Professor Emeritus -- Dr. Tom Seymour from West Fargo, North Dakota -- Professor, Minot State University, MSU Faculty Regents Award (2015) -- PAST Peer Reviewer (Higher Learning Commission - Chicago); - Author and Presenter Board of Directors, SRT Communications, Inc and Minot City Alderman - Ward 5 (2010-June, 2016) PAST - Editor-in-Chief (North Dakota State Senator (2002-2010) 2017-Cass County Electric Cooperative- Board of Directors
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
North Dakota Health Information Technology Projects
North Dakota Health IT Projects
http://ruralhealth.und.edu/projects/sorh/hit.php
http://ruralhealth.und.edu/projects/sorh/hit.php
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tracy Potter for North Dakota US Senate
Tracy Potter for US Senate
http://www.tracypotterforsenate.com/
Senator Tom Seymour and Senator Bob Horne
invite you to meet their good friend
Senator Tracy Potter
Dem-NPL Candidate for United States Senate
Tuesday, August 31st 2010
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
at the home of
Kari Conrad and Ervin Lee
224 8th Street SE, Minot ND
Contributions will be appreciated at the event
or by credit card at www.tracypotterforsenate.com
http://www.tracypotterforsenate.com/
Senator Tom Seymour and Senator Bob Horne
invite you to meet their good friend
Senator Tracy Potter
Dem-NPL Candidate for United States Senate
Tuesday, August 31st 2010
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
at the home of
Kari Conrad and Ervin Lee
224 8th Street SE, Minot ND
Contributions will be appreciated at the event
or by credit card at www.tracypotterforsenate.com
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Medicare Update
Hello Everyone,
Please enjoy the information contained in this edition of Frontier Focus. Please be sure to share it with your members, colleagues, providers and office billing staff. Thank you for your continued efforts to broadcast Medicare information to the providers in Region VIII.
Table of Contents
1. Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners: Have you tried Internet-based PECOS for your Medicare enrollment actions?
2. Provider and Supplier Organizations: Have you tried Internet-based PECOS for your Medicare enrollment actions?
3. National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session regarding Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Resource Utilization Group-Version 4 (RUG-IV)
4. Follow-Up National Provider Call regarding ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment
5. Updates from the Medicare Learning Network
6. “How to Get Started” Section Added to Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program Webpage
7. New PQRI Information
8. Medicare Imposes Stronger Protections on Medical Equipment Suppliers: New Rule Strengthens Supplier Enrollment Standards to Help Prevent Fraud
9. Upcoming Home Health, DME, and Hospice Open Door Forums (ODF) regarding Pharmacies
10. CMS to Host Listening Session Regarding Confidential Feedback Reports and the Implementation of a Value-Based Payment Modifier for Physicians
11. Closing in on 120 Days and Counting Until January 2011 Target Testing for Version 5010
12. Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Training Materials Updates
13. Clinician Outreach and Communication Activities (COCA) from the CDC
14. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners: Have you tried Internet-based PECOS for your Medicare enrollment actions?
It’s easy to use and offers a host of advantages over the paper-based enrollment process.
Want more control over your enrollment information? The Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) does that!
Want more control when adding or changing a reassignment of benefits? Internet-based PECOS does that, too!
Using Internet-based PECOS Is Easy! Learn how to use the system by reading the Medicare Physician and Non-Physician Practitioner Getting Started Guide. And if you encounter problems or have questions as you navigate the system, there is help available!
Don’t wait – Set your practice free from paper – Start using Internet-based PECOS today!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Provider and Supplier Organizations: Have you tried Internet-based PECOS for your Medicare enrollment actions?
It’s easy to use and offers a host of advantages over the paper-based enrollment process.
[Note that Internet-based PECOS is not yet available for suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). The system will be available for use by DMEPOS suppliers later this year.]
Want more control over your enrollment information? The Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) does that!
Want more control when adding or changing a location or changing ownership information? Internet-based PECOS does that, too!
Using Internet-based PECOS Is Easy! Learn how to use the system by reading the Getting Started Guide for Provider and Supplier Organizations. Remember, the process by which an organization provider can use Internet-based PECOS may take several weeks. It is recommended that you begin this process (if you have not already) well in advance of any upcoming enrollment actions. For more information on this setup process, read the Provider and Supplier Organization Overview.
Don’t wait – Set your organization free from paper – Start using Internet-based PECOS today!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session regarding Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Resource Utilization Group-Version 4 (RUG-IV)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host a national provider conference call on the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Resource Utilization Group-Version 4 (RUG-IV). This toll-free call will take place from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday, September 1, 2010.
This call is one in a series of calls designed to provide information on key aspects of the RUG-IV SNF PPS case mix system which will be put into place on an interim basis effective October 1, 2010. In June CMS discussed coding procedures with emphasis on the appropriate Look-back Period to be used when coding the Minimum Data Set MDS 3.0 and how facility staff should separately report individual, concurrent, and group therapy for accurate payment, along with changes to the ADL coding requirements and their impact on the assignment of MDS 3.0 records to a RUG-IV group.
As a continuation of the series, CMS subject matter experts will discuss topics such as: the transition from RUG-III to RUG-IV, Start of Therapy and End of Therapy Other Medicare Required Assessments, and the SNF short stay policy. A PowerPoint slide presentation will be posted to the SNF PPS webpage at, http://www.cms.gov/SNFPPS/02_Spotlight.asp on the CMS website for you to download prior to the call so that you can follow along with the presenters.
Following the formal presentation, callers will have an opportunity to ask questions of CMS subject matter experts.
Conference call details:
Date: September 1, 2010
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Conference Title: Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Resource Utilization Group – Version 4 (RUG-IV) National Provider Call
In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation.
Registration will close at 1:00 p.m. EDT on August 31, 2010, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.
To register for the call participants need to go to: http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/090110
Fill in all required data.
Verify that your time zone is displayed correctly in the drop down box.
Click "Register".
You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation emails. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.
If assistance for hearing impaired services is needed the request must be sent to medicare.ttt@palmettogba.com no later than 3 business day before the event.
For those of who will be unable to attend, a transcript and MP3 audio file of the call will be available at least shortly after the call at http://www.cms.gov/SNFPPS/02_Spotlight.asp on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Follow-Up National Provider Call regarding ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a follow-up national provider conference call on "ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment". Subject matter experts will review basic information on both ICD-10 and 5010 and explain how they are interrelated. A question and answer session will follow the presentations.
When: Monday, September 13, 2010
Time: 1pm – 1:30pm ET
Target Audience: Medical coders, physician office staff, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, educators, system maintainers and all Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) providers
The following topics will be discussed:
ICD-10
ICD-10 implementation for services provided on and after October 1, 2013
Differences between ICD-10 and ICD-9-CM codes
ICD-10-CM basic information for all users
Tools for converting codes – General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs)
Proposal to freeze ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 code updates except for new technologies and diseases
HIPAA Version 5010
Compliance dates and timelines (No contingencies)
5010 before and after ICD-10 Implementation
Readiness review for implementing HIPAA version 5010 and D.0
What you need to be doing to prepare
Medicare fee-for-service activities update
Other issues and considerations
For more information and to register for this informative session, please go to http://www.cms.gov/ICD10/02c_CMS_Sponsored_Calls.asp on the CMS website. Registration will close at 12pm ET on September 10, 2010, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made. Please register early.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Updates from the Medicare Learning Network
JUST RELEASED -- Special Edition MLN Matters Article #SE1025 - Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Update for Home Health Agencies (HHA)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released Special Edition MLN Matters Article #SE1025 to remind Home Health Agencies (HHAs) about the steps they must take to meet the upcoming Home Health Care CAHPS Survey (HHCAHPS) requirements. To fulfill the HHCAHPS requirements for the CY 2012 APU, Medicare HHAs must begin participating in the HHCAHPS by September 2010. This article is informational and does not present new policy. For more details, please read the article at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1025.pdf on the CMS website.
REVISED -- Special Edition MLN Matters Article #SE1014 - Medicare Policy Regarding Pressure Reducing Support Surfaces
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised Special Edition MLN Matters Article #SE1014 to clarify existing support surface medical policies and coverage requirements. This article is informational in nature and reinforces existing policy. It does not present new policy. For more details, please read the article at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1014.pdf on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. “How to Get Started” Section Added to Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program Webpage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce a new section on "How to Get Started" in participating with the Electronic Prescribing Incentive (eRx) program, is available on the eRx webpage. The new section page can be found on the eRx webpage at http://www.cms.gov/ERxIncentive/03_How_To_Get_Started on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. New PQRI Information
New Section Page added to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Webpage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce a new section on "How to Get Started" in participating with the PQRI program, is available on the PQRI webpage. The new section page can be found on the PQRI webpage at http://www.cms.gov/PQRI/03_How_To_Get_Started on the CMS website.
2010 PQRI 1st Quarter Data Codes Submission Error Report by Specialty
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce the 2010 PQRI 1st Quarter Data Codes Submission Error Report by Specialty for January 1, 2010 - March 31, 2010 is available on the PQRI webpage on the CMS website.
To access this downloadable report, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI on the CMS website and click on the Educational Resources tab. Once on the Analysis and Payment page, scroll down to the “Downloads” section and click on the “2010 PQRI 1st Quarter Data Codes Submission Error Report by Specialty for January 1, 2010 - March 31, 2010” link.
Payment Adjustment for Newly Incentive Eligible Professionals for the 2008 PQRI
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce information on payment adjustments for newly incentive eligible professionals for the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) program is posted on the Spotlight page of the PQRI webpage at www.cms.gov/PQRI on the CMS website.
Upcoming incentive payment distributions-payment adjustment for newly incentive eligible professionals for the 2008 PQRI after incorporation of the allowed charges requirement:
o Distribution of this additional 2008 incentive, for those newly incentive eligible, begins August 25, 2010 and ends September 17, 2010 (late August through mid September).
o There is a total of 889 TIN/NPIs who were not incentive eligible in the 2008 PQRI program but who are newly incentive eligible after incorporation of the allowed charges requirement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8. Medicare Imposes Stronger Protections on Medical Equipment Suppliers: New Rule Strengthens Supplier Enrollment Standards to Help Prevent Fraud
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a final rule representing another step to increase protections for Medicare and beneficiaries from potentially fraudulent suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).
The new regulation enhances Medicare enrollment standards for DMEPOS suppliers by adding several new standards and strengthening existing standards that suppliers must meet before being able to furnish equipment and supplies to Medicare beneficiaries. These new and stronger standards will help to reduce fraud in Medicare and provide beneficiaries with additional assurance that they are being served by legitimate suppliers who meet Medicare’s standards.
The final rule also clarifies and expands the existing enrollment requirements that DMEPOS suppliers must meet to establish and maintain billing privileges in the Medicare program.
To read the entire CMS press release issued today (8/26) click here: https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
To read the final rule today click here: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-21354_PI.pdf
And will be posted here:
http://www.cms.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll/09_ProviderEnrollmentRegulation.asp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9. Upcoming Home Health, DME, and Hospice Open Door Forums (ODF) regarding Pharmacies
On March 23, 2010, with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (known as Affordable Care Act – ACA), there was a provision for pharmacies to be exempt from meeting the January 1, 2011 accreditation deadline. We would like to announce that CMS is planning a Special Open Door Forum to answer any questions pertaining to the ACA provision for billing DME as a pharmacy.
