment Policy in CY 2019 OPPS Final Rule

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Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final rule updating the outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) for calendar year (CY) 2019, which also includes payment updates for ambulatory surgical centers. Despite strong opposition from CHA and the hospital field, CMS finalized an expansion of its site-neutral payment policies.

CMS Proposes Changes to Medicare Advantage, Part D Prescription Drug Programs

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Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the attached proposed rule updating Medicare Advantage and the Part D prescription drug program for contract year 2019. Among the proposed changes, CMS would codify the current Quality Star Rating System for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, eliminate the “meaningfully different” standard that Medicare Advantage organizations must meet if they offer multiple plans in the same county and change the open enrollment period to Jan. 1 through March 31.

CMS also solicits comments on how Part D plan sponsors — through their pharmacy benefit managers — negotiate drug price concessions from drug manufacturers, network pharmacies and other entities. Specifically, CMS is interested in learning if Part D plans and their pharmacy benefit managers are lowering premiums and cost-sharing for beneficiaries because of the savings generated from price concessions.

CHA Responds to OMHA’s RFI on Initiatives to Reduce ALJ Backlog

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CHA has submitted the attached comments to the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA), responding to its request for information (RFI) on initiatives to address the current backlog of claims pending at the administrative law judge (ALJ) level of appeals. While CHA applauds OMHA’s willingness to begin to address the backlog through a number of pilot programs, the increase in recovery audit contractor (RAC) claim denials will intensify challenges at the ALJ level without fundamental RAC reform. CHA urges OMHA to improve the transparency of data by continuing to release it on a quarterly basis and including additional information, such as the total number of claims, total charges being appealed by the individual Medicare payment system, the most frequent reason for appeals, the number of requests overturned on appeal and the number of cases that moved to the ALJ level. CHA also urges OMHA to improve communication on its established pilots, such as hosting a provider call to educate hospitals on the methodology of its statistical sampling pilot.