On Tuesday, September 28, at 2:00 PM, CMS will be providing information relevant to all pharmacies that plan on furnishing and billing Medicare for DME. The purpose of this call is to review how CMS plans to implement Section 3101 of ACA. We will go through the recent instructions given to our contractor; answer questions related to those pharmacies who voluntarily disenrolled last year and next steps required by the pharmacy.
Please look for the announcement and agenda to be released on the ODF website sometime in the latter part of September.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10. CMS to Host Listening Session Regarding Confidential Feedback Reports and the Implementation of a Value-Based Payment Modifier for Physicians
September 24, 2010 from 10am-4pm ET
at CMS Headquarters in Baltimore, MD
CMS will host a listening session on September 24th as part of the transition to a value-based purchasing program for services of physicians and certain other professionals, as well as other related provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA)). The ACA contains provisions that continue and expand the Physician Feedback Program and also require implementation of a value-based payment modifier to the Fee-For-Service physician fee schedule. The purpose of the listening session is to solicit comments on approaches being considered as we implement these provisions.
Physicians, physician associations, and all others interested in the use of confidential feedback reports as one means of enhancing quality and efficiency are invited to participate, in person or by calling in to the teleconference. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to space and teleconference lines available. Persons interested in attending the meeting or participating by teleconference must register by completing the on-line registration via the CMS Web site at http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/092410.
For the complete Federal Register notice, which includes registration information, visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-19128.pdf on the web.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11. Closing in on 120 Days and Counting Until January 2011 Target Testing for Version 5010
Health care providers, health plans, clearinghouses and vendors should be finished with their internal testing of the Version 5010 HIPAA electronic health care transaction standards by the first recommended deadline for internal testing, December 31, 2010, and be ready to start testing with their external partners, beginning in January 2011, just about four months away.
Beginning January 2011, CMS’ Medicare Fee-for-Service program will be ready to test Version 5010 transaction standards with its external partners, and other industry segments should be poised to follow suit. This recommended external testing start date will give the industry adequate time to ensure that their Version 5010 transactions are being conducted correctly, in preparation for mandatory Version 5010 compliance by January 1, 2012.
Don’t fall behind on this important testing process. Make sure you communicate with your external partners about your Version 5010 testing plans. Incorporate your Version 5010 testing messages into your existing communication vehicles, including website links, customer service encounters, etc., to let everyone know when you will be ready to start testing Version 5010 transactions with them.
Keep Up to Date on Version 5010 and ICD-10.
Please visit www.cms.gov/icd10 for the latest news and sign up NOW for Version 5010 and ICD-10 e-mail updates!
Read the press release issued today (8/24) by CMS at: https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
Version 5010 and ICD-10 are coming. Will you be ready?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12. Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Training Materials Updates
Under the Downloads section of the Nursing Home Quality Initiatives MDS 3.0 Training Materials page (http://www.cms.gov/NursingHomeQualityInits/45_NHQIMDS30TrainingMaterials.asp), the following revised training materials are now available:
• A new naming convention is now being used for the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual.
• Any sections or chapters that have had revisions will now have an updated version number along with the month and year that the information was revised (e.g. MDS 3.0 Chapter 4 V1.03 August 2010). Subsequent revisions of any section or chapter of the manual will have updated version numbers (e.g. V1.04, V1.05, etc…)
• Any sections or chapters that have NOT been revised will have the same version number, month, and year that that version was last published (e.g. MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Chapter 3 Section A V1.02 July 2010). However, you will notice that the "day" has been dropped from the file name now that we do not have frequent updates to the manual.
• Any changes from the previous version of all Chapter 3 Sections are now listed at the beginning of each respective section.
MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Chapter 4 has been reposted and is available for download in the file labeled "MDS 3.0 RAI Manual August 2010."
• MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Chapter 3 Updates: V1.03 of the following sections - A, C, D, E, F, G, K, M, O, P, X, and Z.
VIVE - Video on Interviewing Vulnerable Elders – Will be available for ordering from CMS beginning the week of August 16, 2010. Please visit http://productordering.cms.hhs.gov to order a copy of the DVD (CMS Product No. 11479-CD). This Video on Interviewing Vulnerable Elders (VIVE) was funded by the Picker Institute and produced by the UCLA/JH Borun Center.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13. Clinician Outreach and Communication Activities (COCA) from the CDC
Upcoming COCA Call: HHS/CDC Influenza Update
Title: HHS/CDC Update: 2010-11 Flu Season and Universal Vaccine Recommendations
Date: Monday, August 30, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM – 400 PM (Eastern Time)
Call Number: 1-888-790-2034
Passcode: 4027970
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are co-hosting a COCA conference call to provide influenza updates for healthcare providers. During the 2010-2011 flu season, CDC expects the 2009 H1N1 virus to cause illness again along with other influenza viruses. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year and by encouraging your patients to be vaccinated as well.
This COCA call is designed to highlight the importance of vaccination, discuss CDC’s new universal recommendations, address vaccination challenges with minority and at-risk populations, and discuss strategies and resources for encouraging influenza vaccination. Join Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health (HHS); Dr. Garth Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health (HHS); and Dr. Carolyn Bridges, Influenza Division Associate Director for Science (CDC), as they discuss influenza vaccination.
For more information on this call visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp
Upcoming COCA Call: Alternate Care Systems/Crisis Scenarios
Title: Preparing for Large-Scale Surge Incidents: Alternate Care Systems and Crisis Standards of Care
Date: September 2, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Call Number: 888-790-6180
Passcode: 1281914
Public health emergencies can limit access to routine medical care and diminish resources. Healthcare systems may need to institute alternate care systems to manage the potential influx of patients during an emergency. Join subject matter experts as they discuss the concept of alternate care systems and crisis standards of care and why planning is critical for a community’s ability to respond to a large-scale disaster. CE Credits are being offered for this call!
For more information on this call visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
http://www.ssa.gov/
Under a new law, more Medicare beneficiaries could qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs because some things no longer count as income and resources. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be on Medicare, have limited income and resources, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please enjoy the information contained in this edition of Frontier Focus. Please be sure to share it with your members, colleagues, providers and office billing staff. Thank you for your continued efforts to broadcast Medicare information to the providers in Region VIII.
Table of Contents
1. Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners: Have you tried Internet-based PECOS for your Medicare enrollment actions?
2. Provider and Supplier Organizations: Have you tried Internet-based PECOS for your Medicare enrollment actions?
3. National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session regarding Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Resource Utilization Group-Version 4 (RUG-IV)
4. Follow-Up National Provider Call regarding ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment
5. Updates from the Medicare Learning Network
6. “How to Get Started” Section Added to Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program Webpage
7. New PQRI Information
8. Medicare Imposes Stronger Protections on Medical Equipment Suppliers: New Rule Strengthens Supplier Enrollment Standards to Help Prevent Fraud
9. Upcoming Home Health, DME, and Hospice Open Door Forums (ODF) regarding Pharmacies
10. CMS to Host Listening Session Regarding Confidential Feedback Reports and the Implementation of a Value-Based Payment Modifier for Physicians
11. Closing in on 120 Days and Counting Until January 2011 Target Testing for Version 5010
12. Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Training Materials Updates
13. Clinician Outreach and Communication Activities (COCA) from the CDC
14. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners: Have you tried Internet-based PECOS for your Medicare enrollment actions?
It’s easy to use and offers a host of advantages over the paper-based enrollment process.
Want more control over your enrollment information? The Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) does that!
Want more control when adding or changing a reassignment of benefits? Internet-based PECOS does that, too!
Using Internet-based PECOS Is Easy! Learn how to use the system by reading the Medicare Physician and Non-Physician Practitioner Getting Started Guide. And if you encounter problems or have questions as you navigate the system, there is help available!
Don’t wait – Set your practice free from paper – Start using Internet-based PECOS today!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Provider and Supplier Organizations: Have you tried Internet-based PECOS for your Medicare enrollment actions?
It’s easy to use and offers a host of advantages over the paper-based enrollment process.
[Note that Internet-based PECOS is not yet available for suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). The system will be available for use by DMEPOS suppliers later this year.]
Want more control over your enrollment information? The Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) does that!
Want more control when adding or changing a location or changing ownership information? Internet-based PECOS does that, too!
Using Internet-based PECOS Is Easy! Learn how to use the system by reading the Getting Started Guide for Provider and Supplier Organizations. Remember, the process by which an organization provider can use Internet-based PECOS may take several weeks. It is recommended that you begin this process (if you have not already) well in advance of any upcoming enrollment actions. For more information on this setup process, read the Provider and Supplier Organization Overview.
Don’t wait – Set your organization free from paper – Start using Internet-based PECOS today!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session regarding Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Resource Utilization Group-Version 4 (RUG-IV)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host a national provider conference call on the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Resource Utilization Group-Version 4 (RUG-IV). This toll-free call will take place from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday, September 1, 2010.
This call is one in a series of calls designed to provide information on key aspects of the RUG-IV SNF PPS case mix system which will be put into place on an interim basis effective October 1, 2010. In June CMS discussed coding procedures with emphasis on the appropriate Look-back Period to be used when coding the Minimum Data Set MDS 3.0 and how facility staff should separately report individual, concurrent, and group therapy for accurate payment, along with changes to the ADL coding requirements and their impact on the assignment of MDS 3.0 records to a RUG-IV group.
As a continuation of the series, CMS subject matter experts will discuss topics such as: the transition from RUG-III to RUG-IV, Start of Therapy and End of Therapy Other Medicare Required Assessments, and the SNF short stay policy. A PowerPoint slide presentation will be posted to the SNF PPS webpage at, http://www.cms.gov/SNFPPS/02_Spotlight.asp on the CMS website for you to download prior to the call so that you can follow along with the presenters.
Following the formal presentation, callers will have an opportunity to ask questions of CMS subject matter experts.
Conference call details:
Date: September 1, 2010
Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Conference Title: Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Resource Utilization Group – Version 4 (RUG-IV) National Provider Call
In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation.
Registration will close at 1:00 p.m. EDT on August 31, 2010, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.
To register for the call participants need to go to: http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/090110
Fill in all required data.
Verify that your time zone is displayed correctly in the drop down box.
Click "Register".
You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation emails. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.
If assistance for hearing impaired services is needed the request must be sent to medicare.ttt@palmettogba.com no later than 3 business day before the event.
For those of who will be unable to attend, a transcript and MP3 audio file of the call will be available at least shortly after the call at http://www.cms.gov/SNFPPS/02_Spotlight.asp on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Follow-Up National Provider Call regarding ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a follow-up national provider conference call on "ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment". Subject matter experts will review basic information on both ICD-10 and 5010 and explain how they are interrelated. A question and answer session will follow the presentations.
When: Monday, September 13, 2010
Time: 1pm – 1:30pm ET
Target Audience: Medical coders, physician office staff, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, educators, system maintainers and all Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) providers
The following topics will be discussed:
ICD-10
ICD-10 implementation for services provided on and after October 1, 2013
Differences between ICD-10 and ICD-9-CM codes
ICD-10-CM basic information for all users
Tools for converting codes – General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs)
Proposal to freeze ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 code updates except for new technologies and diseases
HIPAA Version 5010
Compliance dates and timelines (No contingencies)
5010 before and after ICD-10 Implementation
Readiness review for implementing HIPAA version 5010 and D.0
What you need to be doing to prepare
Medicare fee-for-service activities update
Other issues and considerations
For more information and to register for this informative session, please go to http://www.cms.gov/ICD10/02c_CMS_Sponsored_Calls.asp on the CMS website. Registration will close at 12pm ET on September 10, 2010, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made. Please register early.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Updates from the Medicare Learning Network
JUST RELEASED -- Special Edition MLN Matters Article #SE1025 - Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Update for Home Health Agencies (HHA)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released Special Edition MLN Matters Article #SE1025 to remind Home Health Agencies (HHAs) about the steps they must take to meet the upcoming Home Health Care CAHPS Survey (HHCAHPS) requirements. To fulfill the HHCAHPS requirements for the CY 2012 APU, Medicare HHAs must begin participating in the HHCAHPS by September 2010. This article is informational and does not present new policy. For more details, please read the article at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1025.pdf on the CMS website.
REVISED -- Special Edition MLN Matters Article #SE1014 - Medicare Policy Regarding Pressure Reducing Support Surfaces
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised Special Edition MLN Matters Article #SE1014 to clarify existing support surface medical policies and coverage requirements. This article is informational in nature and reinforces existing policy. It does not present new policy. For more details, please read the article at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1014.pdf on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. “How to Get Started” Section Added to Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program Webpage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce a new section on "How to Get Started" in participating with the Electronic Prescribing Incentive (eRx) program, is available on the eRx webpage. The new section page can be found on the eRx webpage at http://www.cms.gov/ERxIncentive/03_How_To_Get_Started on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. New PQRI Information
New Section Page added to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Webpage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce a new section on "How to Get Started" in participating with the PQRI program, is available on the PQRI webpage. The new section page can be found on the PQRI webpage at http://www.cms.gov/PQRI/03_How_To_Get_Started on the CMS website.
2010 PQRI 1st Quarter Data Codes Submission Error Report by Specialty
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce the 2010 PQRI 1st Quarter Data Codes Submission Error Report by Specialty for January 1, 2010 - March 31, 2010 is available on the PQRI webpage on the CMS website.
To access this downloadable report, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI on the CMS website and click on the Educational Resources tab. Once on the Analysis and Payment page, scroll down to the “Downloads” section and click on the “2010 PQRI 1st Quarter Data Codes Submission Error Report by Specialty for January 1, 2010 - March 31, 2010” link.
Payment Adjustment for Newly Incentive Eligible Professionals for the 2008 PQRI
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce information on payment adjustments for newly incentive eligible professionals for the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) program is posted on the Spotlight page of the PQRI webpage at www.cms.gov/PQRI on the CMS website.
Upcoming incentive payment distributions-payment adjustment for newly incentive eligible professionals for the 2008 PQRI after incorporation of the allowed charges requirement:
o Distribution of this additional 2008 incentive, for those newly incentive eligible, begins August 25, 2010 and ends September 17, 2010 (late August through mid September).
o There is a total of 889 TIN/NPIs who were not incentive eligible in the 2008 PQRI program but who are newly incentive eligible after incorporation of the allowed charges requirement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8. Medicare Imposes Stronger Protections on Medical Equipment Suppliers: New Rule Strengthens Supplier Enrollment Standards to Help Prevent Fraud
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a final rule representing another step to increase protections for Medicare and beneficiaries from potentially fraudulent suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).
The new regulation enhances Medicare enrollment standards for DMEPOS suppliers by adding several new standards and strengthening existing standards that suppliers must meet before being able to furnish equipment and supplies to Medicare beneficiaries. These new and stronger standards will help to reduce fraud in Medicare and provide beneficiaries with additional assurance that they are being served by legitimate suppliers who meet Medicare’s standards.
The final rule also clarifies and expands the existing enrollment requirements that DMEPOS suppliers must meet to establish and maintain billing privileges in the Medicare program.
To read the entire CMS press release issued today (8/26) click here: https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
To read the final rule today click here: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-21354_PI.pdf
And will be posted here:
http://www.cms.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll/09_ProviderEnrollmentRegulation.asp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9. Upcoming Home Health, DME, and Hospice Open Door Forums (ODF) regarding Pharmacies
On March 23, 2010, with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (known as Affordable Care Act – ACA), there was a provision for pharmacies to be exempt from meeting the January 1, 2011 accreditation deadline. We would like to announce that CMS is planning a Special Open Door Forum to answer any questions pertaining to the ACA provision for billing DME as a pharmacy.
On Tuesday, September 28, at 2:00 PM, CMS will be providing information relevant to all pharmacies that plan on furnishing and billing Medicare for DME. The purpose of this call is to review how CMS plans to implement Section 3101 of ACA. We will go through the recent instructions given to our contractor; answer questions related to those pharmacies who voluntarily disenrolled last year and next steps required by the pharmacy.
Please look for the announcement and agenda to be released on the ODF website sometime in the latter part of September.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10. CMS to Host Listening Session Regarding Confidential Feedback Reports and the Implementation of a Value-Based Payment Modifier for Physicians
September 24, 2010 from 10am-4pm ET
at CMS Headquarters in Baltimore, MD
CMS will host a listening session on September 24th as part of the transition to a value-based purchasing program for services of physicians and certain other professionals, as well as other related provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA)). The ACA contains provisions that continue and expand the Physician Feedback Program and also require implementation of a value-based payment modifier to the Fee-For-Service physician fee schedule. The purpose of the listening session is to solicit comments on approaches being considered as we implement these provisions.
Physicians, physician associations, and all others interested in the use of confidential feedback reports as one means of enhancing quality and efficiency are invited to participate, in person or by calling in to the teleconference. The meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to space and teleconference lines available. Persons interested in attending the meeting or participating by teleconference must register by completing the on-line registration via the CMS Web site at http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/092410.
For the complete Federal Register notice, which includes registration information, visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-19128.pdf on the web.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11. Closing in on 120 Days and Counting Until January 2011 Target Testing for Version 5010
Health care providers, health plans, clearinghouses and vendors should be finished with their internal testing of the Version 5010 HIPAA electronic health care transaction standards by the first recommended deadline for internal testing, December 31, 2010, and be ready to start testing with their external partners, beginning in January 2011, just about four months away.
Beginning January 2011, CMS’ Medicare Fee-for-Service program will be ready to test Version 5010 transaction standards with its external partners, and other industry segments should be poised to follow suit. This recommended external testing start date will give the industry adequate time to ensure that their Version 5010 transactions are being conducted correctly, in preparation for mandatory Version 5010 compliance by January 1, 2012.
Don’t fall behind on this important testing process. Make sure you communicate with your external partners about your Version 5010 testing plans. Incorporate your Version 5010 testing messages into your existing communication vehicles, including website links, customer service encounters, etc., to let everyone know when you will be ready to start testing Version 5010 transactions with them.
Keep Up to Date on Version 5010 and ICD-10.
Please visit www.cms.gov/icd10 for the latest news and sign up NOW for Version 5010 and ICD-10 e-mail updates!
Read the press release issued today (8/24) by CMS at: https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
Version 5010 and ICD-10 are coming. Will you be ready?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12. Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Training Materials Updates
Under the Downloads section of the Nursing Home Quality Initiatives MDS 3.0 Training Materials page (http://www.cms.gov/NursingHomeQualityInits/45_NHQIMDS30TrainingMaterials.asp), the following revised training materials are now available:
• A new naming convention is now being used for the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual.
• Any sections or chapters that have had revisions will now have an updated version number along with the month and year that the information was revised (e.g. MDS 3.0 Chapter 4 V1.03 August 2010). Subsequent revisions of any section or chapter of the manual will have updated version numbers (e.g. V1.04, V1.05, etc…)
• Any sections or chapters that have NOT been revised will have the same version number, month, and year that that version was last published (e.g. MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Chapter 3 Section A V1.02 July 2010). However, you will notice that the "day" has been dropped from the file name now that we do not have frequent updates to the manual.
• Any changes from the previous version of all Chapter 3 Sections are now listed at the beginning of each respective section.
MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Chapter 4 has been reposted and is available for download in the file labeled "MDS 3.0 RAI Manual August 2010."
• MDS 3.0 RAI Manual Chapter 3 Updates: V1.03 of the following sections - A, C, D, E, F, G, K, M, O, P, X, and Z.
VIVE - Video on Interviewing Vulnerable Elders – Will be available for ordering from CMS beginning the week of August 16, 2010. Please visit http://productordering.cms.hhs.gov to order a copy of the DVD (CMS Product No. 11479-CD). This Video on Interviewing Vulnerable Elders (VIVE) was funded by the Picker Institute and produced by the UCLA/JH Borun Center.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13. Clinician Outreach and Communication Activities (COCA) from the CDC
Upcoming COCA Call: HHS/CDC Influenza Update
Title: HHS/CDC Update: 2010-11 Flu Season and Universal Vaccine Recommendations
Date: Monday, August 30, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM – 400 PM (Eastern Time)
Call Number: 1-888-790-2034
Passcode: 4027970
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are co-hosting a COCA conference call to provide influenza updates for healthcare providers. During the 2010-2011 flu season, CDC expects the 2009 H1N1 virus to cause illness again along with other influenza viruses. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year and by encouraging your patients to be vaccinated as well.
This COCA call is designed to highlight the importance of vaccination, discuss CDC’s new universal recommendations, address vaccination challenges with minority and at-risk populations, and discuss strategies and resources for encouraging influenza vaccination. Join Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health (HHS); Dr. Garth Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health (HHS); and Dr. Carolyn Bridges, Influenza Division Associate Director for Science (CDC), as they discuss influenza vaccination.
For more information on this call visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp
Upcoming COCA Call: Alternate Care Systems/Crisis Scenarios
Title: Preparing for Large-Scale Surge Incidents: Alternate Care Systems and Crisis Standards of Care
Date: September 2, 2010
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Call Number: 888-790-6180
Passcode: 1281914
Public health emergencies can limit access to routine medical care and diminish resources. Healthcare systems may need to institute alternate care systems to manage the potential influx of patients during an emergency. Join subject matter experts as they discuss the concept of alternate care systems and crisis standards of care and why planning is critical for a community’s ability to respond to a large-scale disaster. CE Credits are being offered for this call!
For more information on this call visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
http://www.ssa.gov/
Under a new law, more Medicare beneficiaries could qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs because some things no longer count as income and resources. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be on Medicare, have limited income and resources, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Minot Area Council of the Arts -- North Dakota
Minot Area Council of the Arts - North Dakota
http://www.minotarts.org/
http://www.minotarts.org/
Minot Public Schools - North Dakota
Minot Public Schools
http://www.minot.k12.nd.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=32263
http://www.minot.k12.nd.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=32263
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
North Dakota's Governor John Hoeven's Rural Event in Minot Today
North Dakota Governor John Hoeven's Event in Minot today....
http://governor.nd.gov/
http://governor.nd.gov/
Monday, August 23, 2010
Senator Tom Seymour co-authored Lisa Wolf's ND Youth Advisory Council Bill
North Dakota Youth Council Report ...
http://ndyouthforward.wordpress.com/
http://ndyouthforward.wordpress.com/
Minot State University on Wikipedia
Minot State University on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minot_State_University
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minot_State_University
Minot State University offers a Graduate Business degree with Job Corps Professionals
Minot State University has a Job Corps Program
http://www.jobcorps.gov/home.aspx
http://www.jobcorps.gov/home.aspx
Sunday, August 22, 2010
North Dakota Legislative Committee Meetings Take Place Weekly ???
North Dakota Legislature Meets Weekly.....????
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/minutes/index.html
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/minutes/index.html
Fun Fall Event in Minot, North Dakota -- Hostfest
Fun Fall Event in Minot, North Dakota
http://www.hostfest.com/concerts/
http://www.hostfest.com/concerts/
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Dr. Tom Seymour's Updated Web site -- Minot State University -- North Dakota
Dr. Tom Seymour's Updated Web site:
http://www.minot.com/tom/
http://www.minot.com/tom/
North Dakota Rural Summit in Minot This Week
http://www.commerce.nd.gov/uploads%5Cresources%5C235%5Cprogram-agenda.pdf
North Dakota Business Resource - The Department of Commerce
North Dakota Business Resource:
http://www.commerce.nd.gov/
http://www.commerce.nd.gov/
Friday, August 20, 2010
The College Board Has Some Ideas for Higher Education
Information on Higher Education
http://completionagenda.collegeboard.org/
http://completionagenda.collegeboard.org/
North Dakota Secretary of State Site -- A Resource for You
North Dakota Secretary of State -- A Resource Site for You...
http://www.nd.gov/sos/
http://www.nd.gov/sos/
Thursday, August 19, 2010
North Dakota Legislative Information Technology Committee to meet at SRT in Minot on September 9
North Dakota Legislative Technology Meeting in Minot
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/agenda/IT090910agenda.pdf
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/agenda/IT090910agenda.pdf
North Dakota University System is busy
North Dakota University System is busy....
http://www.ndus.edu/
http://www.ndus.edu/
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Facebook Places -- shared by John Girard
John Girard Likes to Share.....
http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=418175202130
http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=418175202130
North Dakota Legislative Information Technology Committee to Meet in Minot on September 9
North Dakota Legislative Technology Meeting at SRT in Minot on September 9
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/notices/IT090910notice.pdf
Dr. Tom Seymour
Professor
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota
Senator... District 5 ---- Minot, North Dakota
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/notices/IT090910notice.pdf
Dr. Tom Seymour
Professor
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota
Senator... District 5 ---- Minot, North Dakota
Faculty Return to Minot State University Today
Faculty Return to Minot State University Today.....
http://warp6.cs.misu.nodak.edu/
http://warp6.cs.misu.nodak.edu/
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Dr. Tom Seymour and Dr. Deanna Klein in Today's Minot Daily News
Dr. Tom Seymour and Dr. Deanna Klein in Today's Minot Daily News
http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/542058.html?nav=5005
Learn how to be technologically advanced
Minot State offers class to learn about up-to-date tech advantages
By ANDREA JOHNSON Staff Writer ajohnson@minotdailynews.com
POSTED: August 17, 2010 Save | Print | Email | Read comments | Post a comment Email: "Learn how to be technologically advanced"
*To: <--TO Email REQUIRED!
*From: <--FROM Email REQUIRED!
Article Photos
Andrea Johnson/MDN --
Tom Seymour and Deanna Klein teach Technology for Personal Development classes at Minot State University.
Advertisement Students can learn about the latest technological advances in a general education class offered this semester at Minot State University.
Tom Seymour, who teaches the class, Technology for Personal Development, said it is offered in a traditional face-to-face format on campus and online. The on-campus class is already filled for the fall semester but there were still some open slots in the online class as of last week. Seymour said his students from last year are still keeping up with his postings on Facebook and Twitter, even after the class has ended.
The class covers how students can make use of technology to achieve their personal goals and improve their quality of life, both in their personal lives and in the office.
Seymour and Deanna Klein, who teaches the classes in the spring semester, said their students range from those who are already making wide use of the newest technology to those who are intimidated by using it.
Some students post nothing on Facebook while others are on it constantly and follow other social media. Klein said by the end of the semester her students felt more knowledgeable and comfortable with technology.
Technology is constantly changing, said Seymour, so it is important for Minot State to prepare students to keep up with advances. Knowledge about how to use social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter and comfort with new computer technology such as the Apple iPad and text-messaging cell phones will be useful for students starting a new job, he said.
Seymour said students will be able to suggest things that will help improve business.
In some cases, business owners might not be familiar with the latest technological advances or how they can be used to increase business. Seymour said he's constantly learning something new himself when he works with a new cell phone or his iPad. Text messaging is so common now that students are more likely to text a friend than to call him on the cell phone, he said.
Seymour said some recent studies show that using social networking in classes will help with student retention rates. More MSU professors are working on incorporating Facebook or text messaging in other classes, not just this general education business class that Seymour is teaching for the second year.
Seymour said the class is offered in the business and information technology department but is open to all majors. It will give students a good exposure to the concepts and the technology that is available, he said, and some students may decide to take other business classes.
The class covers how to protect computers and ensure better security while conducting business online in the age of computer hackers, piracy, identity theft and other types of fraud.
Students will also get a good overview of the history of the computer age over the past 100 years and discuss the future uses of technology. The class also covers how technology is used across the world and issues such as underground computing and censorship in China, the cultural changes caused by outsourcing jobs to other countries. Technology can also be a great benefit and continues to provide more opportunities to people with disabilities, said Seymour..
Klein said she assigns students to research how technology will be used in the future and they invariably come across new innovations they haven't heard of.
The only certain thing is that technology will keep changing and students must learn to adapt to it and how to use changing technology.
Subscribe to Minot Daily News
http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/542058.html?nav=5005
Learn how to be technologically advanced
Minot State offers class to learn about up-to-date tech advantages
By ANDREA JOHNSON Staff Writer ajohnson@minotdailynews.com
POSTED: August 17, 2010 Save | Print | Email | Read comments | Post a comment Email: "Learn how to be technologically advanced"
*To: <--TO Email REQUIRED!
*From: <--FROM Email REQUIRED!
Article Photos
Andrea Johnson/MDN --
Tom Seymour and Deanna Klein teach Technology for Personal Development classes at Minot State University.
Advertisement Students can learn about the latest technological advances in a general education class offered this semester at Minot State University.
Tom Seymour, who teaches the class, Technology for Personal Development, said it is offered in a traditional face-to-face format on campus and online. The on-campus class is already filled for the fall semester but there were still some open slots in the online class as of last week. Seymour said his students from last year are still keeping up with his postings on Facebook and Twitter, even after the class has ended.
The class covers how students can make use of technology to achieve their personal goals and improve their quality of life, both in their personal lives and in the office.
Seymour and Deanna Klein, who teaches the classes in the spring semester, said their students range from those who are already making wide use of the newest technology to those who are intimidated by using it.
Some students post nothing on Facebook while others are on it constantly and follow other social media. Klein said by the end of the semester her students felt more knowledgeable and comfortable with technology.
Technology is constantly changing, said Seymour, so it is important for Minot State to prepare students to keep up with advances. Knowledge about how to use social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter and comfort with new computer technology such as the Apple iPad and text-messaging cell phones will be useful for students starting a new job, he said.
Seymour said students will be able to suggest things that will help improve business.
In some cases, business owners might not be familiar with the latest technological advances or how they can be used to increase business. Seymour said he's constantly learning something new himself when he works with a new cell phone or his iPad. Text messaging is so common now that students are more likely to text a friend than to call him on the cell phone, he said.
Seymour said some recent studies show that using social networking in classes will help with student retention rates. More MSU professors are working on incorporating Facebook or text messaging in other classes, not just this general education business class that Seymour is teaching for the second year.
Seymour said the class is offered in the business and information technology department but is open to all majors. It will give students a good exposure to the concepts and the technology that is available, he said, and some students may decide to take other business classes.
The class covers how to protect computers and ensure better security while conducting business online in the age of computer hackers, piracy, identity theft and other types of fraud.
Students will also get a good overview of the history of the computer age over the past 100 years and discuss the future uses of technology. The class also covers how technology is used across the world and issues such as underground computing and censorship in China, the cultural changes caused by outsourcing jobs to other countries. Technology can also be a great benefit and continues to provide more opportunities to people with disabilities, said Seymour..
Klein said she assigns students to research how technology will be used in the future and they invariably come across new innovations they haven't heard of.
The only certain thing is that technology will keep changing and students must learn to adapt to it and how to use changing technology.
Subscribe to Minot Daily News
Monday, August 16, 2010
North Dakota Public Library Statistics
North Dakota Public Library Statistics
http://www.library.nd.gov/Publications/2009stats.pdf
http://www.library.nd.gov/Publications/2009stats.pdf
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Bethany Luthern Church in Minot
Bethany Luthern Church in Minot
http://www.bethanylutheranminot.org/Welcome.html
http://www.bethanylutheranminot.org/Welcome.html
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Basics of Good Teaching
August 11, 2010Good Teaching: The Top 10 Requirements
By: Richard W. Leblanc, PhD in Philosophy of Teaching
ShareThisOne. Good teaching is as much about passion as it is about reason. It’s about motivating students not only to learn, but teaching them how to learn, and doing so in a manner that is relevant, meaningful and memorable. It’s about caring for your craft, having a passion for it and conveying that passion to everyone, but mostly importantly to your students.
Two. Good teaching is about substance and treating students as consumers of knowledge. It’s about doing your best to keep on top of your field, reading sources, inside and outside of your areas of expertise, and being at the leading edge as often as possible. But knowledge is not confined to scholarly journals. Good teaching is also about bridging the gap between theory and practice. It’s about leaving the ivory tower and immersing oneself in the field in talking to, consulting with, and assisting practitioners and liaising with their communities.
Three. Good teaching is about listening, questioning, being responsive and remembering that each student and class is different. It’s about eliciting responses and developing the oral communication skills of the quiet students. It’s about pushing students to excel and at the same time it’s about being human, respecting others and being professional at all times.
Four. Good teaching is about not always having a fixed agenda and being rigid, but being flexible, fluid, experimenting, and having the confidence to react and adjust to changing circumstances. It’s about getting only 10 percent of what you wanted to do in a class done and still feeling good. It’s about deviating from the course syllabus or lecture schedule easily when there is more and better learning elsewhere. Good teaching is about the creative balance between being an authoritarian dictator on the one hand and a push-over on the other. Good teachers migrate between these poles at all times depending on the circumstances. They know where they need to be and when.
For more content like this, be sure to download the FREE REPORT: Philosophy of Teaching Statements: Examples and Tips on How to Write a Teaching Philosophy Statement
Five. Good teaching is also about style. Should good teaching be entertaining? You bet! Does this mean that it lacks in substance? Not a chance! Effective teaching is not about being locked with both hands glued to a podium or having your eyes fixated on a slide projector while you drone on. Good teachers work the room and every student in it. They realize that they are the conductors and that the class is their orchestra. All students play different instruments and at varying proficiencies. A teacher’s job is to develop skills and make these instruments come to life as a coherent whole to make music.
Six. And this is very important, good teaching is about humor. It’s about being self-deprecating and not taking yourself too seriously. It’s often about making innocuous jokes, mostly at your own expense, so that the ice breaks and students learn in a more relaxed atmosphere where you, like them, are human with your own share of faults and shortcomings.
Seven. Good teaching is about caring, nurturing and developing minds and talents. It’s about devoting time, often invisible, to every student. It’s also about the thankless hours of grading, designing or redesigning courses and preparing materials to still further enhance instruction.
Eight. Good teaching is supported by strong and visionary leadership, and very tangible institutional support—resources, personnel, and funds. Good teaching is continually reinforced by an overarching vision that transcends the entire organization—from full professors to part-time instructors—and is reflected in what is said, but more importantly by what is done.
Nine. Good teaching is about mentoring between senior and junior faculty, teamwork, and being recognized and promoted by one’s peers. Effective teaching should also be rewarded and poor teaching needs to be remedied through training and development programs.
Ten. At the end of the day, good teaching is about having fun, experiencing pleasure and intrinsic rewards … like locking eyes with a student in the back row and seeing the synapses and neurons connecting, thoughts being formed, the person becoming better, and a smile cracking across a face as learning all of a sudden happens. It’s about the former student who says your course changed her life. It’s about another telling you that your course was the best one he’s ever taken. Good teachers practice their craft not for the money or because they have to, but because they truly enjoy it and because they want to. Good teachers couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Dr. Richard W. Leblanc is an associate professor at York University in Toronto. Contact him at rleblanc@yorku.ca.
Reprinted from The Teaching Professor, Vol. 12, no. 6.
Permalink: http://www.facultyfocus.com?p=14577
By: Richard W. Leblanc, PhD in Philosophy of Teaching
ShareThisOne. Good teaching is as much about passion as it is about reason. It’s about motivating students not only to learn, but teaching them how to learn, and doing so in a manner that is relevant, meaningful and memorable. It’s about caring for your craft, having a passion for it and conveying that passion to everyone, but mostly importantly to your students.
Two. Good teaching is about substance and treating students as consumers of knowledge. It’s about doing your best to keep on top of your field, reading sources, inside and outside of your areas of expertise, and being at the leading edge as often as possible. But knowledge is not confined to scholarly journals. Good teaching is also about bridging the gap between theory and practice. It’s about leaving the ivory tower and immersing oneself in the field in talking to, consulting with, and assisting practitioners and liaising with their communities.
Three. Good teaching is about listening, questioning, being responsive and remembering that each student and class is different. It’s about eliciting responses and developing the oral communication skills of the quiet students. It’s about pushing students to excel and at the same time it’s about being human, respecting others and being professional at all times.
Four. Good teaching is about not always having a fixed agenda and being rigid, but being flexible, fluid, experimenting, and having the confidence to react and adjust to changing circumstances. It’s about getting only 10 percent of what you wanted to do in a class done and still feeling good. It’s about deviating from the course syllabus or lecture schedule easily when there is more and better learning elsewhere. Good teaching is about the creative balance between being an authoritarian dictator on the one hand and a push-over on the other. Good teachers migrate between these poles at all times depending on the circumstances. They know where they need to be and when.
For more content like this, be sure to download the FREE REPORT: Philosophy of Teaching Statements: Examples and Tips on How to Write a Teaching Philosophy Statement
Five. Good teaching is also about style. Should good teaching be entertaining? You bet! Does this mean that it lacks in substance? Not a chance! Effective teaching is not about being locked with both hands glued to a podium or having your eyes fixated on a slide projector while you drone on. Good teachers work the room and every student in it. They realize that they are the conductors and that the class is their orchestra. All students play different instruments and at varying proficiencies. A teacher’s job is to develop skills and make these instruments come to life as a coherent whole to make music.
Six. And this is very important, good teaching is about humor. It’s about being self-deprecating and not taking yourself too seriously. It’s often about making innocuous jokes, mostly at your own expense, so that the ice breaks and students learn in a more relaxed atmosphere where you, like them, are human with your own share of faults and shortcomings.
Seven. Good teaching is about caring, nurturing and developing minds and talents. It’s about devoting time, often invisible, to every student. It’s also about the thankless hours of grading, designing or redesigning courses and preparing materials to still further enhance instruction.
Eight. Good teaching is supported by strong and visionary leadership, and very tangible institutional support—resources, personnel, and funds. Good teaching is continually reinforced by an overarching vision that transcends the entire organization—from full professors to part-time instructors—and is reflected in what is said, but more importantly by what is done.
Nine. Good teaching is about mentoring between senior and junior faculty, teamwork, and being recognized and promoted by one’s peers. Effective teaching should also be rewarded and poor teaching needs to be remedied through training and development programs.
Ten. At the end of the day, good teaching is about having fun, experiencing pleasure and intrinsic rewards … like locking eyes with a student in the back row and seeing the synapses and neurons connecting, thoughts being formed, the person becoming better, and a smile cracking across a face as learning all of a sudden happens. It’s about the former student who says your course changed her life. It’s about another telling you that your course was the best one he’s ever taken. Good teachers practice their craft not for the money or because they have to, but because they truly enjoy it and because they want to. Good teachers couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Dr. Richard W. Leblanc is an associate professor at York University in Toronto. Contact him at rleblanc@yorku.ca.
Reprinted from The Teaching Professor, Vol. 12, no. 6.
Permalink: http://www.facultyfocus.com?p=14577
North Dakota Legislative Budget Section on September 22 in Bismarck
NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT
Tentative Agenda
BUDGET SECTION
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Senate Chamber, State Capitol
Bismarck, North Dakota
9:00 a.m. Call to order
Roll call
Consideration of the minutes of the June 22, 2010, meeting
9:05 a.m. Presentation by representatives of the Office of Management and Budget regarding:
• Status of the general fund
• Irregularities in the fiscal practices of the state pursuant to North Dakota Century
Code Section 54-14-03.1
• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, including an update
of funding information, the number of nonstate employees who have been employed
in the private sector using federal stimulus funding, and agency requests to continue
full-time equivalent positions or programs paid for by ARRA funds
• Number of employees receiving bonuses above the 25 percent limitation pursuant to
Section 54-06-30 and Section 1 of 2009 House Bill No. 1030
9:30 a.m. Presentation by a representative of Workforce Safety and Insurance and the Risk
Management Division of the Office of Management and Budget on the status of the risk
management workers' compensation program pursuant to Section 65-04-03.1(5)
* 9:45 a.m. Budget Section consideration of state agency requests pursuant to Chapter 54-16 that
have been authorized by the Emergency Commission and require consideration by the
Budget Section
10:25 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the North Dakota University System regarding
information on the definition of institutional and local funds and whether the definitions
are consistent among University System institutions
10:40 a.m. Presentation by representatives of the Adjutant General regarding:
• A report on emergency disaster relief grants awarded to political subdivisions
pursuant to 2009 Senate Bill No. 2012
• A report on 2009 flood disaster-related expenditures, transfers, reimbursements, and
general fund deposits pursuant to 2009 Senate Bill No. 2444
• Information on the total funding by funding source for each disaster being paid for
during the 2009-11 biennium
• A report on the reintegration program expenditures and the program's impact on
service members pursuant to Section 11 of 2009 House Bill No. 1016
11:30 a.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff of a memorandum on federal funds to be
received by state agencies during the 2009-11 and 2011-13 bienniums
* 11:40 a.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff of a memorandum on block grant hearings
required during the 2011 legislative session and a resolution draft authorizing the
Budget Section to hold any legislative block grant hearings required during the
2011-12 interim
12:00 noon Luncheon recess
2
1:00 p.m. Distribution by the Legislative Council staff of the 2010 North Dakota Finance Facts
pocket brochure prepared pursuant to 2009 House Concurrent Resolution No. 3036
1:05 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Department of Commerce regarding:
• Annual audits of renaissance fund organizations pursuant to Section 40-63-07(9)
• A report on the status of the technology-based entrepreneurship grant program,
including an overview of the program and program expenditures pursuant to
Section 13 of 2009 Senate Bill No. 2018
• A report on tax-exempt property by school district pursuant to Section 14 of 2009
Senate Bill No. 2018
1:45 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Veterans' Home regarding:
• The status of the Veterans' Home construction project pursuant to 2009 Senate Bill
No. 2007, including a report comparing actual costs to budget to date by major
category of expenditure, and current estimates of total project costs
• The status of the Veterans' Home exterior finishing construction projects pursuant to
Section 4 of 2009 Senate Bill No. 2075
2:05 p.m. Presentation by representatives of the Department of Human Services regarding any
transfers between line items and between subdivisions in excess of $50,000 made
during the 2009-11 biennium to date pursuant to Section 7 of 2009 House Bill No. 1012
2:10 p.m. Presentation by representatives of the Department of Human Services regarding the
status of the Medicaid management information system project and the status of
Medicaid claims processing
2:25 p.m. Presentation by representatives of the Health Information Technology Office and Health
Information Technology Advisory Committee regarding the status of health information
technology activities pursuant to 2009 Senate Bill No. 2332
2:40 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Information Technology Department regarding a
summary of the annual report of the department pursuant to Section 54-59-19
2:50 p.m. Presentation by representatives of the Department of Transportation regarding the use
of state, federal, emergency, and other highway funding by the department, counties,
cities, and townships pursuant to Section 11 of 2009 Senate Bill No. 2012
3:00 p.m. Report from the Tobacco Prevention and Control Executive Committee regarding the
implementation of the comprehensive tobacco prevention and control plan pursuant to
2009 House Bill No. 1015
3:15 p.m. Committee discussion and staff directives
4:15 p.m. Adjourn
* This item includes a request for Budget Section action.
Committee Members
Senators Ray Holmberg (Chairman), Bill Bowman, Randel Christmann, Tom Fischer, Tony S.
Grindberg, Ralph L. Kilzer, Karen K. Krebsbach, Elroy N. Lindaas, Tim Mathern, Carolyn Nelson,
David O'Connell, Larry J. Robinson, Tom Seymour, Bob Stenehjem, Rich Wardner, John Warner
Representatives Larry Bellew, Rick Berg, Merle Boucher, Al Carlson, Jeff Delzer, Mark A. Dosch, Mary
Ekstrom, Eliot Glassheim, Kathy Hawken, Lee Kaldor, Keith Kempenich, James Kerzman,
Matthew M. Klein, Gary Kreidt, Joe Kroeber, Bob Martinson, Ralph Metcalf, Shirley Meyer, David
Monson, Jon Nelson, Kenton Onstad, Chet Pollert, Bob Skarphol, Ken Svedjan, Blair Thoreson, Don
Vigesaa, Francis J. Wald, Alon C. Wieland, Clark Williams
Staff Contacts: Sara E. Chamberlin, Fiscal Analyst
Allen H. Knudson, Legislative Budget Analyst and Auditor
Tentative Agenda
BUDGET SECTION
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Senate Chamber, State Capitol
Bismarck, North Dakota
9:00 a.m. Call to order
Roll call
Consideration of the minutes of the June 22, 2010, meeting
9:05 a.m. Presentation by representatives of the Office of Management and Budget regarding:
• Status of the general fund
• Irregularities in the fiscal practices of the state pursuant to North Dakota Century
Code Section 54-14-03.1
• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, including an update
of funding information, the number of nonstate employees who have been employed
in the private sector using federal stimulus funding, and agency requests to continue
full-time equivalent positions or programs paid for by ARRA funds
• Number of employees receiving bonuses above the 25 percent limitation pursuant to
Section 54-06-30 and Section 1 of 2009 House Bill No. 1030
9:30 a.m. Presentation by a representative of Workforce Safety and Insurance and the Risk
Management Division of the Office of Management and Budget on the status of the risk
management workers' compensation program pursuant to Section 65-04-03.1(5)
* 9:45 a.m. Budget Section consideration of state agency requests pursuant to Chapter 54-16 that
have been authorized by the Emergency Commission and require consideration by the
Budget Section
10:25 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the North Dakota University System regarding
information on the definition of institutional and local funds and whether the definitions
are consistent among University System institutions
10:40 a.m. Presentation by representatives of the Adjutant General regarding:
• A report on emergency disaster relief grants awarded to political subdivisions
pursuant to 2009 Senate Bill No. 2012
• A report on 2009 flood disaster-related expenditures, transfers, reimbursements, and
general fund deposits pursuant to 2009 Senate Bill No. 2444
• Information on the total funding by funding source for each disaster being paid for
during the 2009-11 biennium
• A report on the reintegration program expenditures and the program's impact on
service members pursuant to Section 11 of 2009 House Bill No. 1016
11:30 a.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff of a memorandum on federal funds to be
received by state agencies during the 2009-11 and 2011-13 bienniums
* 11:40 a.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff of a memorandum on block grant hearings
required during the 2011 legislative session and a resolution draft authorizing the
Budget Section to hold any legislative block grant hearings required during the
2011-12 interim
12:00 noon Luncheon recess
2
1:00 p.m. Distribution by the Legislative Council staff of the 2010 North Dakota Finance Facts
pocket brochure prepared pursuant to 2009 House Concurrent Resolution No. 3036
1:05 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Department of Commerce regarding:
• Annual audits of renaissance fund organizations pursuant to Section 40-63-07(9)
• A report on the status of the technology-based entrepreneurship grant program,
including an overview of the program and program expenditures pursuant to
Section 13 of 2009 Senate Bill No. 2018
• A report on tax-exempt property by school district pursuant to Section 14 of 2009
Senate Bill No. 2018
1:45 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Veterans' Home regarding:
• The status of the Veterans' Home construction project pursuant to 2009 Senate Bill
No. 2007, including a report comparing actual costs to budget to date by major
category of expenditure, and current estimates of total project costs
• The status of the Veterans' Home exterior finishing construction projects pursuant to
Section 4 of 2009 Senate Bill No. 2075
2:05 p.m. Presentation by representatives of the Department of Human Services regarding any
transfers between line items and between subdivisions in excess of $50,000 made
during the 2009-11 biennium to date pursuant to Section 7 of 2009 House Bill No. 1012
2:10 p.m. Presentation by representatives of the Department of Human Services regarding the
status of the Medicaid management information system project and the status of
Medicaid claims processing
2:25 p.m. Presentation by representatives of the Health Information Technology Office and Health
Information Technology Advisory Committee regarding the status of health information
technology activities pursuant to 2009 Senate Bill No. 2332
2:40 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the Information Technology Department regarding a
summary of the annual report of the department pursuant to Section 54-59-19
2:50 p.m. Presentation by representatives of the Department of Transportation regarding the use
of state, federal, emergency, and other highway funding by the department, counties,
cities, and townships pursuant to Section 11 of 2009 Senate Bill No. 2012
3:00 p.m. Report from the Tobacco Prevention and Control Executive Committee regarding the
implementation of the comprehensive tobacco prevention and control plan pursuant to
2009 House Bill No. 1015
3:15 p.m. Committee discussion and staff directives
4:15 p.m. Adjourn
* This item includes a request for Budget Section action.
Committee Members
Senators Ray Holmberg (Chairman), Bill Bowman, Randel Christmann, Tom Fischer, Tony S.
Grindberg, Ralph L. Kilzer, Karen K. Krebsbach, Elroy N. Lindaas, Tim Mathern, Carolyn Nelson,
David O'Connell, Larry J. Robinson, Tom Seymour, Bob Stenehjem, Rich Wardner, John Warner
Representatives Larry Bellew, Rick Berg, Merle Boucher, Al Carlson, Jeff Delzer, Mark A. Dosch, Mary
Ekstrom, Eliot Glassheim, Kathy Hawken, Lee Kaldor, Keith Kempenich, James Kerzman,
Matthew M. Klein, Gary Kreidt, Joe Kroeber, Bob Martinson, Ralph Metcalf, Shirley Meyer, David
Monson, Jon Nelson, Kenton Onstad, Chet Pollert, Bob Skarphol, Ken Svedjan, Blair Thoreson, Don
Vigesaa, Francis J. Wald, Alon C. Wieland, Clark Williams
Staff Contacts: Sara E. Chamberlin, Fiscal Analyst
Allen H. Knudson, Legislative Budget Analyst and Auditor
North Dakota Medicare Conference Telephone Call
Save the Date!
September 20, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (Mountain Time)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Region VIII Medicare Chat Call
for North Dakota Providers, Partners & Stakeholders
Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program Final Rule Informational Teleconference
You are invited to join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Region VIII Office for a toll-free teleconference about the EHR Incentive Programs final rule. If you are interested in learning more about meaningful use as it applies to the EHR Incentive Programs, you will want to take advantage of this opportunity!
Topics included in the informational session include:
· The Background of EHR Incentive Programs
· Who Is Eligible to Participate
· How Much Are the Incentives
· What Are the Requirements/Meaningful Use
· What You Need to Do to Participate
· Timeline of the Programs
· Resources to Get Help and Learn More
We encourage you to forward this email to your colleagues, partners and others whom you believe would benefit from attending this informational session.
We will send the agenda and call-in information prior to the teleconference. Registration for this call is not required. Logistical questions pertaining to the upcoming teleconference may be directed to Brenda Hudson at brenda.hudson@cms.hhs.gov
Brenda Hudson, Health Insurance Specialist
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)| Consortium for Financial Management and Fee for Service Operations (CFMFFSO) | 1600 Broadway, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80202-4967 ~ Work: (303) 844-7056 ~ brenda.hudson@cms.hhs.gov
September 20, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (Mountain Time)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Region VIII Medicare Chat Call
for North Dakota Providers, Partners & Stakeholders
Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program Final Rule Informational Teleconference
You are invited to join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Region VIII Office for a toll-free teleconference about the EHR Incentive Programs final rule. If you are interested in learning more about meaningful use as it applies to the EHR Incentive Programs, you will want to take advantage of this opportunity!
Topics included in the informational session include:
· The Background of EHR Incentive Programs
· Who Is Eligible to Participate
· How Much Are the Incentives
· What Are the Requirements/Meaningful Use
· What You Need to Do to Participate
· Timeline of the Programs
· Resources to Get Help and Learn More
We encourage you to forward this email to your colleagues, partners and others whom you believe would benefit from attending this informational session.
We will send the agenda and call-in information prior to the teleconference. Registration for this call is not required. Logistical questions pertaining to the upcoming teleconference may be directed to Brenda Hudson at brenda.hudson@cms.hhs.gov
Brenda Hudson, Health Insurance Specialist
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)| Consortium for Financial Management and Fee for Service Operations (CFMFFSO) | 1600 Broadway, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80202-4967 ~ Work: (303) 844-7056 ~ brenda.hudson@cms.hhs.gov
Minot State's Herb Parker Stadium Dedicated
Minot State Herb Parker Stadium Dedicated
http://www.minotstateu.edu/
http://www.minotstateu.edu/
Thursday, August 12, 2010
November MidWestern Higher Education Compact Meeting in Detroit, MI with Larry Isaac
Copy and paste URL into the Browser.....
Fall Midwestern Higher Education Compact Meeting in Detroit
http://www.mhec.org/2010annualmtg
Fall Midwestern Higher Education Compact Meeting in Detroit
http://www.mhec.org/2010annualmtg
Delta Airlines Opens Facebook Ticket Window
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/delta-launches-first-airline-social-media-ticket-window-revamps-home-page-100525099.html
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Iowa Valley Community College District Includes Legislative Links on It's Web site
Copy and paste the URL into Your Browser......
Iowa Community College has Legislative Links
http://www.iavalley.cc.ia.us/district/Legis.html
Iowa Community College has Legislative Links
http://www.iavalley.cc.ia.us/district/Legis.html
Monday, August 9, 2010
North Dakota Legislative Higher Education Information
Copy and paste the URL into Your Browser.......
North Dakota Higher Education Information
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/he033110presentations.html
North Dakota Higher Education Information
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/he033110presentations.html
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Medicare Update
Hello Everyone,
Please enjoy the information contained in this edition of Frontier Focus. Please be sure to share it with your members, colleagues, providers and office billing staff. Thank you for your continued efforts to broadcast Medicare information to the providers in Region VIII.
Table of Contents
1. CMS Education Calls for Individual Practitioners and Hospitals on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs
2. Affordable Care Act Saving Money for Medicare and Taxpayers
3. CMS Finalizes Policy and Payment Rate Changes for Inpatient Stays in Acute Care, Long-Term Care, and Certain Excluded Hospitals in FY 2011
4. SAVE THE DATE! ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment Follow-Up National Provider Call
5. Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs: NEW: Tip Sheets for Medicaid Eligible Professionals and Hospitals
6. CMS Announces EHR Matching Funds Awards for Six States (CT, DE, IN, NH, RI, WV and District of Columbia)
7. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. CMS Education Calls for Individual Practitioners and Hospitals on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs
Education Calls for Providers on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a series of national provider calls next week addressing the specifics of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. The call on Tuesday, August 10 is for individual practitioners. The call Wednesday , August, 11, is for hospitals. The call Thursday, August 12, is a Question and Answer session for both hospitals and individual practitioners. Be sure to register for the right program(s) for you. Registration instructions for these calls can be found at:
http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/05_Spotlight_and_Upcoming_Events.asp on the CMS website.
Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Specifics for Eligible Professionals:
A session just for individual practitioners on the specifics about the Medicare & Medicaid EHR incentive program
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
2:00-3:30 pm EST
Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Specifics for Hospitals:
A session just for hospitals on the specifics about the Medicare & Medicaid EHR incentive program
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
2:00-3:30 pm EST
Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Question and Answer Session:
Have questions? Join this session to have an opportunity to ask a question and hear answers by our panel of experts on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs. For both Eligible Professionals and Hospitals
Thursday, August 12, 2010
2:00-3:30 pm EST
The CMS’ web section on the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs at: http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/ contains helpful information about these programs, including tip sheets for hospitals and eligible professionals. These tip sheets may be found by selecting the Hospital or Eligible Professional tabs on the left and scrolling to “Downloads.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. Affordable Care Act Saving Money for Medicare and Taxpayers
MEDICARE NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: CMS Media Affairs
(202) 690-6145
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SAVING MONEY FOR MEDICARE AND TAXPAYERS
New CMS Report Shows Savings of Nearly $8 Billion by 2012
Medicare will see savings of nearly $8 billion by the end of 2012 with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported.
In a new study examining the impact of the new law and actions taken to achieve its goals, available at www.cms.gov, CMS reports that savings to Medicare will rise to more than $575 billion over the next decade. These reforms include new provisions that will improve the quality of care, develop and promote new models of care delivery, appropriately price services, modernize the health system, and fight waste, fraud, and abuse. The Affordable Care Act is projected to more than double the life of the Medicare Trust Fund, extending its life from 2017 to 2029.
Without enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the nation’s already excessive health care spending would have reached unsustainable levels within the next few decades. The Congressional Budget Office projected in 2009 that national health care spending would be 31 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2035 and 46 percent of GDP by 2080. The Medicare Trustees projected in 2009 that the Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund, which pays for Medicare services, would be insolvent in eight years, by 2017.
To read the entire CMS Press Release issued August 2, click here: https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
The report is now available under “CMS Highlights” at www.cms.gov.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. CMS Finalizes Policy and Payment Rate Changes for Inpatient Stays in Acute Care, Long-Term Care, and Certain Excluded Hospitals in FY 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a final rule establishing fiscal year (FY) 2011 policies and payment rates for inpatient services furnished to people with Medicare by acute care hospitals, long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), and certain excluded hospitals. Due to the timing of the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Affordable Care Act”), CMS issued a FY 2011 IPPS/LTCH proposed rule, as well as a supplemental proposed rule that addressed certain changes made by the Affordable Care Act. The final rule responds to comments received by CMS on both the proposed rule and the supplemental proposed rule, which appeared in the May 4 and June 2 issues of the Federal Register, respectively.
CMS is similarly updating LTCH rates by 2.5 percent for inflation, but reducing the inflation update by 0.5 percentage point as required by the Affordable Care Act.
To read the entire CMS Press Release issued today (7/30) click here: http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
CMS Issued three Fact Sheets (7/30) with additional details at: http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp
The final rule was placed on display at the Federal Register today, and can be found under Special Filings at: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-19092_PI.pdf or rwww.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx#special
The comment period for this interim final rule closes on Sept. 28, 2010.
For more information, please see: www.cms.gov/AcuteInpatientPPS/01_overview.asp
Note: More information about the proposed rule, including the documentation and coding adjustment and the RHQDAPU changes and HACs discussion, will be included in Fact Sheets to be posted on our Web page at: www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. SAVE THE DATE! ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment Follow-Up National Provider Call
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a follow-up national provider conference call on "ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment". This toll-free teleconference will focus on ICD-10 implementation issues, including proposals to partially freeze code updates, and implementation updates for versions 5010 and D.0, including implemented readiness review, how 5010 updates impact ICD-10 implementation, and advice for providers in moving toward 5010 implementation. Subject matter experts will review basic information on both ICD-10 and 5010 and explain how they are interrelated. A question and answer session will follow the presentations.
When: Monday, September 13, 2010
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
Target Audience: Medical coders, physician office staff, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, educators, system maintainers and all Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) providers
Agenda:
ICD-10
ICD-10 implementation for services provided on and after October 1, 2013
Differences between ICD-10 and ICD-9-CM codes
ICD-10-CM basic information for all users
Tools for converting codes – General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs)
Proposal to freeze ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 code updates except for new technologies and diseases
HIPAA Version 5010
Compliance dates and timelines (No contingencies)
5010 before and after ICD-10 Implementation
Readiness review for implementing HIPAA version 5010 and D.0
What you need to be doing to prepare
Medicare fee-for-service activities update
Other issues and considerations
Registration information for this informative national provider conference call will be announced soon. For information about the awarding of continuing education credits for this call, visit http://www.cms.gov/ICD10/02c_CMS_Sponsored_Calls.asp#TopOfPage
Additional information about ICD-10/5010 can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD10 on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs: NEW: Tip Sheets for Medicaid Eligible Professionals and Hospitals
Now available on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website
Get up-to-date and accurate information about the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs from CMS at http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentiveprograms/. Visit the website to get specifics about the program and download our new tip sheets.
Tip Sheet : Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Payments for Eligible Professionals
This tip sheet describes which types of individual practitioners can participate in the Medicaid EHR incentive program. It provides information about Medicaid patient volume requirements and incentive payments.
Now available on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms. Select the Medicaid Eligible Professional tab on the left, and then scroll to “Downloads.”
Tip Sheet: Medicaid Hospital Incentive Payment Calculations
Learn which hospitals are eligible for Medicaid incentive payments. This sheet provides user friendly information about the factors which impact incentive payment amounts and contains sample payment calculations.
Now available on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms. Select the Hospitals tab on the left, and then scroll to “Downloads.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. CMS Announces EHR Matching Funds Awards for Six States (CT, DE, IN, NH, RI, WV and District of Columbia)
Six States (CT, DE, IN, NH, RI, WV) and District of Columbia to Receive Federal Matching Funds for Electronic Health Record Incentives Program
In another key step to further states’ role in developing a robust U.S. health information technology (HIT) infrastructure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced 8/2 that the Medicaid programs of Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia will receive federal matching funds for state planning activities necessary to implement the electronic health record (EHR) incentive program established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The matching funds to the six states and DC total $5.75 million.
EHRs will improve the quality of health care for the citizens of the six states and DC and make their care more efficient. EHRs make it easier for the many providers who may be treating a Medicaid patient to coordinate care. Additionally, EHRs make it easier for patients to access the information they need to make decisions about their health care.
The releases highlight awards (totaling $5.75 million) of 90 percent federal matching funds for planning activities for the Recovery Act’s Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentives Program.
This group of releases is part of a rolling announcement we began in November 2009. To date, including these new announcements, we will have awarded a total of $73.32 million to 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Connecticut: $695,000
Delaware: $247,000
District of Columbia: $817,000
Indiana: $2.31 million
New Hampshire: $335,000
Rhode Island: $401,000
West Virginia: $945,000
Subtotal: $5.75 million
Total awards to date: $73.32 million
Additional information on implementation of the Medicaid-related provisions of the Recovery Act’s EHR incentive payment program may be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Recovery/11_HealthIT.asp#TopOfPage
The CMS press releases issued 8/2 are available at: https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
http://www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/
Under a new law, more Medicare beneficiaries could qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs because some things no longer count as income and resources. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be on Medicare, have limited income and resources, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please enjoy the information contained in this edition of Frontier Focus. Please be sure to share it with your members, colleagues, providers and office billing staff. Thank you for your continued efforts to broadcast Medicare information to the providers in Region VIII.
Table of Contents
1. CMS Education Calls for Individual Practitioners and Hospitals on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs
2. Affordable Care Act Saving Money for Medicare and Taxpayers
3. CMS Finalizes Policy and Payment Rate Changes for Inpatient Stays in Acute Care, Long-Term Care, and Certain Excluded Hospitals in FY 2011
4. SAVE THE DATE! ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment Follow-Up National Provider Call
5. Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs: NEW: Tip Sheets for Medicaid Eligible Professionals and Hospitals
6. CMS Announces EHR Matching Funds Awards for Six States (CT, DE, IN, NH, RI, WV and District of Columbia)
7. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. CMS Education Calls for Individual Practitioners and Hospitals on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs
Education Calls for Providers on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a series of national provider calls next week addressing the specifics of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. The call on Tuesday, August 10 is for individual practitioners. The call Wednesday , August, 11, is for hospitals. The call Thursday, August 12, is a Question and Answer session for both hospitals and individual practitioners. Be sure to register for the right program(s) for you. Registration instructions for these calls can be found at:
http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/05_Spotlight_and_Upcoming_Events.asp on the CMS website.
Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Specifics for Eligible Professionals:
A session just for individual practitioners on the specifics about the Medicare & Medicaid EHR incentive program
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
2:00-3:30 pm EST
Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Specifics for Hospitals:
A session just for hospitals on the specifics about the Medicare & Medicaid EHR incentive program
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
2:00-3:30 pm EST
Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Question and Answer Session:
Have questions? Join this session to have an opportunity to ask a question and hear answers by our panel of experts on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs. For both Eligible Professionals and Hospitals
Thursday, August 12, 2010
2:00-3:30 pm EST
The CMS’ web section on the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs at: http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/ contains helpful information about these programs, including tip sheets for hospitals and eligible professionals. These tip sheets may be found by selecting the Hospital or Eligible Professional tabs on the left and scrolling to “Downloads.”
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2. Affordable Care Act Saving Money for Medicare and Taxpayers
MEDICARE NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: CMS Media Affairs
(202) 690-6145
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT SAVING MONEY FOR MEDICARE AND TAXPAYERS
New CMS Report Shows Savings of Nearly $8 Billion by 2012
Medicare will see savings of nearly $8 billion by the end of 2012 with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported.
In a new study examining the impact of the new law and actions taken to achieve its goals, available at www.cms.gov, CMS reports that savings to Medicare will rise to more than $575 billion over the next decade. These reforms include new provisions that will improve the quality of care, develop and promote new models of care delivery, appropriately price services, modernize the health system, and fight waste, fraud, and abuse. The Affordable Care Act is projected to more than double the life of the Medicare Trust Fund, extending its life from 2017 to 2029.
Without enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the nation’s already excessive health care spending would have reached unsustainable levels within the next few decades. The Congressional Budget Office projected in 2009 that national health care spending would be 31 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2035 and 46 percent of GDP by 2080. The Medicare Trustees projected in 2009 that the Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund, which pays for Medicare services, would be insolvent in eight years, by 2017.
To read the entire CMS Press Release issued August 2, click here: https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
The report is now available under “CMS Highlights” at www.cms.gov.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. CMS Finalizes Policy and Payment Rate Changes for Inpatient Stays in Acute Care, Long-Term Care, and Certain Excluded Hospitals in FY 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a final rule establishing fiscal year (FY) 2011 policies and payment rates for inpatient services furnished to people with Medicare by acute care hospitals, long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), and certain excluded hospitals. Due to the timing of the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Affordable Care Act”), CMS issued a FY 2011 IPPS/LTCH proposed rule, as well as a supplemental proposed rule that addressed certain changes made by the Affordable Care Act. The final rule responds to comments received by CMS on both the proposed rule and the supplemental proposed rule, which appeared in the May 4 and June 2 issues of the Federal Register, respectively.
CMS is similarly updating LTCH rates by 2.5 percent for inflation, but reducing the inflation update by 0.5 percentage point as required by the Affordable Care Act.
To read the entire CMS Press Release issued today (7/30) click here: http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
CMS Issued three Fact Sheets (7/30) with additional details at: http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp
The final rule was placed on display at the Federal Register today, and can be found under Special Filings at: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-19092_PI.pdf or rwww.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx#special
The comment period for this interim final rule closes on Sept. 28, 2010.
For more information, please see: www.cms.gov/AcuteInpatientPPS/01_overview.asp
Note: More information about the proposed rule, including the documentation and coding adjustment and the RHQDAPU changes and HACs discussion, will be included in Fact Sheets to be posted on our Web page at: www.cms.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp
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4. SAVE THE DATE! ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment Follow-Up National Provider Call
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a follow-up national provider conference call on "ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment". This toll-free teleconference will focus on ICD-10 implementation issues, including proposals to partially freeze code updates, and implementation updates for versions 5010 and D.0, including implemented readiness review, how 5010 updates impact ICD-10 implementation, and advice for providers in moving toward 5010 implementation. Subject matter experts will review basic information on both ICD-10 and 5010 and explain how they are interrelated. A question and answer session will follow the presentations.
When: Monday, September 13, 2010
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
Target Audience: Medical coders, physician office staff, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, educators, system maintainers and all Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) providers
Agenda:
ICD-10
ICD-10 implementation for services provided on and after October 1, 2013
Differences between ICD-10 and ICD-9-CM codes
ICD-10-CM basic information for all users
Tools for converting codes – General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs)
Proposal to freeze ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 code updates except for new technologies and diseases
HIPAA Version 5010
Compliance dates and timelines (No contingencies)
5010 before and after ICD-10 Implementation
Readiness review for implementing HIPAA version 5010 and D.0
What you need to be doing to prepare
Medicare fee-for-service activities update
Other issues and considerations
Registration information for this informative national provider conference call will be announced soon. For information about the awarding of continuing education credits for this call, visit http://www.cms.gov/ICD10/02c_CMS_Sponsored_Calls.asp#TopOfPage
Additional information about ICD-10/5010 can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD10 on the CMS website.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs: NEW: Tip Sheets for Medicaid Eligible Professionals and Hospitals
Now available on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website
Get up-to-date and accurate information about the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs from CMS at http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentiveprograms/. Visit the website to get specifics about the program and download our new tip sheets.
Tip Sheet : Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Payments for Eligible Professionals
This tip sheet describes which types of individual practitioners can participate in the Medicaid EHR incentive program. It provides information about Medicaid patient volume requirements and incentive payments.
Now available on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms. Select the Medicaid Eligible Professional tab on the left, and then scroll to “Downloads.”
Tip Sheet: Medicaid Hospital Incentive Payment Calculations
Learn which hospitals are eligible for Medicaid incentive payments. This sheet provides user friendly information about the factors which impact incentive payment amounts and contains sample payment calculations.
Now available on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms. Select the Hospitals tab on the left, and then scroll to “Downloads.”
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6. CMS Announces EHR Matching Funds Awards for Six States (CT, DE, IN, NH, RI, WV and District of Columbia)
Six States (CT, DE, IN, NH, RI, WV) and District of Columbia to Receive Federal Matching Funds for Electronic Health Record Incentives Program
In another key step to further states’ role in developing a robust U.S. health information technology (HIT) infrastructure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced 8/2 that the Medicaid programs of Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia will receive federal matching funds for state planning activities necessary to implement the electronic health record (EHR) incentive program established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). The matching funds to the six states and DC total $5.75 million.
EHRs will improve the quality of health care for the citizens of the six states and DC and make their care more efficient. EHRs make it easier for the many providers who may be treating a Medicaid patient to coordinate care. Additionally, EHRs make it easier for patients to access the information they need to make decisions about their health care.
The releases highlight awards (totaling $5.75 million) of 90 percent federal matching funds for planning activities for the Recovery Act’s Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentives Program.
This group of releases is part of a rolling announcement we began in November 2009. To date, including these new announcements, we will have awarded a total of $73.32 million to 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Connecticut: $695,000
Delaware: $247,000
District of Columbia: $817,000
Indiana: $2.31 million
New Hampshire: $335,000
Rhode Island: $401,000
West Virginia: $945,000
Subtotal: $5.75 million
Total awards to date: $73.32 million
Additional information on implementation of the Medicaid-related provisions of the Recovery Act’s EHR incentive payment program may be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Recovery/11_HealthIT.asp#TopOfPage
The CMS press releases issued 8/2 are available at: https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. A new "twist" in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
http://www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/
Under a new law, more Medicare beneficiaries could qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs because some things no longer count as income and resources. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be on Medicare, have limited income and resources, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, August 7, 2010
North Dakota Legislative Spending Report
Copy and Paste into Your Browser........
North Dakota Legislative Spending Report.....
http://policynd.org/images/uploads/Legislative_Spending_Guide.pdf
North Dakota Legislative Spending Report.....
http://policynd.org/images/uploads/Legislative_Spending_Guide.pdf
Fulbright Opportunities
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Fulbright Opportunities.....
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/index.html
Fulbright Opportunities.....
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/index.html
US Department of Education Hosts Rural Technology Summit
Copy and paste into Browser.....
National Rural Technology Summit
http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/07/department-of-education-hosts-national-rural-education-technology-summit/
National Rural Technology Summit
http://www.ed.gov/blog/2010/07/department-of-education-hosts-national-rural-education-technology-summit/
Friday, August 6, 2010
Oil Rig Status
Copy and Paste the URL into Your Browser....
Oil Rig Counts.....
http://www.bakerhughes.com/
Oil Rig Counts.....
http://www.bakerhughes.com/
Thursday, August 5, 2010
North Dakota Higher Education Meeting in Bismarck on August 16
NORTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT
Tentative Agenda
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Monday, August 16, 2010
Roughrider Room, State Capitol
Bismarck, North Dakota
9:00 a.m. Call to order
Roll call
Consideration of the minutes of the July 8, 2010, meeting
9:05 a.m. Comments by the chairman regarding the meeting
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY
9:10 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the Information Technology Department regarding
the statewide longitudinal data system
9:45 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the Department of Commerce regarding an
overview of the centers of excellence program and the status of current projects
10:35 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine
and Health Sciences regarding:
• An overview of the RuralMed program
• An update on the Bismarck Family Practice Center project
11:05 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the North Dakota University System regarding the
final ranking of capital projects for inclusion in the State Board of Higher Education
2011-13 biennium budget request
11:15 a.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff of a memorandum regarding the role of the
Budget Section in approving a new capital project or approving changes to a capital
project approved by the Legislative Assembly
11:25 a.m. Comments by a representative of the University System regarding the role of the State
Board of Higher Education and the Budget Section in approving a new capital project or
approving changes to a capital project approved by the Legislative Assembly
11:35 a.m. Comments by a representative of the State Auditor's office regarding the role of the
State Board of Higher Education and the Budget Section in approving a new capital
project or approving changes to a capital project approved by the Legislative Assembly
11:45 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the State Auditor's office regarding policies in other
states for agencies that fail to implement audit recommendations
12:00 noon Luncheon recess
1:00 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the American Indian Language Preservation
Committee of a report pursuant to Section 5 of 2009 House Bill No. 1399 regarding the
work of the committee and recommendations for ongoing preservation efforts
1:20 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the University System regarding:
• An overview of retirement plans for University System employees and proposed
changes to the plans for the 2011-13 biennium
• Institution policies for the notification of student loan lenders regarding the enrollment
status of students
• An update on the development of a plan by the State Board of Higher Education to
address remedial education issues at higher education institutions
2
1:50 p.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff of a memorandum regarding the history of
legislation authorizing high school students to enroll in postsecondary courses
2:00 p.m. Comments by the chairman regarding potential future changes to higher education
2:10 p.m. Committee discussion regarding potential future changes to higher education
2:50 p.m. Comments by other interested persons regarding the committee's study of higher
education
3:00 p.m. Committee discussion and staff directives
3:30 p.m. Adjourn
Committee Members
Representatives Bob Skarphol (Chairman), Lois Delmore, Mark A. Dosch, Kathy Hawken, Brenda
Heller, Dennis Johnson, Nancy Johnson, RaeAnn G. Kelsch, Joe Kroeber, Bob Martinson, Darrell D.
Nottestad, Kenton Onstad, Ken Svedjan, Clark Williams
Senators John M. Andrist, Tim Flakoll, Tony S. Grindberg, Ray Holmberg, Karen K. Krebsbach,
Elroy N. Lindaas, Dave Nething, David O'Connell, Larry J. Robinson, Tom Seymour
Staff Contacts: Brady A. Larson, Fiscal Analyst
Allen H. Knudson, Legislative Budget Analyst and Auditor
Tentative Agenda
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Monday, August 16, 2010
Roughrider Room, State Capitol
Bismarck, North Dakota
9:00 a.m. Call to order
Roll call
Consideration of the minutes of the July 8, 2010, meeting
9:05 a.m. Comments by the chairman regarding the meeting
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY
9:10 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the Information Technology Department regarding
the statewide longitudinal data system
9:45 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the Department of Commerce regarding an
overview of the centers of excellence program and the status of current projects
10:35 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine
and Health Sciences regarding:
• An overview of the RuralMed program
• An update on the Bismarck Family Practice Center project
11:05 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the North Dakota University System regarding the
final ranking of capital projects for inclusion in the State Board of Higher Education
2011-13 biennium budget request
11:15 a.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff of a memorandum regarding the role of the
Budget Section in approving a new capital project or approving changes to a capital
project approved by the Legislative Assembly
11:25 a.m. Comments by a representative of the University System regarding the role of the State
Board of Higher Education and the Budget Section in approving a new capital project or
approving changes to a capital project approved by the Legislative Assembly
11:35 a.m. Comments by a representative of the State Auditor's office regarding the role of the
State Board of Higher Education and the Budget Section in approving a new capital
project or approving changes to a capital project approved by the Legislative Assembly
11:45 a.m. Presentation by a representative of the State Auditor's office regarding policies in other
states for agencies that fail to implement audit recommendations
12:00 noon Luncheon recess
1:00 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the American Indian Language Preservation
Committee of a report pursuant to Section 5 of 2009 House Bill No. 1399 regarding the
work of the committee and recommendations for ongoing preservation efforts
1:20 p.m. Presentation by a representative of the University System regarding:
• An overview of retirement plans for University System employees and proposed
changes to the plans for the 2011-13 biennium
• Institution policies for the notification of student loan lenders regarding the enrollment
status of students
• An update on the development of a plan by the State Board of Higher Education to
address remedial education issues at higher education institutions
2
1:50 p.m. Presentation by the Legislative Council staff of a memorandum regarding the history of
legislation authorizing high school students to enroll in postsecondary courses
2:00 p.m. Comments by the chairman regarding potential future changes to higher education
2:10 p.m. Committee discussion regarding potential future changes to higher education
2:50 p.m. Comments by other interested persons regarding the committee's study of higher
education
3:00 p.m. Committee discussion and staff directives
3:30 p.m. Adjourn
Committee Members
Representatives Bob Skarphol (Chairman), Lois Delmore, Mark A. Dosch, Kathy Hawken, Brenda
Heller, Dennis Johnson, Nancy Johnson, RaeAnn G. Kelsch, Joe Kroeber, Bob Martinson, Darrell D.
Nottestad, Kenton Onstad, Ken Svedjan, Clark Williams
Senators John M. Andrist, Tim Flakoll, Tony S. Grindberg, Ray Holmberg, Karen K. Krebsbach,
Elroy N. Lindaas, Dave Nething, David O'Connell, Larry J. Robinson, Tom Seymour
Staff Contacts: Brady A. Larson, Fiscal Analyst
Allen H. Knudson, Legislative Budget Analyst and Auditor
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The North Dakota Legislature
Copy and Paste URL into Browser
North Dakota Legislature...
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/minutes/index.html
North Dakota Legislature...
http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/interim-info/minutes/index.html
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
A Pethora of Computer Magazines for Your Review:
A plethora of computer magazines for your review:
http://www.hitmill.com/internet/magazines.html
http://www.hitmill.com/internet/magazines.html
Guidelines for Your Information Systems Curriculum
Guidelines for IS Degrees.....
http://www.acm.org/education/curricula/IS%202010%20ACM%20final.pdf
http://www.acm.org/education/curricula/IS%202010%20ACM%20final.pdf
North Dakota Farm Service Agency
Copy and Paste URL into your Browser....
ND Farm Service Agency
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=nd&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing
ND Farm Service Agency
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateoffapp?mystate=nd&area=home&subject=landing&topic=landing
Monday, August 2, 2010
North Dakota Legislative Calendar for August....
Copy and paste URL into your Browser.......
North Dakota Legislative Calendar for August
http://www.legis.nd.gov/docs/pdf/eventsnews.pdf
North Dakota Legislative Calendar for August
http://www.legis.nd.gov/docs/pdf/eventsnews.pdf
North Dakota --- USDA
Copy and Paste into your Browser...
North Dakota USDA
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nd/
North Dakota USDA
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nd/
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Computer Camps in Regina
Copy and Paste URL into your browser....
Computer Camps in Regina
http://www.compcamps.com/faq/
Computer Camps in Regina
http://www.compcamps.com/faq/
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